Bicycle Wheel True-Paired Spokes and Radial Rim Flange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional spoked wheels face issues with side wobble forces, cumbersome spoke tension adjustment, material inefficiency, and manufacturing waste, particularly due to long unsupported rim spans and concentrated load points, which affect the strength and weight of the wheel.
Innovation Solution
A tension spoke wheel design featuring long nipples and wishbone spokes attached to a radial rim flange, allowing easy tension adjustment and true-paired spoke configuration, reducing side wobble forces and optimizing rim material usage, with diagonally positioned hub ribs to minimize material waste and enhance structural efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If paired spokes are used to reduce side wobble forces, then side wobble forces are reduced, but unsupported rim spans become longer and twisting loads increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the single spoke function into two separate spokes per rim section, with one spoke attaching to the inner hub flange and the other to the outer hub flange. This segmentation allows each spoke to handle specific force vectors independently, reducing side wobble forces while maintaining rim support span integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses asymmetric hub flange positioning where inner and outer spokes attach at different radial positions on the hub. This asymmetric arrangement creates opposing force vectors that cancel out side wobble forces, while the spokes are positioned to maintain optimal rim support spans.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional nipple attachment at the rim is used, then spoke attachment is achieved, but spoke tension adjustment becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The invention moves the nipple attachment point from the rim (circumferential dimension) to the hub (radial dimension). By positioning nipples on the hub flanges where there is ample space, the adjustment mechanism operates in a different spatial dimension that provides easy access for tools while maintaining secure spoke attachment.
3Strength
If rim wall material is concentrated at attachment points, then attachment strength is sufficient, but material efficiency decreases and weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local reinforcement only at the hub flange attachment points where nipples connect, rather than throughout the entire rim wall. The rim wall between attachment points can be optimized for minimal weight, creating a non-uniform thickness profile that is strong where needed and lightweight where not required.
4Weight of moving object
If fewer spokes are used to reduce weight, then wheel weight decreases, but rim spans become longer and require stronger (heavier) rims
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the load-bearing function across multiple hub flanges (inner and outer) rather than relying on a single rim structure. This segmentation allows for fewer spokes while maintaining adequate support, as each spoke pair works independently to support rim sections.
Data Source
AI summary
A spoked wheel comprises a rim, a hub, V-shaped spokes, nipples, and eyelets. There is true pairing of the spokes, because the rim has half the number of spoke attachments as there are nipples. True paired spoking means that there are no side wobble forces or rim twist caused by spoke tension. The rim has spoke attachment holes that are parallel to the axis of wheel rotation and are reinforced with eyelets. The rim has unnecessary material cut away between the spoke attachment holes. To ease adjustment, the nipples are located about midway between the hub and the rim. The hub has longitudinal ribs and that are aligned with each other. That allows the hub body to be machined from a relatively lightweight extrusion. To increase the wheel strength, the inboard spokes are moved outboard as much as possible. The hub has pairs of nipple attachment holes where each pair is located on a diagonal relative to the axis of the hub.