Bicycle Wheel Quick Release with Rotatable Wrench
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing quick release devices for bicycle wheels face issues with interference from surrounding components due to fixed wrench angles, compromising riding safety, and suffer from material weakness leading to wear and reduced service life, especially when made lightweight for manufacturing demands.
Innovation Solution
A quick release device featuring a mandrel with external grooves, a rotatable sleeve with internal grooves, a limiting member, and an elastic member, allowing independent wrench rotation and secure engagement, while using high-strength steel keys to enhance durability and maintain lightweight construction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wrench is rotated to an improper position after securing the wheel, then the wheel is securely fastened, but surrounding components are interfered with or riding safety problems are raised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the wrench rotatable independently after the wheel is secured. The wrench can be rotated to a proper position away from surrounding components without affecting the secured wheel, thus eliminating component interference and safety issues while maintaining wheel securing reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the functions of the wrench into two independent operations: securing the wheel (through the mandrel mechanism) and positioning the wrench (through independent rotation). This segmentation allows the wrench to be rotated to an appropriate position after wheel securing, separating the wheel fastening function from the wrench positioning function to avoid interference with surrounding components
2Weight of moving object
If the quick release device is formed with lightweight aluminum alloy, then the bicycle weight is reduced, but the material strength is weaker and components are easily mutually worn
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials principle by combining lightweight aluminum alloy for the main body components (mandrel, wrench, handle) with high-strength steel for the keys. This composite approach allows the device to maintain lightweight construction while the steel keys provide enhanced strength and wear resistance at the critical engagement points between the wrench and mandrel
3Strength
If high-strength material such as steel is used for the quick release device, then the material strength and durability are improved, but the weight increases and lightweight demand is not met
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality principle by using high-strength steel only for the keys, which are the specific components requiring high strength and wear resistance during operation. The rest of the device (mandrel, wrench, handle) is made from lightweight aluminum alloy. This localized use of high-strength material provides necessary durability at critical points while maintaining overall lightweight construction
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 provides operation convenience, increased strength, and extended service life by enabling adjustable wrench angles to prevent interference and utilizing high-strength materials for improved durability without compromising the lightweight feature.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member positioned between the key and the stopper of the limiting member, and adapted to drive the key to move to one of the first grooves
Data Source
AI summary
A quick release device for bicycle wheel is disclosed, including a mandrel, a wrench, at least one key, a limiting member, and an elastic member. The mandrel includes a shaft and an axial sleeve positioned at one terminal of the shaft and formed with multiple first grooves. The wrench includes a sleeve mounted on the axial sleeve, and is movable between a first position and a second position. The sleeve includes at least one second groove, wherein the key is positioned within one of the first grooves and the second groove when the sleeve is at the first position; the key is apart from one of the first grooves when the sleeve is the second position. The limiting member fits around the mandrel and includes a stopper. The elastic member is between the key and the stopper. Whereby, the application strength and lifetime can be increased with a lightweight feature.