JPH0569874A - Pipe for bicycle frame - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a pipe for a bicycle frame with safety further with an excellent fine view wherein toughness is substantially improved with difficulty to break to connect a broken part with no separation even in the case of breaking the pipe. CONSTITUTION:A pipe for a bicycle frame is constituted of a straight layer 101S1', fiber reinforced prepreg layer 1', angle layer 101A', straight layer 101S2' and a cross layer 1C'. The fiber reinforced prepreg layer 1' is formed of a metal fiber as the reinforcing fiber and fiber reinforced prepreg having a fiber of different kind from the metal fiber.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bicycle frame pipe comprising a plurality of fiber reinforced resin layers,
In particular, the present invention relates to a bicycle frame pipe, characterized in that, at least between the fiber-reinforced resin layers or in the outermost layer, a fiber-reinforced prepreg layer having metal fibers and different fibers different from the metal fibers as reinforcing fibers is provided. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The structure of a bicycle is schematically shown in FIG.
The bicycle frame has an upper pipe 102a and a lower pipe 102.
b, a plurality of pipes 102 such as a vertical pipe 102c are connected by an aluminum alloy or carbon fiber reinforced composite resin rug (connector) 104.

In recent years, as the bicycle frame pipe 102, a pipe made of a fiber-reinforced composite resin product using carbon fiber as a reinforcing fiber has been widely used because of its light weight and high mechanical strength. , With good results.

Such a conventional bicycle frame pipe 102
Is composed of a plurality of fiber-reinforced composite resin layers, and as shown in FIG. 5, a predetermined number of fiber-reinforced prepregs 101 cut into a predetermined shape and dimension are provided for the mandrel 100.
It is formed by wrapping around and hardening. At this time, in order to improve the twisting and bending performance, as the fiber reinforced prepreg, as will be understood by also referring to FIG. 4, basically, the reinforcing fibers are parallel to the axis of the bicycle frame pipe ( The prepreg 101S ₁ (straight layer 101S ₁ ′) arranged in θ = 0 ° and the reinforcing fibers are in opposite directions to each other with respect to the axis of the bicycle frame pipe (normally, θ = 25 ° or more). Prepreg 101A (101A) arranged so as to be inclined by 90 °
₁ , 101A ₂ ) (angle layer 101A ′) and the reinforcing fibers are parallel to the axis of the bicycle frame pipe (θ =
0 °) prepreg 101S ₂ (straight layer 101S ₂ ′) and reinforcing fibers are crossed (fabric)
The prepreg 101C (cross layer 101C ′) that has been used is used.

[0005]

In the bicycle frame pipe having such a structure, it is possible to prevent the breakage, and even if the pipe is broken, the broken parts are connected without being separated. In order to achieve this, improvement in toughness is desired. Furthermore, the appearance is required to be fashionable, and improvement from the aesthetic viewpoint is also desired.

As a result of many researches conducted by the present inventors, the fiber reinforced having metal fibers such as titanium fiber, stainless fiber, and tungsten fiber as reinforcing fibers and dissimilar fibers such as carbon fibers other than metal fibers. It has been found that the above-mentioned demand can be met by providing the fiber-reinforced prepreg layer formed by the prepreg between the fiber-reinforced resin layers of the conventional bicycle frame pipe having the above-mentioned structure or in the outermost layer.

The present invention has been made based on such a new finding.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is that the toughness is greatly improved, it is hard to break, and even if it is broken, the broken parts are connected without separation, it is safe, and moreover, it is aesthetically excellent. It is to provide a pipe for a bicycle frame.

[0009]

The above object is achieved by a pipe for a bicycle frame according to the present invention. In summary,
The present invention, in a bicycle frame pipe comprising a plurality of fiber reinforced resin layers, a metal fiber as a reinforcing fiber, a fiber reinforced prepreg layer having different fibers other than the metal fiber, at least between the fiber reinforced resin layer or On the outermost layer,
This is a pipe for a bicycle frame, which is provided with one layer or a plurality of layers. Preferably, the surface of the metal fiber is subjected to a phosphate treatment or a chromate treatment.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, a bicycle frame pipe according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

