Bicycle Rim Sensor Housing for Accurate Tire Pressure Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smart wheel accessories with integrated sensors often compromise aerodynamic drag, aesthetics, and balance due to their placement on bicycle wheels, and existing pressure sensors are prone to clogging from sealant exposure, leading to inaccurate measurements.
Innovation Solution
A bicycle wheel rim design with an integrated sensor device positioned within a cavity, where the sensor is separated from the air fill valve to prevent sealant exposure, using a pressure sensor connected via a blind port and a fluid path to measure tire pressure accurately without compromising the wheel's aerodynamics or balance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a smart wheel accessory is attached to an outside surface of the rim, then sensor functionality is provided, but aerodynamic drag is increased and aesthetics are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor device is nested within a receptacle formed in the rim structure. The receptacle houses the sensor device internally, allowing the sensor to be integrated into the rim without protruding outward. This nesting approach provides sensor functionality while maintaining a streamlined rim profile that reduces aerodynamic drag and preserves aesthetics.
2Ease of operation
If the pressure sensor is exposed and anchored to the air fill valve, then sensor installation is simplified, but sealant exposure causes clogging of the sensor port
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor device is extracted from the air fill valve location and positioned within a separate receptacle in the rim. The receptacle includes a sealed port that connects to the tire cavity through a fluid passage, keeping the sensor isolated from sealant. This extraction resolves the contradiction by maintaining easy installation through the sealed port while preventing sealant exposure that would cause clogging and measurement errors.
Solution Approach 2:
A sealed fluid passage acts as an intermediary between the sensor device and the tire cavity. This sealed passage allows pressure transmission from the tire to the sensor while preventing sealant from reaching the sensor port. The intermediary sealed connection maintains reliability by blocking sealant while still enabling accurate pressure measurements.
3Reliability
If the sensor device is positioned away from the air fill valve, then sealant exposure is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The receptacle for the sensor device is merged with the rim structure itself, forming an integrated assembly. The receptacle is formed as part of the rim and includes the sealed port and fluid passage as integral features. This merging reduces device complexity by combining multiple components (receptacle, seal, fluid passage) into a single integrated rim structure, while still protecting the sensor port from sealant exposure.
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 enhances aerodynamic performance and balance by isolating the sensor from the air fill valve, reducing the risk of clogging and allowing for more advanced sensor functionality with larger batteries, while providing accurate tire pressure measurements.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure sensor supported by the housing and configured to determine a pressure of a fluid within a volume between the first tire retaining portion and the second tire retaining portion
Data Source
AI summary
A rim for a bicycle wheel includes a radially inner portion disposed along an inner circumference of the rim, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall spaced apart from the first sidewall. The first sidewall and the second sidewall extend radially outward from the radially inner portion. The rim also includes a radially outer tire engaging portion disposed along an outer circumference of the rim. The radially outer tire engaging portion extends from the first sidewall and the second sidewall, respectively. The rim also includes an opening through the radially inner portion at a first circumferential position along the inner circumference. An air valve of the bicycle wheel is positionable through the opening. The rim also includes a receptacle for a sensor device within the radially inner portion at a second circumferential position along the inner circumference. The second circumferential position is different than the first circumferential position.