Pivoting Brace Clamp for Multi-Size Sway Brace Pipe Installation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sway brace fittings do not accommodate multiple sizes of sway brace pipes and are difficult to install, often requiring manual holding and precise positioning during assembly.
Innovation Solution
A brace clamp with a pivotable jaw configuration and clamp fastener that allows for easy adjustment to fit various pipe sizes, featuring a disengaged and engaged configuration for secure attachment to sway brace pipes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional sway brace fittings are used, then the fitting structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate multiple sizes of sway brace pipes and is difficult to install
Solution Approach 1:
The fitting is divided into separate components: a body portion and a jaw assembly that can be detached and repositioned. This segmentation allows the jaw assembly to be removed, rotated, and reattached at different orientations, enabling accommodation of various pipe sizes and installation configurations without requiring a completely different fitting for each scenario.
Solution Approach 2:
The jaw assembly is designed to be movable relative to the body portion through a removable connection mechanism. This dynamic capability allows the jaw assembly to be repositioned during installation to match different pipe diameters and angles, providing adaptability while maintaining a relatively simple overall fitting structure.
2Productivity
If traditional sway brace fittings are used, then the fitting structure is simple, but the installation process is time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the fitting into a body portion and a jaw assembly connected through a removable connection, the installation process becomes more efficient. Installers can quickly detach and reposition the jaw assembly to match different pipe configurations without manipulating the entire fitting, reducing installation time while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The jaw assembly can be pre-positioned or pre-oriented before final attachment to the pipe. This preliminary action allows installers to prepare the correct orientation and position in advance, then quickly secure it to the body portion, streamlining the installation process without adding significant structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A brace clamp includes a first jaw; a second jaw pivotably coupled to the first jaw, wherein a clamp channel is defined between the first jaw and the second jaw, the clamp channel configured to receive a sway brace pipe therethrough; and a clamp fastener coupled to the first jaw; w the brace clamp is configurable in a disengaged configuration and an engaged configuration; and wherein, in the disengaged configuration, the first jaw is pivoted away from the second jaw and the clamp fastener is disengaged from the second jaw, and in the engaged configuration, the first jaw is pivoted towards the second jaw and the clamp fastener is engaged with the second jaw.