Bicycle Chain Guide Assembly with Movable Member

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current chain guide assemblies for bicycles are not sufficiently stable, lightweight, or quiet, especially when encountering bumpy terrain, and lack adjustability for optimal performance.

Innovation Solution

A bicycle chain guide assembly featuring a mounting portion with a resilient contact member and a movable member that can adjust to protect the chain and chain ring, incorporating slots for adjustable attachment and a pivot mechanism to absorb impacts, along with a deflection mechanism to reduce noise and wear.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a traditional chain guide assembly is used to keep the chain on the chain ring, then the chain is protected from falling off, but the assembly becomes heavy and noisy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechain protectionVSAvoidassembly weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The chain guide assembly is divided into separate components: a mounting bracket, a movable member with chain guide portion, and limit constructions. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing overall weight while maintaining protective function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The movable member is designed to move dynamically between positions using a pin-and-slot mechanism. This dynamic design allows the chain guide to adapt to terrain variations without requiring a heavy, rigid structure, thus reducing weight while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If a traditional chain guide assembly is used to keep the chain on the chain ring, then the chain is protected from falling off, but the assembly generates excessive noise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechain protectionVSAvoidnoise

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The movable member moves dynamically along a slot defined in the mounting bracket, allowing controlled movement that reduces impact noise. The pin-and-slot mechanism provides smooth motion transitions compared to rigid fixed structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The limit constructions (pin and slot boundaries) pre-defin e the range of motion to prevent excessive movement that would generate noise. The structure is designed beforehand to accommodate normal variations without creating harmful noise

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Device complexity

If a fixed chain guide assembly is used, then the structure is simple, but the assembly cannot adapt to different riding conditions and terrain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly structureVSAvoidterrain adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The movable member is designed to move dynamically along a slot defined in the mounting bracket, allowing controlled movement that reduces impact noise. The pin-and-slot mechanism provides smooth motion transitions compared to rigid fixed structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 enhanced stability, reduced noise, and improved adjustability, effectively protecting the chain and chain ring from damage while maintaining a lightweight design, even in rough riding conditions.

Implementation Method 1

The contact member is made of a resilient material such that it can be deflected

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a movable member movably mounted to the mounting bracket... that can move in a first direction such that the chain guide portion moves toward an outer circumference of the chain-ring

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpact absorption: Damping

Data Source

PatentUS8961342B2Chain guide assembly with movable member

Publication Date: 2015.02.24 SHIMANO INC

AI summary

A bicycle chain guide assembly that includes a mounting bracket adapted to be affixed to a bicycle, and a movable member movably mounted to the mounting bracket. The movable member includes a chain guide portion adapted to be positioned adjacent a chain ring of the bicycle and below a bottom bracket of the bicycle. When the assembly is mounted on a bicycle with a chain-ring, the movable member can move in a first direction such that the chain guide portion moves toward an outer circumference of the chain-ring and the movable member can move in a second direction such that the chain guide portion moves away from the outer circumference of the chain ring.