Annular Piston Clamp Rod Rotation Friction Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clamping apparatuses experience high frictional resistance and risk of edge deformation due to excessive surface pressure, leading to inefficient rotation and potential locking issues before the desired angle is achieved.
Innovation Solution
A clamping apparatus with an annular piston and guide grooves that allows for smooth rotation by utilizing pressurized fluid to lift the clamp rod in the released raised position, reducing friction and ensuring accurate angular rotation, and incorporating an erroneous operation prevention mechanism to prevent premature descent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the piston descent restriction pin is received by the upper portion of the head cover during rotation, then the rotation guiding groove can guide the piston rod rotation, but large frictional resistance is offered resulting in large resistance in rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the piston descent restriction function from the head cover by providing a dedicated restriction groove in the piston rod. This separates the rotation guidance function (head cover) from the descent restriction function (piston rod), eliminating the frictional resistance caused by the pin-head cover contact during rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The piston rod itself acts as an intermediary element that provides the descent restriction function through its internal restriction groove, rather than using the head cover as the restricting surface. This intermediary structure eliminates direct contact friction between the pin and head cover during rotation.
2Manufacturing precision
If the piston descent restriction pin approaches the edge portion of the clamping stroke guiding groove during rotation, then the phase matching can be achieved, but the bearing area decreases causing extremely high surface pressure and possible plastic deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the phase matching and descent restriction function from the head cover's guiding groove by providing a dedicated restriction groove in the piston rod. This eliminates the concentration of surface pressure on the edge portion of the head cover's clamping stroke guiding groove during the phase matching process.
Solution Approach 2:
The piston rod's restriction groove is designed with sufficient length and appropriate geometry to provide gradual descent restriction throughout the rotation process. This beforehand cushioning prevents the sudden concentration of force on the edge portion that would cause plastic deformation.
3Reliability
If the edge portion of the clamping stroke guiding groove experiences extremely high surface pressure, then phase matching can be achieved, but the edge portion is possibly broken due to plastic deformation causing premature locking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the descent restriction function from the head cover's edge portion by providing a dedicated restriction groove in the piston rod. This protects the head cover's edge portion from plastic deformation while maintaining reliable phase matching and locking accuracy through the piston rod's internal groove geometry.
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 apparatus achieves reduced rotational resistance, improved positional accuracy, and reliable locking of the clamp rod at a predetermined angle, preventing edge deformation and ensuring precise operation.
Implementation Method 1
A guide groove 18 having a rotational groove 23 and a straight advance groove 24 which are provided so as to be contiguous with each other upwardly is provided
Implementation Method 2
pressurized fluid is supplied to the lock actuation chamber 40, and thereby the annular piston 13 descends while rotating with the clamp rod 7 being kept lifted in the released raised position by a force differential
Implementation Method 3
A transmission mechanism 26 which prevents the clamp rod 7 and the annular piston 13 from rotating relatively to each other about the axis and permits the clamp rod 7 and the annular piston 13 to move relatively to each other in the axial direction
Implementation Method 4
the annular piston 13 causes, via a driven portion 33 provided to the clamp rod 7, the clamp rod 7 to descend straight down
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
An annular piston (13) is inserted between a cylinder hole (6) of a housing (2) and a clamp rod (7) so as to be vertically movable and rotatable. A guide groove (18) is provided in an outer peripheral portion of the annular piston (13), and an engaging ball (19) to be fitted into the guide groove (18) is provided on an inner peripheral wall of the cylinder hole (6). A transmission mechanism (26) which prevents the clamp rod (7) and the annular piston (13) from rotating relatively to each other and permits them to move relatively to each other in a vertical direction is provided between the clamp rod (7) and the annular piston (13). When the clamp rod (7) is moved from a released raised position to a locked lowered position, the annular piston (13) descends while rotating via a rotational groove (23) and the engaging ball (19), and thereby the annular piston (13) causes, via the transmission mechanism (26), the clamp rod (7) to rotate, and thereafter, the annular piston (13) causes the clamp rod (7) to descend straight down. Descent of the clamp rod (7) during its rotation is prevented by a peripheral wall (52a) of a fitting hole (52).