Pivoting Suspension Clamp for Tool-Free Catenary Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suspension assemblies for catenary wires and cables, such as those used in railway and agricultural applications, face difficulties in easy installation and secure attachment, particularly with manual clamps that require threading wires, which can be cumbersome and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A suspension assembly comprising first and second suspension members pivotally mounted on a pivot member, with elongate apertures allowing for pivoting movement to clamp articles, eliminating the need for threading by using a looped connecting arrangement that moves along the apertures from proximal to distal ends, enabling self-locking clamping without tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual clamps are used to connect dropper to catenary wire, then secure attachment is achieved, but installation becomes difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension assembly is designed to be self-installing through a gravity-assisted mechanism. The connecting arrangement passes through elongate apertures in the suspension members, and when the assembly is lowered onto the catenary wire, gravity automatically pulls the connecting arrangement into the apertures, securing the connection without manual threading or tools. This eliminates the need for difficult manual installation while maintaining secure attachment.
2Reliability
If wire strands are tightly wound around catenary wire and cable, then secure connection is achieved, but installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the complex wire-winding operation and replaces it with a simplified connecting arrangement that passes through pre-formed elongate apertures. Instead of requiring tight winding of wire strands around the catenary wire and cable, the connecting arrangement is simply inserted through the apertures, which then pivot to clamp the components together. This maintains connection security while dramatically reducing installation complexity.
3Reliability
If threading method is used to install manual clamps, then secure clamping is achieved, but installation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension members are pre-formed with elongate apertures during manufacturing, eliminating the need for on-site threading operations. The connecting arrangement is designed to pass through these pre-formed apertures and automatically pivot into the clamping position when the assembly is lowered onto the catenary wire. This preliminary preparation of the apertures allows for rapid installation while maintaining secure clamping, significantly reducing installation time compared to traditional threading methods.
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 solution provides a secure, tool-free, and efficient method for attaching and detaching suspension assemblies from catenary wires and cables, enhancing installation speed and reliability while ensuring a stable clamping mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
a pivot member on which the first and second suspension members are pivotally mounted; each of said first and second elongate apertures being provided to effect pivoting movement of at least one of the first and second suspension members to clamp the article
Data Source
Figure 1
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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).