Steering Device Vibration Damping Composite Handlebar
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Solution Overview
Problem
Contemporary metallic handlebars for single-track vehicles are prone to vibration transmission, leading to discomfort and safety issues due to oscillations affecting rearview mirrors and fluid expansion in brake and clutch systems, and they also suffer from heat loss in grip heaters.
Innovation Solution
A steering device with a support structure made of light metal and a casing of fiber-reinforced plastic, incorporating a vibration damper either integrated within the casing or as a separate layer between the support structure and casing, utilizing elastomeric plastics for effective damping and thermal insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If metallic handlebars are used, then strength and durability are improved, but vibration resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite structure consisting of a metallic support structure combined with a plastic casing and elastomeric vibration damper. This composite approach allows the metal to provide structural strength while the plastic and elastomer components suppress vibration transmission, resolving the contradiction between strength and vibration resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric plastic vibration damper acts as an intermediary element between the metallic support structure and the external environment. It absorbs and dampens vibrations generated by the metal handlebar, preventing them from being transmitted to the rider and attached components, thus mediating between the strong but vibratory metal and the requirement for vibration-free operation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If additional weights are attached to reduce vibrations, then vibration resistance is improved, but vehicle weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding separate weight components, the patent integrates vibration damping functionality into the handlebar's composite structure. The elastomeric plastic material inherently provides vibration damping without requiring additional weights, achieving vibration reduction while maintaining lightweight construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the vibration damping function from the concept of added weights and implements it through the elastomeric plastic material that is already part of the handlebar structure. This eliminates the need for separate weight additions while achieving the desired vibration reduction effect.
3Weight of moving object
If aluminum handlebars are used, then weight is reduced, but thermal conductivity increases causing heat loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure where the plastic casing and elastomeric vibration damper act as thermal insulation layers around the aluminum support structure. This allows the aluminum to provide lightweight construction while the plastic and elastomer materials prevent heat loss from heated grips, resolving the contradiction between low weight and thermal insulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The plastic casing and elastomeric material serve as intermediary thermal insulation layers between the aluminum support structure and the external environment. They prevent heat conducted through the aluminum from being lost to the surroundings, thereby mediating between the lightweight aluminum and the requirement for thermal retention.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If vibration dampers are added as separate components, then vibration resistance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the vibration damping function with the handlebar structure itself by using elastomeric plastic material that is integrated into the casing or positioned between the support structure and casing. This integration eliminates the need for separate, additional damper components, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining vibration resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric plastic material serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides vibration damping, acts as a structural casing element, and offers thermal insulation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized components, thereby simplifying the overall device structure while achieving vibration resistance.
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 provides a lightweight, vibration-resistant, and thermally insulated steering device that reduces weight, enhances comfort and safety by minimizing vibrations and heat loss, while allowing for efficient grip heating.
Implementation Method 1
a vibration damper (13) is provided on the side of the casing (12) facing the support structure (11)
Implementation Method 2
the vibration damper (13) is made of an elastomeric plastic
Implementation Method 3
the casing (12) is made of fiber-reinforced plastic
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The invention relates to steering device (10) in particular for single-track vehicles, comprising a support structure (11), a cover (12) which surrounds at least part of a surface of the support structure (10), and a vibration damper (13), characterized in that the vibration damper (13) is provided on a side of the casing (12) next to the support structure (11).