Development of a next-generation parking brake for heavy-duty cargo bikes
Typ
Examensarbete för masterexamen
Program
Product development (MPPDE), MSc
Publicerad
2022
Författare
Demirci, Yasin
Mascarenhas, Chrirag Aloysius
Modellbyggare
Tidskriftstitel
ISSN
Volymtitel
Utgivare
Sammanfattning
The thesis presents the design and development of a parking brake system for a
heavy-duty cargo bike in collaboration with Velove Bikes AB. Velove bikes AB is a
start-up located in Gothenburg, Sweden, developing and producing Armadillo Cargo
bikes. Moreover, the company uses these bikes for last-mile delivery operations to
various delivery companies such as Budbee and Airmee with the help of trained
riders in order to execute a fast delivery operation.
Initially, a requirement specification was tabulated during the product development
process to identify the customer’s needs. This was followed by functional decom position to map out various procedures during the parking brake operation. Then,
multiple ideas were generated and combined to form various concepts in the concept
generation phase. The best concept was then selected based on the methodologies
of concept evaluation. The chosen concept was finally prototyped using tools and
materials available at the company’s R&D facility. This was then tested to check
the fulfilment of the initial requirements in a real-world environment. Furthermore,
an additional commercial assessment, recommendation and concluding action plan
are provided to get the solution closer to realisation and aid potential future work.
The final product consists of two commercially available mechanical disc brake cal lipers mounted on the bike’s rear wheels. The two brake cables from these callipers
are then coupled into a single cable using a junction mechanism. A single cable
is then pulled in tension with the help of a mechanical lever placed adjacent to
the rider’s seat, which provides easy and fast access to activate or deactivate the
brake and works similarly to the old car hand brakes. Additionally, provisions can
be made on the hand lever to alter and remind the riders to disengage the brake
system when necessary. This works in tandem as an anti joy side system to prevent
outsiders from using the bike for short rides while the rider is away from the bike
and delivering the packages.
Beskrivning
Ämne/nyckelord
cargo bikes, parking brake, handbrake, brake.