Perfect manoeuvrability even in detail

Hase Bikes GmbH is one of the most innovative manufacturers of specialised and rehab bikes in the world. When developing the bikes, the engineers use the igus® modular system. This includes plain bearings, sliding discs and spherical plain bearings made of high-performance plastic with incorporated lubricant.

Can a family of three use a single bike to go to the drinks market and transport two crates of mineral water home - on two wheels, in compliance with all road traffic regulations and without any health risks?

Innovative special bikes from the Ruhr region
Anyone who doubts this should study the Hase Bikes programme on the Internet or in specialist shops. Founded in 1994 by Marec Hase, the bicycle manufacturer, which produces on a disused colliery site in Waltrop, is regarded as one of the most innovative manufacturers of speciality and rehabilitation bikes in the world.

One of the latest innovations is a cargo bike version of the popular Pino tandem with a large folding "luggage compartment" under the recumbent front seat. There is space for two water crates. If a child seat is mounted on the luggage carrier of this bike, nothing stands in the way of a family trip to the drinks market.

Bipod stand for Pino-based cargo bike
Of course, a bike like this must also have an extremely sturdy kickstand - a challenge for any designer. Dipl.-Ing. Christof Bödiger from Hase Bikes developed a two-legged stand for the cargo bike version of the Pino, which rests against the underside of the load carrier when folded. Various requirements have to be taken into account for this and many other solutions: "The mechanism has to be robust and smooth-running. It must be able to withstand rain and dirt and be corrosion-free. And the weight naturally plays an important role."

designing with the igus® modular system
Under these conditions, two igubal® spherical plain bearings made of high-performance plastic prove their worth, providing mobility in two axes in the kinematics of the stand. These spherical plain bearings are self-adjusting, maintenance-free and require no external lubrication because the lubricant is incorporated into the plastic.

This is just one of many examples where the designers at Hase Bikes rely on the iglidur® plain bearing kit from igus®. Christof Bödiger: "We have always had good experiences with the igus® bearings - in very different applications. They achieve a long service life even when exposed to dirt, moisture and high mechanical stress. In the large programme, you can always find a bearing that can be easily integrated into the surrounding construction." And not without irony, he adds: "If there is still a fault, such as premature failure, the designer has made it."

Demanding applications in the drivetrain
In fact, there are a whole range of different applications for igus® plain bearings in the wheels of Hase Bikes - for example in the optional axle differential developed by Marec Hase, which distributes the cyclist's power evenly to both rear wheels on the tricycles and prevents the wheels from spinning on slippery surfaces. This turns the single-wheel drive into a two-wheel drive. It was a challenging engineering task to realise the power distribution in a small space and with the lowest possible weight. Marec Hase solved it with a gear stage with high-quality helical gearing, which is integrated into a compact housing.

The other design elements of the differential include two thrust washers as well as a plain bearing and a collar bearing made of iglidur® G. Although this is "only" the basic material among the numerous iglidur® materials, it is completely sufficient in this case. For the layman, it may be surprising that a material with incorporated lubricant is used here, because the differential is filled with oil. Why use plastic instead of metal bearings? Christof Bödiger: "We want to avoid metal-to-metal contact, because this can lead to abrasion and therefore chips in the gearbox. iglidur® G is also very abrasion-resistant in such applications. We have had the differential in the programme for four years, and the igus® bearings have proven themselves."