Pivoting Suspension Clamp for Easy Catenary Wire Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suspension assemblies for catenary wires and cables, such as those used in railway lines and agricultural applications, face challenges in easy installation and secure clamping due to the manual clamps required.
Innovation Solution
A suspension assembly comprising first and second suspension members pivotally mounted on a pivot member, with each member having a clamping recess and an elongate aperture for pivoting movement, allowing for easy installation and secure clamping of catenary wires and cables.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual clamps are used to connect dropper to catenary wire, then reliable connection is achieved, but installation difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp members are designed to be movable relative to each other, transitioning from an open position during installation to a clamped position during operation. This dynamic mechanism allows easy installation by simply placing the dropper in the clamp, followed by automatic or manual actuation to the clamped position, eliminating the need for complex manual assembly while maintaining secure connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension assembly is designed to self-latch or self-adjust into the clamped position once the dropper is inserted. The geometry of the clamp members and dropper interaction creates a self-sustaining clamped state without requiring additional fastening operations, tools, or complex manual intervention, thereby achieving both ease of installation and connection reliability.
2Reliability
If wire strands are tightly wound around catenary wire and cable, then secure connection is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection structure is divided into discrete clamp members that can be independently positioned and actuated. Instead of a continuous complex winding structure, the segmented clamp members provide localized gripping points on the dropper, simplifying the overall connection structure while maintaining secure attachment through distributed clamping force.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The suspension assembly enables easy installation and secure clamping of catenary wires and cables, improving efficiency and reducing the need for manual clamps, thus enhancing the reliability of overhead cable systems.
Implementation Method 1
a pivot member on which the first and second suspension members are pivotally mounted; wherein each of the first and second suspension members defines an elongate aperture for effecting pivoting movement
Data Source
AI summary
A suspension assembly (14) comprises first and second suspension members (10, 12). The suspension assembly (14) further includes a pivot member (24) on which the first and second suspension members (10, 12) are pivotally mounted. Each of the first and second suspension members (10,12) defines clamping recess (30) for receiving an article (16). Each of the first and second suspension members (10, 12) also defines an elongate aperture (28) for effecting pivoting movement of at least one of the first and second suspension members (10, 12) to clamp the article in the clamping recesses (30).