Adjustable Masonry String Clamp for Precise Corner Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spring clamps fail to precisely locate a masonry string adjacent to the apex of a block corner and are limited in their ability to accommodate varying block sizes, leading to frictional wear and pinch failure of the string.
Innovation Solution
A string groove masonry clamp with an adjustable jaw and a guide body featuring a planar side and end jaw, along with a string cleat made from a washer and rivet, ensures consistent string positioning and secure clamping using a biasing coil spring, minimizing frictional wear and accommodating different block sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed jaw clamp is used, then the clamp structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate varying block sizes leading to string wear and failure
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp incorporates an adjustable jaw mechanism that allows the clamp to adapt dynamically to different block sizes. The jaw can be repositioned along the clamp body to accommodate varying dimensions, transforming a static structure into a dynamic one that responds to different work conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp body is divided into segmented sections with adjustment mechanisms, allowing independent adjustment of the jaw position. This segmentation enables the clamp to maintain simplicity in each component while achieving overall adaptability through modular adjustment capabilities.
2Reliability
If the string is held without a groove, then the clamp structure is simpler, but the string experiences frictional wear and pinch failure
Solution Approach 1:
A groove is introduced as an intermediary element between the clamp jaw and the string. This groove acts as a protective channel that guides the string, distributes contact pressure, and prevents direct pinching, thereby improving string reliability without significantly complicating the overall clamp structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove is implemented locally at the critical contact point where the string passes through the clamp, rather than requiring a complete structural redesign. This localized feature provides string protection precisely where wear and pinching occur most frequently.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The clamp consistently positions the string at the apex of the block, reducing wear and failure, while the adjustable jaw allows for use with varying block sizes, enhancing the clamp's utility and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
The clamp can be made as a biasing clamp using an axial coil spring with extending ends contacting the opposing sides of the clamp
Data Source
AI summary
A string groove masonry clamp having a clamp body with first and second clamp sides pivotally connected together and biased to clamp onto a masonry block to align a string positioning guide having a string groove at the edge of the apex of the corner of the block and an adjustable opposing jaw.