Bicycle Lock Hoop Fixing Device Suppresses Vibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bicycle locks with a rotatable annular hoop experience rattling noise due to play between the hoop and the housing, causing vibration when the bicycle moves on uneven terrain.
Innovation Solution
A fixing device is used to firmly hold the handle of the annular hoop without play, eliminating lateral movement and preventing vibration by embedding it in a fixing groove, which can be formed by plastic or resilient materials with elastic, form-locking, frictional, or snap-fitting engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the annular hoop is supported with play in the lock body, then the ease of operation is improved (facilitates displacement without friction), but the stability deteriorates (causes rattling noise and vibration)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing a fixing groove at a specific location on the housing that engages with the handle of the annular hoop. This localized fixing structure eliminates lateral play only at the handle position while preserving the necessary play for smooth rotation of the hoop body, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and stability.
2Ease of manufacture
If the handle projects freely through the longitudinal groove, then the ease of operation is improved (allows sufficient dimensional tolerances), but the harmful factors increase (lateral play causes rattling noise)
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing groove is designed with specific local geometry that provides lateral constraint for the handle while maintaining manufacturing tolerances. The groove's shape and position are optimized to eliminate rattling noise without requiring extremely tight tolerances across the entire assembly, thus balancing ease of manufacture with reduction of harmful noise.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing groove acts as an intermediary structure between the handle and the housing. It provides a controlled interface that eliminates lateral play and prevents rattling noise, while still allowing the handle to move freely in the intended direction of operation. This intermediary structure resolves the contradiction by mediating between the need for tolerance and the need to eliminate noise.
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 effectively suppresses rattling noise by stabilizing the annular hoop in the open position, ensuring it does not vibrate and impact the lock body, while maintaining simplicity and cost-effectiveness in production.
Implementation Method 1
The fixing device is configured to hold the handle without play when the annular hoop is brought into the open position
Implementation Method 2
elastic, form-locking, frictional, or snap-fitting engagement
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4
AI summary
A bicycle lock comprises a lock body and an annular hoop (24). The annular hoop (24) is supported in the lock body and is rotatable between a closed position for engaging into a spoked wheel of the bicycle and an open position for releasing the spoked wheel. A handle (25) is attached to the annular hoop (24) for displacing the annular hoop (24) from the open position into the closed position. The lock body comprises a housing (20, 21) which has a longitudinal groove (22), wherein the handle (25) projects from the annular hoop (24) through the groove. The lock body comprises a fixing device (26) which holds the handle (25) without play when the annular hoop (24) is in the open position.