Bicycle Air Filter Cartridge Retention Using Wind-Driven Wedging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Urban areas often experience poor air quality, and existing solutions do not effectively address the need for portable air filtration systems for bicycles that can improve air quality during use.
Innovation Solution
An air filter assembly designed for bicycles, featuring a tapered frame opening that secures a removable air filter cartridge with a filter membrane and activated carbon, utilizing a compressible foam member to hold the cartridge in place, ensuring easy installation and secure retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If a removable air filter cartridge is used, then ease of maintenance is improved, but secure retention during bicycle use deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of wind force (which could blow the filter loose) into a beneficial wedging action. The tapered opening is designed so that wind force acting on the filter cartridge pushes it deeper into the opening, enhancing retention rather than compromising it. This resolves the contradiction by making the environmental condition that could cause loosening instead strengthen the secure retention.
2Reliability
If a tapered opening is used to secure the filter, then secure retention is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the opening from a uniform cylindrical shape to a tapered shape with a gradual angle. This parameter change allows the opening to provide secure retention through the wedging effect while maintaining manufacturability, as the tapered geometry can be produced with standard manufacturing tolerances rather than requiring high-precision machining.
3Productivity
If wind force is used to wedge the cartridge, then filtration efficiency is improved, but ease of installation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by designing the tapered opening with the larger diameter at the installation end and the smaller diameter at the retention end. This inversion allows the filter cartridge to be easily inserted from the larger end while wind force from the front applies pressure that wedges it securely at the narrower retention end, thus achieving both ease of installation and effective retention.
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 air filter assembly effectively traps particulates and odors, improving air quality by securely mounting to a bicycle and utilizing wind force to wedge the cartridge into place, enhancing filtration efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a force acting on the air filter cartridge on the windward side tends to wedge the air filter cartridge in the opening
Implementation Method 2
a force acting on the air filter cartridge on the windward side tends to wedge the air filter cartridge in the opening
Implementation Method 3
The foam member is compressible so as to hold the air filter cartridge in the opening of the frame
Implementation Method 4
The foam member compresses to a greater degree on the leeward side of the opening than on the windward side of the opening
Implementation Method 5
The air filter cartridge includes a first side and a second side, with the first side of the air filter cartridge including a filter membrane
Implementation Method 6
the second side of the air filter cartridge including activated carbon
Data Source
AI summary
An air filter assembly for a bicycle is disclosed. The air filter assembly includes a body having a bracket and a frame. The bracket is configured to mount to a bicycle frame. The frame defines a tapered opening having a windward side and a leeward side. The tapered opening is larger on the windward side than on the leeward side. A removable air filter cartridge is mounted within the opening of the frame such that a force acting on the air filter cartridge on the windward side tends to wedge the air filter cartridge in the opening. A foam member is attached to an outer periphery of the air filter cartridge and is disposed between the air filter cartridge and the frame. The foam member is compressible so as to hold the air filter cartridge in the opening of the frame. The foam member compresses to a greater degree on the leeward side of the opening than on the windward side of the opening. The air filter assembly is mountable to a handle bar of a bicycle.