Clamp Arrangement with Retaining Tongues for Tree Trunk Stabilization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing clamp arrangements for tree trunks often experience undesired torsion and deformation during operation, leading to incomplete or defective driving into the cut surface due to insufficient stabilization, which can result in crack propagation and improper alignment.

Innovation Solution

A clamp arrangement with at least three retaining tongues spaced apart, providing additional stabilization and preventing torsion, combined with snap lugs for detachable connection to a setting tool, and a setting tool system that includes a clamp magazine for efficient operation and storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If only two retaining tongues are provided, then the device complexity is reduced, but the stability and resistance to torsion during operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of retaining tonguesVSAvoidstabilization of main body orientation

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The clamp arrangement is segmented into multiple retaining tongues (at least three) spaced apart along the main body, each acting as an independent stabilizing element. This segmentation provides distributed support points that prevent torsion and maintain orientation during the driving operation, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the main body is exposed to cutting forces without sufficient support, then the ease of operation is improved, but the manufacturing precision and alignment deteriorate due to deformation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriving operationVSAvoidalignment of main body with retaining tongues

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining tongues are pre-positioned and attached to the main body before the driving operation. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when cutting forces are applied during operation, the main body is already stabilized and supported, preventing deformation and maintaining alignment precision throughout the driving process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the clamp arrangement is driven completely into the cut surface, then the reliability of crack prevention is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to incomplete driving from deformation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrack preventionVSAvoidcomplete driving into cut surface

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of relying on the main body alone to resist deformation during driving, the invention inverts the approach by adding retaining tongues that provide external support structure. These tongues act as reinforcement elements that prevent the main body from deforming under cutting forces, enabling complete and reliable driving into the cut surface for effective crack prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS10785923B2Clamp arrangement, setting tool system and use of a setting tool system

Publication Date: 2020.09.29 LATSCHBACHER

AI summary

A clamp arrangement for tree trunks with a main body on which at least three retaining tongues are formed, arranged at a distance from one another, wherein the main body and the retaining tongues are oriented, as blades, in a common cutting direction, and wherein at least two snap lugs are formed on the main body and/or on at least one retaining tongue to allow a detachable connection with a setting tool.