Locking Skewer with Integrated Cam Follower and Ratcheting Nut
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fork mount assemblies for bicycles lack secure integration of the locking mechanism, making them vulnerable to tampering and unauthorized removal, as the locks are often integrated with the cam lever and exposed outside the cam assembly.
Innovation Solution
A locking skewer assembly with a cam end and adjustment end, featuring a cam follower with integrated locking assembly that moves from an open to a closed configuration, securing the locking member within the cam follower, and a ratcheting adjustment nut to prevent loosening, enhancing security by hiding the locking mechanism and covering internal hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the locking mechanism is integrated with the cam lever and secured outside the cam assembly, then the locking function is provided, but the security against tampering and unauthorized removal is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is merged with the cam follower assembly, where the locking member is positioned within the cam follower and engages with the cam. This integration ensures that the locking mechanism cannot be easily accessed or tampered with, as it is now part of the internal cam assembly structure rather than being externally mounted on the cam lever.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking member is nested within the cam follower assembly, specifically positioned between the cam contact surface and the pivot point. This nesting approach allows the locking mechanism to be housed within the existing cam assembly structure, providing security by concealing the locking components while maintaining the compact design.
2Reliability
If the locking member is positioned between the contact surface perimeter and the pivot point, then the security is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking member is merged with the cam follower structure, where it is positioned within the cam follower body between the cam contact surface and the pivot point. This integration allows the locking function to be achieved without adding separate external components, as the locking member becomes an integral part of the cam follower assembly.
3Reliability
If the cam follower is moved closer to the adjustment end when closed, then the locking function is achieved, but the mechanical complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cam follower is designed to be movable along the skewer member, transitioning between an open configuration where it is farther from the adjustment end and a closed configuration where it is moved closer to the adjustment end. This dynamic movement allows the locking mechanism to engage and disengage as needed, providing functional flexibility while maintaining a relatively simple mechanical structure through the use of the cam's rotational motion to drive the follower's linear movement.
Data Source
AI summary
A skewer assembly for a rack mount having a cam disposed against a cam follower actuable from an open configuration to a closed configuration, the skewer assembly further having a lock assembly integrated with the cam follower and a locking member located within a radial contact surface perimeter of the cam. The skewer further having a tightening assembly with a ratcheting nut which is incapable of being loosened when the skewer is placed in tension. Moreover, the skewer assembly covers the access holes to the internal hardware of the rack mount when inserted therein.