Clamping System With Pre-Assembly Lugs For Tube Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clamping systems require manual holding and synchronization of tubes during tightening, making the process cumbersome and difficult to execute effectively by hand.
Innovation Solution
The clamping system employs a washer with pre-assembly lugs that allow the second tube to be positioned and retained without manual holding, enabling the operator to tighten the system without simultaneously holding the tubes in place, using a collar with a V-shaped band and a washer with a frustoconical sealing portion for secure connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the clamping system uses a collar with a V-shaped band and tightening means, then the tubes can be connected and held tight against each other, but the operator must manually hold the second tube in position while tightening, making the operation complex and difficult to execute by hand
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces preliminary mounting means that enable the clamping system to be pre-mounted on the first tube before the second tube is positioned. This preliminary action allows the tubes to be aligned and held in position by the pre-mounting lugs, so that when tightening occurs, the operator only needs to rotate the tightening means without manually holding the tubes. The preliminary mounting action resolves the contradiction by preparing the system in advance to eliminate the need for manual holding during tightening.
2Ease of manufacture
If the washer is secured to the collar by fixing lugs, then the clamping system can be pre-mounted on the first tube, but the operator must synchronize holding the second tube and tightening simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the pre-mounting lugs and fixing lugs to automatically engage with the tubes and collar structure when the components are brought together. The lugs self-align and self-lock into position, eliminating the need for complex manual synchronization operations. The system serves itself by using the geometric arrangement of the lugs to automatically establish the correct positioning, reducing the assembly process from a complex coordinated operation to a simple insertion and tightening sequence.
Data Source
Figure 1A
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AI summary
The invention relates to a system including a collar (10) and a ring (28), the collar comprising a strip (12) capable of engaging with bearing surfaces (16, 18) of the connected tubes (1, 2) via the inner periphery thereof which defines a groove (14), and a means for clamping the strip. The ring (28) is secured to the collar by attachment means (33, 34), and the system includes a first preliminary mounting means (38) for securing the collar, when the latter is not clamped, to the first tube when the bearing surface (16) of the first tube is inserted into the groove (14). The system also includes a second preliminary mounting means (40) for securing the collar (10), once the latter is secured to the first tube (1) by the first preliminary mounting means (38), to the second tube (2) when the bearing surface (18) of the second tube is also inserted into the groove (14).