Cam Driven Spring Loaded Grounding Clamp for Overhead Conductors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional grounding clamps require numerous screw rotations for tightening, making it time-consuming and exhausting for electric linemen to operate multiple clamps, especially when working overhead.
Innovation Solution
A spring-loaded, cam-driven grounding clamp actuated by a user-operated elongate stick or pole, featuring a cam mechanism with a helical path and ratchet mechanism to quickly close and adjust the clamp, reducing the need for extensive manual tightening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional screw tightening mechanism is used, then the clamp can be securely fastened to the conductor, but the operation becomes time-consuming and physically exhausting requiring at least 15 screw rotations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the static screw rotation process into a dynamic cam mechanism where a single rotational motion of the handle drives the cam to rapidly close the jaw. The cam profile is designed to transform the rotational input into the desired linear closing motion, reducing the tightening operation from multiple rotations to a single swift motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional screw thread mechanical system with a cam-follower mechanism. The cam surface profile is specifically designed to provide the desired motion characteristics, substituting the incremental advancement of a screw with the continuous controlled motion of a cam, thereby achieving faster operation.
2Productivity
If multiple screw rotations are required for tightening, then secure fastening is achieved, but lineman fatigue increases when operating many clamps
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic cam mechanism allows the lineman to operate multiple clamps rapidly by converting a single handle rotation into the complete closing action. This dynamic approach eliminates the repetitive rotational effort of traditional screws, significantly reducing physical fatigue when installing multiple clamps in sequence.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded mechanism performs preliminary action by automatically returning the jaw to the open position after closing, preparing the clamp for the next operation without requiring manual resetting. This preliminary preparation of the mechanism for the next cycle increases overall productivity.
3Speed
If a cam mechanism with helical path is used, then quick closure is achieved with minimal manual effort, but the device complexity increases compared to a simple screw mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a cam surface with a helical or curved path instead of a linear screw thread. This curved geometry allows the follower to be rapidly driven along the cam surface, achieving quick closure. The curvature of the cam path transforms the rotational motion into the desired rapid linear motion, providing speed while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam-follower pair acts as an intermediary mechanism that mediates between the simple rotational input of the handle and the required linear closing motion. This intermediary cam mechanism provides the complex motion transformation needed for rapid closure while keeping the input and output interfaces simple and easy to operate.
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 can be quickly installed and operated with minimal manual effort, improving lineman productivity by allowing almost complete closure with a small amount of manual tightening and reducing fatigue.
Implementation Method 1
a cam mechanism operably connected to at least one of the jaws to move the jaws between the open and closed positions. The cam mechanism includes a cam surface and a cam follower, with one of the cam surface and the cam follower being carried on the body and the other of the cam surface and the cam follower being carried on a rotatable member mounted in the body for rotation about an axis relative to the cam surface
Implementation Method 2
The grounding clamp further includes at least one spring biases the jaws toward the closed position
Implementation Method 3
the cam surface defines a helical path for the cam follower centered on the axis
Data Source
AI summary
A grounding clamp (10, 210) is provided for use with an overhead electrical conductor (12) and is operated by a user via a shotgun stick or other elongate stick or pole. The grounding damp (10) includes a pair of damp jaws (16, 18; 216,218) that, in one embodiment (10), are biased towards a closed position by at least one spring (20,22) and that are driven between open and closed positions via a cam mechanism (24) in response to the user applying a torque force to the clamp (10) with the shotgun stick or other elongate stick or pole. In another embodiment, a ground clamp (210) includes a tightening mechanism (220) configured to tighten a pair of jaws (216,218), and a ratchet mechanism (222) configured to allow the tightening mechanism (220) to be translated relative to the jaw (216) to any of a plurality of predetermined, linearly spaced, fixed positions to adjust the spacing between the jaws (216,218).