Pin Clamp Fail-Safe Lock Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional powered clamps are prone to unclamping when fluid pressure is lost, leading to potential damage or misalignment of parts during welding or assembly operations.
Innovation Solution
A fail-safe lock mechanism with teeth on a locking structure that engages matching teeth on a rod or shaft to prevent unclamping, combined with a manual override and a cam and pin arrangement, and longitudinal fluid flow paths through a housing, ensuring the clamp maintains its position even with reduced fluid pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional powered clamps are used, then the clamping operation is simple, but the clamp may unclamp when fluid pressure is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The lock mechanism is pre-positioned to engage with the drive shaft at specific intervals during the clamping stroke. The teeth on the lock are designed to automatically engage with corresponding teeth on the drive shaft, creating a preliminary locking action that secures the clamp position before fluid pressure loss can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock mechanism acts as an intermediary element between the drive shaft and the clamping arm. It transfers and secures the positional information from the drive shaft to the clamping arm, ensuring that even if fluid pressure is lost, the intermediate lock holds the position.
2Reliability
If detent and plunger arrangements are used to prevent unclamping, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential locking function from complex detent and plunger arrangements and implements it through a simplified tooth engagement mechanism. The lock has teeth that directly engage with teeth on the drive shaft, eliminating the need for separate detent springs and plunger components while achieving the same pressure loss protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock mechanism uses simple, easily replaceable teeth on the drive shaft and corresponding teeth on the lock itself. These teeth are designed to be straightforward mechanical features that can be manufactured economically and replaced if worn, rather than using complex, expensive detent mechanisms.
3Manufacturing precision
If cam and plunger mechanisms are used for locking, then positioning accuracy improves, but manufacturing cost and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a cam profile that requires precise machining of curved surfaces, the invention inverts the approach by using straight teeth that engage in a linear fashion. The locking accuracy is achieved through the precise positioning of tooth roots and tips rather than through complex cam surface geometry, simplifying manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive shaft serves multiple functions: it provides the mechanical drive for the clamping arm, positions the clamping arm at the correct location, and simultaneously provides the tooth engagement surface for the lock mechanism. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate cam components and reduces manufacturing complexity.
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 more precise and secure locking function, preventing unclamping during power failures and reducing manufacturing costs through a modular design with fewer parts and easier assembly.
Implementation Method 1
the use of fluid pressure to retract the lock in the present clamp directly corresponds to clamping fluid pressure loss
Data Source
AI summary
A clamp having a lock is provided. In another aspect, a fail safe lock maintains the position of a clamping member when fluid pressure or other actuating power is undesirably reduced. Another aspect employs teeth on a locking structure which engage matching teeth on a shaft where engagement of the teeth prevent unclamping of a workpiece. In still another aspect, a manual override member disengages a lock in order to unclamp a workpiece.