Parallel Jaw Clamping Device for Even Pipe Force Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional clamping devices with pivotable clamping seats concentrate stress on one side of a rubber hose during sealing, leading to potential breakage due to uneven force distribution.

Innovation Solution

A clamping device with two parallel jaws, where the clamping portions of the jaws remain parallel during the clamping process, ensuring even force application to both sides of a pipe, utilizing a tension spring and adjusting mechanism to maintain this alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the clamping seats are made pivotable to adjust clamping opening for different hose diameters, then the adaptability is improved, but the stress distribution becomes uneven causing hose breakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustability of clamping openingVSAvoidstress concentration on hose

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of allowing the clamping seats to pivot freely (conventional approach), the patent inverts the approach by using a rigid connection between clamping seats and clamping arms, preventing pivoting motion. This eliminates the harmful side-deflection and stress concentration while maintaining adaptability through a different mechanism (adjustable clamping arm positioning)

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic adjustability through the ability to reposition the clamping arms along the handle structure, allowing adaptation to different hose diameters without the harmful pivoting motion. The system transitions from static pivot points to dynamically adjustable positions that maintain proper force distribution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the clamping seats pivot freely to accommodate different hose sizes, then the versatility is improved, but the clamping precision deteriorates due to angular position variability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapability to clamp different hose diametersVSAvoidclamping alignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional pivoting mechanism by implementing a rigid fixed connection between clamping seats and clamping arms. This prevents angular position variability and maintains precise parallel alignment, while versatility is achieved through adjustable clamping arm positioning along the handle structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If sequential clamping is used to seal rubber hoses with pivotable seats, then the sealing effectiveness is improved, but the operational complexity increases due to multi-step process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidclamping operation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the clamping action of both jaws into a single simultaneous operation. The parallel rigid jaws apply force evenly to both sides of the hose at the same time, eliminating the need for sequential clamping steps while maintaining sealing effectiveness and simplifying the operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9636804B2Clamping device with two parallel jaws

Publication Date: 2017.05.02 WU MING CHIEH

AI summary

A clamping device includes first and second clamping members. Each of the first and second clamping members has a handle and a jaw. A bend is formed between two ends of the jaw of the first clamping member, and a first angle between the jaw and the handle of the first clamping member is smaller than 180°. Another bend is formed between two ends of the jaw of the second clamping member, and a second angle between the jaw and the handle of the second clamping member is equal to the first angle. The clamping device can be used to clamp a pipe. When the second clamping member is moving from a release position to the clamping position, two clamping portions respectively of the jaws remain parallel to each other such that force is evenly applied to two sides of the pipe.