Bicycle Fork Mount Drive Mechanism With Slip Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bicycle carriers lack a reliable and user-friendly mechanism for securely coupling bicycle forks to carriers, particularly in varying vehicle configurations, which can lead to insecure transportation and potential damage during transit.
Innovation Solution
A bicycle fork anchor with a drive mechanism that includes a skewer and a manually operable actuator, which delivers a predetermined drive-force to pinch-secure the bicycle fork, featuring a slip mechanism to prevent over-tightening and an indicator for achieving full tightness, ensuring secure attachment and preventing damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a manual actuator is used to tighten the skewer, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of secure attachment deteriorates due to inconsistent user force application
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a spring mechanism that automatically engages and disengages the skewer from the fork prong. The spring self-adjusts to apply consistent clamping force without requiring manual intervention, thereby maintaining ease of operation while ensuring reliable and consistent attachment force.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical tightening with an automated spring-based mechanical system. The spring mechanism converts stored elastic potential energy into consistent clamping force, eliminating the variability inherent in manual force application while maintaining a simple mechanical interface.
2Reliability
If increased clamp force is applied to secure the bicycle fork, then the reliability of attachment is improved, but the object-generated harmful factors worsen due to potential damage to the bicycle fork
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism is pre-loaded to provide a controlled, limited clamping force that is sufficient for secure attachment but inherently capped to prevent excessive force. This beforehand cushioning ensures the fork is securely held while protecting it from damage by limiting the maximum force the mechanism can apply.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the force parameter from uncontrolled manual force to a controlled spring force. By designing the spring with specific stiffness and preload characteristics, the system achieves reliable attachment through optimized force parameters that balance security with protection against fork damage.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a slip mechanism is added to prevent over-tightening, then the protection from damage is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slip mechanism is merged with the skewer assembly itself, where the skewer incorporates features that allow controlled slippage. This integration combines the fastening function with the overload protection function in a single unified component, achieving damage prevention without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
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 provides a secure, user-friendly, and damage-preventing method for attaching bicycle forks to carriers, ensuring safe transportation across different vehicle configurations by ensuring the bicycle fork is securely fastened without risking damage from excessive force.
Implementation Method 1
The spring can be compressed between the fork prong and the skewer head to couple the skewer to the fork prong. Releasing the spring allows the skewer to be decoupled from the fork prong.
Data Source
AI summary
A drive mechanism for a load carrier includes a slip mechanism connected to a drive shaft and a retaining member configured to retain the slip mechanism. The slip mechanism includes a first member having a slot formed in a perimeter of the first member. The slot is configured to provide for easier rotation of the first member together with the retaining member.