Mechanical Clamping Sleeve Locking Without Pressurized Fluid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clamping devices are complex and require pressurized fluid for operation, limiting their accessibility and ease of use, and often necessitate the use of tools for actuation.
Innovation Solution
A clamping device that moves the clamping piston from the clamping position to the release position using a mechanical compressive or tensile force applied to an actuating element accessible from outside the housing, allowing for manual or mechanical actuation without the need for tools or pressurized fluid, and incorporates an elastic element to bias the piston back into the clamping position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If pressurized fluid is used to actuate the clamping piston, then the clamping device can be operated remotely or automatically, but the device complexity increases and the device can only be operated where pressurized fluid is available
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the fluid supply system from the clamping device, replacing it with a mechanically actuated piston that can be operated by direct mechanical force applied to an actuating element on the piston rod. This eliminates the need for complex fluid supply infrastructure while maintaining the core clamping function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mechanically actuated piston rod as an intermediary between the operator and the clamping mechanism. The piston rod transmits mechanical force directly to the clamping piston, serving as a simple mediator that replaces the complex fluid transmission system while enabling remote or automated operation through mechanical means.
2Device complexity
If a screw motion is used to actuate the clamping piston, then the device structure is simple, but the operation requires tools and is more time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a screw mechanism that requires rotational motion and tools to actuate the piston, the patent inverts the approach by providing a piston rod with an actuating element that accepts direct linear mechanical force. This allows the piston to be actuated by pushing or pulling on the rod itself, eliminating the need for screw tools and reducing operational complexity.
3Volume of stationary object
If the actuating element is not accessible from outside the housing, then the locking device is compact, but the device cannot be operated without disassembling the housing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests the actuating element within the piston rod, which itself is contained within the locking device housing. The piston rod extends through the housing with the actuating element positioned on its outer end, allowing the actuating element to be accessible from outside the housing while maintaining a compact overall structure through the nested arrangement of components.
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 solution provides a simple, tool-free, and reliable locking mechanism with high holding force, enabling easy operation and versatility in various environments, including those without access to pressurized fluid, and allows for precise clamping of interchangeable bodies.
Implementation Method 1
the locking device may include an elastic element that pre-tensions the clamping piston into the clamping position
Data Source
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AI summary
In order to create a clamping device for clamping an exchangeable body on a base body of the clamping device, wherein the clamping device comprises at least one blocking device for blocking a clamping sleeve arranged on the exchangeable body relative to the base body, wherein the blocking device has a housing, a clamping piston that is moveably guided in the housing between a clamping position and a release position, and at least one blocking body that can be moved by means of the clamping piston from a release position in which the blocking body releases a moving away of the clamping sleeve from the base body, into a blocking position in which the blocking body prevents a moving away of the clamping sleeve from the base body, and wherein the clamping device is simply constructed and actuatable, and still permits a reliable blocking of the clamping sleeve with a high retaining force, according to the invention, the clamping piston is coupled to an actuation element, which can be applied with an actuation force from outside the housing of the blocking device, and as a result of the impact thereof on the actuation element, the clamping piston can be moved from the clamping position into the release position.