Variable Tilt Tricycle Frame for Low-Speed Balance Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tricycles experience balance issues during low-speed riding due to insufficient tension devices failing to maintain the seat tube vertically, leading to potential falls from centrifugal forces during turning.
Innovation Solution
A tricycle design featuring a longitudinal bar frame attached to a triangular frame, adjustable via a hand lever, allowing for variable tiltable angles of the seat tube and handlebar to counteract centrifugal forces at various speeds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a tension spring is used to protect the rider from excessive tilting motion, then the rider is protected from falling at high speeds, but the rider cannot maintain balance at very low speeds because the tension device does not work sufficiently near the mid position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the static tension spring with a dynamic bar frame system that can be actively adjusted by the rider. The bar frame swings within the triangle frame to change the tiltable angle of the seat tube, allowing the system to adapt its characteristics based on riding conditions - providing firm vertical holding at low speeds and controlled tilting at high speeds
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of tiltable angle from fixed to variable. By operating the hand lever, the rider can vary the tiltable angle of the triangle frame and seat tube according to speed conditions, transforming the system from a single-state tension device to a multi-state adjustable structure that optimizes performance across different operating ranges
2Force
If the handlebar and seat tube are tiltable to cancel centrifugal force during turning, then the rider can counteract the centrifugal force, but the rider falls down at low speeds because the tension device cannot hold the seat tube vertically firmly
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a passive tension spring to an active bar frame mechanism that the rider can control. At low speeds, the bar frame remains in position to maintain vertical stability; at high speeds during turning, the rider can tilt the bar frame to cancel centrifugal force, providing dynamic stability adaptation
Solution Approach 2:
The rider themselves becomes the control mechanism by operating the hand lever to adjust the bar frame position. This self-service approach allows the rider to intuitively adjust the tiltable angle based on their perception of speed and turning conditions, optimizing both vertical stability and centrifugal force cancellation as needed
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
Ensures stable balance at both high and low speeds by dynamically adjusting the tiltable angles of the seat tube and handlebar, preventing accidents from centrifugal forces.
Implementation Method 1
This force that pushes him to the opposite direction of the handlebar during turning is known as the centrifugal force
Data Source
AI summary
In the conventional tricycle, generally the front frame, the rear frame and the seat tube are attached to the bottom bracket that carries pedal assembly. Between the bottom bracket and the rear frame, a joint is installed such that the seat tube and the handlebar may tilt to the left or right. Thereby the rider can cancel out the unwanted centrifugal force that occurs during high speed turning and pushes him to the opposite direction of the handlebar causing a fall down accident. Between the seat tube and the rear frame is installed a tiltable angle variable mechanism. By operating a hand lever on the handlebar the rider can vary the tiltable angle of the handlebar as needed, for high speed turning or for maintaining balance at low speeds.