WO2018101948A1

WO2018101948A1 - Rim brake drying system

Info

Publication number: WO2018101948A1
Application number: PCT/US2016/064429
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gary THUNG; Natalie MUENSTER
Original assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Llc
Priority date: 2016-12-01
Filing date: 2016-12-01
Publication date: 2018-06-07

Abstract

A rim brake for a bicycle includes jets positioned to direct pressurized gas at one or both of (a) the rim as it passes between the brake pads and (b) the brake pads themselves. A pressurized gas source may be coupled to the jets by way of an electronically-controlled valve connected to a controller. The controller is also coupled to a moisture sensor. The controller opens the valve in response to an output of the moisture sensor indicating water is incident on the brake. In other embodiments, a removable wiping material is positioned to engage the rim prior to passing between the brake pads.

Description

Title: RIM BRAKE DRYING SYSTEM

BACKGROUND

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[001] This invention relates to rim brakes for a bicycle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[002] When biking in rainy conditions, the bike tires, bike wheel rims, and brake pads become wet. This is problematic because the water reduces the friction from the brake pads, which creates difficulty in braking and thus makes it dangerous to ride. This is particularly true for rims made of carbon fiber. For many people, biking is their only option so they still have to bike through such conditions.

[003] The system and methods disclosed herein provides an approach for improving brake performance in wet conditions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[004] In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

[005] Fig. 1 illustrates rim brakes including a drying system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; [006] Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram of components of the drying system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[007] Fig. 3 is a side view of the drying system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

[008] Fig. 4 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a drying system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[009] Referring to Fig. 1, the apparatus disclosed herein provides an approach for improving brake performance in wet conditions. In one embodiment, a brake 100 includes brake arms 102a, 102b each having brake pads 104a, 104b fastened to an inward facing surface thereof. The brake arms 102a, 102b are fastened to, e.g. monolithically formed with lever arms 106a, 106b. The illustrated brake 100 is a center mount brake such that the brake arms 102a, 102b are pivotally fastened to a bake frame at a common pivot point 108. However, other types of brakes, such as direct mount brakes or any other rim brake known in the art may also benefit from the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0010] The lever arms 106a, 106b are coupled to a cable guide 110 and cable 112 that are coupled to a brake lever (not shown) in the conventional manner. In response to tension applied to the cable 112, the lever arm 106a is drawn toward lever arm 106b thereby urging the arms 102a, 102b inward and causing the brake pads 104a, 104b to contact a rim 114 of a bicycle wheel.

[0011] A pressurized gas source 116 is coupled to tubes 118a, 118b, or other fluid paths, to jets 120a, 120b positioned adjacent the brake pads 104a, 104b. The pressurized gas source 116 may be a C0₂ cartridge or other storage vessel storing a compressed gas. The pressurized gas source 116 may be a pump that is driven mechanically by engaging the wheel of the bicycle or by being directly coupled to the drive train (crank, chain, chainrings, and cassette) of the bicycle. The pressurized gas source 116 may be an electric pump driven by a battery of an e-bicycle having a battery for driving a drive motor.

[0012] Referring to Fig. 2, while still referring to Fig. 1, a housing 122 may have a moisture sensor 124 mounted thereto and exposed to the environment of the brake 100. The housing 122 may contain a controller 202 and an electronically controlled valve 204. The controller 202 may be programmed to open the valve 204 in response to detecting an output from the moisture sensor 124 indicating moisture is present, thereby permitting pressurized gas from the pressurized gas source 116 to reach the jets 120a, 120b. In some embodiments, the controller 202 may open the valve 204 intermittently in order to avoid draining all of the gas from the pressurized gas source 116 too quickly. The controller 202 may be further programmed to turn off the valve 204 in response to detecting that the output of the moisture sensor 124 no longer indicates that moisture is present.

[0013] In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 122 is mounted to the brake 100 directly, such as to one of the arms 102a, 102b or the lever arms 106a, 106b. However, in other embodiments, the housing 122 may mount to the bicycle, such as to the handlebars, fork, frame, or elsewhere. In the illustrated embodiment, the pressurized gas source 116 is mounted directly to the housing 122. However, it may be mounted elsewhere and coupled to the housing 122 by a tube. [0014] In embodiments where the pressurized gas source 116 is a motor of an electric pump, the controller 202 may activate this motor in response to an output indicating moisture incident on the moisture sensor 124 and deactivate the motor in the absence of an output of the moisture sensor 124 indicating the presence of moisture. In other embodiments, the valve 204 is a manual valve that a user opens as needed.

