Mechanical Wedge Brake for Bicycle

[super_gt]

Unlike the Electronic Wedge Brake this brake is fully mechanical.The brake uses the kinetic energy to stop the bicycle.It is extremely powerful brake(much more powerful than hydraulic disc brake for bicycle)and becomes even stronger with the increase of speed.The power of the brake remains almost unchanged even in wet.The brake is made entirely of aluminum.I designed and made this brake.

This is a rough prototype of the Mechanical Wedge Brake which is made to work not to look good.

Spoiler: Pictures

 

[Obelisk]

Unlike the Electronic Wedge Brake this brake is fully mechanical.The brake uses the kinetic energy to stop the bicycle.It is extremely strong brake(much much stronger than hydraulic disc brake for bicycle)and becomes even stronger with the increase of speed.The power of the brake remains almost unchanged even in wet.The brake is made entirely of aluminum.I designed and made this brake.

This is a rough prototype which is made to work not to look good.

Spoiler: Pictures

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I can't tell what's going on with that brake...Do you have any pictures or designs of it off of the wheel?

 

[super_gt]

I can't tell what's going on with that brake...Do you have any pictures or designs of it off of the wheel?

No

First push the brake handle which moves the two arms towards each other,the brake pads are pressed to the wheel which makes the two arms move forward.

 

[Obelisk]

No

First push the brake handle which moves the two arms towards each other,the brake pads are pressed to the wheel which makes the two arms move forward.

View attachment 585468

Okay, that makes sense.

 

[super_gt]

 

[Azuremen]

Considering locking the wheels up seems to be more of an issue than having enough braking force, kind of curious what problem this is addressing?

 

[boiltheocean]

Because what you need in bicycle brakes is raw stopping power and not controlled modulation...

 

[super_gt]

Considering locking the wheels up seems to be more of an issue than having enough braking force, kind of curious what problem this is addressing?

This depends on the angle of the wedge.More sharp angle of the wedge gives you tremendous power(you can lock the front wheel with your little finger without much effort) but there is little control over the wedge.With more obtuse angle of the wedge you will have to apply more power(the power of the brake is still stronger than other brake)but you have full control over the wedge.
Also brake arms are pressed between rubber which pulls them back when you loosen(or release)the brake handle:

Also as you can see in this picture:

The backside of the brake pads is not as directly pressed as the front side,which allows to loosen when you release the brake handle.

 

[Azuremen]

You've yet to answer my question though - what problem are you addressing? Typical brakes work fine in 90% of situations, and disc brakes work extremely well where rim mounted brakes are not appropriate. In automotive braking, larger brake systems generally help address the build of heat over extended periods but, to my knowledge, this isn't an issue in bicycle design. And the system you are working on wouldn't really address that anyhow.

We already have multiple bicycle brake systems that can easily lock up the wheels. What does this offer that those do not, besides making it "easier" to lock up the wheels?

 

[super_gt]

You've yet to answer my question though - what problem are you addressing? Typical brakes work fine in 90% of situations, and disc brakes work extremely well where rim mounted brakes are not appropriate. In automotive braking, larger brake systems generally help address the build of heat over extended periods but, to my knowledge, this isn't an issue in bicycle design. And the system you are working on wouldn't really address that anyhow.

We already have multiple bicycle brake systems that can easily lock up the wheels. What does this offer that those do not, besides making it "easier" to lock up the wheels?

When the rim/brake disc and pads are wet those bicycle brake systems that can easily lock up the wheels lose power my brake does not lose power,also those bicycle brake systems are not as effective at high speed.

 

[Azuremen]

When the rim/brake disc and pads are wet those bicycle brake systems that can easily lock up the wheels lose power my brake does not lose power,also those bicycle brake systems are not as effective at high speed.

If a rim mounted braking system loses power because of the wet, your rim based braking system will be less effective because of the wet. The only difference is you are applying much more force, which won't address the initial effectiveness of the brakes anyhow, which is the real issue for wet riding. That and perforated disc systems are quite effective in the rain.

As for high speeds, there is no physical reason why it would be more effective at high speeds as, again, if you can lock up the tire with a traditional system you have enough braking power.

I get it, you are defensive of your idea, but step back and evaluate it from a practical standpoint and actual problem solving standpoint.

