Adjustable Height Seat Post With Hydraulic Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adjustable height seat posts face issues with requiring excessive force to operate due to rider weight, contamination risks in hydraulic systems, and complex installation and maintenance processes, particularly with 'Stealth routing' methods that can lead to functional issues and high maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
A seat post design featuring a hydraulic valve system with a rotatable valve body that can be operated independently of saddle pressure, using a wireless or wired remote control actuation mechanism, and a piston assembly with a floating piston to manage pressure, allowing for easy installation and maintenance without tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a push rod is used to activate the hydraulic valve, then the valve can be opened to allow oil passage, but excessive force is required especially when rider weight is on the saddle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional linear push rod mechanical system with an electromagnetic driver (solenoid or motor). The electromagnetic driver converts electrical energy to mechanical motion, providing sufficient force to overcome the high oil pressure caused by rider weight without requiring manual pushing force. This substitution resolves the contradiction by using a different energy conversion mechanism that can generate the necessary force electrically rather than mechanically through a push rod.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the actuation mechanism from a linear push rod to a rotational valve body activated by an electromagnetic driver. The valve body rotates to align or misalign ports, changing the operational parameter from linear displacement to rotational position. This parameter change allows the electromagnetic driver to effectively control the hydraulic valve regardless of the pressure conditions caused by rider weight.
2Device complexity
If the hydraulic valve system is integrated into the main body and quill, then compact design is achieved, but contamination can leak past the quill and damage the valve system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the hydraulic valve system into a separate, replaceable cartridge assembly that can be independently removed and replaced. This cartridge contains the valve components and can be exchanged without replacing the entire seat post. The segmentation allows the valve system to be protected from contamination by enabling easy replacement of contaminated components, thus maintaining reliability while keeping the overall design compact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a disposable or easily replaceable cartridge design for the hydraulic valve system. When contamination occurs, the entire cartridge can be replaced as a unit rather than attempting to repair or clean individual components. This approach treats the valve cartridge as a consumable component that can be quickly swapped out, ensuring system reliability without requiring complex contamination prevention mechanisms in the integrated design.
3Ease of operation
If cable and housing are used for remote control actuation, then mechanical force can be transmitted to the activation mechanism, but the cable housing moves during activation and may become snagged or cause clutter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cable and housing transmission system with an electrical actuation system. The remote control unit sends electrical signals through wires (or wirelessly) to activate the electromagnetic driver directly at the seat post. This substitution eliminates the need for mechanical force transmission through cables, removing the problems of cable movement, snagging, and clutter while maintaining remote control functionality.
4Manufacturing precision
If tools are required to install and maintain the seat post, then precise assembly can be achieved, but installation and maintenance become difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the seat post into modular components including a replaceable cartridge assembly that can be independently removed and installed. This segmentation allows the valve system to be replaced as a complete unit without requiring tools to disassemble internal components. The modular design maintains manufacturing precision through precision-engineered interfaces while dramatically improving ease of installation and maintenance through tool-free cartridge replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates dynamic features such as spring-loaded seals and movable components that automatically adjust during installation and operation. These dynamic elements ensure proper sealing and function without requiring precise manual adjustment or specialized tools, allowing the system to self-adjust to maintain manufacturing precision while simplifying installation and maintenance procedures.
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 effortless height adjustment regardless of saddle pressure, reduces the risk of contamination, simplifies installation and maintenance, and eliminates the need for exposed cables, resulting in a lightweight, efficient, and user-friendly adjustable seat post system.
Implementation Method 1
hydraulic adjusting means (230) for lifting or lowering the quill (20) in the desired position selected by the user
Implementation Method 2
a piston assembly (280) inside the cylindrical chamber (249)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
An adjustable height seat post comprising supporting means connectable to a bicycle frame, a quill (20) associated with said supporting means and having a head (30) suitable to clamp rails of a bicycle saddle, hydraulic adjusting means (230), associated with said supporting means, for lifting or lowering said quill (20) in a desired position selected by the user, said hydraulic adjusting means (230) comprising a cylindrical chamber (249) inside which a piston assembly is foreseen, and valve means, suitable to selectively open or close an hydraulic path through said piston assembly for selectively lock or unlock the position of said piston assembly relative to said cylindrical chamber (249), and the valve means comprise at least a valve body, associated with said piston assembly, which is selectively rotatable from an open position, in which the hydraulic path is open, to a closed position in which the hydraulic path is closed.