Ball Type Clamp Assembly for Drain Cleaners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional collet clamps used in drain cleaner assemblies wear out quickly, have limited range of motion, and are costly due to their complex structure, restricting their ability to securely hold a variety of drain snake diameters and shapes.
Innovation Solution
A ball-type clamp assembly with separate, independent grippers that accommodate a range of element diameters and shapes, featuring a clamp knob and spout that are displaceable to transition grippers between securing and non-securing contact with the drain snake, reducing wear and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If collet clamps are used to hold the drain snake, then the drain snake can be securely held, but the clamp wears out quickly and has limited range of motion
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp assembly is divided into separate functional components: the spout with gripper cavities, the clamp knob with ball mechanism, and the drain snake. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, reducing wear on any single part and extending overall service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The ball-type clamp mechanism enables dynamic adjustment of the grippers. The ball can be rotated to different orientations, allowing the grippers to dynamically adapt to different drain snake diameters and shapes, providing both secure holding and extended range of motion.
2Reliability
If collet clamps with complex structure are used, then gripping capability is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex gripping function is segmented into simple, independent parts: the spout with cavities, the ball mechanism, and the clamp knob. This segmentation simplifies manufacturing of each individual component while maintaining overall gripping capability, reducing total manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The ball mechanism serves as a simple geometric copy that can be manufactured with standard machining processes. Instead of complex molded collet structures, the ball and cavity system uses basic geometric forms that are easier and less costly to manufacture.
3Reliability
If collet clamps are used, then secure holding is achieved, but the structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp structure is segmented into the spout containing multiple gripper cavities, the ball mechanism, and the clamp knob. This segmentation reduces the complexity of any single component while maintaining secure holding capability through the coordinated action of multiple simple parts.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using complex internal mechanisms within a single clamp body, the invention inverts the approach by using external simple geometric forms (ball and cavities) that achieve the same gripping function with reduced structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Described is a drain cleaner assembly, including: a clamp knob having a central cavity therein for accommodating a drain snake; a spout having a central cavity therein for accommodating the drain snake; the spout having at least one gripper cavity therein; at least one gripper disposed in the at least one gripper cavity; the clamp knob and the spout being attached to one another and also being displaceable with respect to one another to achieve at least two orientations, the at least two orientations comprising: a first orientation wherein the clamp knob contacts the at least one gripper and forces the at least one gripper into securing contact with the drain snake; and a second orientation wherein the clamp knob permits the at least one gripper to transition within the at least one gripper cavity to be out of securing contact with the drain snake. Other aspects are described and claimed.