Bicycle Drop-out Hanger for Wheel Alignment Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bicycle frame manufacturing processes face challenges in automating the welding of tubes, leading to low workability and increased costs, and struggle to precisely align rear wheels in hot-stamped frames, resulting in power loss, eccentric tire wear, and frame fatigue.
Innovation Solution
A drop-out structure for wheel alignment is introduced, featuring fixing members and hangers with hinge pins that allow for precise rotation and adjustment of wheel alignment, reducing the impact of twisted stays and minimizing eccentric wear and fatigue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If left and right panels are bonded in a pipe structure, then manufacturing workability is improved, but wheel alignment precision deteriorates due to welding deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The hanger is designed with rotational freedom around a hinge pin, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position to compensate for deformation in the bonded frame structure. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the system to maintain wheel alignment precision despite the inherent deformations from bonding left and right panels, while preserving the manufacturing workability benefits of the bonded construction method.
2Loss of energy
If wheel alignment is not precisely adjusted, then power transmission efficiency deteriorates, but manufacturing complexity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable hanger mechanism provides a simple yet effective means to adjust wheel alignment for optimal power transmission. By allowing the hanger to rotate and self-align, the system achieves precise wheel alignment without complex adjustment mechanisms, thereby reducing power loss while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hanger's rotational freedom around the hinge pin enables it to self-adjust and self-align to the optimal position for power transmission. This self-service capability eliminates the need for complex external adjustment mechanisms, reducing both manufacturing complexity and power loss simultaneously.
3Reliability
If left and right stays are twisted, then frame durability deteriorates due to eccentric fatigue, but manufacturing simplicity is improved
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable hanger compensates for twisting in the left and right stays by dynamically adjusting its position. This dynamic compensation prevents eccentric loading and reduces fatigue stresses on the frame, thereby improving frame durability while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through a single rotational degree of freedom rather than complex corrective mechanisms.
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
The solution enables easy and precise adjustment of wheel alignment, reducing power loss, tire wear, and frame damage due to eccentric fatigue, enhancing the durability and workability of the bicycle frame.
Implementation Method 1
a hanger coupled to the first fixing member, being capable of rotating around a hinge pin
Implementation Method 2
The first fixing member and the hanger may be hinged by the hinge pin so that the first drop-out rotates about a horizontal direction (about an x axis) about the first fixing member
Data Source
AI summary
A bicycle frame structure that is manufactured by forming left and right panels and then bonding them in a pipe in/are configured to include a first fixing member fixed to the rear end portion of a chain stay and a hanger coupled to the first fixing member, being configured for rotating around a hinge pin, and having an axle slit formed in a predetermined direction.