Pipe Clamp Spacer Part for Wide Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe clamps are difficult to use and expensive to manufacture due to complex designs and material requirements, particularly when needing to accommodate pipes of different diameters and requiring wide opening capabilities for underground access.
Innovation Solution
The pipe clamp design incorporates a spacer part with a hook-shaped element and a feed-through opening for the clamping mechanism, allowing for a larger opening size without increasing manufacturing costs, using a clamping mechanism with at least two clamping means and a spacer on one of them, which can be guided around the bolt, and featuring a spacer with a flat contact area and angled legs for enhanced rigidity and force absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If the clamping mechanism is designed with tabs spaced apart from the cylindrical housing to create opening space, then the longitudinal slot can have a large opening area, but the assembly becomes difficult to handle and requires additional materials to fill cavities
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer part is nested within the clamping mechanism structure, with the hook-shaped element fitting around the second bolt. This integration eliminates the need for separate cavity-filling materials while maintaining the necessary spacing for wide opening capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer part acts as an intermediary element between the first and second bolts, providing the necessary spacing and structural support. This mediator enables wide opening capability without requiring complex tab arrangements or additional filling materials.
2Length of moving object
If the tabs are spaced apart to allow wide opening, then the clamping element can be positioned closer to the pipe surface, but the tabs lack sufficient rigidity and deform beyond permissible limits
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping mechanism uses a composite structure combining the spacer part with hook-shaped element and angled legs, creating a rigid assembly that can span larger distances without excessive deformation while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer part extends in multiple dimensions with angled legs providing support in different directions. This multi-dimensional structure distributes forces more effectively, maintaining rigidity over larger spans.
3Force
If the clamping element absorbs both tensile/compressive forces and bending moment forces, then the clamp can function under various loads, but the clamping element and tabs deform beyond permissible limits
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping mechanism is segmented into distinct functional elements: the spacer part for spacing, the hook-shaped element for force distribution, and the angled legs for moment resistance. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in handling specific force types, reducing overall deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The hook-shaped element can pivot relative to the bolts, providing dynamic adaptation to load conditions. This mobility allows the structure to redistribute forces optimally under different loading scenarios, maintaining rigidity while absorbing various force components.
4Area of moving object
If the known clamping mechanism design is used with tabs and cavities, then the longitudinal slot can open widely, but the manufacturing becomes complex and material-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer part with hook-shaped element and angled legs merges multiple functions into a single integrated component. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate cavity-filling materials and simplifies the tab structure, reducing manufacturing complexity and material usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer part serves multiple functions simultaneously: providing spacing, structural support, force distribution, and moment resistance. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for multiple separate components, simplifying manufacturing while achieving wide opening capability.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 4~7
AI summary
The invention relates to a pipe collar or clamp comprising a housing (22) having a longitudinal slot (23), the regions of the housing (22) that lie opposite each other at the longitudinal slot (23) being formed as bent over tabs (24, 26), and having a clamping mechanism (32) for clamping the housing (22). The clamping mechanism (32) comprises a first bolt (33) and a second bolt (35), which are each provided in the tabs (24, 26), and a clamping means (36), which is held in the first bolt (33) and can be pivoted relative to the second bolt (35). The clamping mechanism (32) further comprises a spacer part (42), which has a contact section (43) that can be brought into contact with a contact region (40) of the second bolt (35), and a through-opening (46) for the clamping means (36), which is spaced apart from the contact section (43) of the spacer part (42).