Hose Clamp Band with Spring-Loaded Worm Drive for Pressure Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hose clamps often experience diminished clamping pressure over time due to age and temperature fluctuations, leading to a weakened seal and potential leakage, as existing designs fail to maintain effective radial contraction and fluid-tight seals consistently.
Innovation Solution
The hose clamp incorporates a band with a curved and flat section profile, a worm drive mechanism, and a clamping-pressure-restoring construction, such as springs or Belleville washers, to maintain consistent clamping pressure and ensure a fluid-tight seal by radially contracting the band and using hooks and weldments to facilitate a continuous seal around the circumference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional hose clamp design is used, then the initial clamping pressure is sufficient to provide a fluid-tight seal, but the clamping pressure diminishes over time due to age and temperature fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The hose clamp incorporates a dynamic spring mechanism that automatically adjusts the clamping force over time. The spring is initially compressed to provide high clamping pressure for sealing, then gradually decompresses to maintain consistent pressure as the hose settles or expands due to temperature changes, preventing seal degradation
Solution Approach 2:
The design changes the clamping pressure parameter dynamically rather than maintaining a fixed pressure. The spring mechanism allows the pressure to vary within an optimal range - high enough initially to ensure sealing, then maintaining a minimum threshold pressure over time to prevent leakage despite environmental variations
2Ease of manufacture
If the band is made entirely flat for structural stability, then manufacturing is simplified, but the band cannot provide continuous radial contraction for sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The band features different cross-sectional geometries in different locations - flat sections for structural stability and manufacturing simplicity, and curved/circular sections where radial contraction is needed for sealing. This local variation in geometry allows each section to perform its specific function optimally
Solution Approach 2:
The band is divided into multiple sections with different profiles - flat portions and curved portions - that work together to provide both structural integrity and sealing capability. The segmented design allows the band to maintain overall stability while providing localized radial contraction where needed
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 design maintains clamping pressure over the hose clamp's lifetime, providing a robust and continuous fluid-tight seal despite temperature changes and usage, reducing the need for re-tightening and minimizing leakage.
Implementation Method 1
The spring(s) are disposed around the screw in order to bias the screw and effect radial contraction of the band. The radial contraction is meant to maintain clamping pressure on an underlying hose during use of the hose clamp.
Data Source
AI summary
A hose clamp includes a band and a worm drive mechanism. The band has a set of slots located between a first and second circumferential end of the band. The worm drive mechanism is connected to the band and causes radial contraction of the band to tighten the band. The worm drive mechanism includes a screw that engages the set of slots for radial contraction of the band. A clamping-pressure-restoring construction is provided in order to maintain a seal between the hose clamp and an underlying hose during use of the hose clamp and when the underlying hose experiences size expansion and contraction due to, for example, temperature fluctuations.