Retaining Split Ring Clamp for Secure Tank Equipment Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing retaining split rings for tanks are difficult to attach, prone to loosening, and can be easily lost, making it challenging to ensure a secure and sealed connection for equipment like sensors and valves.
Innovation Solution
A retaining split ring assembly comprising a base, a split ring, and a clamp that provides a secure attachment with a low profile design, using a clamp to hold the mating surfaces together, ensuring a tight seal and preventing loosening, with a gasket to prevent leakage and a clamp aperture to enhance the seal and secure equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If studs and nuts are used to hold the base and ring together, then the components can be attached, but the attachment becomes difficult and the connection can become loosened during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp merges the functions of securing the ring to the base and maintaining sealing pressure into a single integrated component. By combining these functions, the clamp provides both easy attachment and reliable, loosening-resistant connection that stud-and-nut assemblies fail to achieve.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp is designed with adjustable fastening mechanisms that allow dynamic tightening and loosening. This enables easy installation by opening the clamp, secure attachment by tightening it around the ring, and maintenance by loosening it for removal, thereby resolving both ease of attachment and connection stability requirements.
2Device complexity
If a traditional retaining split ring design is used, then the connection can be made, but the profile becomes large and it is difficult to determine if properly attached
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp incorporates visual indicators such as color-coded components or visible alignment features that change appearance based on attachment status. When properly installed, the clamp displays a specific visual configuration that immediately confirms correct attachment, solving the detection difficulty while maintaining a compact profile.
Solution Approach 2:
The design transitions from a bulky three-dimensional traditional retaining ring to a more compact configuration that utilizes spatial optimization. The clamp wraps around the ring in a space-efficient manner, reducing overall profile while incorporating visual indicators in a different dimensional arrangement that enables easy verification of proper attachment.
3Ease of manufacture
If studs and nuts are used for attachment, then the components can be connected, but they can be easily lost during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp integrates the fastening function into a single retained component that encompasses the ring rather than using separate studs and nuts. This unified design eliminates loose fasteners that can be lost, while maintaining easy attachment through the clamp's opening and closing mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp design incorporates self-retaining features where the clamp itself serves as both the fastening mechanism and the retaining element. Once tightened around the ring, the clamp's structure prevents it from detaching or losing components, providing inherent protection against component loss during operation.
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment of the invention provides for an assembly for securing equipment to a tank. The assembly comprises a base, a split ring, and a clamp. The base comprises a tank engagement portion, a base aperture, a lip positioned along a perimeter of the base aperture, and a first mating surface. The split ring is arranged to be at least partially positionable within the base. The split ring comprises a split ring aperture and a second mating surface in contact with the first mating surface when the split ring is partially positioned within the base. The clamp is positionable to hold the first mating surface in contact with the second mating surface. The clamp comprises a clamp aperture, a first contact surface, and a second contact surface. When the clamp is positioned to hold the mating surfaces in contact, the first contact surface contacts the base, and the second contact surface contacts the split ring.