Bicycle Chain Outer Link Plate Texture for Quieter Shifting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bicycle chains experience high sliding resistance and noise during gear shifting due to the interaction with sprocket teeth, which conventional slide-plating layers do not adequately address.
Innovation Solution
The bicycle chain features an outer link plate with an uneven pattern on its surface, comprising alternating protrusions and grooves, which reduces the sliding area and friction coefficient, thereby minimizing resistance and noise during shifting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a slide-plating layer is formed on the outer link plate, then sliding resistance with the sprocket tooth is reduced, but the patent indicates this is insufficient for further reduction
Solution Approach 1:
The outer link plate surface is divided into different regions with different properties: a smooth sliding surface region for low friction and an uneven pattern region for reduced contact area. This local differentiation allows the plate to simultaneously achieve low sliding resistance and reduced noise during shifting operations
Solution Approach 2:
The uneven pattern on the outer link plate consists of curved surfaces and rounded features rather than sharp edges. This curvature reduces the contact area with the sprocket tooth during shifting, thereby reducing both sliding resistance and noise while maintaining smooth operation
2Force
If the outer link plate surface is made smooth for low friction, then sliding resistance is reduced, but noise during shifting increases
Solution Approach 1:
The outer link plate incorporates both smooth regions for low friction and uneven patterned regions for noise reduction. The smooth sliding surface region minimizes sliding resistance, while the uneven pattern region with its varied topography reduces contact area and thereby reduces noise during shifting operations
Solution Approach 2:
The uneven pattern, which might seem to increase friction due to its complex topography, actually reduces the effective contact area between the chain and sprocket tooth. This converts what could be a harmful feature into a beneficial one by reducing both noise and sliding resistance simultaneously
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 uneven pattern on the outer link plate effectively reduces sliding resistance and noise, enhancing shifting performance and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an uneven pattern extending in the lateral direction is formed on the outer surface... reduces the sliding area and friction coefficient, thereby minimizing resistance and noise during shifting
Data Source
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AI summary
A bicycle chain includes an inner link (5) which includes a pair of inner link plates (51), and an outer link (6) which includes a pair of outer link plates (61) and a chain pin (62). The inner link (5) and the outer link (6) are bendably connected by the chain pin (62). The outer link plate (61) includes a sliding region that slides on a side surface of a tooth of a sprocket on an outer surface. An uneven pattern (7) in which a plurality of irregularities is continuously arranged in a predetermined pattern is provided in the sliding region of the outer link plate.