Compact Support Clamp With Nested Thruster Cylinder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clamps used for mounting medical equipment and devices often have an elongated profile due to the need for a long screw and rotational mechanisms, which can interfere with other equipment and structures, and lack versatility in supporting heavy loads securely and conveniently.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a compact clamp mechanism with a moveable thruster plate and fixed jaw, utilizing a thruster cylinder and barrel nut for jaw advancement and retraction without external threaded extensions, along with rotational adjustment and locking features, and optional collets or friction washers for enhanced load capacity and interference reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a long screw is used to move the moveable jaw into engagement with the support, then the jaw mechanism can securely grasp the support, but the clamp's profile becomes elongated and may interfere with other clamps or structures
Solution Approach 1:
The screw is received within a threaded opening in the clamp body, nesting the screw inside the clamp structure rather than having it extend externally. This allows the screw mechanism to be contained within the clamp's overall boundary, reducing the elongated profile while maintaining the functional length of the screw needed for secure grasping.
2Adaptability or versatility
If projections from the clamp body are added to accommodate rotational mechanism, then equipment rotation capability is achieved, but the clamp's profile increases and potential for interference with other structures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotational mechanism is integrated within the clamp body structure itself, merging the rotation function into the existing clamp form factor. The clamp body includes an opening that allows rotation while maintaining a compact profile, combining the clamping function and rotation capability in a single integrated structure without requiring separate projections.
3Length of moving object
If a compact clamp design is used to minimize profile, then interference with other equipment is reduced, but the ability to support heavy loads securely may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp incorporates a moveable jaw and fixed jaw as separate segments that can be independently positioned and adjusted. This segmentation allows the clamp to apply concentrated clamping force at the jaw interfaces while maintaining a compact overall profile, enabling heavy load support through localized force application rather than requiring a large distributed structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp is constructed from materials and structural configurations that provide high strength-to-volume ratio, using composite design principles to achieve maximum load-bearing capacity within the compact profile constraints.
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 a secure, stable, and versatile mounting system that minimizes the clamp's profile, allows for easy equipment rotation, and supports heavier loads while preventing unauthorized removal, all while reducing interference with other equipment on the support.
Implementation Method 1
a moveable thruster plate and fixed jaw, utilizing a thruster cylinder and barrel nut for jaw advancement and retraction
Implementation Method 2
optional collets or friction washers for enhanced load capacity and interference reduction
Data Source
AI summary
A clamp for mounting a structure on a support. The clamp includes a fixed jaw, a base, and a moveable thruster plate between the fixed jaw and the base. The clamp includes a thruster cylinder configured to be rotatably received through the clamp body and having threads that engage a screw so that when the thruster cylinder rotates, the screw is advanced or retracted to move the thruster plate into and out of engagement with the support. A knob is used to rotate the thruster cylinder. The clamp includes a friction washer or collet located between the thruster cylinder and the clamp body. The clamp is configured so that when the thruster plate engages the support, further axial movement of the screw is prevented and further rotation of the knob and thruster cylinder compresses the friction washer or collet.