Lever-Lock Plunger Clamp for Balanced Force and Positive Latching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional plunger clamps face mechanical overstressing due to high force correlation and unbalanced torque on rivet connections, and lack a positive lock to maintain the lever handle in position, leading to potential accidental movement.
Innovation Solution
A plunger clamp design featuring a body with a bore, a pivotally connected lever, a link arm, a catch mechanism, and a latch mechanism with biasing members to securely lock the plunger in both clamped and released positions, utilizing a pair of spaced arms and cutouts for precise locking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a traditional linkage design with rivets is used to connect plunger and lever, then the clamp can achieve high mechanical advantage, but the rivets experience unbalanced torque and overstress leading to potential failure
Solution Approach 1:
The single rivet connection is segmented into multiple connection points (first and second latches with corresponding catches). This distributes the mechanical load across multiple rivets rather than concentrating it on a single rivet, reducing the torque and stress on each individual rivet while maintaining the overall mechanical advantage of the clamp.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple connection elements (latches and catches) into a unified locking mechanism. The first latch connects to the first catch and the second latch connects to the second catch, creating a combined connection system that distributes forces evenly across multiple rivets, thereby reducing stress on each rivet while maintaining structural integrity.
2Device complexity
If traditional plunger clamp design without positive lock is used, then the structure remains simple, but the lever handle cannot be reliably locked in position and may move accidentally
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism is designed to automatically engage with the catch mechanism at predetermined positions (clamped and released positions). The biasing member pre-loads the latch mechanism so that it automatically locks into position without requiring additional locking actions, providing reliable position stability while maintaining relatively simple operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is self-actuating through the biasing member that automatically pushes the latch into engagement with the catch. The system serves itself by using the operational motion of the lever to trigger the locking action, eliminating the need for separate locking mechanisms or complex control systems while ensuring reliable position locking.
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 effectively reduces stress on components by distributing forces more evenly and provides a secure locking mechanism to prevent accidental movement of the plunger clamp, enhancing usability and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
A biasing member exerts a force on the latch mechanism to maintain the latch mechanism in the locked clamped and locked release positions
Data Source
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AI summary
A plunger clamp has a body defining a bore with a plunger slidably held in the body bore. A lever is pivotally connected with the body. A link arm pivotally connects between the plunger and lever. A catch mechanism is coupled with the body. A latch mechanism is coupled with the lever. The catch mechanism and latch mechanism couple with one another to lock the plunger in a first clamped position and in a second released position.