Bicycle Wheel Axle Securing Mechanism for Quick Detachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bicycle wheel securing devices face challenges in smoothly detaching and attaching wheels to the bicycle body, often requiring complex mechanisms and resulting in inefficient wheel maintenance and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A bicycle wheel securing device comprising a shaft with an axial abutment structure, a bicycle-body engaging structure, a manual actuator, and a shaft-end retaining structure, which includes elastic or magnetic components to securely attach and detach the wheel, allowing for easy movement and retention of the shaft along the bicycle body's center axis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex wheel securing mechanism is used to ensure secure attachment, then the reliability of wheel attachment is improved, but the device complexity increases and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft is divided into multiple functional segments: a insertion portion for initial wheel engagement, a retention portion with circumferential retaining structures (grooves or protrusions) for secure holding, and a removal portion for easy detachment. This segmentation allows each portion to specialize in its function, achieving reliable attachment without requiring a complex overall mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the retention function from the main shaft body by adding separate circumferential retaining structures (grooves or protrusions) at specific locations. This allows the shaft to maintain a simple overall structure while incorporating secure retention capabilities through these extracted functional elements.
2Reliability
If a complex wheel securing mechanism is used to ensure secure attachment, then the reliability of wheel attachment is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft is divided into multiple functional segments: a insertion portion for initial wheel engagement, a retention portion with circumferential retaining structures (grooves or protrusions) for secure holding, and a removal portion for easy detachment. This segmentation allows each portion to specialize in its function, achieving reliable attachment without requiring a complex overall mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses circumferential grooves or protrusions that passively engage with the wheel hub features, allowing the wheel to be retained without active locking mechanisms. The retention is achieved through the inverse approach of using negative space (grooves) or simple positive features (protrusions) rather than complex active locking components.
3Strength
If traditional wheel securing methods are used, then the structural strength is maintained, but the wear and tear on components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft is divided into multiple functional segments: a insertion portion for initial wheel engagement, a retention portion with circumferential retaining structures (grooves or protrusions) for secure holding, and a removal portion for easy detachment. This segmentation allows each portion to specialize in its function, achieving reliable attachment without requiring a complex overall mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft design allows for smooth transitions between insertion, retention, and removal phases through its segmented structure. The circumferential retaining structures enable dynamic engagement and disengagement without abrupt force applications, reducing impact and wear on both the shaft and wheel hub components during repeated attachment cycles.
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 detachment and attachment of bicycle wheels, reducing wear and tear while simplifying the wheel securing process, and providing secure retention during maintenance states, particularly effective for various bike types such as mountain and road bikes.
Implementation Method 1
the shaft-end retaining structure includes an elastic retaining member... it is possible to retain the second shaft end in the first wheel attachment part by using an elastic force of the elastic retaining member
Implementation Method 2
the elastic retaining member comprises a snap ring... it is possible to retain the second shaft end in the first wheel attachment part by using an elastic force of the snap ring
Data Source
AI summary
A bicycle wheel securing device comprises a shaft, an axial abutment structure, a bicycle-body engaging structure, a manual actuator, and a shaft-end retaining structure. The shaft has a first shaft end, a second shaft end, and a longitudinal center axis. The manual actuator is operatively connected to the axial abutment structure to bias the axial abutment structure against a first wheel attachment part of a bicycle body in response to operation of the manual actuator in a securing state where the bicycle-body engaging structure is engaged with a second wheel attachment part of the bicycle body. The shaft-end retaining structure is at least partly disposed at the second shaft end to retain the second shaft end in the first wheel attachment part in a maintenance state where the second shaft end is positioned in the first wheel attachment part of the bicycle body.