Scaffolding Tube Clamp With Ramped Bolt Locking Against Loosening
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing scaffolding tube clamps suffer from premature wear, rusting, and susceptibility to loosening under vibrational forces, which poses safety concerns in construction and other applications.
Innovation Solution
A scaffolding tube clamp design featuring hinged body portions with a rotatable bolt and ramped configurations that securely engage and disengage to provide a robust clamping mechanism, minimizing the need for excessive bolt rotation and reducing the risk of loosening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional nut and bolt type clamps or wedge type clamps are used to join scaffolding tubes, then the scaffolding structure can be assembled, but the clamps suffer from premature wear, rusting, and loosening under vibrational forces
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp incorporates a rotatable bolt mechanism that transitions from a static connection to a dynamic tightening action. The bolt rotates to move the body portions from an open position to a closed clamping position, creating a dynamic assembly process that ensures proper engagement and eliminates premature loosening under vibration
Solution Approach 2:
The hinged body portions are pre-configured to rotate about the scaffolding tube exterior surface, positioning the clamp components in optimal alignment before the bolt is fully engaged. This preliminary positioning ensures that the clamping surfaces are properly oriented before final tightening, preventing misalignment wear and rusting
2Strength
If the bolt is designed to require excessive rotation to secure the clamp, then the clamping force can be sufficient, but the likelihood of loosening under vibrational forces increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bolt mechanism converts rotational motion into linear clamping motion through the hinged body portions. As the bolt rotates, it drives the body portions to close around the scaffolding tube, creating a self-locking clamping action that achieves sufficient force with minimal rotation, thereby reducing the risk of vibrational loosening
Solution Approach 2:
The ramped configurations on the bolt and body portions convert the rotational motion of the bolt into a self-tightening clamping force. The ramped surfaces create a mechanical advantage that amplifies the clamping force while limiting the bolt rotation, transforming what could be a loosening risk into a self-locking benefit
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 clamp effectively secures scaffolding tubes with minimal rotation of the bolt, reducing the likelihood of loosening under vibrational forces and enhancing durability by using ramped surfaces that compress the clamp components, thus addressing safety and durability issues.
Implementation Method 1
each base and top having a first end hingedly connected to one another to permit the base and top to be rotatably received about the exterior surface of a scaffolding tube
Implementation Method 2
the lower surface of the head, and the surface of the second end of the top that is engaged thereby, having complimentary ramped configurations such that when the bolt is engaged with the second end of the base rotation of the bolt in the first direction causes an engagement of the ramp configurations resulting in the ramp configurations moving the second end of the top portion toward the second end of the base
Implementation Method 3
the bolt having a head and a threaded shaft, the shaft having a first threaded portion with a first thread located adjacent to the head, the shaft having a second threaded portion with a second thread at a lower end of the bold
Data Source
AI summary
A scaffolding tube clamp having a pair of body portions defining a top and a base that are hinged together and receivable about a scaffolding tube. A rotatable bolt is received through a hole in the top a hole in the base portion. The bolt has a lower end with engagement means to releasably secure the bolt to the base. The bolt's head has a lower surface that is engageable with a surface on the top. The lower surface of the head, and the surface of the top that is engaged thereby, have complimentary ramped configurations such that when the bolt is rotated the ramps engage, resulting in the ramps moving the top toward the base. In an alternate embodiment the bolt is threaded with two sets of threads that have different diameters and different pitches and that are threadably received within the holes in the top and bottom.