The all-new superlight titanium rear frame is an advancement on all that came before - the ride, the fold and portability.
The Brompton engineering team used Finite Element Analysis to study every millimetre of the existing frame. The 3D modelling techniques allowed them to add and remove material to impart greater strength, stiffness and robustness, yet reduce overall weight.
Brompton bikes fold down into a small compact package that rolls on two small rear wheels. On the existing frame, the roller wheels screw into a welded threaded nut on the inside of the two curved tubes (Fig. i).
Focusing on weight-savings and increased durability, the manufacturing engineering teams partnered with experts at Henkel to create a new method and machine to fit the roller wheels to the new frame.
Fig.2: The Advanced Superlight Rear Frame the roller wheels are fixed to one single, larger diameter tube.
1. The rear frame is secured at a set angle inside the sealed unit.
2. A small nozzle precision-sprays a measured quantity of adhesive to the inside of each tube end.
3. The threaded aluminium nuts (cross-hatched for the increased surface area) are fed into the machine.
4. They flow down a 3D printed track into the tube ends.
5. The nuts are pressed with the perfect level of force to deliver a tight fit.
6. The frame is removed and then heat-treated to strengthen the bonds further.
