Arc-Shaped Clamping Mechanism for Wire Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clamping mechanisms for suspended lighting devices damage suspension wires due to excessive clamping force, leading to electric leakage and restrict adjustability.
Innovation Solution
A fixing mechanism with arc-shaped clamping members and a biasing mechanism that allows for easy wire passage and adjustment, featuring a casing with a large-diameter and small-diameter end, and a releasing member to reduce friction and prevent wire damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If steel balls are used to clamp the suspension wire inwards with heavier load causing tighter clamping, then the clamping force is improved, but the insulating layer of the electric wire is pinched and damaged causing electric leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping member features an arc-shaped outer surface that contacts the wire, distributing the clamping force over a curved contact area rather than a point contact. This curvature prevents stress concentration on the wire's insulating layer, avoiding damage while maintaining effective clamping force.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameter of the clamping member from hard steel balls to a material with appropriate hardness and elasticity. The clamping member is designed with specific hardness characteristics that allow it to exert sufficient clamping force while being soft enough to avoid damaging the wire's insulating layer.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the suspension wire and clamping mechanism are fixed, then the structural stability is improved, but the height cannot be adjusted again according to user needs
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping mechanism transitions from a fixed state to a dynamic adjustable state. The releasing member allows the clamping member to be moved along the suspension wire, enabling height adjustment. The system can switch between locked (stable) and unlocked (adjustable) states, providing both structural stability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping mechanism is divided into separable functional components: the clamping member, the releasing member, and the biasing member. This segmentation allows the releasing member to be actuated independently, enabling adjustment of the clamping member's position along the wire while maintaining overall structural integrity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the outer surface of clamping members contacts the inner surface of casing fully, then the structural stability is improved, but the frictional force increases making wire passage difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The arc-shaped outer surface of the clamping member is designed to be tangent to the inclined section of the casing inner surface at a specific contact point. This partial contact geometry reduces the frictional force along the wire passage direction while maintaining structural stability through the optimized contact geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact between the clamping member and casing is designed asymmetrically with an inclined section that tapers from the large-diameter end to the small-diameter end. This asymmetric geometry creates a favorable friction condition that reduces resistance during wire insertion while maintaining stable positioning.
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 mechanism prevents wire damage and allows for easy adjustment of lighting devices by reducing frictional forces and increasing the contact area between the clamping members and the wire, enhancing operational convenience and extending wire lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member disposed in the accommodating space and located on the side of the clamping members facing the large-diameter end, wherein the biasing member can push the clamping members toward the small-diameter end of the accommodating space
Implementation Method 2
a cross section of the outer surface along the axial direction is arc-shaped and the outer surface of the clamping member contacts with the inner surface partially... the outer surface of each of the clamping members is arc-shaped, so the contact area with the inner surface of the casing can be reduced, thereby reducing the frictional force between the casing and the clamping members
Data Source
AI summary
A fixing mechanism comprises a casing, a plurality of clamping members, and a biasing member respectively configured in the casing. The casing includes an inner surface and surrounds an accommodating space, and the accommodating space has a large-diameter end and a small-diameter end. The plurality of clamping members are configured in the accommodating space, and each clamping member has an outer surface facing the inner surface. A cross section of the outer surface along the axial direction is arc-shaped and the outer surface of the clamping member contacts with the inner surface of the casing partially. The clamping members can be pushed toward the large-diameter end of the accommodating space to separate the clamping members from each other, so that the wire can move between the clamping members. The biasing member is disposed in the accommodating space and located on one side of the large-diameter end. The biasing member can push the clamping members toward the small-diameter end of the accommodating space to make the clamping members close to each other to clamp the wire. Therefore, the contact area and friction force between the clamping members and the inner surface of the casing can be reduced, and the convenience of the operation can be improved. The invention also provides a lamp using the fixing mechanism.