Adjustable Pipe Repair Clamp With Wedge-Locking Tongues
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Solution Overview
Problem
Plumbing repairs involving pipe replacement can be costly, and existing clamps, whether wide-range or dedicated-size, often require specific sizes and include expensive components, complicating the repair process.
Innovation Solution
A clamp design featuring a housing with integrated tongues and clamping assemblies, utilizing a wedge mechanism and springs for adjustable fitting around various pipe diameters, eliminating the need for costly fasteners and allowing a single tool to secure multiple sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If wide range clamps are used to accommodate multiple pipe section diameters, then adaptability is improved, but cost increases due to costly components
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp is divided into separate modular components: a clamp body, adjustable clamping arms, and a tongue-and-groove engagement mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and assembled to fit different pipe sizes without requiring entirely different clamp designs, reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp body is designed with universal features that can accommodate multiple pipe diameters through adjustable clamping arms. The tongue-and-groove mechanism provides a universal engagement method that works across different clamp sizes, eliminating the need for multiple specialized tools and reducing overall cost.
2Manufacturing precision
If dedicated-size clamps are used for specific pipe diameters, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to requiring specific sized clamps for each application
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping arms are designed to be adjustable rather than fixed, allowing the clamp to dynamically adapt to different pipe diameters. The tongue-and-groove mechanism enables dynamic positioning of the arms at various angles, providing precise fitting for different pipe sizes while using a single clamp design, thereby reducing device complexity.
3Reliability
If traditional clamps with costly fasteners are used, then reliability is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp employs a self-service fastening mechanism where the tongue-and-groove engagement allows the clamp arms to automatically secure to the clamp body without requiring external fasteners. The wedge-shaped tongues engage with corresponding grooves to create a self-locking arrangement that maintains reliable clamping force while eliminating costly fastener components.
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 provides cost-effective repair by accommodating a wide range of pipe diameters with minimal components, reducing installation costs by 15% compared to traditional clamps and ensuring secure sealing without the need for multiple tools.
Implementation Method 1
at least one clamping assembly can be coupled to the second end, wherein each clamping assembly can engage at least one tongue
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a wedge mechanism and springs for adjustable fitting around various pipe diameters
Data Source
AI summary
A clamp includes a housing, the housing defining a first end and a second end; at least one tongue connected to the housing and extending proximate the first end; a gasket arranged within and in contact with the housing; and at least one clamping assembly coupled to the housing, wherein each clamping assembly engages at least one tongue.