E-bike Battery Locking Device with Dual-Axis Lever

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Solution Overview

Problem

The integration of electrical energy storage devices into two-wheeled vehicles, such as e-bikes, often requires large frame cutouts, compromising frame rigidity and leading to collisions with other components due to the need for improved rigidity and positioning of these devices.

Innovation Solution

A locking device with a lever arrangement featuring a base plate, lever, and link guide with first and second bearing points and cam tracks, allowing for a series of pivoting processes around these points, reducing the pivoting range and minimizing collision risks, enabling larger or flatter energy storage installations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the electrical energy storage device is integrated directly into the frame, then aesthetics are improved, but frame stiffness deteriorates due to large frame cutouts

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveaestheticsVSAvoidframe stiffness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The locking device is nested within the frame tube structure, with the lever arrangement integrated into the available space. The base plate and lever components are positioned to utilize the frame tube's internal volume without requiring large external cutouts, thereby maintaining frame aesthetics and stiffness while enabling secure energy storage device integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Strength

If the electrical energy storage device is inserted from above or below to improve stiffness, then frame stiffness is improved, but the risk of collision with other components increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveframe stiffnessVSAvoidcollision risk
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The locking device employs a dynamic lever arrangement that can pivot between locked and unlocked positions. The lever's movement path is carefully designed to clear other frame components during operation, reducing collision risk while maintaining the inserted-from-above-or-below configuration that preserves frame stiffness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The locking mechanism utilizes a two-stage pivoting process involving both vertical and horizontal movement dimensions. The lever first pivots vertically to engage/disengage from the energy storage device, then moves horizontally within the frame tube. This multi-dimensional movement path avoids collisions with components in the primary insertion path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If a conventional locking mechanism with large pivoting range is used, then the locking function is achieved, but handling during removal and reinsertion becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking functionVSAvoidhandling ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The locking function is segmented into two distinct pivoting stages: a first pivoting process that provides the primary locking action, and a second pivoting process that secures the lever in its final position. This segmentation allows each stage to be optimized for its specific function while collectively achieving reliable locking with minimal total pivoting range for improved handling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If the pivoting range of the lever is reduced to improve handling, then handling radius is reduced, but the locking mechanism complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling radiusVSAvoidlocking mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking device merges the base plate and lever into a compact integrated assembly that fits within the frame tube. The slotted guide features are incorporated directly into these components, eliminating the need for separate guiding mechanisms. This merging reduces the overall pivoting range required while avoiding excessive complexity through functional integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4192722B1Locking device for fixing a battery on a frame of a bicycle
Publication Date: 2024.08.07 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP4192722B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4192722B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4192722B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a locking device for fixing an electrical energy accumulator (3) on a frame tube (20) or similar of a two-wheeled vehicle, comprising a lever assembly (40) having a baseplate (41), a lever (42) and a slotted guide (6) between the baseplate (41) and the lever (42), wherein the slotted guide (6) has a first bearing axis (61) and a second bearing axis (62) and a first curved track (63) and a second curved track (64), wherein the lever (42) is designed in such a way that, via the slotted guide (6) and in order to pivot the baseplate (41), the lever (42) executes a first pivot movement exclusively about the first bearing axis (61) and then executes a second pivot movement exclusively about the second bearing axis (62).