Releasable Clamp Jaw-Spacer Structure for Controlled Holding Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clamps, particularly releasable clamps, face challenges in accurately and precisely holding articles, often applying insufficient or excessive compressive forces, leading to potential damage and requiring specialist tools for operation, with complex and slow repeated opening and closing processes.
Innovation Solution
A releasable clamp design featuring a set of jaws, spacers, and retaining members that allow for configurable compressive force application without specialist tools, using spacers to space apart jaws and retaining members to apply net compressive forces, enabling precise holding and easy operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If threaded fasteners, cams and/or springs are used to apply compressive forces, then the clamp can hold articles temporarily and be reopened, but the compressive forces may be insufficient or excessive and specialist tools may be required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters by replacing threaded fasteners and cams with a lever arm mechanism that pivots about an axis. This allows the clamp to be opened and closed by simply moving the lever arm between engaged and disengaged positions with the detent member, eliminating the need for specialist tools while maintaining reliable holding through controlled compressive forces applied by the jaws
2Productivity
If repeated opening and closing of clamps is performed, then the clamp can be reused, but the process is relatively complex and/or slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex threading or camming action from the opening/closing operation. By using a lever arm that pivots about an axis and engages/disengages with a detent member, the invention removes the multi-step operational sequence, allowing rapid repeated use simply by moving the lever arm between two positions without complex mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a mechanism that requires progressive engagement (like threading), the invention inverts the approach by using a lever arm that is either engaged or disengaged in a binary state. The detent member holds the lever in the engaged position, and releasing it allows rapid return to the disengaged position, enabling fast repeated operations
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional clamps are used to hold articles accurately, then the articles can be secured, but compressive forces may be excessive causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing specific contact surfaces and geometry on the jaws where they contact the article. The jaws are designed with appropriate contact areas and positioning features that distribute compressive forces locally at precise points, ensuring accurate holding without excessive overall compression that could damage the article
Data Source
Figure 1A~1H
Figure 2A~2D
Figure 3A~3D
AI summary
A releasable clamp (10) for holding an article (1000) or parts thereof is describe. The clamp (10) comprises: a set of jaws, including a first jaw (100A) and a second jaw (100B), arrangeable to hold the article (1000) therebetween; a set of spacers, including a first spacer (200A), arrangeable to space apart respective jaws of the set of jaws; and a set of retaining members, including a first retaining member (300A), arrangeable to space together respective jaws of the set of jaws; wherein respective jaws of the set of jaws comprise a first region (110) for contacting the article (1000), an optional second region (120) defining a portion of a first part (410) of a coupling member (400), a third region (130) for contacting a respective spacer of the set of spacers and a fourth region (140) for contacting a respective retaining member of the set of retaining members. The clamp (10) is configurable in: a first configuration, wherein the first jaw (100A) and the second jaw (100B) are mutually unjoined; and a second configuration, wherein the first spacer (200A) is arranged to space apart the first jaw (100A) and the second jaw (100B) and wherein the first retaining member (300A) is arranged to apply a net compressive force on the first spacer (200A) via the first jaw (100A) and the second jaw (100B), whereby the first jaw (100A) and the second jaw (100B) are conjoined and thereby hold the article (1000) therebetween.