Cycle Brake Sphere Assembly for Consistent Hub Braking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing braking systems for cycles are exposed to the elements and foreign materials, leading to inconsistent braking pressure and adjustment due to non-exact distance and angular relationships to the wheel axis, compromising their ability to slow or stop the vehicle effectively.
Innovation Solution
A braking system featuring a brake sphere engaged with a shaft adjacent to the wheel, a brake caliper mounted to the cycle's chassis, and brake pads positioned between the caliper and a contact side, with hydraulic lines connecting the caliper, allowing for axial compression and multi-directional brake force application, providing consistent braking and increased surface area for enhanced friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional drum or disc brake systems are used with manual levers or foot pedals, then the braking mechanism can be actuated, but the brake system is exposed to the elements and foreign materials leading to inconsistent braking pressure and adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The brake sphere is enclosed within a protective housing that shields it from environmental elements and foreign materials. This housing acts as a barrier while allowing the brake pads to contact the sphere through controlled openings, resolving the contradiction between protection and braking function.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the brake pads move towards a fixed rotor as in traditional systems, the brake sphere rotates against stationary brake pads. This inversion centralizes the braking action at the wheel hub, protecting the mechanism from external factors while maintaining consistent braking pressure.
2Measurement precision
If manual levers are positioned on handlebars or foot pedals are placed in front of foot pegs, then the brake can be actuated, but the distance and angular relationship to the wheel axis is not exact resulting in inconsistent braking pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The manual lever or foot pedal mechanical actuation system is replaced with an electrical magnet or solenoid that directly actuates the brake caliper. This substitution eliminates the cable or hydraulic fluid compression mechanism, providing precise and consistent brake application directly at the wheel hub without the inconsistencies of distant mechanical linkages.
Solution Approach 2:
An electrical magnet or solenoid acts as an intermediary between the brake actuation signal and the brake pads, providing precise control of the brake caliper movement. This intermediary ensures exact positioning and consistent braking pressure by directly controlling the pad engagement with the brake sphere.
3Force
If brake pads compress against a rigid rotor, then friction is applied to slow the wheel, but the braking pressure and adjustment may be inconsistent due to non-exact distance and angular relationship
Solution Approach 1:
The traditional system of stationary pads against a rotating rotor is inverted to create rotating brake pads against a stationary brake sphere. This inversion is achieved by mounting the brake sphere to the rotating wheel hub while the brake caliper with pads remains stationary, eliminating positioning inconsistencies and providing consistent braking force.
Solution Approach 2:
The brake sphere is designed as a separate, precisely manufactured component that can be independently positioned and adjusted. This segmentation allows for precise manufacturing of the sphere's braking surface and enables accurate positioning relative to the brake pads, ensuring consistent braking force application.
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 sphere brake system ensures consistent and powerful braking with increased protection from external factors, offering improved braking performance and reliability by centralizing the brake assembly and utilizing axial compression for efficient torque generation.
Implementation Method 1
causing friction between the brake sphere and brake pad; and resulting in slowing the rotation of the cycle's wheel
Implementation Method 2
the brake caliper connected to a cycle's hydraulic lines... increasing pressure in a system to activate a caliper, thereby forcing a brake pad to engage with a brake sphere
Data Source
AI summary
A cycle braking system is provided where the system comprises a brake sphere engaged with a shaft adjacent to a wheel of a cycle and a brake caliper, where the brake caliper is mounted to a cycle's chassis and aligned around the brake sphere rotor. In one embodiment, the cycle braking system further comprises brake pad(s) with an inner side and a contact side, a brake housing having the brake pad(s) positioned between the caliper and the contact side facing the brake sphere; and the brake caliper connected to a cycle's hydraulic lines.