Protective Sleeve for Steering Cable Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Control means, such as electrical cables, routed through the frame of bicycles with electric auxiliary motors, are prone to damage due to relative movements between the head tube and steerer tube during steering, as they are not adequately protected from contact with the steerer tube's circumference or interior.
Innovation Solution
A protective sleeve, made of deformable materials like plastic or elastomeric fabric, is arranged between the control means and the steerer tube to prevent direct contact and damage, potentially extending into the frame tube to cover sharp edges, and can be integrated with the centering ring for easier assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If control elements are routed through the centering ring into the frame, then cable routing appearance is improved and cables are protected from external damage, but control cables may chafe against the steerer tube or head tube due to relative movements during steering
Solution Approach 1:
A protective sleeve is introduced as an intermediary component between the control cable and the moving parts (steerer tube and head tube). The sleeve is fixed to the head tube and extends along the steerer tube, creating a protective barrier that prevents direct contact and chafing while allowing the necessary relative movements during steering operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective sleeve is made from a flexible material that can accommodate the relative movements between the head tube and steerer tube during steering. The flexible nature of the sleeve allows it to maintain protection while adapting to the dynamic geometry changes, preventing chafing without restricting necessary motion.
2Reliability
If a protective sleeve is added inside the head tube, then control elements are protected from chafing, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective sleeve is merged with the centering ring assembly, which is already a necessary component of the headset system. By integrating the protective function into an existing structural element rather than adding a completely separate component, the increase in device complexity is minimized while still achieving the desired protection.
3Ease of operation
If the protective sleeve is made of deformable material, then steering forces are minimized, but protection effectiveness may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The protective sleeve exhibits different material properties at different locations: it has enhanced protection characteristics (greater thickness or hardness) in areas subject to chafing and contact with sharp edges, while maintaining flexibility and deformability in other areas to minimize impact on steering forces. This localized differentiation of material properties optimizes both protection and operational ease.
Data Source
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AI summary
In a fork-frame unit (10) for a two- or three-wheeled vehicle, in which a vehicle fork (15) with its fork steerer tube (17) is rotatably mounted in a head tube (14) of the frame, and in which at least one flexible control element, such as an electrical cable (23), is guided from the outside into the interior of the frame through a centering ring (20) into the space between the inside of the head tube and the outside of the fork steerer tube, the invention provides that at least one protective sleeve (25) for the control element is arranged inside the head tube between the head tube and the fork steerer tube, effectively preventing damage to the control element. (See Fig. 1)