Rotating Clamp Head Crimping Tool for Tight Spaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional crimping tools for flexible piping are bulky and cumbersome, making them difficult to use in tight spaces, such as those found in indoor plumbing applications, where they often require significant removal of walling, ceiling, or flooring to function.
Innovation Solution
A compact crimping apparatus with a lower and upper clamp head configuration, where the upper clamp head rotates about a post to switch between open and closed configurations, and a fastener is used to draw the clamp heads together, eliminating the need for handles or electric motors, allowing incremental force application for crimping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If traditional crimping tools with handles or electric motors are used, then sufficient crimping force can be applied to deform the coupling ring, but the tool becomes bulky and cumbersome, requiring significant removal of walling, ceiling, or flooring to access tight working spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The crimping tool is divided into two separate clamp heads (first and second clamp heads) that can be positioned independently around the coupling ring. Each clamp head has its own clamping jaw, allowing them to be brought together to apply crimping force without requiring a single large bulky tool body, thus enabling access to tight spaces while maintaining sufficient crimping force
Solution Approach 2:
The first and second clamp heads are designed to nest together during the crimping operation, with each clamp head containing a clamping jaw that can be positioned within or adjacent to the other. This nested configuration allows the tool to maintain a compact form factor when not in use while still providing the necessary crimping force when activated
2Ease of operation
If traditional crimping tools are used in indoor plumbing applications, then crimping can be performed on coupling rings, but the handles or electric motor elements extend outward and spatially prohibit use in tight working spaces behind walls, ceilings, or floors
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the traditional handle or electric motor elements that extend outward from the crimping section, extracting the force-generating mechanism into a compact configuration where the first and second clamp heads themselves serve as the primary operational elements, allowing the tool to fit into tight working spaces behind walls, ceilings, or floors
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp heads are designed with movable clamping jaws that can be dynamically positioned and adjusted during the crimping operation, allowing the tool to adapt to tight confined spaces while maintaining the ability to apply sufficient crimping force through the dynamic movement of the clamping jaws toward one another
3Productivity
If power-crimping tools with electric motors are used, then automated crimping force can be applied, but the electric motor element adds bulk and makes the tool cumbersome to use in confined areas
Solution Approach 1:
The first and second clamp heads are designed to work together in a self-service manner, where each clamp head contains a clamping jaw that can be positioned and moved independently to apply crimping force. The tool structure itself facilitates the crimping action through the coordinated movement of the clamp heads toward one another, eliminating the need for an electric motor while maintaining crimping efficiency
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
Enables effective crimping of coupling rings in tight spaces without the need for extensive structural removal, reducing installation and repair time and costs by providing a compact tool that can function in confined areas.
Implementation Method 1
a fastener configured to draw the upper clamp head towards the lower clamp head. As the upper clamp head draws closer to the lower clamp head, the compressive force imposed on the coupling ring increases, thereby causing the coupling ring to become crimped
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for crimping coupling rings are provided. The apparatus generally has a lower clamp head and an upper clamp head that may be drawn together by a fastener. The lower and upper clamp heads are designed to receive a first portion and a second portion of a coupling ring, respectively. A first and second post holds the clamp heads adjacent to each other. The upper clamp head is secured to the first post such that the upper clamp head may rotate in a generally circular motion to switch the apparatus from a closed to an open configuration, or vice versa. When the apparatus is placed in a closed configuration, the fastener may be engaged to draw the clamp heads together to increase the compressive force imposed on a coupling ring until the coupling ring becomes crimped.