 

[super_gt]

If a rim mounted braking system loses power because of the wet, your rim based braking system will be less effective because of the wet. The only difference is you are applying much more force, which won't address the initial effectiveness of the brakes anyhow, which is the real issue for wet riding. That and perforated disc systems are quite effective in the rain.

I have bicycle with perforated disc system and I've done test with both bicycles in wet,this is why I can say that my brake is much more effective in wet.

As for high speeds, there is no physical reason why it would be more effective at high speeds as

At high speed the wheel rotates faster which creates more friction with the brake pad which increases the power of the brake and the wheel itself has bigger kinetic energy which drives the wedge ahead.

if you can lock up the tire with a traditional system you have enough braking power.

You can not lock up the front tire with traditional system,only with high-end hydraulic brakes which are expensive unlike my brake.If you can not lock up the front tire you are not braking effectively.

 

[boiltheocean]

If you can not lock up the front tire you are not braking effectively.

Err what? The most effective method of braking is to apply maximum power without locking the wheel, that's why being able to precisely control the power of the brakes is more important than peak power.

 

[super_gt]

Err what? The most effective method of braking is to apply maximum power without locking the wheel, that's why being able to precisely control the power of the brakes is more important than peak power.

Like I said,I have bicycle with perforated disc system(not hydraulic)and the braking distance of the bicycle with my brake is half short using only the front brake compared to the bicycle with the disc brake using front and rear brakes.This is because the front brake is very far from lock up the front wheel.(keep in mind that I have pretty strong hands which is not enough to lock up the front tire with disc brake)

 

[TB]

You can not lock up the front tire with traditional system

You absolutely can and if you cant, it's because the brakes aren't adjusted correctly. I have my wife's front V-brake set to bottom out on the hand grip but not lift the back tire so she won't kill herself. My V-brake is able to murder me at the drop of a hat if you plant it.

 

[Robin]

I agree, my mountain bike has v brakes. It could throw me over the handlebars quite easily!

In a way isn't a system which powerfully locks the wheel up kind of dangerous? Like ABS in a car you want a strong but controlled reduction in speed.

 

[LM7325]

As easy as it is to straighten a bent wheel with a vise has me worried about how much force is being applied to the rim with your setup. Over time it seems you would notice the rim narrowing from being so forcefully squeezed.

 

[Shaun]

You can not lock up the front tire with traditional system,only with high-end hydraulic brakes which are expensive unlike my brake.

Huh?

As @TB has mentioned it is quite possible with V Brakes and I can categorically tell you that it is possible with dual pivot brakes also.

Both my road bikes are shod with dual pivot brakes, one being Shimano Ultegra and the other Dura Ace and both will lock either wheel in a blink of an eye on both carbon and aluminum rims. The only thing stopping that from happening is me, as in how hard I squeeze the levers.

In automotive braking, larger brake systems generally help address the build of heat over extended periods but, to my knowledge, this isn't an issue in bicycle design.

Yes for the most part you are absolutely spot on that heat is not much to be concerned about in a bicycle wheel.

Only when you get to a really long and fast descent does it become something to take into consideration while riding. There are cases of carbon wheels becoming so hot that the resin holding them together actually has melted causing the wheel to lose shape and the tyre separating from the rim. Current carbon wheels are getting better but still not totally immune to it.

 

[Azuremen]

Only when you get to a really long and fast descent does it become something to take into consideration while riding. There are cases of carbon wheels becoming so hot that the resin holding them together actually has melted causing the wheel to lose shape and the tyre separating from the rim. Current carbon wheels are getting better but still not totally immune to it.

True. And virtually all braking systems are generally taxed on descents simply because of the duration of application, rather than the raw velocities.

Regardless, it takes some pretty poorly adjusted/aged brakes for them to not be able to lock the wheel up. That and locking my front wheel is generally the last thing I want to do anyhow

 

[Shaun]

Regardless, it takes some pretty poorly adjusted/aged brakes for them to not be able to lock the wheel up. That and locking my front wheel is generally the last thing I want to do anyhow

Exactly, locking of the front wheel isn't advised at all. One can usually get away with the rear but the front normally ends in tears very quickly.