Force-Spreading Clamp for Secure Mounting Without Surface Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional helmet mounting devices for cylindrical objects like flashlights often damage the objects due to the use of set screws, which can penetrate or crack the soft materials, compromising the integrity of the flashlight and its safety ratings in hazardous environments.
Innovation Solution
A force-spreading clamp that distributes clamping force along the axial portion of a cylindrical object, using a tubular body, a movable gate, and an actuator to securely hold objects of varying sizes and shapes without damaging their outer surfaces, by acting as a pressure plate to prevent penetration and ensure even clamping pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If set screws are used to mount cylindrical objects to a mounting surface, then the mounting device achieves secure attachment, but the set screws can penetrate or mar the surface of soft materials
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping force is segmented and distributed along the axial portion of the cylindrical object through the force spreading mechanism, rather than concentrated at a single point. The clamp body includes a force spreading mechanism with a first surface that contacts the cylindrical object and distributes the clamping force applied by the set screw along the axial direction, preventing surface penetration while maintaining secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The force spreading mechanism acts as an intermediary between the set screw and the cylindrical object surface. This intermediate structure receives the clamping force from the set screw and redistributes it along the axial portion of the object, preventing direct concentrated contact that would cause surface damage while still achieving reliable mounting.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the clamp accepts objects of varying sizes, then the adaptability increases, but the precision of fit may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp incorporates a movable gate that can be adjusted radially inward and outward to accommodate cylindrical objects of different circumferences. The gate moves along guide holes in the gate wall portion, allowing dynamic adjustment of the internal diameter to match various object sizes. This dynamic adjustment mechanism maintains precise fit for each specific size while providing versatility across multiple sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The internal diameter of the clamp is made variable through the movable gate mechanism. By changing the radial position of the gate, the effective internal diameter changes to accommodate different object circumferences. This parameter change allows the clamp to adapt to various sizes while maintaining appropriate fit precision for each configuration.
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 force-spreading clamp effectively prevents damage to the cylindrical objects while securely retaining them, maintaining their integrity and safety ratings, even in hazardous conditions, by evenly distributing the clamping force across the object's surface, allowing for hands-free operation.
Implementation Method 1
The actuator threadingly engages the gate wall portion of the tubular body wall such that rotating the actuator in a first direction with respect to the tubular body actuates the gate in a radially inward direction
Implementation Method 2
The gate further includes a pair of guide elements protruding from the outer wall of the clamping member and extending through the guide holes in the gate wall portion to maintain alignment between the gate and the tubular body as the gate is moved radially inwardly and outwardly
Implementation Method 3
The gate includes a longitudinal clamping member having an outer wall and an inner contact wall for distributing clamping force along an outer surface of a generally cylindrical object so as to inhibit damage to the object
Data Source
AI summary
A force-spreading clamp including a tubular body having a longitudinal opening for receiving at least a portion of a generally cylindrical object and a wall encircling the longitudinal opening, a gate including a clamping member positioned within the longitudinal opening and having a contact wall for distributing clamping force along a surface of a generally cylindrical object, a guide mechanism being configured to maintain alignment between the gate and the tubular body, and an actuator configured to actuate the gate in a radially inward direction with respect to the tubular body wall to cause the clamping member to apply clamping force to a generally cylindrical object.