Equipment Boom Locking Collar with Friction Ring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Contemporary equipment booms have limited length adjustment options and require additional drilling for installation, increasing costs and time.
Innovation Solution
An equipment boom design featuring a base member with slideable extensions and a locking collar arrangement with a variable inner diameter friction ring, allowing for fine axial length adjustment and angular mounting of components, along with a pilot aperture for redundant fastening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple apertures are provided along the telescopic assembly for locking positions, then the number of available locked positions is increased, but the device complexity and installation time increase due to requiring drilling through the boom to access each aperture
Solution Approach 1:
A pilot aperture is pre-formed through the base member at a predetermined location, allowing the fastener to be inserted without drilling operations. This preliminary preparation enables the fastener to pass through to engage with the fastener receiving portion on the extension, eliminating the need for on-site drilling while maintaining multiple locking position capability
Solution Approach 2:
The drilling operation is extracted and eliminated from the installation process. Instead of requiring users to drill through the boom to access apertures, the patent provides a pre-formed pilot aperture that allows direct fastener insertion, removing the harmful drilling step while preserving the locking position functionality
2Reliability
If drilling operations are required to access apertures for fastener installation, then secure locking is achieved, but installation cost and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pilot aperture is pre-formed during manufacturing, allowing the fastener to be inserted directly without drilling operations. This preliminary preparation maintains secure locking capability while eliminating time-consuming drilling steps during installation
Solution Approach 2:
The drilling operation is removed from the installation process entirely. The pre-formed pilot aperture allows the fastener to pass through the base member and engage the extension directly, achieving secure locking without the harmful time-consuming drilling step
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
Enables flexible length adjustment and reduced installation time and cost, with the ability to set a near infinite number of locked positions and provide shock absorption through resilient spacers.
Implementation Method 1
The locking collar threadably engages a threaded end of the base member. The at least one extension extends through the friction ring. The friction ring has a variable inner diameter such that as the locking collar is threaded onto the threaded end, the inner diameter of the friction ring decreases.
Implementation Method 2
A plurality of resilient spacers are interposed between the upper plate and the lower plate.
Data Source
AI summary
An equipment boom and methods of installation are provided. The equipment boom includes a base member and at least one extension slidably received by the base member. A fixing arrangement is also provided which allows for fixing the axial length of the equipment boom.