Clamping Device Metal Core Slanting Interface

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing clamping devices struggle to handle heavy objects effectively, as they often require large forces that can damage the objects and are not designed to accommodate varying sizes, leading to inefficiencies and potential damage during lifting and transfer.

Innovation Solution

A clamping device with a metal core embedded in a polymer or aluminum body, utilizing slanting interfaces to convert weight into clamping force, allowing for high strength, durability, and reliability while preventing damage to heavy objects like metal, granite, or ceramic plates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a rotatable clamping jaw mechanism is used to accommodate varying object sizes, then the adaptability is improved, but the focused clamping force at the contact area increases, causing potential damage to heavy objects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to accommodate varying object sizesVSAvoidfocused clamping force causing object damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The clamping jaw is segmented into multiple contact points or surfaces that distribute the clamping force across a larger area of the object, rather than concentrating force at a single focal point. This segmentation allows the jaw to maintain adaptability to different object sizes while reducing the harmful focused force that could damage the object.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The clamping jaw incorporates varying local properties across its contact surface, such as different friction coefficients or compliance characteristics in different regions. This allows the jaw to adapt to varying object sizes and shapes while distributing clamping force more evenly, preventing localized damage to the object being clamped.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If structural steel components are used to generate large clamping forces for heavy objects, then the strength is improved, but the device complexity and size increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclamping force capability for heavy objectsVSAvoidcomplexity of scissor arm mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The clamping device utilizes composite material construction, combining high-strength materials with optimized structural design to achieve the necessary clamping force capability without requiring overly complex mechanisms. The composite approach allows for reduced component sizes and simplified architecture while maintaining the strength needed for heavy object handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Device complexity

If freely rotating pin connections with scissor arms are used to create clamping action, then the mechanism simplicity is improved, but the large arm lengths required increase the device size

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of scissor movement mechanismVSAvoidlength of scissor arms

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The clamping mechanism incorporates dynamic elements that allow the scissor arms to adjust their configuration and effective length during operation. This dynamic adaptation enables the mechanism to maintain simplicity while reducing the overall arm length requirements, as the arms can optimize their geometry based on the specific clamping task rather than requiring fixed, overly long dimensions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3385210B1Clamping device with metal cores

Publication Date: 2023.06.07 NGUYEN NHON HOA

Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A(a)~2B
Figure 3A~3C

AI summary

A clamping device (200) for lifting and transferring objects (210) can employ slanting interfaces to convert a pulling action on the clamping device to a clamping action on the object. Components of the clamping device can include a metal core (1111) embedded in a body of a different material. The embedded core construction can allow a simplified fabrication of the clamping device for high stresses, high forces, high durability and high reliability.