Clamping Collar Retaining Bar for Large-Diameter Tube Pre-Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clamping systems face challenges in ensuring reliable pre-mounting and clamping of tubes with large diameters, particularly due to difficulties in achieving the right range of elastic deformation for pre-mounting lugs, which can lead to high engagement forces and instability during the mounting process.
Innovation Solution
A clamping system featuring a collar with a belt and an external retaining device comprising axially oriented retaining bars with transverse retaining ridges that can be elastically deformed to facilitate easy tube engagement and secure retention, using a polygonal frame and support sides to stabilize the retaining bars.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the elastic modulus of the pre-mounting lugs is increased to ensure reliable retention during pre-mounting, then the retention reliability is improved, but the engagement pushing force becomes excessively high and difficult to apply during final mounting
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the retention function into two separate components: pre-mounting lugs for initial retention and a retaining device with retaining bars for final securement. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, with the retaining bars taking over the high-force retention task during final mounting, thereby reducing the engagement force requirement for the pre-mounting lugs
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining device acts as an intermediary mechanism between the collar and the tube during final mounting. The retaining bars with retaining ridges provide a mechanical interface that secures the pre-mounted assembly without requiring excessive force on the pre-mounting lugs, facilitating easier final engagement
2Ease of operation
If the elastic modulus of the pre-mounting lugs is decreased to reduce engagement pushing force, then the engagement force becomes easier to apply, but the retention reliability during pre-mounting deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the retention system into pre-mounting lugs and a separate retaining device, the invention allows the pre-mounting lugs to have lower elastic modulus for easier engagement, while the retaining bars provide the necessary retention reliability through their geometric configuration (retaining ridges) rather than relying solely on elastic deformation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the retention mechanism from relying purely on elastic deformation parameters to incorporating geometric constraint parameters through the retaining ridges. This allows the pre-mounting lugs to use lower elastic modulus materials for easier engagement while maintaining retention reliability through the mechanical interlocking geometry of the retaining bars
3Reliability
If high elastic modulus lugs are used to ensure pre-mounting retention, then retention during pre-mounting is reliable, but the lugs cannot be sufficiently deformed to press inside the belt during clamping
Solution Approach 1:
The invention separates the pre-mounting retention function from the clamping deformation function. The pre-mounting lugs with lower elastic modulus can be sufficiently deformed during clamping to press inside the belt, while the retaining bars with retaining ridges provide the necessary pre-mounting retention reliability through geometric constraint rather than elastic stiffness
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the retention mechanism from elastic deformation-based to geometry-based through the retaining ridges. This allows the pre-mounting lugs to have lower elastic modulus for better deformation capability during clamping, while the retaining bars provide reliable pre-mounting retention through their geometric configuration that does not depend on high elastic modulus
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 solution provides controlled retention of the clamping system on the tube surfaces, ensuring easy pre-mounting and stable clamping, even for large-diameter tubes, by allowing the retaining bars to deflect outward during tube insertion and recover to interfere with the edge of the collar, thus maintaining secure engagement without excessive deformation.
Implementation Method 1
a retaining bar (42A, 42B), which protrudes axially from the first flank (13A) while being oriented transversely to the axis (A) of the collar and which has a transverse retaining ridge (44A, 44B), said bar being able, from a rest situation in which the retaining ridge projects towards the axis of the collar relative to the edge of the flank in the unclamped situation of the collar, to be elastically deformed to space the retaining ridge away from the axis of the collar
Implementation Method 2
The solution provides controlled retention of the clamping system on the tube surfaces, ensuring easy pre-mounting and stable clamping, even for large-diameter tubes, by allowing the retaining bars to deflect outward during tube insertion and recover to interfere with the edge of the collar, thus maintaining secure engagement without excessive deformation
Data Source
AI summary
A clamping system for connecting a first and a second tube whose opposite ends have clamping surfaces protruding from the cylindrical outer surface of the tubes. The system includes a collar having a belt able to be clamped around the clamping surfaces. The belt includes a first and a second flank between which an internal recess able to receive the clamping surfaces is delimited. The collar carries an external retaining device having a retaining bar, which protrudes axially from the first flank while being oriented transversely to the axis of the collar and which has a transverse retaining ridge, the bar being able, from a rest situation in which the retaining ridge projects towards the axis of the collar relative to the edge of the first flank in the unclamped situation of the collar, to be elastically deformed to space the retaining ridge away from the axis of the collar.