Segmented Clamp Halves for Contact Wire Carrier Assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clamps for attaching contact wires to suspension cables are not suitable for non-rail-bound applications due to their wide design, which leads to collisions with pantographs and are difficult to assemble quickly, especially in confined spaces like under bridges or tunnels, and they do not effectively manage the clearance and force transmission requirements.
Innovation Solution
A clamp design featuring two symmetrical clamping halves with a countersunk screw connection that interlock to form a sliding bracket, allowing for easy assembly and adjustment, while maintaining the necessary clearance and force transmission without a preferred installation direction, and being significantly narrower to prevent collisions with pantographs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional wide clamps are used to ensure stable clamping of contact wire, then clamping stability is improved, but clearance compliance deteriorates causing collision risk with pantograph
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp is divided into two separate clamping halves that are connected by a screwing device. This segmentation allows the clamping structure to be narrower while maintaining stability through the interlocking design of the halves, enabling compliance with clearance requirements without sacrificing clamping stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The second ends of the clamping halves extend in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the contact wire, creating a sliding bracket structure. This dimensional change allows the clamp to achieve stable clamping through vertical interlocking while minimizing horizontal protrusion, thus preventing collision with pantograph.
2Reliability
If additional components (side brackets, suspension cable) are added to clamps for stability, then clamping function is improved, but device complexity increases violating clearance requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping function and the suspension function are merged into a single integrated clamp structure. The two clamping halves not only clamp the contact wire but also form a sliding bracket that directly engages with the support cable, eliminating the need for separate side brackets and suspension cables.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp serves multiple functions: it clamps the contact wire securely, provides a sliding bracket for suspension cable engagement, and maintains clearance compliance. This multi-functionality reduces the overall device complexity while improving reliability.
3Ease of manufacture
If fixed clamping points are used in short hangers, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability deteriorates causing significant tilting in confined spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the clamping halves is made dynamic through the screwing device, allowing relative movement and adjustment. This enables the clamp to adapt to varying hanger lengths and compensates for length differences between contact wire and support cable, preventing tilting while maintaining ease of manufacture.
4Ease of operation
If symmetrical clamping halves with screw connection are used, then ease of assembly is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
While the overall clamp design is symmetrical for ease of assembly, the clamping halves incorporate asymmetric features such as clamping grooves and interlocking surfaces that guide precise alignment during assembly. This allows easy assembly without compromising manufacturing precision requirements.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a clamp (10) for securing a contact wire (13) to a support line (21). The object of the invention is to provide a clamp which is better suited for non-railbound applications. The clamp (10) according to the invention comprises two clamp halves (11, 12), as well as a connection unit (23) for connecting the two clamp halves (11, 12). The clamp halves (11, 12) each comprise a first end (16), wherein the first ends (16) point towards one another in a connected state of the clamp halves (11, 12), in order to engage into clamping grooves (14) of a contact wire (13). The clamp halves (11, 12) each comprise a second end (17), wherein the second ends (17) engage in one another in a connected state of the clamp halves (11, 12) such that they provide a sliding bracket (20) for hanging the clamp (10) on a support line (21).