The bicycle frame pipe according to the present invention comprises:
As shown in FIG. 1, preferably, a prepreg 101S ₁ in which reinforcing fibers are arranged in parallel (θ = 0 °) to the axis of the bicycle frame pipe, and a fiber-reinforced prepreg 1 described in detail later. , The reinforcing fibers are in mutually opposite angles (θ) with respect to the axis of the bicycle frame pipe (usually θ = 25 ° to 90 °, preferably 30 ° to 60 °).
Prepreg 101A (1
01A ₁ , 101A ₂ ), prepreg 101S _{2 in} which reinforcing fibers are arranged in parallel (θ = 0 °) to the axis of the bicycle frame pipe, and further prepreg 101C in which reinforcing fibers are cloth (woven fabric) Are manufactured by laminating and curing using a mandrel as described above.

That is, according to the present invention, the straight layer 1
01S ₁ ', fiber reinforced prepreg layer 1', angle layer 1
01A ', straight layer 101S ₂ ' and cross layer 10
A bicycle frame pipe with 1C 'is formed.
Further, the fiber reinforced prepreg layer 1'may be provided as the outermost layer as shown in FIG. 2, and although not shown, the angle layer 101A 'and the straight layer 101S.
'Between the straight layer 101S _{2' 2} a cross-layer 10
It can be provided at an arbitrary position such as between 1C 'and the above-mentioned plurality of positions. Also, the straight layer 101S ₁ ',
101S ₂ ', angle layer 101A', and cloth layer 1
01C ′, and further, the fiber-reinforced prepreg layer 1 ′ does not have to be one layer, and may be a plurality of layers if necessary.

Straight layers 101S ₁ ', 101S
Generally, carbon fibers (including graphite fibers) are preferably used as the reinforcing fibers of the fiber-reinforced resin layer composed of ₂ ', the angle layer 101A', the cross layer 101C ', etc. Well-known glass fibers and various other reinforcing fibers can be used. Further, the reinforcing fibers of each of these fiber-reinforced resin layers may be the same, or different fibers may be used.

Further, as the matrix resin of the prepreg for forming each of these fiber reinforced resin layers, epoxy resin,
A thermosetting matrix resin such as unsaturated polyester resin, polyurethane resin, diallyl phthalate resin, or phenol resin can be used. Further, a curing agent and other imparting agents such as a flexibility imparting agent are appropriately added so that the curing temperature of the prepreg becomes 50 to 200 ° C.

Next, the fiber-reinforced prepreg layer 1'characteristic of the present invention will be described in more detail. 6 and 7
The embodiment of the fiber reinforced prepreg 1 used for forming the fiber reinforced prepreg layer 1 ′ according to the present invention is shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the fiber reinforced prepreg 1 which is a feature of the present invention. In this embodiment, the fiber reinforced prepreg 1 is configured to have reinforcing fibers impregnated with the matrix resin 2. According to the invention, the metal fibers 4 and the dissimilar fibers 6 other than the metal fibers are used as the reinforcing fibers.

As the metal fiber 4, one or more kinds selected from titanium fiber, amorphous fiber, steel fiber, stainless fiber, tungsten fiber, aluminum fiber and the like are used. The metal fiber 4 is 5 to 150.
Various fiber diameters of μm can be used.

The different fibers 6 are selected from inorganic fibers such as carbon fibers, glass fibers, alumina fibers, silicon carbide fibers and silicon nitride fibers, and organic fibers such as aramid fibers, polyarylate fibers and polyethylene fibers. 1
Seed or multiple species. The different fibers 6 may have various fiber diameters of 5 to 30 μm.

As the matrix resin 2, a thermosetting matrix resin such as epoxy resin, unsaturated polyester resin, polyurethane resin, diallyl phthalate resin or phenol resin can be used. Further, a curing agent and other imparting agents such as flexibility imparting agent are appropriately added so that the curing temperature is 50 to 200 ° C.

As a preferred example, an epoxy resin is preferable as the matrix resin 2, and usable epoxy resins include, for example, (1) glycidyl ether type epoxy resin (bisphenol A, F, S type epoxy resin, novolac type epoxy resin). Epoxy resin, brominated bisphenol A epoxy resin); (2) cycloaliphatic epoxy resin;
(3) Glycidyl ester-based epoxy resin; (4) Glycidylamine-based epoxy resin; (5) Heterocyclic epoxy resin; and one or more kinds selected from other various epoxy resins, particularly bisphenol A, F, S
Glycidyl amine epoxy resin is preferably used.
As the curing agent, amine curing agents such as dicyandiamide (DICY), diaminodiphenylsulfone (DDS), diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM); acid anhydrides such as hexahydrophthalic anhydride (HHP)
A), methylhexahydrophthalic anhydride (MHHPA)
Etc. are used, but amine-based curing agents are particularly preferably used.

