Anti-lock brake device for bicycle

The disclosure provides an anti-lock brake device including an oil pressure tank, a valve, and a movable component. The oil pressure tank has an accommodation space, an oil inlet channel, and an oil outlet channel connected to the accommodation space. The valve is slidably located in the oil inlet channel and for sealing or opening an oil inlet of the oil inlet channel. The movable component is located in the accommodation space and has a connecting channel corresponding to the oil inlet and an oil outlet of the oil outlet channel. When the movable component is slid to a depressurized position, the movable component is moved away from the valve for sealing the oil inlet, a first volume is produced between the connecting channel and the oil inlet, and a second volume, smaller than the first volume, is removed from between the connecting channel and the oil outlet.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 108112512 filed in Taiwan, R.O.C on Apr. 10, 2019, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to an anti-lock brake device, more particularly to an anti-lock brake device for bicycle.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, road bikes, mountain bikes and other types of bikes become more and more popular so that the manufacturers pay more attention on developing new and market-oriented products in order to provide costumers a better riding experience and a more stylish appearance of bicycle. However, in the safety aspect, the conventional bikes in the market still need to be improved.

Brake system is one of the most important factors to the bicycle safety. The caliper is the most commonly used mean in the brake system. The caliper is disposed near a brake disk which is rotatable with a bicycle wheel, and it is able to clamp the brake disk to stop the rotation of the bicycle wheel as the rider squeeze the brake lever.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the disclosure provides an anti-lock brake device for bicycle. The anti-lock brake device includes an oil pressure tank, a valve, and a movable component. The oil pressure tank has an accommodation space, an oil inlet channel, and an oil outlet channel, and the oil inlet channel and the oil outlet channel are connected to the accommodation space. The valve is slidably located in the oil inlet channel and configured to seal or open an oil inlet connected to the oil inlet channel. The movable component is located in the accommodation space. The movable component has a connecting channel. Two opposite ends of the connecting channel respectively correspond to the oil inlet and an oil outlet of the oil outlet channel. The movable component is slidable between an initial position and a depressurized position, and the movable component in the depressurized position is located closer to the oil outlet channel than that in the initial position. When the movable component is in the initial position, the movable component presses against the valve so as to open the oil inlet. When the movable component is slid from the initial position to the depressurized position, the movable component is moved away from the valve, the valve seals the oil inlet, a first volume is produced between the connecting channel and the oil inlet, and a second volume is removed from between the connecting channel and the oil outlet. The first volume is larger than the second volume, and a difference between the first volume and the second volume creates a depressurized volume.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In addition, the terms used in the present disclosure, such as technical and scientific terms, have its own meanings and can be comprehended by those skilled in the art, unless the terms are additionally defined in the present disclosure. That is, the terms used in the following paragraphs should be read on the meaning commonly used in the related fields and will not be overly explained, unless the terms have a specific meaning in the present disclosure.

In the figures of the disclosure, cross-sectional surfaces of components are presented as inclined lines and dashes, which merely means that those are different components, but not mean that those components are different in material.

Referring toFIGS.1to4,FIG.1is a perspective view of an anti-lock brake device1according to one embodiment of the disclosure,FIG.2is an exploded view of the anti-lock brake device1inFIG.1,FIG.3is another exploded view of the anti-lock brake device1inFIG.1, andFIG.4is a cross-sectional view of the anti-lock brake device1inFIG.1.

In this embodiment, the anti-lock brake device1includes an oil pressure tank10, a valve20, and a movable component30. In addition, in this or other embodiments, the anti-lock brake device1may further include two elastic components40and50, a magnetic force generator60, a magnetically conductive plate70, a circuit board80, a fix sleeve90, and a water-proof cover100.

The oil pressure tank10has an accommodation space11, an oil inlet channel12, and an oil outlet channel13, where the oil inlet channel12and the oil outlet channel13are connected to the accommodation space11. The oil pressure tank10includes a main body14, a mount component15, a first pipe connector16, and a second pipe connector17. The mount component15includes a plate portion151, a guide pillar portion152, an annular wall portion153, and a mount pillar portion154. The plate portion151is mounted on the main body14, and the plate portion151and the main body14together form an accommodation space11therebetween. The guide pillar portion152and the annular wall portion153are connected to the same surface of the plate portion151and are located in the accommodation space11. The mount pillar portion154is connected to a side of the plate portion151away from the guide pillar portion152; that is, the mount pillar portion154and the guide pillar portion152are connected to two opposite sides of the plate portion151. The first pipe connector16is mounted on the main body14, and the oil outlet channel13penetrates through the first pipe connector16. The second pipe connector17is mounted on the mount pillar portion154, and the oil inlet channel12penetrates through the second pipe connector17, the mount pillar portion154, the plate portion151and the guide pillar portion152.

