Wave-Profile Bicycle Rim Structure for Lower Wind Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bicycle rims are unable to effectively reduce wind resistance due to their high wind resistance characteristics, despite some designs featuring wave structures that only partially address this issue.
Innovation Solution
A wind-breaking rim design featuring a plurality of rim wave profiles that extend from the inner ring spoke mounting portion to the rim side walls, forming a concave-convex wave surface and an annular wind-breaking structure, which reduces wind resistance by altering the flow direction of air.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional smooth circular rim design is used, then manufacturing is simple, but wind resistance is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by designing wave profiles on the rim side walls with specific crest and trough portions. The wave profiles feature radial arc curves that create a three-dimensional undulating surface, transforming the traditional smooth circular shape into a curved wave structure that reduces wind resistance while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through molding processes
2Object-affected harmful factors
If wave structures are added to reduce wind resistance, then wind resistance decreases, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wave profile is segmented into distinct crest portions and trough portions with specific geometric features. The radial arc curves are divided into multiple segments along the rim circumference, allowing the complex wave structure to be manufactured through standardized molding processes while maintaining the wind resistance reduction effect
3Object-affected harmful factors
If wave profiles extend from inner ring to side walls, then wind-breaking effect improves, but material consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wave profiles extend in the radial dimension from the inner ring spoke mounting portion toward the outer ring, creating a three-dimensional undulating structure on the rim side walls. This dimensional extension increases the wind-breaking surface area and effectiveness while the material is efficiently distributed along the wave contours rather than requiring additional rim thickness
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 wind-breaking rim significantly reduces wind resistance by up to 8.13% compared to traditional rims, while also improving the bearing rigidity of the rim side walls without substantial increases in material consumption or weight.
Implementation Method 1
The plurality of rim wave profiles extend from the inner ring spoke mounting portion to the two rim side walls... forming an annular wind-breaking structure... reduces wind resistance by altering the flow direction of air
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides a wind-breaking rim, a wheel and a bicycle. The wind-breaking rim includes a plurality of rim wave profiles. The plurality of rim wave profiles extend from an inner ring spoke mounting portion to two rim side walls and are symmetrically distributed with a rim width center surface as a plane of symmetry. The plurality of rim wave profiles are continuously arranged to form an annular wind-breaking structure. The rim wave profiles include adjacent crest portions and trough portions. A rim inner ring and the rim side walls having wave profiles can greatly reduce wind resistance.