Profiled Clamp Spring Pre-Positioning for Pipe-End Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing profile clamps lack a defined pre-positioning mechanism on pipe ends or flanges, leading to potential rotation and difficulty in assembly, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
Innovation Solution
The profile clamp incorporates a spring element with angled contact areas that press against the pipe ends under prestress, providing a frictional hold and secure pre-positioning, allowing for easy assembly and preventing rotation even before the clamping heads are fully engaged.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the profile clamp is designed without a pre-positioning mechanism, then the structure is simpler, but the clamp cannot be easily pre-fixed to pipe ends and may rotate freely
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element is pre-loaded to automatically push the half-shells apart when the connecting geometries are joined, holding the clamp in an open position until the second ends are connected. This preliminary action enables easy pre-positioning on pipe ends before final tightening, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and structural complexity.
2Reliability
If the spring element pushes half-shells apart with high force, then the clamp stays open during assembly, but the force required to tighten the clamp increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element provides a dynamic, adjustable pre-load force that automatically adapts during assembly. When the connecting geometries are joined, the spring pushes the half-shells apart to maintain the open position. As the clamping element is actuated, the spring force dynamically adjusts, allowing the clamp to transition smoothly from open to closed position without requiring excessive tightening force.
3Ease of manufacture
If the clamp band is designed as two half-shells with detachable connecting elements, then mounting is simplified, but the clamp lacks defined pre-positioning on pipe ends
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element acts as an intermediary mechanism between the half-shells and the pipe ends. It provides a frictional hold that defines the position of the clamp on the pipe ends, preventing rotation and ensuring accurate pre-positioning. This intermediary element enables both easy mounting (through detachable connecting elements) and precise position definition, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and manufacturing precision.
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
This design simplifies the assembly process by ensuring a defined position of the profile clamp on the pipe ends, reducing the force required for tightening and preventing rotation, thus enhancing usability in challenging environments.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element is arranged in the area of the clamping heads, which pushes the second ends of the half-shells apart under preload
Implementation Method 2
contact areas of the spring element can be frictionally engaged with the pipe ends
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a profiled clamp (1) for assembling on pipe ends (100), having a first half-shell (10) and a second half-shell (11), each of which has a clamping head (12, 13) at a first end and a connection geometry (14, 15) at a second end for releasably connecting the second end. The clamping heads (12, 13) are connected to a clamping element (16), and at least one of the two half-shells (11) can be tilted relative to the clamping element (16). A spring element (17) is arranged in the region of the clamping heads (12, 13), said spring element pushing the second ends of the half-shells (10, 11) apart under pretension. According to the invention, contact regions (20) of the spring element (17) can be positioned on the pipe ends in a frictionally locking manner when connecting the two ends.