In general, the oil inlet channel12and the oil outlet channel13are respectively connected to a bicycle brake lever (not shown) and a bicycle brake caliper (not shown) via, for example, tubing (not shown).

In this embodiment, the valve20is slidably located in the oil inlet channel12to seal or open an oil inlet121of the oil inlet channel12. The maximum width of the oil inlet channel12is larger than the maximum width of the valve20, and the width of the oil inlet121is narrower than the maximum width of the valve20. In detail, the oil inlet channel12has a wide portion122and a narrow portion123connected to each other, and a width W1of the wide portion122is larger than a width W2of the narrow portion123. An end of the narrow portion123away from the wide portion122is connected to the accommodation space11, and the oil inlet121is located at the narrow portion123. The valve20includes a wide portion21and a narrow portion22connected to each other, and a width W3of the wide portion21of the valve20is larger than a width W4of the narrow portion22of the valve20. The width W3of the wide portion21of the valve20is smaller than the width W1of the wide portion122of the oil inlet channel12and is larger than the width W2of the narrow portion123of the oil inlet channel12. The width W4of the narrow portion22of the valve20is smaller than the width W2of the narrow portion123of the oil inlet channel12. The narrow portion22of the valve20is movably located in the narrow portion123. The wide portion21of the valve20can be used to seal or open the oil inlet121.

The second pipe connector17has a contact surface171facing the valve20. The elastic component40is, for example, a compression spring. The elastic component40is located in the oil inlet channel12, and two opposite ends of the elastic component40respectively press against the contact surface171and the wide portion21of the valve20. The elastic component40is configured to force the valve20to slide and seal the oil inlet121of the valve20.

Then, referring toFIGS.2to5,FIG.5is a partial enlarged view of the bicycle anti-lock brake device1inFIG.4.

In this embodiment, the movable component30is slidably located in the accommodation space11. In specific, the accommodation space11has a first accommodation portion111and a second accommodation portion112connected to each other. The movable component30has a connecting channel31, and the movable component30includes a driven part32and a protrusion part33connected to each other. The driven part32is located in the first accommodation portion111, and the protrusion part33is located in the second accommodation portion112. The connecting channel31penetrates through the driven part32and the protrusion part33. The driven part32has a guide recess321and a press portion322. The guide recess321has a wide portion3211and a tapered portion3212. Two opposite ends of the tapered portion3212are respectively connected to the wide portion3211and the connecting channel31, and a width of the tapered portion3212decreases towards the connecting channel31. The guide pillar portion152of the mount component15is inserted into the guide recess321of the driven part32, and the driven part32surrounds at least part of the valve20. One end of the connecting channel31corresponds to the oil inlet121, and a first chamber321ais formed between the connecting channel31and the oil inlet121at the guide recess321. The press portion322is located at the end of the connecting channel31close to the tapered portion3212, and is configured to press against the narrow portion22of the valve20.

Moreover, the other end of the connecting channel31away from the tapered portion3212corresponds to an oil outlet131connected to the oil outlet channel13, and a second chamber112ais formed between the connecting channel31and the oil outlet131at the second accommodation portion112. A width W5of a part of the tapered portion3212of the guide recess321is smaller than a width W6of the second chamber112a, and a width W7of the wide portion3211of the guide recess321is larger than the width W6of the second chamber112a. Since the second chamber112ais formed at the second accommodation portion112, the second chamber112aand the second accommodation portion112have the same width W6. In such an arrangement, it is understood that the width W5of a part of the tapered portion3212is smaller than the width W6of the second accommodation portion112, and the width W7of the wide portion3211is larger than the width W6of the second accommodation portion112.

In this embodiment, the first pipe connector16has a stop surface161and a contact surface162facing the protrusion part33. The stop surface161is located at a position where the oil outlet channel13is connected to the second accommodation portion112and surrounds the oil outlet131, and the stop surface161is located closer to the protrusion part33than the contact surface162. The stop surface161is configured to limit the slidable movement of the movable component30. The elastic component50is, for example, a compression spring. Two opposite ends of the elastic component50respectively press against the contact surface162and the protrusion part33. The elastic component50is configured to force the protrusion part33to move toward the valve20.

