Internal Threaded Clamp Prevents Contaminant Accumulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mounting systems used in industries like food processing and pharmaceuticals are difficult to clean and prone to contaminant accumulation due to their design, making them susceptible to dirt and insects.
Innovation Solution
A clamp system with an annular cavity and clamp leg featuring internal female threads, where a fastener secures the clamp body to the clamp leg without exposing external threading, allowing for easy attachment to a bracket with rotating clamp legs that anchor and affix securely, preventing contaminant accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional mounting systems use external threading for assembly, then ease of manufacture is improved, but hygiene and cleanliness deteriorate due to contaminant accumulation in threaded areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the threading function from the external surface and relocates it entirely within the internal structure of the clamp. The clamp body and clamp leg both feature internal female threads that engage with each other internally, eliminating all external threading surfaces where contaminants could accumulate, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of assembly and hygiene.
2Reliability
If mounting systems have complex structures to secure attachments, then reliability is improved, but ease of cleaning deteriorates due to difficult-to-reach areas
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp is segmented into distinct functional components: a clamp body with internal threading, a clamp leg with internal threading, and a fastener. This segmentation allows each component to have a simple, cleanable surface while maintaining secure attachment through the internal threaded engagement, resolving the contradiction between attachment security and ease of cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using external threading as is conventional, the patent inverts the approach by using internal threading for both the clamp body and clamp leg. This inversion eliminates crevices and hard-to-reach areas on the exterior surfaces, making the entire mounting system easy to clean while maintaining reliable attachment security through the internal threaded connection.
3Ease of manufacture
If clamp legs are fixed in position, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability deteriorates due to inability to adjust to different bracket configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp leg is designed with rotational capability around its longitudinal axis, transforming it from a fixed static component to a dynamic adjustable component. This rotational freedom allows the clamp leg to adapt to different bracket orientations and configurations while the clamp body remains structurally simple and easy to manufacture, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A clamp comprises a fastener, a clamp body, and a clamp leg. The clamp body comprises a housing including a cavity and a housing cavity; and a curved arm extending from the housing. The clamp leg comprises a leg body including a leg cavity, and a foot member. The clamp body and the clamp leg are attachable to and detachable from each other, and a portion of the leg body can be inserted into or removed from the housing cavity, and when the portion of the leg body is inserted into the housing cavity, the cavity and the leg cavity form a passageway for the fastener so that threads of the fastener are not externally exposed.