Reconfigurable Clamp with Movable Pins for Sheet Metal Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clamps are specific to one vehicle body style and location, limiting the versatility and number of vehicle body variants that can be fabricated on a particular assembly line due to variations in external sheet metal configurations.
Innovation Solution
A reconfigurable clamp with movable pins and an actuator system that can adapt to arbitrary surface geometries through a locking mechanism, allowing it to conform to different shapes and sustain loads, enabling precise positioning and locking of sheet metal parts during fabrication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a clamp is designed to be specific to one vehicle body style and location, then it can provide stable and reliable clamping for that specific application, but it reduces the versatility and number of vehicle body variants that can be fabricated on a particular assembly line
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp incorporates movable pins that can be positioned and locked at multiple locations along the clamp body, transforming a static, single-purpose clamp into a dynamic, multi-configurable tool. This allows the same clamp to adapt to different vehicle body styles and locations while maintaining reliable clamping through the locking mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp is designed with multiple through holes and movable pins that enable a single clamp to perform multiple functions across different vehicle body variants. The universal design allows one clamp to replace multiple body-specific clamps, increasing assembly line versatility while maintaining clamping reliability through the locking mechanism
2Reliability
If multiple body-specific clamps are used to accommodate different vehicle body variants, then each clamp can be optimized for its specific application, but it increases device complexity and the number of clamp designs required
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using multiple body-specific clamps, the invention employs a single universal clamp design with movable pins that can be configured for different vehicle body variants. This reduces the number of clamp designs from multiple body-specific clamps to one multi-functional clamp, simplifying device complexity while maintaining application-specific optimization through adjustable pin positions
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp body is segmented with multiple through holes that allow movable pins to be positioned at different locations. This segmentation enables a single clamp to function as multiple body-specific clamps would, reducing the overall number of clamp designs required while maintaining optimized clamping for each application
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 reconfigurable clamp increases the number of vehicle body variants that can be fabricated on a single assembly line by allowing for rapid adaptation to varying body configurations, enhancing the assembly line's versatility and ensuring secure holding of sheet metal parts without the need for multiple clamp designs.
Implementation Method 1
the actuator is biased by a spring for motion in a direction parallel to the centerline of the clamp body
Implementation Method 2
a mechanical interference is created by the interaction of the locking element, the tapered portion of the actuator and the tapered section of a movable pin, resulting in a configuration that prevents motion of the movable pin
Implementation Method 3
The clamped surface is represented as a series of discrete points corresponding to the ends of the plurality of pins
Data Source
AI summary
A reconfigurable clamp is provided, where the clamp includes: a clamp body including a plurality of through holes formed within the clamp body; a plurality of movable pins which slidably fit within the through holes in the clamp body; wherein the movable pins incorporate a tapered section to facilitate locking of the movable pins; and wherein the clamp is reconfigurable by movement of the pins to conform to a surface geometry of an object of arbitrary shape through contact with that object. The clamped surface is represented as a series of discrete points corresponding to the ends of the plurality of pins.