Dual Cam Lever Hose Clamp for Fast Large-Bore Hose Assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of large bore hoses requires significant time and specialized tools due to the need for multiple fasteners and specific torque tightening, which hampers rapid repair and resiliency in military infrastructure applications.
Innovation Solution
A dual cam lever hose clamp system that uses two cam levers with different cam rates and detents to securely tighten and adjust hose ends without requiring extensive tooling, allowing for quick assembly and disassembly by transitioning between retaining and release positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple fasteners and sections are used to clamp large bore hoses, then the connection strength and reliability are improved, but the assembly time and operational complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple clamp sections and fasteners into a single integrated clamp body with a unified cam lever mechanism. This merging eliminates the need to assemble and tighten multiple separate fasteners, reducing assembly time while maintaining the clamping force distribution across multiple sections that ensures reliable connection strength for large bore hoses.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp body is divided into multiple sections that are pre-integrated into the single clamp structure. These segmented sections allow the clamp to distribute clamping force evenly across the hose circumference, ensuring reliable connection strength, while the pre-integrated design eliminates the need for separate assembly steps for each section.
2Reliability
If multiple fasteners with specific torque requirements are used, then the connection reliability is improved, but the ease of operation and assembly simplicity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The cam lever mechanism is designed to self-regulate and self-lock at the optimal clamping force. As the cam lever is actuated, it naturally progresses through its camming action to achieve the required clamping force, then self-locks in place, eliminating the need for operators to calculate or measure specific torque values. This maintains connection reliability while dramatically simplifying the assembly operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam lever mechanism transforms the operational parameter from torque control (requiring specific tightening force measurement) to displacement control (simple lever movement distance). This parameter change allows the mechanism to automatically achieve the correct clamping force through its geometric camming action, improving ease of operation while maintaining connection reliability.
3Manufacturing precision
If specialized tools are used for tightening clamps to specific torque, then the manufacturing precision and connection quality are improved, but the device complexity and tool requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cam lever mechanism serves as a self-contained precision tightening device that incorporates the torque control function within the clamp assembly itself. The cam profile is precisely engineered to produce the correct clamping force, eliminating the need for external specialized tightening tools. This reduces device complexity and tool requirements while maintaining manufacturing precision through the built-in cam geometry.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sections with multiple fasteners are used, then the adaptability to varying hose thicknesses is improved, but the quantity of parts and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple adjustable sections into a single clamp body with an integrated adjustment mechanism. The cam lever provides unified adjustment that simultaneously controls the clamping force across all sections, eliminating the need for multiple separate fasteners and adjustment operations. This reduces the quantity of parts while maintaining adaptability to varying hose thicknesses through the single lever's range of motion.
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 rapid and efficient clamping of large bore hoses, reducing assembly time and accommodating varying hose thicknesses while ensuring secure connections under high pressure, thus enhancing the rapid repair and resiliency of military infrastructure.
Implementation Method 1
a first cam follower cammingly engages a first cam surface of the upper clamp half
Implementation Method 2
The first cam surface may be located on the first end of the upper clamp half and may comprise a first detent for latching the first cam follower into the retaining position
Implementation Method 3
a first linkage pivotally coupled to the first end of the lower clamp half and adapted to traverse through first grooves laterally located on the first ends of the upper and lower clamp halves
Data Source
AI summary
A dual cam lever hose clamp may comprise: first and second cam lever clamps and upper and lower clamp halves. The cam lever clamps may move between a retaining position and release position. The upper and lower clamp halves may form a collar when opposing ends of the clamp halves fasten together via the cam lever clamps. The first cam lever clamp may comprise a first linkage pivotally coupled to a first end of the lower clamp half and a first cam lever pivotally coupled to the first linkage. The second cam lever clamp may comprise a second linkage pivotally coupled to a second end of the lower clamp half and a second cam lever pivotally coupled to the second linkage. The first and second cam lever clamps may comprise cam levers that cammingly engage cam locking surfaces on the upper clamp half to fasten and tighten the collar.