Bicycle Hub Disc Segmentation for Spoke Friction Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional bicycle hub structures suffer from insufficient structural stability, strength, and reduced service life due to concentrated force distribution and friction between crossed wheel spokes, leading to maintenance challenges.

Innovation Solution

A bicycle wheel hub structure featuring a wheel hub body with outer and inner hub discs, staggered fixed protrusions and recesses, and ratchet discs to distribute force evenly and reduce friction, enhancing structural rigidity and assembly convenience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If wheel spokes are arranged in a crossed state to connect hub and wheel frame, then structural stability is improved, but friction between contacting spokes reduces service life

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidservice life of spokes
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The hub structure is segmented into multiple hub discs (first hub disc, second hub disc, third hub disc) with different functions. The first hub disc provides spoke fixing holes for structural stability, while the second and third hub discs provide through holes that allow spokes to pass through without contact, eliminating friction and extending service life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Force

If force is concentrated on the hub through crossed spokes, then weight bearing capability is improved, but force concentration around spoke fixing holes reduces structural stability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweight bearing capabilityVSAvoidstructural stability around fixing holes
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The force distribution is segmented across multiple hub discs. The first hub disc concentrates force at spoke fixing holes for stable connection, while the second and third hub discs distribute force through their through holes, preventing force concentration and improving overall structural stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a single-plane hub structure to a multi-layer hub disc structure. Spokes pass through multiple dimensions (first hub disc, second hub disc, third hub disc), distributing force across different spatial planes and reducing stress concentration at any single location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional hub structure is used, then assembly is simple, but maintenance challenges arise due to friction and force concentration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidmaintenance difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The hub is segmented into multiple replaceable hub discs. When wear or damage occurs, only the affected hub disc needs to be replaced rather than the entire hub assembly, significantly easing maintenance and repair operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful friction and force concentration effects are extracted from the spoke path by introducing through holes in the second and third hub discs. This allows spokes to pass through without contact, eliminating the maintenance problems associated with friction and stress concentration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4249284B1Bicycle wheel hub structure
Publication Date: 2025.12.17 YANG MENG-LUNG
  • EP4249284B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4249284B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4249284B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to bicycle wheel hub structure, wherein two sides of wheel hub's(10) hub body(11) are provided with wheel hub disc sets(14). The wheel hub disc sets(14) are spaced with outer(140) and inner hub discs(141). When assembled with several wheel spokes(20) and a wheel frame(30), one end of the several wheel spokes(20) is fixedly combined with the wheel frame(30) and the other end of which is fixedly combined with the outer hub disc(140) and the inner wheel hub(141) respectively, so to disperse the stress generated by the wheel spokes(20), avoiding excessive force on the outer hub(140) or inner hub(141). The outer(140) and the inner hub discs(141) are arranged at intervals, so that the spokes(20) will be in contact with each other when assembled, reducing friction and affecting structural strength and service life, and achieving convenient structural use and good structural use function.