Elastic Strand Insertion Clamp With Locking Grip and Guide Housing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tools for inserting elastic strands, such as cables, into receptacles like tubes or coils are inefficient and tiring due to the need for constant pressure to prevent slippage and the risk of bending or breaking the strand during insertion, especially when encountering resistance.
Innovation Solution
The use of pliers with a locking mechanism that deforms the strand to maintain grip, allowing easy control of pressure and quick movement without a spring release, featuring a non-rectilinear jaw profile and a guide tube for efficient insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If constant pressure is exerted on the strand to prevent slippage during insertion, then the strand can be securely held in the clamp, but the operator experiences fatigue over long periods
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp is designed to automatically maintain secure grip on the strand through its mechanical structure. The blocking means and guide means work together to self-regulate the pressure application, eliminating the need for continuous operator pressure adjustment while preventing strand slippage throughout the insertion process
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp incorporates dynamic pressure distribution through its blocking means that can adapt to resistance variations during insertion. The mechanism allows pressure to be applied where needed and released where not required, optimizing grip reliability while reducing unnecessary operator effort and fatigue
2Productivity
If large insertion steps are used to improve efficiency, then the insertion process becomes faster, but the strand may bend or break when encountering resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp divides the strand into two distinct segments: a first part held by the blocking means and a second part guided by the guide means. This segmentation allows the first part to be securely deformed and held while the second part follows a protected path through the guide means, enabling larger insertion steps without strand bending or breaking
Solution Approach 2:
The guide means acts as an intermediary element between the blocked first part of the strand and the receptacle opening. It provides a protected pathway for the second part of the strand, preventing bending and breaking during insertion while allowing efficient progression through the opening
3Ease of operation
If a spring-loaded mechanism is used to allow easy opening of the clamp, then the clamp can be easily released after insertion, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp utilizes the elastic properties of the strand itself as a spring mechanism. When the blocking means releases the strand, the strand's elasticity causes it to return to its initial shape, automatically pushing the clamp open without requiring any additional spring-loaded release mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp temporarily deforms the first part of the strand during insertion, then recovers this deformation by releasing the blocking means. The strand's elastic recovery provides the force needed to open the clamp, converting the strand's temporary deformation into useful work for clamp release
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
This solution reduces operator fatigue by allowing easy control of pressure and quick, efficient insertion of elastic strands into receptacles without risking bending or breaking, even when encountering resistance.
Implementation Method 1
When the first part of the segment which is housed in the clamp is kept deformed in bending, the strand can no longer slide longitudinally in the clamp
Implementation Method 2
since the guide means surrounds the strand on a second part of the segment housed in the clamp, this second part, which is not held by the locking means, is still prevented from bending when the clamp with the locked strand is pushed towards the orifice
Implementation Method 3
since the strand is elastic in bending, it returns to its initial shape, generally rectilinear, as soon as the pressure on the locking means is removed, which allows the strand to slide freely in the housing of the clamp
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A clamp for inserting a bendingly elastic strand into a receptacle that is intended to receive the strand via an opening The invention relates to a clamp for inserting a bendingly elastic strand through an opening in a receptacle, the clamp comprising a longitudinal housing (2) that is capable of housing a segment of the strand and through which the strand may slide, the clamp (1) further comprising: a blocking means (3) comprising a first portion (2a) of the housing, the blocking means bendingly deforming a first portion of the housed segment when an external pressure is applied to the blocking means, the elastic force of the strand returning the first portion of the segment to its initial shape when the external pressure is no longer applied, the sliding of the strand being blocked by the bending deformation of the first portion of the housed segment; a guiding means (4) comprising a second portion (2b) of the housing, the guiding means at least partially surrounding a second portion of the housed segment, and configured to guide the clamp in the direction of the opening in the receptacle.