Dropper Seatpost Maximum Stroke Adjustment with Floating Piston
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Solution Overview
Problem
Adjustable seatposts on bicycles require manual re-adjustment of saddle height after lowering, causing inconvenience and frustration for riders.
Innovation Solution
A dropper seatpost with a pneumatic and hydraulic cylinder system and a stroke adjustment assembly that allows for adjusting and restoring the maximum upward stroke of the inner tube using a floating piston and oil guide pipe, eliminating the need for manual re-adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the inner tube height is lowered to save storage space, then storage efficiency is improved, but the rider must spend time readjusting the saddle height, causing inconvenience and loss of time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically restoring the inner tube to its original height position after being lowered. The memory function stores the initial height setting and automatically retrieves it when needed, eliminating the need for manual readjustment and thus resolving the time loss issue while maintaining storage efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The dropper seatpost system provides self-service through its automatic height restoration capability. The mechanism serves itself by automatically returning to the predetermined height without requiring rider intervention, thereby eliminating the inconvenient manual readjustment process while preserving the space-saving lowering function
2Ease of operation
If the dropper seatpost is equipped with memory function to automatically restore height, then convenience is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components like stroke adjustment assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs pneumatic and hydraulic principles through the use of a pneumatic spring and hydraulic oil within the dropper seatpost mechanism. The pneumatic spring provides the restoring force for automatic height recovery, while the hydraulic system with adjustable stroke control manages the movement precision. This approach achieves automatic height restoration with relatively simple mechanical components, balancing ease of operation with acceptable device complexity
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
Enables convenient and efficient adjustment of the saddle height without requiring manual re-adjustment, saving operational time and enhancing user convenience.
Implementation Method 1
a pneumatic and hydraulic cylinder (50) is disposed in the outer tube (20) for controlling a vertical movement of the inner tube (30) relative to the outer tube (20)
Implementation Method 2
the floating piston (55) is moved according to an oil volume, thereby adjusting a maximum upward stroke of the inner tube (30)
Data Source
AI summary
A dropper seatpost includes an outer tube, an inner tube disposed movably upward and downward in the outer tube, and a pneumatic and hydraulic cylinder disposed in the outer tube. When the pneumatic and hydraulic cylinder is opened, the inner tube is moved upward and downward relative to the outer tube, and when the pneumatic and hydraulic cylinder is closed, the inner tube is unable to be moved upward and downward relative to the outer tube. A stroke adjustment assembly includes a floating piston and an oil guide pipe disposed in the inner tube and having a bottom end inserted into the pneumatic and hydraulic cylinder. When an oil is output from the oil guide pipe or flows back into the oil guide pipe, the floating piston is moved according to an oil volume, thereby adjusting a maximum upward stroke of the inner tube.