Bicycle Suspension Piston Control for Precise Preload Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bicycle suspension systems face challenges in adjusting preload accurately and efficiently, often requiring manual trial and error, leading to imprecision and excessive effort, especially as user weight varies.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable suspension system with a piston that moves between positions to control fluid communication, allowing for precise preload adjustment by injecting fluid into a chamber, which automatically adjusts pressure without further user intervention, ensuring the preload is set based on the user's weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual air pump adjustment is used to adjust preload, then the suspension can be adjusted, but the adjustment procedure requires large and tedious repetition of steps
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides electronic feedback to the user through a display, showing real-time preload values and guiding the adjustment process. The microcontroller monitors the suspension state and communicates with the display to provide step-by-step instructions, eliminating trial-and-error adjustment and reducing the number of repetitive steps needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical manual pump adjustment system with an electronic control system comprising a microcontroller, sensor, and display. This substitution automates the measurement and guidance of preload adjustment, transforming a tedious mechanical trial-and-error process into an automated electronic guidance system.
2Stress or pressure
If excessive air pressure is injected into the suspension, then the preload can be increased, but the user must eject air and repeat the adjustment process
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic system continuously monitors the preload pressure and provides real-time feedback to the user through the display. This allows the user to see the exact preload value being applied and stop injection at the precise target value, preventing over-pressurization and the need for ejection and readjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system calculates and displays the target preload value before the user begins injection. The user is guided through the process with predetermined steps, knowing in advance when to stop injecting air, thus avoiding the need for subsequent ejection and readjustment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical spring is used for suspension, then the preload can be adjusted by adjusting load on spring, but the mechanical spring is very heavy and does not provide sufficient preload adjustment range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a pneumatic system using air pressure to provide the suspension preload, replacing the heavy mechanical spring. This allows for a much broader adjustment range by simply varying the air pressure, while keeping the system lightweight since air has negligible weight compared to a mechanical spring capable of providing equivalent force.
4Ease of operation
If user manually estimates satisfactory preload, then adjustment can be completed, but the user cannot adjust preload to a value adapted to his own weight
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a sensor that precisely measures the actual preload being applied and provides this information to the microcontroller, which then displays it to the user. This closed-loop feedback ensures that the preload is precisely adjusted to the target value corresponding to the user's weight, rather than relying on imprecise manual estimation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual estimation with an electronic measurement and display system. The sensor and microcontroller objectively measure and communicate the precise preload value, eliminating subjective user estimation and enabling accurate adjustment tailored to each user's weight.
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 quick and precise preload adjustment, eliminating the need for manual trial and error, reducing fluid consumption, and maintaining the adjusted preload value effectively, dependent on the user's weight.
Implementation Method 1
adjusting the preload by injecting a fluid into the first chamber of the piston, wherein the injected fluid automatically adjusts the pressure in the first chamber
Data Source
AI summary
Adjustable suspension for a bicycle, comprising a suspension body provided with a main fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a piston disposed in the suspension body and comprising a piston head delimiting a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber being in fluid communication with the main fluid inlet, the piston being movable in translation in the suspension body between at least one first position in which the fluid outlet fluidly communicates with the second chamber but not with the first chamber, so as to deploy the piston, and at least one second position in which the fluid outlet is in fluid communication with the first chamber.