The magnetic force generator60is disposed in the accommodation space11and surrounds the driven part32of the movable component30. More specifically, the magnetic force generator60includes a spool61and a magnetic coil62, and the driven part32of the movable component30includes a cylinder portion323and a flange portion324radially protruding from the cylinder portion323. The connecting channel31penetrates through the cylinder portion323, the guide recess321is located at the cylinder portion323, and the press portion322is connected to the cylinder portion323. The spool61is sleeved on the cylinder portion323of the driven part32, and the spool61includes a shaft part611, a first plate part612, and a second plate part613. The shaft part611is located between and connected to the first plate part612and the second plate part613, and the first plate part612and the second plate part613may be the same in width and are both wider than the shaft part611. The magnetic coil62is wound on the shaft part611and is located between the first plate part612and the second plate part613.

In this embodiment, the main body14of the oil pressure tank10has an annular inner surface141and an annular positioning block142. The annular inner surface141surrounds the accommodation space11and the annular positioning block142, and the first plate part612is located between the annular positioning block142and the annular inner surface141, such that the spool61is positioned between the annular positioning block142and the annular inner surface141and thus the spool61is prevented from interfering the movement of the driven part32of the movable component30.

In addition, the main body14of the oil pressure tank10further has an inner side surface143, and the inner side surface143is located between and connected to the annular inner surface141and the annular positioning block142. The first plate part612of the spool61has an annular protrusion6121, and the annular protrusion6121is in contact with the inner side surface143. Furthermore, the second plate part613of the spool61also has an annular protrusion6131. The magnetically conductive plate70is sleeved on the cylinder portion323of the driven part32and is located between the second plate part613of the spool61and the plate portion151of the mount component15, and the annular protrusion6131of the second plate part613is in contact with the magnetically conductive plate70.

In general, the spool61may be deformed while the magnetic coil62is wound on the shaft part611of the spool61. In this embodiment, the annular protrusions6121and6131enable that the deformed spool61only contact the inner side surface143and the magnetically conductive plate70with a small surface so as to reduce the difficulty of the installation of the spool61, the magnetically conductive plate70and other components.

In this embodiment, the magnetically conductive plate70has a first positioning protrusion71located at a side of the magnetically conductive plate70close to the plate portion151of the mount component15, and the annular wall portion153of the mount component15has a second positioning protrusion1531. The first positioning protrusion71and the second positioning protrusion1531are, for example, in a ring shape. The second positioning protrusion1531is in contact with the first positioning protrusion71, and the second positioning protrusion1531is located closer to the guide pillar portion152of the mount component15than the first positioning protrusion71. The first positioning protrusion71and the second positioning protrusion1531help to position the mount component15and the magnetically conductive plate70, thus it prevents the mount component15and the magnetically conductive plate70from interfering the movement of the driven part32.

Note that the quantity of the first positioning protrusion71in the magnetically conductive plate70is not restricted. In some other embodiments, the magnetically conductive plate may have two first positioning protrusions; in such a case, the two first positioning protrusions of the magnetically conductive plate may be in a block shape, and the two first positioning protrusions may be respectively in contact with two opposite sides of the second positioning protrusion.

The mount pillar portion154has a protrusion portion1541. The mount pillar portion154is disposed through the circuit board80, and the fix sleeve90is sleeved on the mount pillar portion154. The circuit board80is located between and clamped by the fix sleeve90and the protrusion portion1541of the mount pillar portion154. The circuit board80is electrically connected to the magnetic coil62. The water-proof cover100is mounted on the main body14of the oil pressure tank10and is located at a side of the main body14away from the first pipe connector16. The water-proof cover100is in contact with a side of the fix sleeve90away from the circuit board80, and the water-proof cover100is clamped by the fix sleeve90and the second pipe connector17.

Regarding the installations of the circuit board80, the fix sleeve90, the water-proof cover100and the second pipe connector17, the first is to dispose the mount pillar portion154through the circuit board80, then the fix sleeve90is sleeved on the mount pillar portion154so that the circuit board80is located between and clamped by the fix sleeve90and the protrusion portion1541of the mount pillar portion154, then the water-proof cover100is mounted on the main body14to press against the fix sleeve90, and then the second pipe connector17is disposed through the water-proof cover100and the fix sleeve90and is fixed to the mount pillar portion154so that the water-proof cover100is clamped by the second pipe connector17and the fix sleeve90.

In this embodiment, the magnetically conductive plate70, the main body14of the oil pressure tank10, and the driven part32of the movable component30are all made of magnetically conductive materials. The magnetically conductive plate70has an inclined surface72. The inclined surface72faces the flange portion324of the driven part32, and the inclined surface72and a central line P of the cylinder portion323together form an acute angle θ therebetween. When the magnetic coil62is electrified, the magnetic coil62produces a magnetic force, and the magnetic force is applied on the flange portion324of the driven part32via the main body14and the inclined surface72of the magnetically conductive plate70so as to move the movable component30from an initial position to a depressurized position, where the movable component30in the depressurized position is located closer to the oil outlet channel13than when it is in the initial position.

