Height-Adjustable Vehicle Brake Cable Housing and Offset Wheel Fork
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing manually-operated, height-adjustable wheeled vehicles lack efficient brake systems that can adjust tension without disassembly and provide stable support due to limitations in brake cable management and wheel fork design, leading to potential tipping and inadequate braking performance.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a brake cable assembly with a cable adjuster enclosed by a brake cable housing and a wheel fork assembly featuring a mount with a longitudinally offset wheel fork, allowing for adjustable brake tension and enhanced stability through a wider gait and greater tipping angle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a brake cable assembly is used in existing wheeled vehicles, then braking function is provided, but brake tension cannot be adjusted without disassembly and the cable adjuster is exposed to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The cable adjuster is nested inside the brake cable housing, which protects it from damage while allowing access through the housing. This nesting arrangement resolves the contradiction by protecting the adjuster (reducing complexity) while maintaining adjustability (ease of operation).
Solution Approach 2:
The brake cable housing acts as an intermediary structure that encloses and protects the cable adjuster and excess brake cable. This mediator provides both protection and a controlled access mechanism, allowing tension adjustment without full disassembly while managing the complexity of cable routing.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a standard wheel fork design is used, then wheel mounting is simple, but the vehicle has limited stability and narrow gait
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel fork design uses asymmetric positioning of the wheel mounting points with a wider lateral separation (gait) compared to conventional symmetric designs. This asymmetric configuration increases stability by widening the base of support, resolving the contradiction between stability and complexity through a fundamentally different geometric approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel fork design incorporates an offset longitudinal axis that creates a three-dimensional configuration rather than a simple planar mounting. This dimensional change allows the wheel to be positioned at an offset angle, providing both enhanced stability and wider gait while maintaining manageable complexity through the integrated mount structure.
3Reliability
If the brake cable housing does not enclose the cable adjuster, then the housing structure is simpler, but the adjuster is vulnerable to dislodgement and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The cable adjuster is nested within the brake cable housing, which provides protective enclosure while maintaining a relatively simple overall housing structure. This nesting resolves the contradiction by incorporating protection (reliability) into the housing design without adding significant structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The brake cable housing structure provides its own protective function by enclosing the cable adjuster, eliminating the need for separate protective components. This self-service approach enhances reliability while avoiding additional complexity from separate protection mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A brake assembly for a manually-operated, height-adjustable wheeled vehicle according to a first aspect includes a brake cable assembly. The brake assembly includes a brake cable housing shaped to enclose an excess portion of the brake cable assembly. The brake assembly includes a cable adjuster coupled to the brake cable assembly. The cable adjuster is enclosed by the brake cable housing. There is additionally provided a wheel fork assembly for a manually-operated, height-adjustable wheeled vehicle according to a first aspect. The vehicle includes a frame member. The wheel fork assembly includes a mount shaped to couple with a lower end of the frame member of the vehicle. The mount has a longitudinal axis. The wheel fork assembly includes a wheel fork having a longitudinal axis offset from the longitudinal axis of the mount. The wheel fork is integrally coupled to and formed with the mount.