Manual Swing Clamp Rotating Plunger Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plunger clamps lack a mechanism that allows for easy rotation of the clamping arm around the plunger axis, which is essential for effective clamping and movement, and often require manual operation with a wrench, limiting user convenience.
Innovation Solution
A manual swing clamp design featuring a body with a bore and cavity, a pivotally connected lever, and a housing with coaxially positioned cylinders, including a slot for pin guidance and a snap ring for secure rotation, allowing the plunger and clamp finger to rotate freely while preventing access to the groove, enabling left or right hand rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a manual clamp is designed with a swing arm mechanism, then the clamping efficiency and ease of operation are improved, but the device complexity increases due to the additional rotation mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp incorporates a dynamic swing arm mechanism that can rotate around the plunger axis, allowing the clamping arm to move between open and closed positions. This dynamic element enables the operator to easily position the clamp finger without requiring a wrench, directly improving ease of operation while accepting the necessary increase in device complexity through controlled rotational movement
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp is divided into separate functional components: a body housing, a plunger mechanism, a swing arm, and a clamp finger. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, with the swing arm providing rotational movement and the clamp finger providing clamping force, thereby improving operational ease through modular functionality
2Ease of operation
If the plunger rotation mechanism is made accessible for manual operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability decreases due to potential interference with the groove structure
Solution Approach 1:
A cover is introduced as an intermediary element between the operator and the groove structure. This cover protects the groove from direct access while still allowing the swing arm to rotate freely. The cover acts as a mediator that prevents interference with the groove mechanism while maintaining the rotational functionality needed for easy operation
Solution Approach 2:
The groove structure is extracted from direct exposure to external interference by placing it within the protected space of the cover. This extraction maintains the groove's functional integrity while preventing accidental contact or damage, thereby improving reliability without compromising the ease of operation through the swing arm mechanism
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A swing clamp includes a body with a first end and second end. The body defines a bore through the first end and a cavity at the second end. The bore is in communication with the cavity. A plunger is slidably and rotatably held in the body bore. A lever is pivotally connected to the second end. A link arm pivotally connects between the plunger and the lever. A housing includes an attachment portion and a cylindrical portion. The cylindrical portion includes a bore to enable passage of the plunger. A groove is formed in an inner surface of the bore. The groove guides a pin coupled with the plunger. A clamp finger is secured on the end of the plunger. The clamp finger rotates as the plunger is moved in the bore.