Hinged Conduit Clamp Assembly for One-Handed Cable Suspension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tractor-trailer connections require secure suspension and management of electrical cables and air hoses to prevent snagging and tangling, with existing solutions often requiring multiple components and tools, and lacking durability and ease of installation.
Innovation Solution
A clamp assembly with a latching feature and 180° hinge point, comprising two bodies that form a locking eye when closed, allowing for one-handed operation and secure grip without additional tools, using a carabiner for locking, and adaptable to various conduit diameters through internal retainer members with separable portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing suspension solutions are used for electrical cables and air hoses, then the cables and hoses can be suspended from the tractor, but they require multiple components and tools for installation, and lack durability and ease of installation
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp assembly merges multiple functions into a single integrated component: the clamp body provides clamping force, the hinge enables opening/closing motion, the locking eye secures the closed position, and the carabiner attachment point enables suspension. This consolidation eliminates the need for multiple separate components and tools, directly resolving the technical contradiction between ease of installation and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp assembly is designed as a multi-functional device that can clamp various conduit diameters (through adjustable internal retainer members), provide secure locking, enable suspension via carabiner attachment, and offer one-handed operation. This universality allows a single component to replace multiple specialized tools, improving ease of installation while reducing overall system complexity
2Reliability
If a secure grip is provided for conduit suspension, then the conduit is held firmly preventing snagging and tangling, but the clamp requires additional tools and components for locking and securing
Solution Approach 1:
The locking eye and carabiner attachment point are integrated directly into the clamp body structure. The locking eye is formed as part of the clamp assembly, eliminating the need for separate locking mechanisms. This integration maintains secure grip reliability while minimizing the number of components
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp assembly is designed to be self-securing through its inherent locking eye feature that accepts a carabiner. Once the clamp is closed around the conduit, the locking eye automatically provides a secure attachment point for suspension, requiring no additional tools or components to establish the secure grip
3Ease of operation
If the clamp is designed for one-handed operation, then ease of installation is improved, but the locking mechanism may be less secure
Solution Approach 1:
The carabiner serves as an intermediary element that bridges the one-handed clamping action and secure locking. The operator can easily close the clamp with one hand, and the carabiner automatically engages with the locking eye to provide secure locking. This intermediary mechanism maintains both ease of operation and locking security without compromise
4Adaptability or versatility
If the clamp assembly accommodates various conduit diameters, then adaptability is improved, but the internal structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The internal retainer members are segmented into separable portions that can be adjusted or removed to accommodate different conduit diameters. This segmentation allows the internal structure to be reconfigured for various sizes without requiring a completely different clamp design, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural complexity
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for a clamp assembly including clamp having a first body extending between an attachment end and a hinged end. The first body includes a set of apertures and defines at least a portion of the attachment end. A second body includes a second aperture and defines a remaining portion of the attachment end, the second body hingedly connected to the first body at the hinged end for movement of the first body and the second body between an opened position and a closed position. In an alternative embodiment, a first and second body can be provided with retention members having a separable portion to allow for custom sizing of an opening for the clamp assembly.