Electromagnetic Seat Post Actuation for Fast Wire-Free Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing retractable seat posts face issues with wire interference or friction and slow response times due to the need for motors and additional components, making them difficult to assemble and slow to react to road conditions.
Innovation Solution
An electrically controllable seat post with a retractable rod and a switch actuator that uses an electromagnetic coil and a pushing member to drive the elongation and contraction of the rod, eliminating the need for motors and minimizing assembly complexity, while providing rapid response and precise control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a motor is used to activate a hydraulic valve or pneumatic valve, then electric controllability is achieved, but response time becomes slow due to the need for sufficient torque
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the motor-driven mechanical system with an electromagnetic system. The electromagnetic coil generates a magnetic field that directly actuates the valve without requiring mechanical torque transmission through gears or other mechanical components, thereby eliminating the response time delay associated with motor acceleration and mechanical gear engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the motor and gear box components from the system. By eliminating these components, the design achieves direct electromagnetic actuation of the valve, removing the source of response time delay while maintaining electric controllability through the electromagnetic coil alone.
2Force
If a motor with gear box is used to achieve sufficient torque, then valve actuation is possible, but device complexity increases due to extra components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the gear box and other mechanical transmission components from the system. The electromagnetic coil directly generates the necessary force to actuate the valve without requiring mechanical torque multiplication, thereby simplifying the device structure and reducing assembly complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical torque transmission system with an electromagnetic force generation system. The electromagnetic coil directly produces the required actuation force on the valve, eliminating the need for mechanical gears and reducing overall device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If wire is used to connect handle bar and seat post, then mechanical control is achieved, but wire interference or friction occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wire-based control system with an electromagnetic control system. The electromagnetic coil receives electrical signals to actuate the valve, eliminating the need for physical wire connections between the handle bar and seat post, thereby eliminating wire interference and friction issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the wire mechanism from the system. By eliminating the physical wire connections, the design achieves control without the harmful effects of wire interference and friction, while maintaining full controllability through electromagnetic actuation.
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 solution enables a seat post with low response time and ease of assembly, reducing wire interference and friction, and allowing for immediate adaptation to road conditions without the need for additional components, enhancing user experience.
Implementation Method 1
The electromagnetic coil generates a magnetic force by injecting a current therethrough, wherein the pushing member has a pole of a magnetic field formed at an end of the pushing member by injecting the current through the electromagnetic coil or by a magnetic property at the end of the pushing member. The pushing member is directly and non-contactly driven by another pole of a magnetic field formed by the electromagnetic coil to be moved linearly.
Data Source
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AI summary
An electrically controllable seat post (100) is provided. The electrically controllable seat post includes a retractable rod (200) and a switch actuator. The retractable rod includes a switch (310). The switch actuator is corresponding to the switch and includes a pushing member (500), an electromagnetic coil (400) and a controller (710). The pushing member is assembled in the switch actuator, wherein the pushing member is controlled to move to open or close the switch. The electromagnetic coil generates a magnetic force by injecting a current therethrough, wherein the pushing member is moved by the magnetic force. The controller controls the switch actuator.