The mixing ratio of the reinforcing fiber and the matrix resin 2 in the fiber reinforced prepreg 1 can be adjusted as desired.
In general, the weight ratio of metal fiber: different fiber: matrix resin = 1 to 30:30 to 80:20 to 70 is good, and preferably 5 to 20:40 to 75:25 to 60.
The thickness T of the fiber reinforced prepreg 1 is usually 20 to 300.
μm.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the fiber reinforced prepreg 1 which is a feature of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the first dissimilar fiber 6A is arranged on one side of the prepreg, and the second dissimilar fiber 6B different from the first dissimilar fiber 6A is arranged on the other side of the prepreg. This is different from the prepreg of the previous embodiment shown in FIG.

In the present embodiment, the metal fibers 4 are preferably located at the center of the fiber reinforced prepreg 1 as shown in the drawing, but they are arranged on either side slightly offset from the center. Even if it does, the same effect can be exhibited.

The first and second dissimilar fibers 6A and 6B are inorganic fibers such as carbon fibers, glass fibers, alumina fibers, silicon carbide fibers, silicon nitride fibers, and aramid fibers and polyarylates, as in the previous embodiment. -One kind or plural kinds selected from organic fibers such as G-fiber and polyethylene fiber. For example, as an example, the first different fiber 6A is a carbon fiber and the second different fiber 6B is a glass fiber.

The prepreg 1 having such a structure can be manufactured by various methods. To give an example, the prepreg 1 is a reinforcing fiber, for example, the first dissimilar fiber 6A is a carbon fiber, and the second
The dissimilar fiber 6B is made of glass fiber, and the metal fiber 4 is placed between the two unidirectional fiber reinforced prepregs.
It is extremely suitably manufactured by arranging the same in the same direction as A and 6B at a predetermined interval and pressing and / or heating to integrate them.

To further explain, as shown in FIG.
The first carbon fiber reinforced prepreg 1 held on the release paper 10 and having carbon fibers as the first different fibers 6A, for example.
On top of A, the metal fibers 4 arranged in the same direction as the arrangement direction of the carbon fibers 6A of the first carbon fiber reinforced prepreg 1A are arranged, and the release paper 10 is sandwiched by the metal fibers 4. A second glass fiber reinforced prepreg 1B having glass fibers as the second dissimilar fibers 6B held by the
Are overlapped with each other, and the prepregs 1A and 1B are pressed and / or heated toward each other. As a result, the first carbon fiber reinforced prepreg 1A, the metal fiber 4 and the second glass fiber reinforced prepreg 1B are integrally joined to form the fiber reinforced prepreg 1 according to the present invention as shown in FIG.

The mixing ratio of the metal fiber 4, the first and second different fibers 6A and 6B: matrix resin 2 in the prepreg of the present invention can be adjusted arbitrarily, but generally it is wt%.
Then, metal fiber: first heterogeneous fiber: second heterogeneous fiber: matrix resin = (1 to 30): (10 to 70): (10
70): (20-70). Further, according to the present invention, the thickness (T) of the prepreg may be about the fiber diameter of the metal fiber 4 to be used, but usually 80 to
It will be about 200 μm.

Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, preferably, the metal fibers 4 used in the fiber reinforced prepreg 1 are previously subjected to a phosphate treatment or a chromate treatment as a chemical conversion treatment.

By subjecting the metal fiber 4 to a phosphate treatment or a chromate treatment in advance, a metal salt coating is formed on the surface of the metal fiber, and the metal salt coating enhances the adhesiveness of the metal fiber 4 with the matrix resin 2. As a result, the effect of improving mechanical strength such as torsional fracture strength and impact resistance of the ski pole shaft made of the fiber reinforced prepreg 1 using the metal fibers 4 can be sufficiently exerted, and at the same time, the toughness can be improved. ..

