Eccentric Hub Torque Coupling for Bicycle Weight-to-Torque Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bicycles, especially electric bicycles, face challenges in maintaining battery charge and range, leading to increased rider effort due to the weight of batteries and motor components, particularly on return journeys where charging locations may not be available.
Innovation Solution
An energy transfer system for vehicle wheels that converts the potential energy from the rider's weight into kinetic energy as driving torque, utilizing an inner hub, outer hub, torque coupling, lever arms, and springs to reduce rider effort and enhance propulsion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If a battery and motor are added to provide propulsion assistance, then the bicycle can support longer journeys and varying fitness levels, but the weight of the battery and motor components increases, leading to increased rider effort
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful effect of the rider's weight (which normally represents a burden) into a beneficial force. By using the rider's weight as a counterbalance in a lever system, the system generates torque that assists propulsion, effectively turning the dead weight into useful mechanical energy for driving the bicycle forward
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically converts the static weight of the rider into dynamic torque through a lever arm mechanism. As the wheel rotates, the lever arms oscillate and convert the gravitational force on the inner hub into rotational torque on the outer hub, creating a dynamic assistance mechanism that operates continuously during riding
2Ease of operation
If conventional bicycle components are used, then the structure is simple and reliable, but the rider effort necessary to power the vehicle is high
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a nested hub structure where an inner hub is positioned within an outer hub. The inner hub is connected to the bicycle's drivetrain while the outer hub is connected to the wheel. This nested arrangement allows the lever arms and springs to be integrated within the wheel structure without significantly increasing external dimensions, maintaining relative simplicity while adding the torque-generating functionality
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 system effectively reduces rider effort by converting weight into torque, enhancing bicycle efficiency and range without the need for continuous battery assistance, making it suitable for longer journeys and varying fitness levels.
Implementation Method 1
a spring captured between each lever arm and a respective one of the spokes... Each spring is arranged to bias the respective lever arm into contact with the actuator
Implementation Method 2
a torque coupling rotatably connecting the inner hub to the outer hub... the torque coupling is adapted to enable radial movement of the inner hub relative to the outer hub and the simultaneous transmission of torque between the inner hub and the outer hub
Implementation Method 3
an array of lever arms hingedly mounted to the outer hub and with each of which the actuator is engaged
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an energy transfer system, in particular in the form of an energy efficient wheel for use with a vehicle such as a bicycle, which energy transfer system is operable to convert potential energy in the form of the load applied by the weight of the person on the vehicle into kinetic energy in the form of driving torque applied to the wheel, the system including an inner hub and an outer hub eccentrically coupled to the inner hub, in addition to a rim connected to the outer hub via an array of spokes, wherein an actuator comprising a pair of flanges extends radially outwardly from the inner hub and an array of lever arms are hingedly mounted to the outer hub and engaged by the actuator such as to be hingedly displaceable by the actuator in response to relative movement between the inner and outer hubs, and a spring captured between each lever arm and one of the spokes.