Enclosed Bicycle Brake Cylinder Layout for Hidden Hydraulic Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bicycle brakes with independently installed hydraulic disc brakes result in exposed hydraulic lines, affecting aesthetics and increasing the risk of damage due to misalignment with the bicycle frame.
Innovation Solution
An internally routed brake system with enclosed hydraulic cylinders, featuring a housing with an oil chamber, connector, and hose configuration that aligns with the bicycle frame, utilizing a hinge and torsion spring for easy installation and rapid braking, while minimizing hydraulic fluid compression delay.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydraulic cylinders are independently installed at brake levers, then braking function is achieved, but hydraulic lines become exposed and misaligned with bicycle frame
Solution Approach 1:
The brake lever assembly is merged with the hydraulic cylinder housing into a single integrated unit. The housing contains the oil chamber and connector, while the brake lever is hinged to the housing, combining multiple components into one structured assembly that eliminates exposed hydraulic lines and ensures proper alignment with the bicycle frame.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic lines are routed internally within the housing structure, nesting the hydraulic system within the mechanical brake lever assembly. The connector is positioned close to the bicycle frame with the hose running along the frame, hiding the hydraulic lines within the structural boundaries of the brake system rather than having them exposed externally.
2Ease of manufacture
If hydraulic lines are exposed, then installation is simple, but aesthetics are degraded and damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing acts as a protective shell that encloses the hydraulic lines. The connector with its oil passage and hollow column provides a protected pathway for the hydraulic hose to run along the bicycle frame, shielding the hydraulic lines from external damage while maintaining a clean, integrated appearance.
3Ease of operation
If brake lever is hinged to housing with torsion spring, then returning force is provided and assembly is simplified, but space for oil chamber is constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The oil chamber utilizes the vertical depth dimension of the housing rather than only horizontal space. By positioning the oil chamber within the housing depth and allowing the brake lever to hinge at one end while the connector extends from the other end, the design efficiently distributes space across multiple dimensions, accommodating both the torsion spring mechanism and adequate oil chamber volume.
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 solution effectively prevents hydraulic line misalignment, enhances aesthetics, ensures robustness, and provides rapid and effective braking performance with minimal compression delay, simplifying the manufacturing and assembly process.
Implementation Method 1
the hinge includes a torsion spring mounted thereon which provides a returning force for the brake lever
Implementation Method 2
the arm includes a piston located within the oil chamber and being slidable along the depth direction of the oil chamber. A spherical screw includes a ball head and a threaded shaft, wherein the ball head extends into the oil chamber and pushes the piston for compressing brake fluid
Data Source
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AI summary
A brake system includes a bicycle frame and a housing which is mounted to the bicycle frame. The housing includes an oil chamber for brake fluid storage, and one of two ends of the housing is hinged to a brake lever via a hinge. The brake lever includes an arm for compressing the brake fluid within the oil chamber to initiate braking. The housing has a connector connected to another one of the two ends thereof. The connector communicates with the oil chamber and is located close to the bicycle frame. An output end of the connector is connected to a hose that runs along the bicycle frame.