Snow Bike Front Fork with Linear Force Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing snow bikes lack an effective front suspension system that provides adequate spring rate and damping force, leading to poor handling and comfort on snowy terrain.
Innovation Solution
A front fork assembly with linearly movable legs and a ski mount coupled to a linear force element, such as an air shock, which supplements the existing shocks in the front legs to provide a progressive spring rate and damping force, enhancing the overall suspension performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional front fork assembly is used in snow bikes, then the structure is simple, but the spring rate and damping force are insufficient leading to poor handling and comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple shock absorption mechanisms into a single front fork assembly. The linear force element (shock absorber) is integrated within the fork structure, working together with the fork legs to provide both spring rate and damping force. This merging of functions improves handling and comfort while avoiding the need for separate suspension components.
Solution Approach 2:
The linear force element acts as an intermediary component between the fork legs and the ski mount. It mediates the force transmission between these components, providing the necessary spring rate and damping characteristics to improve suspension performance without requiring fundamental changes to the overall fork structure.
2Reliability
If the spring rate and damping force are increased to improve handling, then the suspension performance improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The linear force element is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides spring rate for ride comfort, damping force for handling control, and force transmission between fork components. This multi-functionality allows improved suspension performance without adding multiple separate components, thereby avoiding increased device complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If a linear force element with different linear force characteristic is added, then the spring rate consistency and damping force are improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The linear force element is designed with specific linear force characteristics that differ from conventional shock absorbers. By changing the force characteristic parameters of this single component, the patent achieves consistent spring rate and improved damping force without requiring complex manufacturing processes or precise assembly of multiple components.
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 improves the handling and comfort of snow bikes by providing a consistent and adjustable spring rate and damping force, allowing for better control and traction on snowy surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
a linear force element coupled to the left and right legs with a first end adjacent the first ends of the forks and seconds ends coupled to the ski, the linear force element having different linear force characteristic than the left and right legs
Implementation Method 2
provide a progressive spring rate and damping force
Data Source
AI summary
A front fork assembly of a snow bike is disclosed having left and right legs, each having an upper leg portion and a lower leg portion. The left leg upper and lower leg portions are linearly movable relative to each other. A right leg has an upper leg portion and a lower leg portion, the right leg upper and lower leg portions are linearly movable relative to each other. A ski mount has a lower end for coupling to a ski and an upper end for coupling to the left and right leg. A linear force element is coupled to the left and right legs with a first end adjacent the first ends of the forks and seconds ends coupled to the ski, the linear force element has a different linear force characteristic than the left and right legs.