Cable Car Bicycle Wheel Retainer for Variable Wheel Sizes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bicycle transport devices in aerial cable transportation systems face challenges in securely transporting bicycles of varying wheel sizes without requiring passengers to make complex loading and unloading maneuvers, often causing damage to seating and reducing system capacity.
Innovation Solution
A bicycle transport device with a first retaining device and a rotatable second retaining device, allowing for adjustable support of bicycle wheels through a pivoting mechanism, ensuring stable transport and easy loading/unloading by leveraging the weight of the bicycle itself.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed bicycle retaining device is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot securely transport bicycles with varying wheel sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The second retaining device is made movable relative to the first retaining device through a rotatable connection, allowing the system to dynamically adjust to different wheel sizes. This dynamic configuration enables the retaining devices to adapt their position while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Ease of operation
If complex loading and unloading maneuvers are required, then secure transport is achieved, but passenger effort and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bicycle's own weight is utilized to automatically position the wheel between the retaining devices during loading, and to facilitate release during unloading. This self-service mechanism reduces the effort required by passengers while maintaining secure transport, as the weight that could be problematic during manual handling now becomes the loading aid.
3Ease of manufacture
If bicycles are transported on the seat, then no additional device is needed, but seat damage and reduced capacity occur
Solution Approach 1:
The bicycle transport function is segmented from the seat structure. A dedicated retaining device with separate components (first and second retaining devices) is introduced to handle the bicycle, preventing contact between the bicycle and the seat covers and backrests, thus eliminating damage while maintaining implementation simplicity.
4Ease of operation
If the transporting unit stops at the station for loading, then easy loading is achieved, but system productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining devices are pre-configured in a ready position before the transporting unit arrives at the station. The first retaining device is fixedly positioned and the second retaining device is positioned to receive the wheel, allowing passengers to quickly load bicycles without requiring the transporting unit to stop or slow down significantly, thus maintaining system productivity.
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
Ensures stable and safe transport of bicycles with varying wheel sizes, simplifying loading and unloading processes, and reducing the complexity and number of components for economic efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the second retaining device is rotatably connected to the first retaining device in such a way that, as the radius of the wheel varies, so does the angular position of the second retaining device
Implementation Method 2
ensuring stable transport and easy loading/unloading by leveraging the weight of the bicycle itself
Data Source
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AI summary
A transporting unit for an aerial cable transporting system; wherein the transporting unit travels along a travel direction and comprises a carrier having a suspending arm coupled to the cable, the transporting unit comprising a bicycle transporting device; the bicycle transporting device comprising: a first retaining device for a wheel of a bicycle cantilevered fixed mounted to the carrier so as to project towards an adjacent upstream unit parallel to the direction of travel; a second retaining device connected to the first retaining device and comprising a first end and a second end; wherein the first end projects below the first retaining device and is provided with a lower supporting device for the wheel and the second end projects above the first retaining device and is provided with a front supporting device for the wheel; wherein the second retaining device is rotatable with respect to the first so that as the radius of the wheel varies the position of the front and lower supporting devices varies with respect to the first retaining device.