Clamp Retainer With Cantilevered Flanges for Installation Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe clamp designs face challenges in maintaining the clamp in position during shipping and installation, which complicates the installation process and can lead to misalignment or improper tensioning.
Innovation Solution
A retainer mechanism is introduced, comprising a shell with moveable segments and a tensioning mechanism, including a threaded shaft and cantilevered flanges with curved tips to securely engage and retain the threaded shaft, facilitating easier assembly and alignment of the clamp segments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional clamp design without a retainer is used, then the clamp structure is simpler, but the clamp cannot be properly positioned during shipping and installation, leading to misalignment and installation complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer is pre-attached to the clamp assembly in a preliminary state, holding the clamp in the correct position during shipping and storage. Before installation, the retainer is already in place to prevent misalignment, and after installation, it is removed. This preliminary action ensures the clamp is always ready for proper installation without requiring additional positioning steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer acts as an intermediary component between the clamp assembly and the installation process. It temporarily mediates the positioning function during shipping and storage, then is removed to allow the clamp to perform its primary function. The retainer includes features like cantilevered flanges with curved tips that engage with the threaded shaft to maintain proper clamp positioning.
2Ease of manufacture
If the clamp segments are made loose and moveable for easy assembly, then the ease of assembly is improved, but the alignment and positioning control during installation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer is pre-attached to the clamp assembly in a preliminary state, holding the clamp in the correct position during shipping and storage. Before installation, the retainer is already in place to prevent misalignment, and after installation, it is removed. This preliminary action ensures the clamp is always ready for proper installation without requiring additional positioning steps.
3Reliability
If no retainer mechanism is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of maintaining clamp position during shipping and installation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer acts as an intermediary component between the clamp assembly and the installation process. It temporarily mediates the positioning function during shipping and storage, then is removed to allow the clamp to perform its primary function. The retainer includes features like cantilevered flanges with curved tips that engage with the threaded shaft to maintain proper clamp positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer is a temporary component that is discarded after serving its purpose. It is attached to the clamp assembly for shipping and storage to maintain position, then removed before or during installation when no longer needed. This allows the system to have high reliability during storage/transport while maintaining simplicity during the actual installation and operation phases.
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 retainer mechanism ensures proper positioning and tensioning of the clamp segments, simplifying the installation process and preventing misalignment, thereby enhancing the reliability and efficiency of securing pipes or hoses.
Implementation Method 1
The first and/or second cantilevered flanges may be configured to deflect elastically to permit the threaded shaft to move relative to the first segment
Data Source
AI summary
Clamp assemblies and associated methods are disclosed. According to one aspect, a clamp assembly may comprise a shell, a tensioning mechanism, and a retainer. The shell includes a pair of segments sized to be positioned over a joint connection, with the pair of segments being moveable between an open position and a contracted position. The tensioning mechanism is operable to tighten the pair of segments and includes a threaded shaft extending through a segment opening defined in a first segment of the pair of segments. The retainer is coupled with the first segment and includes a first cantilevered flange configured to engage the threaded shaft to retain the threaded shaft in position relative to the first segment.