Pipe Clamp With Pivoting Screw And Hammer Projection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe clamps require complex manufacturing steps and additional assembly processes, leading to increased production costs and potential assembly hindrances, particularly when mounted overhead, where ensuring parts do not fall is crucial and one-man assembly is desired.
Innovation Solution
A pipe clamp design featuring a clamping screw that can be pivoted from a normal position to a radial inner end of a second flange, with a hammer-shaped projection that secures the screw-in foot without additional deformation steps, allowing for pre-assembled and easy assembly, and incorporating a two-part bracket with an elastic insert for improved handling and logistics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the screw-in foot is fixed by expanding a tab through plastic deformation, then the screw-in foot is securely held, but additional separate work steps are required and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The slot is pre-formed in the flange during manufacturing, allowing the hammer-shaped projection to be inserted and secured without requiring subsequent deformation steps. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for separate work steps to fix the screw-in foot.
Solution Approach 2:
The securing function is extracted from the tab expansion process and transferred to the hammer-shaped projection that engages with the pre-formed slot. This separates the positioning function (slot) from the securing function (projection engagement), simplifying the manufacturing process.
2Reliability
If the hammer-shaped projection engages behind the edges of the slot opening, then the screw-in foot is securely held, but the projection may protrude and impede the closing process
Solution Approach 1:
The slot is designed with different characteristics at different locations: the edges engage the hammer-shaped projection for secure holding, while the elongated portion allows controlled protrusion during assembly. This local differentiation enables both secure holding and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The slot allows dynamic positioning of the hammer-shaped projection during assembly, permitting temporary protrusion that facilitates the closing process, while maintaining secure engagement in the final assembled state.
3Ease of operation
If the pipe clamp is designed for one-man assembly with temporary closure capability, then assembly is simplified, but the clamping screw must be easily pivotable which complicates the pivot mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot mechanism is segmented into simple components: the hammer-shaped projection acts as a pivot point, the slot provides the pivot path, and the elongated hole allows angular movement. This segmentation creates a simple pivot mechanism that enables one-man assembly without complex mechanisms.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The pipe clamp has a clip including an insertion aperture and flanges (22, 24) with the clamping screw (28) passing between them via an elongated hole (32) and held by a turning screw-in foot (30). This screw-in foot has a hammer-shaped projection (36), gripping behind the edges of the elongated hole and able to pass through it.