Motorcycle Brake Lever Sensing for Balanced Front-Rear Braking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional motorcycle braking systems require separate manual control of front and rear brakes, leading to inefficient use of the rear brake due to fear of wheel lockup and skidding, especially in off-road conditions, and pose ergonomic challenges with multiple controls to manage.
Innovation Solution
A motorcycle braking arrangement featuring a brake lever or pedal with a force-sensitive resistor (FSR) that produces both mechanical and electronic analogue signals, correlated by a controller to actuate brakes on one wheel while a servomechanism acts on another wheel, allowing for intuitive and balanced braking distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate manual control of front and rear brakes is used, then braking control is available, but ergonomic strain increases and rear brake usage decreases due to complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines front and rear brake controls into a single lever system. The front brake lever is mechanically linked to the rear brake through a cable connection, allowing both brakes to be actuated simultaneously by a single rider input. This merging of controls reduces ergonomic strain while maintaining braking effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The single brake lever serves multiple functions: it controls the front brake directly through hydraulic pressure and simultaneously controls the rear brake through mechanical cable linkage. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate controls while providing comprehensive braking capability.
2Productivity
If rear brake is applied heavily, then braking performance improves, but risk of wheel lockup and skidding increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the distribution of braking force between front and rear wheels based on riding conditions. The electronic control unit monitors brake lever pressure and automatically modulates the rear brake application to prevent lockup while maximizing braking efficiency. This dynamic adjustment ensures optimal braking performance without exceeding the rear wheel's traction limits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates sensors that monitor brake lever pressure and wheel speed to provide feedback to the electronic control unit. This feedback mechanism allows the system to detect approaching wheel lockup conditions and automatically reduce rear brake force, preventing skidding while maintaining maximum safe braking performance.
3Ease of operation
If feet are used to maintain control in off-road conditions, then control is maintained, but rear brake cannot be applied
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the rider's existing brake lever input to automatically activate the rear brake without requiring separate foot operation. The electronic control unit detects front brake activation and automatically applies the rear brake through cable linkage, allowing the rider to maintain foot position for control while still utilizing rear brake 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
Enables improved braking performance by ensuring proper rear-brake use and reducing the risk of skidding, while minimizing ergonomic strain on the rider through integrated, electronically correlated brake control.
Implementation Method 1
a force-sensitive resistor (FSR) mounted on and/or in the grasping surface, the FSR configured to produce a second analogue signal
Implementation Method 2
Most systems work by converting kinetic energy into thermal energy (heat) by friction
Data Source
AI summary
A motorcycle braking arrangement comprising a brake lever (and/or brake pedal) defining a grasping or stepping surface, respectively, whereby a rider is able to apply pressure in order to produce a first analogue signal, a force-sensitive resistor (FSR) mounted on and/or in the surface and configured to produce a second analogue signal. In this manner, pressure applied to the grasping surface results in simultaneous production of the first and second signals, whereby a controller is configured to electronically correlate the second signal with the first. The arrangement also includes at least one servomechanism, which is arranged in signal communication with the controller and is configured to actuate a brake of the motorcycle according to the correlation between the first and second signals.