Lightning Protection Clamp With Dual Receptacles Against Conductor Slippage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lightning protection conductor clamps are inflexible, prone to conductor slippage, and costly to manufacture, requiring frequent reconnection and increasing construction time and costs.

Innovation Solution

A versatile lightning protection conductor clamp with dual receptacles for round and flat conductors, featuring a transition section with a semicircular cross-section and a spring leg with a hold-down section, ensuring secure attachment to an equipotential bonding rail using a screw or rivet, allowing 360° rotation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single-type lightning protection conductor clamp is used for both round and flat conductors, then device complexity is reduced and manufacturing cost decreases, but the reliability of connection deteriorates due to conductor slippage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclamp structureVSAvoidconnection stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The clamp is designed with a universal structure that can accommodate both round conductors and flat conductors simultaneously. The first receptacle with semicircular cross-section receives round conductors, while the second receptacle with planar configuration receives flat conductors. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate clamp types, reducing device complexity and manufacturing costs while maintaining reliable connections for both conductor types through geometry-specific receptacles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

If traditional spring-loaded clamps are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to conductor slippage causing spring arm vibration and disconnection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclamp productionVSAvoidconnection security
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The clamp is segmented into distinct functional components: a mounting leg for attachment to the equipotential bonding bar, a spring leg with elastic properties for maintaining contact pressure, and a transition section forming geometrically-specific receptacles. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specialized function - the spring leg provides continuous contact pressure to prevent slippage, while the geometric receptacles secure conductors of different shapes, thereby improving reliability without complicating manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If multiple connection checks are performed to ensure lightning protection, then reliability is improved, but productivity decreases due to extended construction time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelightning protection assuranceVSAvoidconstruction speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The clamp incorporates preliminary anti-slip design features during manufacturing, including geometric receptacles that physically constrain conductors and spring legs pre-loaded with elastic force to maintain constant contact pressure. These preliminary actions prevent conductor slippage before it can occur during installation or service, eliminating the need for multiple post-installation checks and thereby maintaining high construction productivity while ensuring reliable lightning protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 provides secure, cost-effective, and flexible attachment of multiple conductors to an equipotential bonding rail, reducing slippage and manufacturing complexity, thus enhancing construction efficiency and reducing costs.

Implementation Method 1

a spring leg opposite the mounting leg. The mounting leg and the spring leg are connected to each other via a transition section

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4687222A1Lightning protection wire terminal
Publication Date: 2026.02.04 DEHN SOHNE GMBH CO KG
  • EP4687222A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4687222A1 patent drawing
  • EP4687222A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A lightning protection conductor terminal (110) for attaching at least one lightning protection or earthing conductor to an equipotential bonding bar is shown. The lightning protection conductor terminal (110) comprises a mounting leg (116) for mounting on the equipotential bonding bar and a spring leg (118) opposite the mounting leg (116). The mounting leg (116) and the spring leg (118) are connected to each other via a transition section (120), which forms a first receptacle (122) for a round conductor. A second receptacle (124) for a flat conductor is also formed by the mounting leg (116) and the spring leg (118).