Conduit Support Clip With Spring Arms for Vibration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional support systems for suspending conduit, pipe, and cables from ceilings often result in vibration, abrasion, and increased installation time due to the movement of equipment within apertures and difficulties in engaging with equipment surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A support assembly and method that utilize a support clip with a bridge section and spring arms, which are resiliently deflectable to engage conduits of various diameters, and indents on the outer profiles to secure the clip against axial movement within the support member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional support systems are used to suspend conduit and cables, then equipment can be suspended from ceilings to create extra usable space, but vibration and abrasion occur due to movement of equipment within apertures
Solution Approach 1:
The support system is divided into separate functional components: a support member with aperture for suspension, and a support clip with engagement features for securing equipment. This segmentation allows the support clip to specifically address vibration and abrasion through its resilient engagement mechanism, while the support member maintains the suspension function for space creation.
Solution Approach 2:
The support clip incorporates resiliently deflectable spring arms that can dynamically adapt to equipment movement and vibration. The spring arms resiliently engage the equipment surface, providing continuous adjustment to maintain secure contact while absorbing vibrational energy, thereby reducing both vibration and abrasion harmfully caused by rigid support systems.
2Volume of moving object
If conventional support systems are used, then equipment can be suspended, but installation time increases due to difficulties in engaging with equipment surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The support clip design incorporates adjustable parameters including resilient spring arms that can deflect to accommodate various equipment diameters and surface characteristics. The indents in the outer profiles can be selectively positioned to engage different equipment geometries, allowing rapid adaptation without requiring custom components for each equipment type, thereby reducing installation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The support clip is designed as a universal component that can engage with various types of equipment (conduit, cables, pipes) with different diameters and surface properties. The combination of resilient spring arms and indented outer profiles provides a multi-functional engagement mechanism that works across different equipment types, eliminating the need for multiple specialized support components and reducing overall installation time.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If support clips are designed to securely engage equipment, then vibration and abrasion are reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support clip merges multiple engagement features into a single integrated component: the bridge section, spring arms, and indented outer profiles are combined in one piece. This merging allows the complex function of vibration reduction and secure engagement to be achieved through a unified structure rather than multiple separate components, actually simplifying the overall system while maintaining the vibration-reducing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring arms are designed to automatically adjust and resiliently engage the equipment surface without requiring external adjustment mechanisms. The indents in the outer profiles self-align to engage with the equipment, and the resilient material properties provide automatic adaptation to different equipment geometries. This self-service capability reduces the need for complex adjustment mechanisms while maintaining effective vibration and abrasion reduction.
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 effectively reduces vibration and abrasion of suspended equipment, simplifies the installation process by providing a secure and resistant engagement with the equipment, and accommodates a range of conduit diameters.
Implementation Method 1
The spring arms may be resiliently deflectable relative to the bridge section to resiliently engage the inner spring arm profiles with a conduit at a range of conduit diameters
Data Source
AI summary
A support assembly for conduit may include a support member extending in a lateral direction with an opening to receive a conduit along an axial direction, and a support clip. The support clip may include a bridge section extending axially with a bridge inner profile facing radially inwardly. The support clip may include first and second lateral arms extending radially outwardly from opposite lateral sides of the bridge section to define respective first and second outer profiles, which may each include indents selectively engageable with first and second lateral sides of the opening to secure the clip against axial movement. The support clip may include spring arms extending from opposite axial ends of the bridge section, which may be resiliently deflectable relative to the bridge section to engage inner spring arm profiles with a conduit at a range of conduit diameters.