Pivotable Clamp Attachment Device for Inclined Workpieces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Clamps with parallel workpiece contact surfaces have limited versatility, particularly in handling workpieces with inclined surfaces, and lack the ability to adjust or expand their contact area effectively.

Innovation Solution

An attachment device for clamps that includes a fixing member, an attachment device contact member, and a pivot bearing, allowing the contact member to pivot and adjust to various workpieces, with a design that enables a larger contact area and easy attachment/detachment, made from plastics materials to minimize wear.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a clamp has parallel workpiece contact surfaces, then the clamp structure is simple, but the clamp cannot handle workpieces with inclined surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle different workpiece typesVSAvoidclamp structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The clamp is divided into a fixed clamp body and a detachable attachment device with its own contact member. This segmentation allows the attachment device to be specialized for inclined surfaces while the main clamp body remains simple and unchanged.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment device serves multiple functions: it provides contact surfaces for inclined workpieces, can be detached to restore normal clamp operation, and its pivotable contact member adapts to various inclination angles, making the clamp system universally applicable to different workpiece geometries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the workpiece contact surface area is enlarged, then the variability of use is increased, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevariability of useVSAvoidattachment device structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment device contact member is made pivotable about a pivot axis, allowing dynamic adjustment of the contact surface orientation. This dynamic capability enables the same structure to adapt to various workpiece inclinations without requiring multiple fixed contact surfaces, thereby increasing versatility without proportional complexity increase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the attachment device is made of plastics material, then wear is minimized, but the ability to withstand clamping forces is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewear resistanceVSAvoidclamping force capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The pivot bearing acts as an intermediary element that facilitates rotation while supporting clamping forces. By designing the pivot bearing with appropriate force distribution, the plastics attachment device can withstand clamping forces while minimizing wear through the self-lubricating properties of plastic materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8087649B2Attachment device for a clamp and combination of a clamp and at least one attachment device

Publication Date: 2012.01.03 BESSEY & SOHN

AI summary

Attachment device for a clamp, said clamp having at least one clamp contact member for workpieces, said attachment device comprising a fixing member for fixing the attachment device in a releasable manner to the at least one clamp contact member, an attachment device contact member for contacting workpieces, which is held on the fixing member, and a pivot bearing via which the attachment device contact member is pivotable with regard to the fixing member.