Bicycle Hydraulic Brake Venting for Single-Opening Bleeding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulic disc brakes for bicycles require complex and time-consuming bleeding processes due to the need to vent both high-pressure and low-pressure areas, which is complicated by the requirement for specific positioning of the cylinder chamber and detachment from the handlebar, making maintenance difficult even for experts.
Innovation Solution
A brake arrangement with a venting duct arrangement that connects a vent opening to both the tank and pressure chambers, allowing simultaneous venting of both areas via a single opening, enabling venting without the need to reposition the master cylinder, suitable for radial piston pumps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional venting methods are used with separate vent openings for high-pressure and low-pressure areas, then complete air bubble removal is achieved, but the bleeding process becomes very complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the venting functions for both high-pressure and low-pressure areas into a single vent opening. The venting duct arrangement includes a first duct connecting the pressure chamber to the vent opening and a second duct connecting the reservoir chamber to the vent opening, allowing simultaneous venting of both areas through one opening, thereby simplifying the bleeding process while maintaining complete air bubble removal
Solution Approach 2:
The single vent opening serves multiple functions: it vents air bubbles from the high-pressure area via the first venting duct, vents air bubbles from the low-pressure area via the second venting duct, and provides a universal access point for the bleeding process. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate vent openings and reduces procedural complexity
2Ease of operation
If the compensating bore is positioned high in the cylinder chamber to simplify venting, then air bubbles can flow into the compensating reservoir, but the cylinder chamber positioning is severely limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vertical dimension to the venting duct arrangement, with the first venting duct extending upward from the pressure chamber to the vent opening. This vertical arrangement allows air bubbles to rise naturally to the vent opening regardless of the cylinder chamber's horizontal positioning on the handlebar, thereby simplifying venting while maintaining positioning flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The venting duct arrangement acts as an intermediary system that decouples the venting function from the cylinder chamber positioning. The ducts provide dedicated pathways for air bubble removal that are independent of the cylinder chamber's orientation, allowing the master unit to be mounted in various positions while maintaining effective venting capability
3Volume of moving object
If radial piston pump design is used to make the master cylinder compact, then space efficiency is improved, but the master cylinder cannot be bled in its intended position on the handlebar
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the venting pathways into separate ducts: a first venting duct for the pressure chamber and a second venting duct for the reservoir chamber. This segmentation allows each duct to be optimally routed to the single vent opening, enabling effective air bubble removal from both areas while maintaining the compact radial piston pump design and allowing bleeding in the intended handlebar position
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
Facilitates convenient and safe venting of both high-pressure and low-pressure sections, allowing inexperienced users to easily remove air bubbles, simplifying the bleeding process and maintaining the brake system effectively.
Implementation Method 1
The venting duct arrangement (9) opens into the pressure chamber (131) at the pressure chamber opening (89). The vent opening (65) represents a highest point of the venting duct arrangement (9) and also of the entire hydraulic circuit (11).
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Hydraulic brake assembly (1) for a bicycle (100) comprising a master cylinder (10) with a brake lever (2) and a cylinder housing (3) with a cylinder chamber (13) and a piston assembly (4) slidably mounted in the cylinder chamber (13). The piston assembly (4) and the cylinder housing (3) define a pressure chamber (131) which is connected to a reservoir chamber (15) by means of a compensating bore (53). A venting channel assembly (9) connects a vent opening (65) opening into the vicinity of the master cylinder (10) to both a reservoir chamber opening (79) and a pressure chamber opening (89), so that both the reservoir chamber (15) and the pressure chamber (131) can be vented simultaneously via the vent opening (65).Between the pressure chamber outlet (89) and the vent opening (65) and between the tank chamber outlet (79) and the vent opening (65) the vent channel arrangement (9) rises, so that air bubbles from the pressure chamber (131) and from the tank chamber (15) can rise to the vent opening (65).