[0015] Referring to Fig. 3, when gas is released from the jets 120a, 120b a portion 300 of the gas flow may be directed over the rim 114 and a potion 302 may be directed over the brake pads 104a, 104b. In the illustrated embodiment, the direction of rotation 304 of the rim 114 is as shown. The gas flow 302 may be incident on the rim 114 before it enters the region between the brake pads 104a, 104b thereby reducing the amount of water that contacts the brake pads 104a, 104b. In some embodiments, an individual jet 120a, 120b may be embodied as multiple jets that separately direct gas at the rim 114 and the brake pads 104a, 104b. In other embodiments, gas from the jets 120a, 120b is directed exclusively at the rim 114 or exclusively at the brake pads 104a, 104b.

[0016] Referring to Fig. 4, in another embodiment, water on the rim 114 may be removed by a wiping material 400 positioned on either side of the rim 114. The wiping material may be an absorbent material or a non-absorbent material that scrapes water from the rim 114 prior to passing between the brake pads 104a, 104b. For example, the wiping material 400 may be made of a fabric of natural or synthetic fibers. In other embodiments, the wiping material 400 may be a synthetic sponge, which advantageously dries quickly and will continues to push water off the rim 14 even when saturated. In the illustrated embodiment, the wiping material 400 is mounted to a brackets 402 that each mount to one of the arms 102a. Alternatively, the wiping material 400 may mount to a single bracket secured to the pivot 108 of the center mount brake 100.

[0017] The wiping material 400 may be readily removable such that it does not cause friction when not needed. For example, the wiping material 400 may be secured to the brackets 402 by means of a hook-and-loop fastening system or other removable fastening means.

[0018] While various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. The foregoing description has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. Further, it should be noted that any or all of the aforementioned alternate implementations may be used in any combination desired to form additional hybrid implementations of the disclosure.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An apparatus comprising:

a brake comprising first and second brake arms having first and second brake pads secured thereto;

a pressurized gas source;

two jets directed toward at least one of the first and second brake pads and a space between the first and second brake pads; and

a controller programmed to control release of gas from the pressurized gas source through the at least one jet.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the two jets are oriented to direct gas flow at the first and second brake pads.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the two jets are oriented to direct gas flow at both of the first and second brake pads and a rim positioned between the first and second brake pads.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressurized gas source is a cartridge containing pressurized gas.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an electronically-controlled valve; and

a moisture sensor; wherein the controller is coupled to the electronically-controlled valve and the moisture sensor, the controller programmed to open the electronically-controlled valve in response to an output from the moisture sensor.

6. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first brake arm and second brake arm are part of a caliper brake;

wherein the pressurized gas source is mounted to the caliper brake; and wherein a housing is mounted to the caliper brake, the moisture sensor, controller, and electronically-controlled valve being positioned in the housing.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising two tubes coupling the electronically-controlled valve to the two jets.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressurized gas source is an electric pump, the controller programmed to activate the electric pump.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the two jets comprise first and second jets, the first jet being mounted to the first brake arm and the second jet being mounted to the second brake arm.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a bicycle frameset, the brake being mounted to the bicycle frameset; and a bicycle wheel mounted to the bicycle frameset and having a rim positioned between the first brake pad and the second brake pad.

11. A method comprising:

providing a brake comprising first and second brake arms having first and second brake pads secured thereto;

detecting moisture incident on the brake; and

directing gas from a compressed gas source at at least one of the first and second brake pads and a rim positioned between the first and second brake pads.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein directing gas from the compressed gas source comprises directing the gas through jets positioned on either side of the rim.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the two jets are oriented to direct gas flow at the first and second brake pads.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the two jets are oriented to direct gas flow at both of the first and second brake pads and the rim positioned between the first and second brake pads.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the pressurized gas source is a cartridge containing pressurized gas.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

detecting, by a moisture sensor, moisture incident on the brake;

receiving, by a controller, an output of the moisture sensor; and

in response to the output of the moisture sensor, causing an electronically controlled valve to release the gas from the compressed gas source.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the first brake arm and second brake arm are part of a caliper brake;

18. The method of claim 11, wherein directing the gas from the compressed gas source at at least one of the first and second brake pads and the rim positioned between the first and second brake pads comprises:

manually opening a valve interposed between the compressed gas source and the two jets.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the brake is mounted to a bicycle frameset, the rim being part of a wheel mounted to the frameset.

20. An apparatus comprising: a brake comprising first and second brake arms having first and second brake pads secured thereto; and

a first wiping structure mounted to the first brake arm and a second wiping structure mounted to the second brake arm, the first wiping structure and second wiping structure positioned to wipe first and second sides of a rim positioned between the first and second brake pads prior to passing of the rim between the first and second brake pads during forward movement of a bicycle to which the brake is mounted.