Conduit Coupling Assembly for One-Handed Alignment in Tight Spaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Technicians face challenges in accessing confined spaces to couple conduits together, as they need to align, engage, and clamp conduits with only one hand, making the process difficult and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
The development of conduit coupling devices with a body that selectively engages the outer surface of a conduit and an elongate connecting member that facilitates alignment and translation of the devices, allowing for easy coupling and clamping of conduits, even in confined spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If technicians manually align and clamp conduits in confined spaces, then the task can be completed with basic tools, but the process becomes difficult and time-consuming due to limited access and one-handed operation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The conduit coupling device acts as an intermediary tool between the technician and the conduits. It includes a body configured to selectively engage an outer surface of a conduit and an elongate connecting member that extends from the body. This device facilitates alignment and coupling of conduits in confined spaces by providing mechanical advantage and reducing the dexterity required for manual alignment and clamping operations.
2Manufacturing precision
If technicians use traditional manual methods to couple conduits, then no specialized equipment is needed, but alignment precision and coupling accuracy deteriorate due to limited visibility and dexterity
Solution Approach 1:
The conduit coupling device is segmented into distinct functional components: a body portion that engages the conduit outer surface, and an elongate connecting member that provides alignment functionality. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while keeping the overall device relatively simple and easy to operate in confined spaces.
Data Source
AI summary
Conduit coupling devices comprise a body configured to be selectively attached to engage an outer surface of a conduit; and an elongate connecting member extending from the body or configured to selectively extend from the body. Systems comprise at least two conduit coupling devices. Methods comprise attaching a first conduit coupling device to a first conduit; attaching a second conduit coupling device to a second conduit; operatively attaching the first conduit coupling device to the second conduit coupling device; translating the first conduit coupling device and the second conduit coupling device toward each other to operatively position the first conduit relative to the second conduit; and clamping the first conduit to the second conduit.