As shown inFIGS.4and5, when the movable component30is in the initial position, the protrusion part33of the movable component30is pressed against by the elastic component50, such that the press portion322of the driven part32presses against the narrow portion22of the valve20to space apart the wide portion21of the valve20from the oil inlet121and thus opening the oil inlet121. In such a case, when the bicycle brake lever is squeezed, an oil pressure is produced and transmitted to the bicycle brake caliper via the oil inlet channel12, the first chamber321a, the connecting channel31, the second chamber112a, and the oil outlet channel13for braking the bicycle.

Meanwhile, part of the tapered portion3212of the guide recess321defines the current first chamber321a, and the maximum width W5of the first chamber321ais slightly smaller than the width W6of the second chamber112a. As such, an end of the protrusion part33away from the driven part32would experience a force from the oil pressure slightly larger than that the driven part32would experience from the same. As a result, the difference of force assists the elastic component50in pushing the movable component30, such that a compression spring having a smaller elastic coefficient may be employed as the elastic component50.

When a detecting device on the bicycle detects that the bicycle wheel is locked up, the circuit board80will let the magnetic coil62to be electrified to produce magnetic force. This magnetic force is transmitted to the driven part32of the movable component30via the main body14and the magnetically conductive plate70, such that the movable component30is moved from the initial position to the depressurized position and deforms the elastic component50.

Referring toFIGS.6and7, whereFIG.6is a cross-sectional view of the bicycle anti-lock brake device1FIG.1when a movable component30of the anti-lock brake device1is in the depressurized position, andFIG.7is a partial enlarged view of the anti-lock brake device1FIG.6.

During the movement of the movable component30from the initial position to the depressurized position, the press portion322of the driven part32is moved away from the narrow portion22of the valve20, and then the elastic component40can force the valve20to move so as to block and seal the oil inlet121by the wide portion21of the valve20. As a result, the oil inlet channel12is disconnected from the oil outlet channel13. Also, the volume of the first chamber321ais increased, and the volume of the second chamber112ais decreased.

When the movable component30is in the depressurized position, the protrusion part33of the movable component30is in contact with the stop surface161. At this moment, the first chamber321aincludes the tapered portion3212of the guide recess321and part of the wide portion3211. In comparison, the first chamber321agains a first volume and the second chamber112aloses a second volume and almost got eliminated as the movable component30is switched from the initial position to the depressurized position.

In this embodiment, the width W7of the wide portion3211of the guide recess321is larger than the width W6of the second accommodation portion112, thus when the movable component30is moved from the initial position to the depressurized position, the first volume gained by the first chamber321ais larger than the second volume lost by the second chamber112a. Herein, define the difference between the first volume and the second volume is a depressurized volume for accommodating oil, where the depressurized volume is approximately equal to the difference between the cross-sectional areas of the wide portion3211of the guide recess321and the second accommodation portion112times the travel distance of the movable component30. Therefore, the existence of the depressurized volume can decrease the oil pressure to slightly loosen the bicycle caliper, such that the bicycle wheel can be released and able to rotate. In short, the depressurized volume, created by the difference between the first chamber321aand the second chamber112a, can avoid the bicycle wheel from being locked up due to applying brakes too hard or too suddenly and thus preventing the rider from losing control of the bicycle.

When the detecting device detects that the bicycle wheel begins to rotates again, the circuit board80stops electrifying the magnetic coil62. At this moment, the magnetic force applying on the movable component30is removed, then the elastic component50can spring the movable component30back to the initial position, and the press portion322of the driven part32pushes the narrow portion22of the valve20to make the wide portion21of the valve20open the oil inlet121. As a result, the oil inlet channel12is connected to the oil outlet channel13again to allow the oil pressure to be transmitted to the bicycle caliper for braking the bicycle. Once the detecting device detects that the bicycle wheel is locked up again, then the aforementioned steps will be repeated until the brake of the bicycle stops.

According to the anti-lock brake device as discussed above, during the movement of the movable component from the initial position to the depressurized position, the oil inlet is sealed by the valve, and the first volume produced between the connecting channel and the oil inlet is larger than the second volume removed from between the connecting channel and the oil outlet, such that the difference between the first volume and the second volume creates a depressurized volume for accommodating oil. Therefore, the pressure at the oil outlet channel can be decreased to slightly loosen the bicycle caliper, such that the bicycle wheel can be released and able to rotate, avoiding the bicycle wheel from being locked up due to applying brakes too hard or too suddenly and thereby preventing the rider from losing control of the bicycle.