Compact Bicycle Pump with Nested Telescopic Core Tube
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bicycle pumps either have a long stroke and large size, making them cumbersome, or a short stroke with low air inflow, compromising portability and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A compact pump design featuring a sliding core tube with a piston assembly, a hose connected to an air needle and nozzle assembly, and a hinged foot stand, which allows for efficient air inflation with a compact structure and easy valve connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a pump with single barrel and long stroke is used, then the air pumping efficiency is improved, but the size of the pump becomes large and affects bicycle use
Solution Approach 1:
The core tube is nested inside the outer tube, creating a compact telescopic structure. The core tube with piston assembly can slide within the outer tube, allowing the pump to maintain a compact form when not in use while providing sufficient stroke length during operation. This nesting arrangement resolves the contradiction by hiding the long stroke mechanism within a small external footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump employs dynamic elements including the sliding core tube within the outer tube, the rotatable foot stand with hinge connection, and the movable air needle. These dynamic components allow the pump to transition between compact storage state and extended operational state, achieving both small size for portability and long stroke for efficient air pumping.
2Volume of moving object
If a miniature pump with short stroke is used, then the pump size is reduced and portability is improved, but the amount of air pumped per stroke decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic arrangement of core tube inside outer tube allows the pump to present a compact exterior while accommodating a longer internal stroke mechanism. This enables the miniature external size to coexist with larger effective pumping volume inside, resolving the contradiction between small size and high productivity.
3Volume of moving object
If a foldable foot stand is provided, then the pump structure is made compact, but the foot stand may knock the rear frame assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The foot stand is designed with hinge connection allowing it to rotate and adjust its position dynamically. This enables the foot stand to be positioned away from the rear frame assembly during operation, preventing interference while maintaining compact structure when folded. The dynamic adjustment capability resolves the contradiction between compactness and interference prevention.
4Ease of operation
If the connector is made detachable for convenient removal, then the ease of operation is improved, but the connection reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The pump is divided into detachable segments including the air needle assembly and hose connections. This segmentation allows convenient removal and attachment of components for ease of operation, while each connection interface is designed with appropriate sealing mechanisms to maintain reliability during detached and reattached states.
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 design ensures efficient air inflation with a compact form factor, preventing random foot stand rotation and facilitating easy nozzle removal for convenient tire inflation while maintaining reliable connections.
Implementation Method 1
The piston assembly slides between the closed end of the outer tube and the limiting block
Implementation Method 2
a one-way valve communicating with the core tube and the outer tube
Implementation Method 3
the strut bracing is provided with a spring snap; the end socket of the core tube is provided with a groove matching with the spring snap
Implementation Method 4
Rotate the foot stand, and the end of the foot stand will push the strut bracing, forcing the spring snap of the strut bracing to break away from the groove of the end socket of the core tube
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A manually operated pump for supplying air to a bicycle comprises an outer tube (3) with one end closed and the other end open; a core tube (4) which can slide in the outer tube (3) and is provided with a piston assembly (2) on one end; and a hose (5) which can slide in the core tube (4). One end of the hose (5) is connected with an air needle (6), and the other end of the hose (5) is connected with an air nozzle assembly (1). The piston assembly (2) comprises a piston (21), a piston ring (23), and a one-way valve (22) communicating with the core tube (4) and the outer tube (3). An end socket (7) is provided on the other end of the core tube (4). A narrowing port (17) is formed in the end socket (7) of the core tube. A foot stand (8) is hinged on outer side of the end socket (7) of the core tube. The air needle (6) is provided with a head matching with the narrowing port (17). The pump of the present invention has a compact structure and is convenient for using.