Inner Support Clamp with Inflatable Elastic Component

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional inner support clamps are unsuitable for fragile or soft objects with thin walls due to their rigidity and are not versatile enough to accommodate objects with complex internal contours, leading to potential damage and high production costs for customized clamps.

Innovation Solution

An inner support clamp design featuring a supporting component and a first elastic component that inflates to expand outward, covered by a silica gel airbag with reinforcing ribs and layers for enhanced friction and durability, allowing it to conform to various object shapes without causing damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If a rigid clamp is used to clamp an object, then the clamping force is sufficient, but the clamp may cause damage to fragile objects with thin walls

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclamping forceVSAvoiddamage to fragile objects

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The clamp adopts a flexible elastic structure that can deform and adapt to the contour of the object being clamped. The elastic components include flexible fingers and an elastic support body that can bend and conform to complex shapes, providing gentle contact with fragile surfaces while maintaining adequate clamping force through distributed pressure rather than concentrated rigid contact

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The clamp utilizes elastic deformation parameters to change its physical state. By controlling the inflation pressure of the elastic support body, the clamp can adjust its rigidity and contact pressure dynamically - remaining soft during approach and positioning, then becoming sufficiently rigid when inflated to provide stable clamping force without damaging the object

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If a customized clamp is manufactured for objects with complex contours, then the clamping fit is precise, but the production cost is high and the structure is unstable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclamping fit precisionVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The clamp is designed as a universal device that can adapt to various object shapes and sizes through its elastic, deformable structure. Rather than requiring custom-made clamps for each object type, this single clamp design can accommodate different contours by allowing its elastic fingers and support body to flex and conform to the specific geometry of the object being clamped

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The clamp employs dynamic elastic structures that can change their shape and configuration in response to the object's contour. The flexible fingers and elastic support body can dynamically adjust their positions and angles during the clamping process, enabling precise adaptation to complex surfaces without requiring pre-customization for each specific object shape

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If a conventional interior support clamp is used, then the structure is simple, but it is unsuitable for fragile or soft objects with thin walls

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidunsuitability for fragile objects

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The clamp combines multiple materials with complementary properties: an elastic polymer material for the flexible fingers and support body that provides gentleness and adaptability, potentially combined with reinforcing elements or coating layers that enhance durability and friction characteristics. This composite approach maintains structural simplicity while achieving the soft, adaptive contact needed for fragile objects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 clamp effectively clamps objects with complex contours and fragile structures without causing damage, reducing production costs and improving versatility, while the silica gel airbag provides high elasticity and adaptability.

Implementation Method 1

The first elastic component may hermetically cover at least a portion of the supporting component such that the first elastic component expands outward when the first elastic component is inflated by an inflation and deflation device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12036647B2Inner support clamp

Publication Date: 2024.07.16 BEIJING SOFT ROBOT TECH CO LTD

AI summary

An inner support clamp is provided. The inner support clamp may include a first elastic component and a supporting component. The first elastic component may hermetically cover at least a portion of the supporting component such that the first elastic component expands outward when the first elastic component is inflated by an inflation and deflation device. The inner support clamp may be with a small size, a light weight, and/or a simple structure, thereby reducing the manufacture cost of the inner support clamp. The inner support clamp may clamp objects with different sizes and shapes rapidly and stably. For a fragile, soft, or bottle-shape object, or an object with a regular or irregular shape, the inner support clamp may clamp the object safely and not cause damage to the object.