Pinch Clamp Mount With Keyed Alignment and Nut Retention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pinch clamps are difficult to use in medical or laboratory settings due to uncertainty about full closure and risk of nut movement, leading to unintentional loosening and tubing tangling.
Innovation Solution
A pinch clamp design featuring a first and second member with rounded pinch surfaces, a threaded shaft, and a seat with protrusions to prevent nut slippage, combined with a mount system including guide rails and keyed slots for secure attachment and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional pinch clamp with threaded shaft and nut is used, then the clamp can close the tubing to stop fluid flow, but the nut may move unintentionally causing loosening and tubing tangling
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp body includes a pre-formed seat with protrusions that extend into the nut before assembly. This preliminary structural feature prevents the nut from sliding off the threaded shaft during operation, eliminating the need for additional locking mechanisms and ensuring reliable clamp closure without unintentional loosening.
2Ease of operation
If the nut extends from the surface of the pinch clamp, then the clamp can be tightened, but there is risk of movement of the nut leading to unintentional loosening
Solution Approach 1:
The seat acts as an intermediary component between the nut and the clamp body. It provides a confined space with protrusions that physically restrict the nut's movement in the axial direction, allowing the nut to be tightened while preventing it from sliding off or moving unintentionally during use.
3Ease of manufacture
If the tubing and pinch clamp are free to move, then the clamp can be easily installed, but this may result in tangling or undesirable positioning of the tubing
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp body includes a pre-formed seat with protrusions that extend into the nut before assembly. This preliminary structural feature prevents the nut from sliding off the threaded shaft during operation. The mount system with guide rails and keyed slots provides preliminary alignment and constraint of the clamp assembly, preventing unwanted movement and maintaining proper tubing positioning while allowing easy installation.
Data Source
AI summary
A pinch clamp and mount are provided. The pinch clamp includes a first member and second member including rounded pinch surfaces. The second member is pivotably coupled to the first member at a first end. A threaded shaft is pivotably coupled to a second end of the first member. A second end of the second member includes a seat configured to receive the threaded shaft and a nut thereon. The seat includes protrusions at the second end that prevent the nut from sliding out of the seat. The mount includes a body having a flat bottom surface. An internal wall defines a through hole in the flat bottom surface. Two guide rails on a top surface of the body define a central slot configured to receive the clamp. A pair of keyed slots within the two guide rails are configured to receive a pair of keyed projections on the clamp.