Spring-Loaded Worm-Drive Hose Clamp for Seal Pressure Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hose clamps often fail to maintain effective clamping pressure over time due to age and temperature fluctuations, leading to a weakened seal and potential leakage.
Innovation Solution
The hose clamp design incorporates a band with a curved and flat section profile, a worm drive mechanism, and a clamping-pressure-restoring construction, such as springs or arcuate shape, to maintain consistent radial contraction and ensure a fluid-tight seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional hose clamp with a band and worm drive mechanism is used, then the clamp can be tightened to provide a seal, but the clamping pressure is not maintained over time due to age and temperature fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The hose clamp incorporates a dynamic spring mechanism that automatically adjusts the clamping force in response to hose expansion and contraction caused by temperature changes and aging. The spring maintains continuous contact and applies varying force as the hose dimensions change, ensuring the seal remains effective throughout the service life without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The design allows the clamping parameters to change dynamically rather than remaining fixed. The spring mechanism enables the clamping force and band tension to vary in response to environmental conditions, adapting to thermal expansion, contraction, and material aging to maintain optimal seal pressure throughout the operational period.
2Reliability
If the hose clamp is tightened to provide a fluid-tight seal, then leakage is prevented, but the clamp requires re-tightening over time to maintain the seal
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism enables the hose clamp to self-adjust and maintain the seal automatically without requiring external intervention. As the hose expands or contracts over time, the spring automatically modifies the clamping force to compensate, eliminating the need for periodic re-tightening and maintaining continuous seal integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring acts as a feedback mechanism that continuously monitors the hose dimensions and adjusts the clamping force accordingly. When the hose expands due to heat or aging, the spring compresses and maintains appropriate tension; when the hose contracts, the spring extends to apply sufficient force, creating a closed-loop system that maintains the seal automatically.
3Force
If the worm drive mechanism is used to tighten the band, then radial contraction is achieved, but the mechanism does not compensate for temperature-induced size changes
Solution Approach 1:
The static worm drive mechanism is enhanced by adding a dynamic spring element that allows the system to adapt to temperature changes. The spring provides movement and force adjustment capability, enabling the clamp to expand and contract with temperature fluctuations while maintaining sealing pressure, thus adding thermal adaptability to the originally rigid mechanism.
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 design provides a robust and continuous fluid-tight seal, maintaining clamping pressure over the hose clamp's lifetime without the need for re-tightening, even under temperature fluctuations.
Implementation Method 1
The spring is disposed around the screw in order to bias the screw and effect radial contraction of the band
Implementation Method 2
The worm drive mechanism includes a screw with a partially or more threaded shank that engages the slots when the screw is rotated
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~8
AI summary
A hose clamp includes a band and a worm drive mechanism. The band has a set of slots located between a first and second circumferential end of the band. The worm drive mechanism is connected to the band and causes radial contraction of the band to tighten the band. The worm drive mechanism includes a screw that engages the set of slots for radial contraction of the band. A clamping-pressure-restoring construction is provided in order to maintain a seal between the hose clamp and an underlying hose during use of the hose clamp and when the underlying hose experiences size expansion and contraction due to, for example, temperature fluctuations.