Adjustable Lever Assembly with Keyed Slide Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lever assemblies in vehicles, such as bicycles and ATVs, require adjustments to accommodate users with different finger lengths and strengths, but these adjustments often modify the lever ratio, increasing actuation force and affecting system performance.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable lever assembly with a slide passage and adjuster mechanism, allowing rotation of the slide to change the lever's position relative to the handlebar, maintaining a constant angle between the pushrod and piston axes, thus minimizing changes in the lever ratio while providing reach adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a variable length pushrod is used to adjust lever reach, then the lever position can be adjusted closer to or farther from the handlebar, but the lever ratio is significantly modified, increasing the actuation force required
Solution Approach 1:
The lever assembly is divided into separate functional components: a fixed-length pushrod, an adjustable lever with slide passage, and a keyed slide mechanism. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of lever reach without affecting the pushrod length or master cylinder geometry, thereby maintaining constant lever ratio while providing reach adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
A keyed slide acts as an intermediary component between the lever and the fixed-length pushrod. The slide translates rotational adjustment of the lever into linear positioning along the slide passage, enabling reach adjustment while maintaining proper alignment and constant angle between pushrod and piston axes, thus preserving lever ratio.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the lever position is adjusted using existing mechanisms, then user compatibility is improved, but system performance is altered due to changes in lever ratio
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable lever assembly provides multiple functions: it accommodates different user reach requirements through rotation of the keyed slide, while simultaneously maintaining consistent system performance by preserving the constant angle between pushrod and piston axes. This multi-functionality achieves both user adaptability and performance reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes only the positional parameter of the lever along its arc of motion by rotating the keyed slide to different positions in the slide passage, while maintaining constant other critical parameters such as the angle between pushrod and piston axes. This selective parameter change enables reach adjustment without affecting lever ratio or actuation force.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise reach adjustments from a neutral position to minimum and maximum extents, maintaining a consistent lever ratio and reducing the required actuation force, enhancing user compatibility without significantly altering system performance.
Implementation Method 1
the adjuster having a threaded inner passage extending therethrough... the slide including a threaded outer portion for rotatably engaging the threaded inner passage of the adjuster, wherein rotation of the adjuster translates the slide about the adjuster passage
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is an adjustable lever assembly with a lever having an adjustment section and a grip section, where the adjustment section includes a slide passage in communication with an adjuster passage, and an adjuster positioned at least partially inside the adjuster passage, the adjuster having a threaded inner passage extending therethrough. The adjustable lever assembly further includes a slide positioned substantially inside the slide passage, the slide including an outer wall surface that is keyed to the slide passage and a threaded outer portion for rotatably engaging the threaded inner passage of the adjuster, wherein rotation of the adjuster translates the slide about the adjuster passage, and wherein the slide includes a bottom portion configured for securing pivotally to a pushrod.