Compact Gripping Tongs for Pipe Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gripping tongs used for removing objects from pipe systems, such as those in sewage and water pipes, are too long and cumbersome, making them difficult to navigate through curves, bends, and branches, which complicates their handling and maneuverability.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a compact structure with a housing, a piston, and pivoting gripping arms connected by a lifting element that moves from an open to a closed position when the piston is actuated, allowing for easier navigation through pipe systems by translating the piston's linear movement into rotational movement of the gripping arms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If conventional gripping tongs are designed with a long structure, then the gripping force and stability are improved, but the maneuverability and ease of navigation through curves and bends deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping arms are nested within the housing when in the closed position, allowing the tool to have a compact overall length while maintaining the functional length of the gripping arms when needed. This nesting mechanism resolves the contradiction by enabling the tool to be short for navigation yet provide sufficient gripping force when deployed
Solution Approach 2:
The gripping arms are designed to be dynamically deployable from the housing, transitioning from a retracted state during navigation to an extended state during gripping operations. This dynamic configuration allows the tool to adapt its effective length based on operational requirements, maintaining both maneuverability and gripping capability
2Ease of operation
If the gripping tongs are designed with a compact form, then the maneuverability and ease of navigation are improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing serves multiple functions: it protects the piston mechanism, provides a pivot point for the gripping arms, and acts as a storage position for the gripping arms when retracted. By merging these functions into a single component, the overall structure is simplified despite the compact design requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The piston mechanism serves dual purposes: it provides the actuating force for closing the gripping arms and simultaneously drives the lifting element to deploy the arms from the housing. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanisms, thereby reducing structural complexity while maintaining compact dimensions
3Device complexity
If the piston is designed to directly actuate the gripping arms, then the device complexity is reduced, but the maneuverability and compactness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting element acts as an intermediary between the piston and the gripping arms, converting the linear motion of the piston into the rotational motion required to deploy the gripping arms from the housing. This intermediary mechanism enables compact deployment while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting element changes the motion parameter from linear (piston movement) to rotational (gripping arm deployment). This parameter transformation allows the system to achieve compact dimensions while maintaining the necessary actuation capability without requiring complex mechanisms
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
This design enhances the maneuverability and handling of the gripping tongs, enabling them to be used effectively in pipe systems with complex geometries, such as curves and bends, while maintaining a compact form that facilitates easy operation.
Implementation Method 1
at least one lifting element (14) connected to the piston (12), wherein the lifting element (14) is coupled to the gripping arms (13) in such a way that, in the event of a lifting movement of the piston (12) away from the gripping arms (13), the gripping arms (13) move from an open position to a closed position
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to a gripping pliers (10) for gripping objects, in particular in a channel system, comprising: - at least one housing (11) with a central axis; - at least one piston (12) which is slidably arranged in the housing (11) along the central axis; and - several gripping arms (13) which are each pivotably mounted in and/or on the housing (11) about a pivot axis, wherein the gripping pliers have at least one lifting element (14) connected to the piston (12) which is coupled to the gripping arms (13) in such a way that, in the event of a lifting movement of the piston (12) away from the gripping arms (13), the gripping arms (13) move from an open position to a closed position.