As the phosphate treatment, either zinc phosphate treatment or manganese phosphate treatment can be used. In particular, when the metal fibers 4 are steel fibers or stainless fibers, iron phosphate-based phosphate treatment can be used in addition to the zinc phosphate-based or manganese phosphate-based treatment described above.

The treatment conditions such as the liquid composition of the phosphate treatment, pH, treatment temperature, treatment time and the like can be ordinary conditions, but from the viewpoint of improving the adhesiveness of the metal fibers 4 to the matrix resin 2. Therefore, it may be appropriately determined according to the type of the metal fiber 4 to be used.

Specifically, the phosphate treatment is performed by using the metal fiber 4
It is preferable to perform so that a metal salt coating film having a coating amount of 0.2 to 10 g / m ² is formed on the surface. In addition, the chromate treatment is performed so that a metal salt coating (chromate coating) having a coating amount of 0.01 to 0.15 g / m ² is formed on the surface of the metal fiber 4 as in the case of the phosphate treatment. It is preferable to carry out.

In the fiber reinforced prepreg 1 of the present invention, the metal fibers 4 can be arranged in one direction, but can also be used in the state of cloth (woven fabric).

Next, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to Examples.

Example 1 A bicycle frame pipe having the structure shown in FIG. 2 was produced.

Straight layers 101S ₁ 'and 101S
Prepregs 101S ₁ and 101 for forming ₂ '
S ₂ is the same, and in this embodiment, as the reinforcing fiber, PAN-based carbon fiber having a fiber diameter of 7.0 μm (manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc .: trade name “T300”) is used, and a matrix resin is used. Used an epoxy resin. The matrix resin content was 35% by weight.

The prepregs 101A ₁ and 101A ₂ for forming the angle layer 101A 'are made of PAN-based carbon fiber (trade name "T300" manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.) having a fiber diameter of 7.0 μm as a reinforcing fiber. Use and θ
= 60 °. Epoxy resin was used as the matrix resin. The matrix resin content was 35% by weight.

The prepreg 101C for forming the cross layer 101C 'has a fiber diameter of 7.0 as a reinforcing fiber.
Cloth (fabric) made from high-elasticity pitch-based carbon fiber (made by Tonen Corporation: product name "FT700") with a size of μm
The matrix resin used was an epoxy resin. The matrix resin content was 35% by weight.

On the other hand, the fiber reinforced prepreg layer 1'provided on the outer side of the cloth layer 101C 'was produced by the fiber reinforced prepreg 1 having the structure shown in FIG. That is, in this prepreg 1, titanium fibers having a fiber diameter of 100 μm are arranged as the metal fibers 4 at a pitch of 0.7 mm and used.
As the first heterogeneous fiber 6A, a PAN-based carbon fiber having a fiber diameter of 7.0 μm (manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc .: trade name “T30”
0 ”), glass fibers having a fiber diameter of 13 μm (made by Asahi Fiber Glass Co., Ltd., standard name E glass) are used as the second different fibers 6B, and epoxy resin is used as the matrix resin 2. did. Further, in weight%, metal fiber: first different kind fiber: second different kind fiber: matrix resin = 1
It was 6: 23: 31: 30.

According to this embodiment, the fiber-reinforced prepreg layer 1'is the outermost layer, and the glass fibers 6B are arranged so that the side where they are arranged is the outer side, and the epoxy resin is used as the matrix resin 2. Therefore, the metal fiber 4 was visible from the outside and was aesthetically excellent.

Table 1 shows the performance evaluation of the bicycle frame pipe of this example.

Comparative Example 1 A pipe for a bicycle frame was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the fiber reinforced prepreg layer 1'was not provided.

Table 1 shows the performance evaluation of the bicycle frame pipe of this comparative example.

Example 2 As a reinforcing fiber of the cloth layer 101C ', a PAN-based carbon fiber (manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc .: trade name "T300") having a fiber diameter of 7.0 μm was used in place of the pitch-based carbon fiber. As in Example 1, except that a cloth (fabric) was used, FIG.
A pipe for a bicycle frame having the structure shown in was produced.

According to this embodiment, as in the case of Embodiment 1, the fiber-reinforced prepreg layer 1'is the outermost layer, and the side on which the glass fibers 6B are arranged is arranged outside and the matrix is arranged. Since the epoxy resin was used as the resin 2, the metal fiber 4 was visually recognizable from the outside and was aesthetically excellent.

