Lance Holder Pre-Fixing Mechanism for Angled Tubes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lance holders struggle to securely fix angled lance tubes, leading to potential twisting and hazards during operation, as they rely on pressure elements that may not consistently maintain a secure grip on bent tubes.
Innovation Solution
The lance holder features a sleeve-shaped clamping part that extends beyond the outer housing, forming a pre-fixing part articulated via a toggle lever and hand lever, providing a 'two-point fixing' mechanism with a trapezoidal thread for enhanced stability, along with a burn-back protection and non-return valve housed in protective components to prevent gas interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single clamping part with pressure elements is used to fix the lance tube, then the structure remains simple, but angled or bent lance tubes cannot be securely fixed and may twist during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping mechanism is divided into two independent parts: a pre-fixing part that initially guides and positions the lance tube, and a central clamping part that applies radial pressure through multiple pressure elements. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally, ensuring secure fixation of angled tubes while maintaining manageable structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-fixing part performs a preliminary action by initially receiving and guiding the lance tube into the correct position before the central clamping part engages. This preliminary positioning ensures that angled or bent tubes are properly oriented before the main clamping force is applied, preventing twisting during operation
2Reliability
If the clamping part is extended to form a pre-fixing part, then angled lance tubes can be securely guided and fixed, but the device complexity increases due to additional components like toggle lever and hand lever
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-fixing part is made movable relative to the central clamping part through the articulated connection via toggle lever and hand lever. This dynamic arrangement allows the pre-fixing part to be positioned and locked at different locations along the lance tube, providing flexibility for securing various tube angles and diameters while maintaining a manageable structural complexity through the use of standard mechanical linkage components
3Reliability
If pressure elements are pressed against the lance tube to secure fixation, then the tube is firmly held, but the sealing ring may experience uneven pressure and potential damage during insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-fixing part performs a preliminary action by guiding the lance tube into the correct position and providing initial support before the central clamping part with pressure elements engages. This ensures that the tube is properly positioned and the sealing ring is not subjected to uneven or excessive pressure during insertion, preventing damage while still allowing firm fixation when needed
4Adaptability or versatility
If the lance holder is designed with extended pre-fixing part, then severely bent lance tubes can be fixed, but the weight of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lance holder is segmented into functional modules: a pre-fixing part for guiding and positioning bent tubes, and a central clamping part for secure fixation. This modular segmentation allows the extended pre-fixing functionality to be added only where needed, rather than requiring a complete redesign of the entire holder, thereby minimizing the overall weight increase while maintaining compatibility with severely bent lance tubes
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
This design ensures secure fixation of severely bent lance tubes, preventing twisting and maintaining effective sealing and safety features, even with angled tubes, while protecting the non-return spring from gas influence and reducing operator risk through weight reduction and ergonomic design.
Implementation Method 1
a non-return valve acted upon by a cylinder spring
Implementation Method 2
the pre-fixing part and thus also the clamping part are connected to the sliding sleeve via a trapezoidal thread
Implementation Method 3
the sleeve-shaped clamping part is pushed over the fixing part by actuating the hand lever and toggle lever
Data Source
AI summary
A lance holder 1, designed for lance tubes 2, particularly oxygen lances, has, in addition to the clamping head 5 with fixing part 6 and clamping part 7, a pre-fixing part 15. This pre-fixing part ensures that the lance tubes 2 to be inserted into the lance holder 1 are secured early on to such an extent that they can no longer slip when the central clamping part 31 is applied, and in particular, cannot twist if the lance tubes 2 are angled. The lance holder 1 is also equipped with a check valve 11 and a special type of outlet valve 53, whose cylindrical spring 10 and return spring 54, respectively, are arranged in enclosed components so that they are not affected by the flowing gas. Furthermore, the necessary backdraft protection 9 is removed from the path of movement of the lance tube 2 to be inserted and is thus advantageously protected.