Bicycle Frame with Adjustable Rocker Link Hinge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bicycle frames for mountain and trekking bikes face challenges in varying terrain conditions, as existing designs fail to adaptively adjust the rigidity and geometry to suit different slopes, leading to inefficient weight distribution between the front and rear wheels.
Innovation Solution
A bicycle frame design featuring a main frame, rear frame, rocker link, and a damper with a displacement element that adjusts the hinge axis to change the geometry and rigidity in response to uphill or downhill terrain, utilizing a mechanical actuator to move the rocker link and damper for optimal performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the bicycle frame uses a fixed geometry design, then the structure is simple and reliable, but it cannot adapt to different terrain conditions (uphill or downhill)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the rocker link geometry adjustable through a displacement element that can move the first hinge axis between multiple positions. This allows the bicycle frame to transition from a static structure to a dynamic one that can adapt its geometry to different terrain conditions (uphill or downhill), resolving the contradiction between fixed structure simplicity and terrain adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by enabling the displacement element to vary the position of the first hinge axis, which changes the geometric parameters of the rocker link. This allows the frame geometry to be adjusted according to terrain requirements, achieving adaptability while maintaining a relatively simple structural approach.
2Reliability
If the damper rigidity is increased for downhill stability, then the damping performance improves on steep slopes, but the weight distribution becomes inefficient on flat terrain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the dynamics principle to make the damper rigidity adjustable by changing the rocker link geometry through the displacement element. The system can dynamically adjust the hinge axis position to optimize damping characteristics for different terrains: steeper geometry for downhill stability and flatter geometry for efficient weight distribution on flat terrain, resolving the contradiction between reliable damping and productivity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the rocker link geometry is fixed, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the bicycle cannot optimize performance for different riding conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the rocker link into movable segments connected by the displacement element, which can adjust the position of the first hinge axis. This segmentation allows the rocker link to be manufactured in a modular fashion with adjustment capabilities, balancing manufacturing simplicity with performance optimization for different riding conditions.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A bicycle frame (10) comprising: - a main frame (20); - a rear frame (30) articulated to the main frame (20); - a rocker link (40) articulated to the main frame (20), through a first hinge axis (B), and to the rear frame (30), through a second hinge axis (C) parallel and eccentric to the first hinge axis (B); - a damper (50) arranged between the rear frame (30), through the rocker link (40), and the main frame (20); and - a displacement element (60) configured to move the first hinge axis (B) that constrains the rocker link (40) to the main frame (20).