Table 1 shows the performance evaluation of the bicycle frame pipe of this example.

Comparative Example 2 A bicycle frame pipe was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 2 except that the fiber reinforced prepreg layer 1'was not provided.

Table 1 shows the performance evaluation of the bicycle frame pipe of this comparative example.

Example 3 The procedure of Example 2 was repeated except that the metal fiber 4 of the fiber-reinforced prepreg layer 1'was replaced by a titanium fiber instead of a stainless fiber having a fiber diameter of 100 .mu.m. A pipe for a bicycle frame was manufactured.

As shown in Table 1, the bicycle frame pipe of this example was also excellent in toughness and aesthetics as in Examples 1 and 2 above.

Examples 4 and 5 In the same manner as in Example 3 except that a cloth using an organic fiber was used as the reinforcing fiber of the cloth layer 101C 'instead of the PAN-based carbon fiber cloth, the structure shown in FIG. A pipe for a bicycle frame was manufactured.

In Example 4, the organic fiber has a fiber diameter of 23 μm.
m aramid fiber (manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc .: trade name “Technora”), and in Example 5 polyarylate fiber having a fiber diameter of 23 μm (manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc .: trade name “Vectran”).

As shown in Table 1, the pipe for a bicycle frame of this example was also excellent in toughness and aesthetics as in the case of Example 3 above.

Examples 6 and 7 Tungsten fibers having a fiber diameter of 100 μm instead of titanium fibers as the metal fibers 4 of the fiber reinforced prepreg layer 1 ′ (Example 6), and amorphous fibers having a fiber diameter of 100 μm ( A bicycle frame pipe having the configuration shown in FIG. 2 was produced in the same manner as in Example 2 except that Example 7) was used.

As shown in Table 1, the pipe for a bicycle frame of this example was also excellent in toughness and aesthetics as in the case of Example 2.

[0056] As the metal fibers 4 of Example 8,9 prepregs layer 1 ', chromate-treated titanium fibers (Example 8), and is carried out except for using zinc treated stainless steel fibers phosphate (Example 9) In the same manner as in Example 1, a bicycle frame pipe having the configuration shown in FIG. 2 was produced.

The chromate treatment in Example 8 was carried out as follows.
Zinchrome R-14 made by Nippon Parker Rising Co., Ltd.
15A was used and the coating amount was 0.03 g / m ² . Further, the zinc phosphate treatment in Example 9 was carried out by PALPOND L-3080 manufactured by Nippon Parker Rising Co., Ltd.
The coating amount was 1.0 g / m ² .

As shown in Table 1, the pipe for a bicycle frame of this example was also excellent in toughness and aesthetics, as in the case of Example 2.

[0059]

[Table 1]

[0060]

As described above, in the bicycle frame pipe of the present invention, metal fibers and different kinds of fibers other than metal fibers are used as reinforcing fibers between the fiber-reinforced resin layers composed of a plurality of layers or in the outermost layer. Since it has a fiber-reinforced prepreg layer, the toughness is significantly improved, it is difficult to break, and even if it breaks, the broken parts are connected without separation, it is safe, and moreover, aesthetically Is also excellent.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a bicycle frame pipe according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the bicycle frame pipe according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a bicycle.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a bicycle frame pipe.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a method of manufacturing a bicycle frame pipe.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of an example of the fiber reinforced prepreg according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of another embodiment of the fiber reinforced prepreg according to the present invention.

8 is a diagram illustrating one manufacturing method for manufacturing the fiber reinforced prepreg shown in FIG. 7. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 prepregs 2 matrix resin 4 metal fiber 6 different fibers 1 'prepregs layer 101A' angular layer 101C 'cloth layer 101S _1' straight layer 101S ₂ 'straight layer 102 bicycle frame pipe

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a bicycle frame pipe comprising a plurality of fiber reinforced resin layers, a fiber reinforced prepreg layer having metal fibers and different kinds of fibers other than the metal fibers as reinforcing fibers is provided at least between or at least between the fiber reinforced resin layers. On the outer layer,
A pipe for a bicycle frame, which is provided with one layer or a plurality of layers.