Helical Cable Guide for Steering Vehicle Rotational Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable routing systems in vehicles with handlebars face challenges in guiding flexible lines internally due to relative movements between the head tube and fork shaft, leading to damage and limited pivoting range, while external routing is susceptible to impacts and increases air resistance.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring a helical guide channel formed by shaped elements, such as helical screws or spiral surfaces, that allows flexible lines to be routed in a spiral arrangement within the annular space between the head tube and fork shaft, compensating for rotational movements without lengthening or compressing the cable, and providing protection and reduced air resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If cables are routed externally on the outside of head tube and fork shaft, then cable routing is simple and accessible, but cables are susceptible to damage during normal use and increase air resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The cable routing system nests the flexible cable inside the hollow structural components of the vehicle frame, specifically within the head tube and fork shaft. This nested arrangement protects the cable from external damage while maintaining routing simplicity through the hollow interiors of these components.
2Reliability
If cables are routed internally within head tube and fork shaft, then cable protection is improved and air resistance is reduced, but relative movement between components causes cable damage and limits pivoting range
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible protective sleeve or cuff is introduced to accommodate the cable within the internal routing path. This flexible element allows the cable to move and deform elastically during handlebar rotation, accommodating the pivot range while maintaining internal protection and preventing cable damage.
3Reliability
If cables are routed internally to maintain handlebar pivot range, then cable protection is improved, but component integration is limited and aerodynamic benefits are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cable routing system merges the cable protection function with the existing hollow structural components of the vehicle frame. The head tube and fork shaft serve dual purposes as both structural elements and cable conduits, integrating cable routing into the existing component design without adding separate protective structures.
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 helical guide channel effectively absorbs rotational movements of the handlebar, minimizing damage and restoring forces, while maintaining cable protection and reducing air resistance, thus enhancing the durability and performance of cable routing systems.
Implementation Method 1
the flexible line in a helical path in the circumferential direction in the annular space... restoring forces due to deformation of the cable should be largely avoided
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device for guiding at least one flexible cable (22) in the annular space between a head tube (14) of a vehicle frame (10) and a fork steerer tube (16) of a handlebar fork (18) of a vehicle (12) rotatably mounted in the head tube (14), the device forming at least one shaped element (36, 44, 48) for creating at least one helical guide of at least one turn for the at least one cable (22) in the annular space. With a constant cable length, a relative rotational movement is enabled by increasing and/or decreasing the diameter of the cable spiral (contracting and/or expanding the cable spiral) in the annular space.