Segmented Clamping Jaw Design for Weight Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clamping claws are heavy due to their solid, one-piece metal design, which hinders their ability to efficiently transfer high clamping forces while minimizing material usage.
Innovation Solution
A multi-part clamping claw design featuring side walls connected by form-fit or force-fit connecting elements, with recesses and rounded corners to reduce weight and maintain mechanical strength, allowing for adjustable clamping force transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a solid, one-piece metal design is used for the clamping claw, then mechanical strength is sufficient to transmit high clamping forces, but the weight and material requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping claw is divided into multiple parts: a base body and at least one side wall that can be separated from the base body. This segmentation allows the side walls to be removed or reduced, significantly decreasing the weight and material requirements while maintaining the necessary mechanical strength through the base body structure that remains connected to the clamping device.
2Strength
If a solid, one-piece metal design is used for the clamping claw, then mechanical strength is sufficient to transmit high clamping forces, but the material requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping claw is divided into multiple parts: a base body and at least one side wall that can be separated from the base body. This segmentation allows the side walls to be removed or reduced, significantly decreasing the weight and material requirements while maintaining the necessary mechanical strength through the base body structure that remains connected to the clamping device.
3Area of stationary object
If the distance between the two side walls of the base body is increased, then the outer contour of the contact surface increases without correspondingly more material being required, but the structural stability may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The side walls are designed as separate components that can be positioned at optimal distances from each other to maximize the contact surface area. The base body structure is segmented to allow this optimization without compromising stability, as the side walls are connected through the base body rather than being a continuous structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The base body is designed with localized reinforcement features such as ribs and加强 sections at critical areas where structural stability is needed. This allows the side walls to be positioned farther apart to increase contact surface area while maintaining stability through localized strengthening rather than uniform thickening.
Data Source
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Figure 3.
AI summary
The jaw (108) has a base body (116) including two side flanges (118), which are sectionally arranged with a distance from each other and undetachably form-fit and force-fit connected with each other. Connecting plates (130, 132) are form-fit connected with one of the side flanges. The connecting elements include a rivet head (158), which is manufactured by a squeeze molding process. One of the side flanges includes openings, which approximately amounts to quarter of a total surface of an outer side (168) and an inner side (202) of the side flanges.