Hinged Pipe Clamp for Easy Removal and Fastener Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pipe clamps are difficult to remove from mounting structures without causing damage, and maintaining alignment during installation is challenging, especially for closed loop full clamps which require nails to be driven through aligned holes.
Innovation Solution
A pipe clamp design featuring a mounting post, arm, and hinge that allows for rotational movement from an open to a closed position, with arcuate recesses and coupling elements to secure the clamp in place, and a relief protrusion for easy removal of fasteners, minimizing damage and ensuring alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional pipe clamps are secured to mounting structure using a ring-shanked type nail driven against the clamp body, then the clamp is firmly attached to the mounting structure, but the clamp becomes difficult to remove and may cause damage to the mounting structure or clamp body during removal
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp body is segmented into two separate arms (first arm and second arm) that can move relative to each other about a hinge axis. This segmentation allows the arms to be pried apart during removal without damaging the mounting structure or clamp body, while still providing firm attachment when closed.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp transitions from a static closed-loop design to a dynamic design with movable arms connected by a hinge. The arms can rotate between a closed position (for secure attachment) and an open position (for easy removal), enabling the clamp to adapt its state based on operational needs.
2Manufacturing precision
If closed loop full clamps are pressed together to maintain alignment of nail insertion holes, then the holes remain aligned for nail insertion, but the clamp structure becomes difficult to manipulate and assemble
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp arms are designed to be movable relative to each other, allowing the installer to separate the arms for easy alignment of nail insertion holes. After nail insertion, the arms are closed together to secure the pipe, eliminating the need to maintain alignment under pressure throughout the entire process.
Solution Approach 2:
The nail insertion holes are pre-aligned in the separate arms before assembly. The movable arm design allows the installer to position and align the holes beforehand, then secure the nail without needing to continuously maintain alignment pressure on the closed-loop structure.
3Ease of operation
If a relief protrusion is added to the clamp body for easy fastener removal, then fastener removal becomes easier, but the clamp body complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding a relief protrusion to a monolithic clamp body, the clamp is segmented into two arms that can be pried apart. This segmentation inherently provides easy fastener removal without requiring additional protrusions or features, as the arms themselves serve as the removal mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure is directed to a pipe clamp configured to support a pipe from a mounting surface. The pipe clamp includes a mounting post, arm, and hinge. The mounting post has a first post end and a second post end that includes a first coupling element. The mounting post defines a first recess. The arm has a first arm end and a second arm end that includes a second coupling element configured to couple to the first coupling element. The arm defines a second recess. The hinge is positioned between the mounting post and the arm and is connected to the first post end of the mounting post and to the first arm end of the arm. The mounting post and arm are rotatable about the hinge from an open position to a closed position. In the closed position the first coupling element is coupled to the second coupling element.