Clamp for standing seam
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clamps for metal roofs fail to securely attach devices without damaging the surface, as they loosen due to thermal movement and vibration, and do not meet seismic standards, requiring frequent maintenance and potentially compromising the roof's coating and warranty.
Innovation Solution
A clamp assembly with elongated cylindrical pins and a fastening element that securely locks into a standing seam without penetrating the surface, featuring a groove for grounding wires and cables, distributing force to maintain attachment under thermal, seismic, and environmental conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional clamps use threaded fasteners to attach to standing seam, then attachment strength is achieved, but fasteners loosen due to thermal expansion and contraction
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp divides the attachment function into two independent components: pins that provide mechanical anchoring into the standing seam, and a separate fastening element that secures the pins. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its function without the drawbacks of conventional threaded fasteners that directly engage the seam.
Solution Approach 2:
The pins act as intermediary elements between the clamp body and the standing seam. Instead of the fastener directly engaging the seam (which causes loosening), the pins are inserted into the seam and then secured by the fastening element, creating an indirect attachment that prevents thermal loosening.
2Strength
If conventional clamps use penetrating fasteners to secure to roof panel, then secure attachment is achieved, but roof surface coating is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the penetrating function from the fastening element and relocates it to the pins, which are inserted into the standing seam itself rather than the roof panel surface. The fastening element then secures these pins without needing to penetrate the roof coating, thus protecting the surface while maintaining attachment security.
Solution Approach 2:
The standing seam acts as an intermediary structure that receives the pins. Instead of fasteners directly penetrating and damaging the roof panel coating, the pins are inserted into the seam (which is already exposed metal) and the fastening element secures them, thereby protecting the roof surface coating from damage.
3Strength
If conventional clamps rely on friction and torque to maintain hold, then initial attachment is achieved, but clamps require periodic retightening due to vibration and seismic activity
Solution Approach 1:
The pins are preliminarily inserted into the standing seam to establish mechanical anchoring before the fastening element is applied. This preliminary action creates a stable base that prevents the clamp from loosening under vibration and seismic activity, eliminating the need for periodic retightening.
Solution Approach 2:
The pin-and-fastening-element mechanism is self-securing: once the pins are inserted into the standing seam and the fastening element is tightened, the system automatically maintains its hold through the mechanical interlocking of the pins in the seam, without requiring external maintenance or retightening.
4Device complexity
If conventional clamps use simple fastening mechanisms, then device complexity is reduced, but they fail to meet seismic vibration standards
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components (pins, fastening element, clamp body) that work together to provide seismic resistance. This segmentation allows each component to be simple in design while the combination achieves the required seismic performance without overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A clamp assembly that may be used for securing to a raised portion of a surface. The clamp assembly comprising a mounting body of a general block shape having a slot for receiving the raised portion formed in a bottom surface of the mounting body attaching the clamp assembly thereto. The clamp assembly is configured with one or more pins that may be formed in a substantially elongated cylindrical shape. The pins may be configured to be received in one or more push-pin holes formed in the mounting body, whereby the push-pin holes extend to the slot from a side surface of push-pin holes. The clamp assembly includes a fastening element adapted to be received in a fastener hole formed adjacent the push-pin holes in the side surface of the mounting body. The fastening element is configured to secure, attach and hold the clamp assembly to the standing seam by forcing the pins against the raised portion of the surface disposed in the slot.