Bicycle Shock Absorber With Interchangeable Electronics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shock absorbers for bicycles require complex settings that can overwhelm beginners while offering insufficient options, and advanced users desire more settings, leading to a need for a versatile system that can adapt to different user needs without requiring multiple shock absorbers.
Innovation Solution
A shock absorber with interchangeable electronics units that allow for varying levels of control complexity, enabling beginners to start with simple settings and upgrade to more advanced options, along with a battery system that can be adjusted for different energy needs, and incorporating magnetorheological fluids and electrically controllable throttle valves for real-time adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a shock absorber provides many adjustment options for advanced users, then the adaptability and control precision are improved, but the device complexity increases and beginners are overwhelmed
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into multiple independent electronic units, each with a specific number of adjustment options. Users can select units ranging from 1 to 10 adjustment options, allowing the system to be divided into different complexity levels that match user expertise.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows dynamic reconfiguration of complexity by enabling users to change the number of adjustment options available. The electronic units can be exchanged or reprogrammed to provide different levels of control complexity based on user needs and experience.
2Ease of operation
If a shock absorber provides few adjustment options for beginners, then the ease of operation is improved, but the adaptability for advanced users deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is divided into separate electronic units with different numbers of adjustment options (1-10 options per unit). Beginners can start with units providing only 1-3 simple adjustment options, ensuring ease of operation while maintaining the capability to upgrade to more complex units later.
Solution Approach 2:
The shock absorber system is designed to accept multiple types of electronic units that can be interchanged. A single physical shock absorber can serve both beginners and advanced users by accepting different electronic control units, making the system universally applicable to different skill levels.
3Reliability
If a battery is provided to maintain operation independently, then the reliability is improved, but the weight of moving object increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows changing the energy storage parameter by offering different battery capacities (small, medium, large) that can be selected based on the required independent operation duration. Users can optimize the balance between reliability (independent operation time) and weight by choosing appropriate battery sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery system is designed to be exchangeable and reconfigurable. Users can dynamically change battery units based on their needs, allowing the system to adapt between different weight and reliability requirements for different riding scenarios.
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 system provides flexibility for both beginners and advanced users, allowing for customizable damping and spring settings, and efficient energy use through adjustable battery capacity and magnetorheological fluid control, enhancing ride comfort and adaptability to different terrains and driving styles.
Implementation Method 1
Shock absorbers for bicycles that are operated with a magnetorheological fluid as the damping fluid have also become known. A magnetic field can be generated in a damping channel of a controllable throttle valve, which leads to a concatenation of the particles in the magneto-rheological fluid along the field lines of the magnetic field, whereby the flow through the throttle valve is correspondingly damped.
Data Source
AI summary
The shock absorber (100) comprises a damper device (1), which has two damper chambers (3,4) that stand in connection by a controllable throttle valve. A removable electronic unit (50c) is provided, which comprises a control unit for controlling the controllable throttle valve to influence the damping characteristics.