Bicycle Wheel Unit Sensor Ring Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bicycle wheel units face challenges in integrating a sensor system due to limited installation space, particularly in mounting a brake disc and sensor ring while maintaining standard positioning and functionality.
Innovation Solution
A wheel unit design that positions a sensor ring between the brake disc and spokes, utilizing available space efficiently and allowing for the detection of rotational speed, with a periodically varying structure to enhance detectability and minimize interference from contaminants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a sensor ring is added to the wheel unit for rotational speed detection, then the measurement capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor ring is integrated with the brake disc, combining two separate components (sensor mounting structure and braking component) into a single unified part. This merging approach allows rotational speed detection functionality to be added without increasing the overall number of separate components, thus improving measurement capability while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The brake disc is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides braking capability and simultaneously serves as the mounting structure for the sensor ring. By making the brake disc multi-functional, the patent avoids adding a separate dedicated sensor mounting component, thereby reducing the overall device complexity while enabling rotational speed detection.
2Volume of moving object
If the sensor ring is mounted on the hub, then the installation space utilization is improved, but the brake disc positioning flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor ring is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the hub, utilizing the radial dimension of the hub structure. This positioning in another dimension (radial direction) allows effective use of available installation space without interfering with the axial positioning requirements of the brake disc, thus resolving the conflict between space utilization and positioning flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor ring is positioned at a specific location on the hub (outer peripheral surface) that is locally optimized for sensor mounting, while the rest of the hub and brake disc structures maintain their standard configurations. This localized modification approach allows sensor integration without compromising the overall adaptability and standard positioning capabilities of the brake disc system.
3Volume of moving object
If the sensing region is positioned between the brake disc and spokes, then the installation space efficiency is improved, but the susceptibility to contaminant interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor ring acts as an intermediary component that detects rotational position through magnetic field changes rather than direct optical or mechanical contact. This intermediary sensing mechanism is less susceptible to contaminant interference compared to direct contact sensors, as it can detect changes through the hub structure without requiring a clear line of sight or direct exposure to contaminants in the space between the brake disc and spokes.
Data Source
AI summary
In order to improve a wheel unit for a bicycle, comprising a hub and a wheel rim, which is arranged rotatably about an axis of rotation, wherein the hub and the wheel rim are connected to one another by spokes, it is proposed to arrange a brake disc and a sensor ring, which comprises a sensing region, on the hub and to position the sensing region between the brake disc and the spokes.