Derailleur Chain Guide Axial Spacing Rigidity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing derailleur systems for human-powered vehicles face challenges in achieving a balance between rigidity and flexibility, particularly in guiding the chain relative to sprockets, which affects the efficiency and durability of the chain guide.
Innovation Solution
The derailleur system incorporates a base member, a chain guide, and a linkage structure with a first guide protrusion and a first link, where the guide protrusion is spaced apart from the link in the axial direction to create an intermediate space free of springs, allowing for increased rigidity and flexibility in the chain guide's design, and includes a biasing member to enhance the positional relationship between the guide protrusion and the link.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the chain guide is made larger in the axial direction to improve rigidity, then the rigidity of the chain guide is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The chain guide is divided into a guide body and a separate guide protrusion that is pivotally coupled to the first link. This segmentation allows the guide protrusion to be spaced apart from the first link, creating an intermediate space and improving rigidity without requiring the entire chain guide to be enlarged, thus avoiding excessive structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide protrusion is positioned in the axial direction relative to the first link pivot axis, utilizing a different spatial dimension to achieve rigidity improvement. By spacing the guide protrusion apart from the first link in the axial direction, the patent creates an intermediate space that enhances rigidity without increasing complexity in the radial or longitudinal directions.
2Force
If a spring is placed in the intermediate space between the guide protrusion and the first link, then the biasing force is provided, but the rigidity of the chain guide is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The spring is extracted from the intermediate space between the guide protrusion and the first link. By removing the spring from this critical space, the patent maintains the rigidity of the chain guide while still providing the necessary biasing force through alternative means, such as the pivotal coupling mechanism or external biasing members positioned elsewhere in the linkage structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the chain guide design is made more flexible to improve adaptability, then the flexibility of design is improved, but the rigidity of the chain guide is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The guide protrusion is pivotally coupled to the first link, allowing it to move dynamically relative to the link while maintaining a stable operational position. This dynamic coupling provides design flexibility and adaptability to different chain positions and tensions, while the pivotal connection itself maintains sufficient rigidity during operation through the spacing and intermediate space configuration.
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
This configuration enhances the rigidity and flexibility of the chain guide, enabling improved performance and durability by allowing for larger chain guide dimensions and adjustable positional relationships, thereby optimizing the chain's movement between gear positions.
Implementation Method 1
The first guide protrusion is spaced apart from the first link in an axial direction with respect to the first guide pivot axis to define an intermediate space between the first guide protrusion and the first link in the axial direction. The intermediate space is free of a spring. With the derailleur according to the first aspect, it is possible to make a size of the chain guide in the axial direction larger since the first guide protrusion is spaced apart from the first link in the axial direction, improving rigidity of the chain guide.
Implementation Method 2
the derailleur according to the first aspect further comprises a biasing member. The biasing member is configured to apply biasing force to at least one of the linkage structure and the chain guide.
Data Source
AI summary
A derailleur comprises a base member, a chain guide, and a linkage structure. The linkage structure includes a first link pivotally coupled to the base member about a first link pivot axis. The chain guide includes a first chain guide pivotally coupled to the first link about a first guide pivot axis spaced apart from the first link pivot axis. The first chain guide includes a first guide body and a first guide protrusion. The first guide protrusion protrudes from the first guide body and is pivotally coupled to the first link about the first guide pivot axis. The first guide protrusion is spaced apart from the first link in an axial direction with respect to the first guide pivot axis to define an intermediate space between the first guide protrusion and the first link in the axial direction. The intermediate space is free of a spring.