Segmented Post Support with Adjustable Clamping Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing supports for poles in the ground, such as those using single screws or clamping levers, often fail to securely anchor poles against displacement by vehicles and can make it difficult to remove and replace poles after they have been knocked over.
Innovation Solution
A support system featuring part-cylindrical clamp sections that engage a larger surface area of the pole, with adjustable clamping mechanisms and a housing design that allows for independent access and locking, ensuring secure anchoring and easy installation/removal of poles, including features like a cap to prevent dirt ingress and a levelling insert for correct positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If single screws or clamping levers are used to support poles, then the support structure is simple, but the pole cannot be securely anchored against displacement by vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp section is divided into two separate clamp parts (first clamp part and second clamp part) that can independently engage the pole from opposite sides. This segmentation allows for more distributed and secure clamping force while maintaining structural simplicity. Each clamp part can be adjusted and secured independently, providing reliable pole anchoring without requiring a complex single-piece clamp design.
2Reliability
If poles are securely clamped in the ground, then displacement is prevented, but it becomes difficult to remove and replace knocked over poles
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp parts are designed with adjustable positioning capabilities through screw mechanisms that can be easily tightened or loosened. The first and second clamp parts can be independently adjusted along the pole surface, allowing the clamp to transition between a secure locked state for anchoring and a released state for pole removal. This dynamic adjustability enables both secure pole fixation and easy replacement when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
By dividing the clamp into separate adjustable clamp parts rather than a fixed single-piece design, the system allows individual clamp parts to be independently positioned and secured. This segmentation enables the clamp to adapt to different pole positions and makes it easier to release and reposition the entire clamp assembly when pole replacement is required.
3Reliability
If part-cylindrical clamp sections are used to engage larger pole surface area, then secure support is achieved, but the clamp design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp parts feature part-cylindrical engagement surfaces that conform to the curved surface of round poles, maximizing contact area for secure support. This curvature is achieved through simple cylindrical shaping of the clamp parts rather than complex custom-molded surfaces, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while providing excellent pole surface engagement for reliable support.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the clamp section is secured into the ground with a housing, then environmental protection is improved, but access to clamping mechanisms becomes restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into separate access openings: a first opening for accessing the clamp section and a second opening for accessing the clamping means. This segmentation allows the clamp section to be secured into the ground for environmental protection while maintaining independent access paths to both the clamp and clamping mechanisms. Users can adjust or secure the pole clamping without exposing the entire housing to environmental elements.
Data Source
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AI summary
A support (1) for supporting a post (250) in the ground, the support comprising a clamp section (5) to receive the post, the clamp section comprising two parts, a first clamp part (7) defining a first part-cylindrical surface that is shaped for engagement with part of the outer surface of a post and a second clamp part (9) defining a second part-cylindrical surface that is shaped for engagement with part of the outer surface of a post, the support further including clamping means (8,25a,25b,25c) for connecting the first and second clamp parts; wherein, the clamping means is arranged to increase or decrease the engagement between the first and second part-cylindrical surfaces and the outer surface of the post to thereby grip and clamp the post.