Bicycle Suspension Hydraulic Control Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bicycle suspension systems lack efficient control mechanisms to seamlessly switch between different suspension settings, particularly for minimizing peddling-induced bobbing and optimizing ride comfort.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic control assembly with two separate fluid pumps, each connected to a bicycle suspension via a fluid responder, and an actuator with a push-push toggle mechanism, allowing fluid displacement to operate both suspensions between 'lock-out' and non-lock-out settings, mounted on a bicycle handlebar.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single fluid pump is used to control multiple bicycle suspensions, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to independently control each suspension setting is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the fluid control function into separate pumps for front and rear suspensions. Each suspension has its own dedicated fluid pump that can operate independently, allowing separate control of front and rear suspension settings without requiring a complex shared control mechanism
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate fluid paths are used for each suspension, then the independence of control is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid control system is segmented into separate, dedicated fluid paths for front and rear suspensions. Each fluid path connects its corresponding pump directly to its suspension's fluid responder, eliminating the need for complex routing, valves, or switches that would be required to share fluid paths
3Ease of operation
If a toggle mechanism is used to operate both pistons, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the control of two separate pistons into a single toggle actuator. The toggle mechanism simultaneously actuates both the front suspension pump piston and the rear suspension pump piston through a unified mechanical linkage, allowing both suspensions to be controlled with a single rider input
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
Enables smooth switching between suspension settings, reducing peddling-induced bobbing and enhancing ride comfort by effectively controlling fluid displacement between the pumps and responders, thereby improving the operational efficiency of the bicycle suspensions.
Implementation Method 1
a hydraulic control assembly including: a control housing mountable to a bicycle handlebar; a first fluid pump including a first fluid cavity formed within the control housing and a first piston disposed in the first fluid cavity; a second fluid pump including a second fluid cavity formed within the control housing and a second piston disposed in the second fluid cavity
Data Source
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AI summary
A bicycle suspension system of the invention generally includes at least two bicycle suspensions and a hydraulic control assembly (20). The hydraulic control assembly (20) includes a pair of fluid pumps (40, 42) , and a fluid responder (44, 46) and a fluid path for each of the bicycle suspensions (14, 16). The fluid pumps (40, 42) are mountable to a bicycle handlebar (12) and form part of the hydraulic control assembly (20). A fluid responder (44, 46) is mountable each of the bicycle suspensions (14, 16). The fluid paths link the fluid pump (40, 42) to a respective fluid responder (44, 46). Each fluid responder (44, 46) is operatively connected to one of the bicycle suspensions (14, 16) to operate the bicycle suspension system between first and second suspension settings in response to fluid displacement between each fluid pump (40, 42) and each of the fluid responders (44, 46).