Pipe Repair Clamp Lug Cover Plate Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe repair clamps require significant force to close and position the locking plate due to rigidity issues, especially with small diameter pipes, and often suffer from the locking plate getting caught in the junction between lugs and bolts, leading to inefficiencies in the repair process.
Innovation Solution
A pipe repair clamp design featuring a flexible strap with a thrust plate, lugs, a lug plate, threaded studs, and a lug cover plate, where the lug cover plate provides a sliding surface for the locking plate to ease assembly and reduce required force, preventing the locking plate from getting caught and allowing easier closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the locking plate is forced over the thrust plate during assembly, then the clamp can be closed, but a significant amount of force is required and the locking plate may get caught in the junction between lugs and bolts
Solution Approach 1:
A curved guide plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the locking plate and the thrust plate. The guide plate provides a curved surface that guides the locking plate during assembly, allowing it to slide over the thrust plate without requiring excessive force and preventing it from getting caught in the junction between lugs and bolts.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide plate features a curved surface that facilitates the movement of the locking plate during assembly. This curvature allows the locking plate to follow a smooth path over the thrust plate, reducing the force required and preventing misalignment or catching in the lug-bolt junction.
2Ease of operation
If lugs are lifted slightly above the height of the thrust plate to allow locking plate passage, then assembly is facilitated, but welding distortions cause gaps that prevent the locking plate from being pulled over the thrust plate
Solution Approach 1:
The curved guide plate serves as a reliable intermediary that eliminates the need to lift lugs above the thrust plate. It provides a continuous guided path for the locking plate, ensuring reliable positioning without the gaps and misalignment issues caused by welding distortions in the lug-thrust plate junction.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide plate is pre-positioned and welded to the thrust plate before final assembly. This preliminary action ensures that the curved guiding surface is already in place to facilitate the locking plate's movement, eliminating the need for post-welding adjustments or lug height modifications that are susceptible to distortion.
3Adaptability or versatility
If small diameter clamps are used for repairing small pipes, then adaptability is improved, but greater rigidity requires more force to close the clamp
Solution Approach 1:
The curved guide plate acts as a mechanical advantage intermediary that reduces the force required to close the clamp. By providing a guided sliding path, it allows the locking plate to be positioned with less force, making small diameter clamps with greater rigidity easier to assemble while maintaining their adaptability to small pipes.
Data Source
AI summary
A pipe repair clamp includes a flexible strap having ends that are brought together when the clamp is closed. A thrust plate is secured near the first end of the flexible strap. A lug is secured to the thrust plate. A lug plate is secured near the second end of the strap. A threaded stud is secured to the lug plate and is used to tighten the clamp. A lug cover plate is secured to the lug and the thrust plate and receives the threaded stud. The lug cover plate includes a curved end portion covering at least a portion of the lug. A locking plate receives the threaded stud. The locking plate slides along a top surface of the lug and over the lug cover plate when the first and second ends of the strap are pulled toward each other when the clamp is tightened around a pipe.