Bicycle Front Fork Roller-Guided Suspension With Adjustable Spring Stiffness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shock-absorbing front forks for bicycles face issues with unbalanced spring performance, increased manufacturing costs, high friction leading to noise, and inability to adjust stiffness according to road conditions.
Innovation Solution
A shock-absorbing front fork design featuring a crown with axial passages, inner and outer parts with pins and rollers to reduce friction, and a spring adjustment mechanism using a rod and tool for customizable stiffness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two springs are installed in each leg of the front fork, then shock absorption capability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases and spring performance becomes unbalanced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the shock absorption function from two separate springs into a single centrally-installed spring. The spring is positioned in the crown of the front fork to absorb shocks transferred from the road, eliminating the need for two separate springs while maintaining shock absorption capability and reducing manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The single spring in the crown serves multiple functions: it absorbs shocks from both legs of the front fork simultaneously and provides a balanced shock absorption effect that individual leg springs cannot achieve. This universal solution replaces the dual-spring system with one multi-functional component.
2Ease of manufacture
If one spring is installed to the center of the crown, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but friction between parts increases creating noise and gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism consisting of a moving tube, a fixed tube, and a spring assembly that mediates between the crown and the axle. This intermediary structure reduces direct friction between parts, allows controlled movement, and eliminates the noise and gap problems associated with simple single-spring designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The design incorporates a moving tube that can dynamically adjust its position within the fixed tube, allowing the system to adapt to varying shock conditions. This dynamic structure reduces friction by enabling smooth relative movement between components while maintaining proper alignment and eliminating gaps.
3Device complexity
If the spring is fixed in position, then structure is simple, but the front fork cannot be adjusted according to road conditions and user needs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates an adjustable mechanism that allows users to modify the spring's compression distance according to different road conditions and user preferences. The moving tube can be repositioned along the fixed tube, and the spring compression can be adjusted, transforming a static structure into a dynamic, adaptable system while maintaining reasonable structural simplicity.
4Ease of manufacture
If a large gap is formed between moving tubes, then assembly is easier, but the spring cannot properly absorb shocks from the road
Solution Approach 1:
The design uses a controlled gap between the moving tube and fixed tube that allows for proper spring compression while maintaining shock absorption effectiveness. The gap is designed to be sufficient for assembly and operation but controlled to ensure the spring engages properly with the moving tube to absorb road shocks effectively.
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 design reduces friction and allows for adjustable stiffness, enhancing shock absorption while minimizing manufacturing costs and noise.
Implementation Method 1
Each shock-absorbing device includes a spring which generally is a compression spring so as to be deformed and compressed to absorb shocks
Implementation Method 2
a spring which generally is a compression spring so as to be deformed and compressed to absorb shocks
Implementation Method 3
installing multiple pins and rollers between the outer part and the inner part, the pins guiding the outer part to move linearly, the rollers reducing friction between the outer part and the inner part
Data Source
AI summary
A shock-absorbing front fork for a bicycle includes an inner part securely inserted in the crown of the front fork. The inner part includes multiple first slots and second slots defined axially in the outside thereof. Each first slot receives a pin therein, and each second slot receives a roller therein. A rod extends through a dust-proof unit, a first ring and a spring. The lower section of the rod is connected to the top end of the inner part. An outer part is a tube which includes multiple first grooves and second grooves defined axially in the inner periphery thereof. The outer part is mounted to the inner part. The pins are partially accommodated in the first grooves, and the rollers are partially accommodated in the second grooves. The outer part is axially movable relative to the inner part by the pins and the rollers with less friction.