Adaptive Bicycle Through Axle Washer for Conical Dropout Compatibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

The multitude of non-interchangeable specifications for conical interface through axles complicates compatibility with different frame dropouts or seats, leading to increased production costs and user difficulty in selecting appropriate axles.

Innovation Solution

A highly adaptive bicycle through axle design featuring a spindle with a conical interface and a customizable washer that can form angles between 40° and 140°, allowing compatibility with various bicycle specifications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple specifications of conical interface through axles are produced to ensure compatibility with different frame dropouts or seats, then compatibility is improved, but production costs increase and device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecompatibilityVSAvoidproduction costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The through axle is designed with a universal conical interface structure that can accommodate multiple specifications and frame dropouts through a single standardized design, eliminating the need for producing multiple specialized axles for different bicycle standards

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The conical interface angle is set at 45 degrees, which serves as an optimal parameter that provides broad compatibility across different frame dropouts while maintaining structural integrity, allowing a single specification to serve multiple applications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecompatibilityVSAvoidaxle specifications

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single through axle design with standardized conical interface dimensions and 45-degree angle serves multiple bicycle frame dropout specifications, reducing the variety of axle types from many to one universal solution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of creating different axles for different frame specifications, the invention inverts the approach by designing a single axle that adapts to various frame specifications through its standardized conical interface geometry

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP4574446A1Highly adaptive bicycle through axle

Publication Date: 2025.06.25 GLORY WHEEL ENTERPRISE CO LTD

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AI summary

A highly adaptive bicycle through axle (10) having a spindle (11) and a washer (14). The washer (14) includes an inner surface and an outer surface (12) that are not parallel to each other, thus accommodating different bicycle specifications.