Recessed Clamping Unit Layout for Aerodynamic Lighting Integration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for illuminating elongated structures like cable-stayed bridges result in high energy consumption, increased air resistance, and maintenance difficulties due to the use of powerful light sources and additional shells, leading to inefficient aesthetic lighting and elevated operational costs.
Innovation Solution
An elongated clamping unit with recesses in its interior to house electrical functional units, such as lighting units, maintaining a minimal increase in cross-sectional area and aerodynamic properties by arranging clamping elements efficiently within the shell.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If lighting elements are retrofitted to the clamping unit using clamps, then the aesthetic lighting effect is improved, but the air resistance increases due to turbulence around the lighting elements
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting element is merged with the clamping unit by integrating it into a recess of the shell. The shell encloses the lighting element, merging the lighting function with the structural component, thereby eliminating the need for separate clamps and reducing air resistance while maintaining aesthetic lighting effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting element is nested within the shell by placing it in a recess that projects into the interior space of the shell. This nesting approach allows the lighting element to be housed within the existing structure, minimizing the increase in cross-sectional area and reducing turbulence-induced air resistance.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the clamping unit is clad with an additional shell to house lighting elements, then the aerodynamic properties are improved, but the cross-sectional area increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding a complete additional shell, the invention applies the shell structure locally only where needed - specifically, a recess is created in the shell at the position where the lighting element requires housing. This localized approach maintains aerodynamic properties while minimizing the increase in cross-sectional area.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting element is accommodated by creating a recess that projects into the interior space of the shell, utilizing the internal volume rather than adding external bulk. This dimensional approach allows the lighting element to be housed without significantly increasing the external cross-sectional dimensions of the clamping unit.
3Adaptability or versatility
If an additional shell is used to house lighting elements, then the lighting integration is improved, but the maintenance difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting element is extracted from a completely enclosed shell and placed in a recess that allows access. The shell is designed with an opening or accessible recess that enables the lighting element to be removed and replaced without dismantling the entire clamping unit, thereby facilitating maintenance while maintaining integration.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple components are used to arrange lighting elements, then the lighting functionality is improved, but the production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shell is designed to integrate multiple functions: structural support, aerodynamic fairing, and lighting element housing. By merging these functions into a single component with a recess, the number of separate parts is reduced, simplifying assembly and lowering production costs while maintaining lighting functionality.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~8
AI summary
The invention relates to an elongated clamping unit (100) with a casing (102), which surrounds an interior (104), and a plurality of clamping elements (106), which run in the longitudinal direction (A) of the clamping unit (100) and are received in the interior (104) of the casing (102). According to the invention, the casing (102) has a depression (108) which protrudes into the interior (104) at at least one circumferential position, wherein at least one electric functional unit (112), for example at least one lighting unit, and at least one connection line (114a, 114b) for the at least one electric functional unit (112) are received in said depression. Alternatively, the at least one electric functional unit can also be received in a paired recess of a water-repelling element which is arranged on the outer surface of the casing.