Synchronized Flange Clamp for Complete Opening and Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clamps for connecting flanges are inefficient in ensuring complete opening and release from flanges, particularly under high pressure, and suffer from high maintenance costs and environmental contamination due to hydraulic systems.
Innovation Solution
A clamp with pivotable and rotatable clamp arms connected via a synchronization mechanism, utilizing a lever lock and electric drive for simultaneous movement, ensuring complete opening and closure, and eliminating the need for hydraulic systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a clamp with clamping arms is used to connect flanges, then the connection can be easily tightened and loosened, but one clamping arm often remains stuck on the flanges when the clamp is opened, requiring very high force to detach
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetry by adding a synchronization mechanism that differentiates the movement control of the two clamping arms. One arm is controlled directly while the other is controlled through the synchronization mechanism, creating asymmetric control paths that ensure simultaneous and complete opening/closing motion, preventing one arm from getting stuck.
Solution Approach 2:
The synchronization mechanism acts as an intermediary between the two clamping arms. It coordinates their movements to ensure they open and close simultaneously and completely. This intermediary component transfers and synchronizes the mechanical motion, guaranteeing that both arms release from the flanges at the same time.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a hydraulic clamping cylinder is used to connect clamping arms, then the arms can be moved relative to each other, but it requires significant installation space, regular maintenance, and generates high noise levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the hydraulic system from the clamp design. By eliminating the hydraulic clamping cylinder, power unit, fluid reservoir, and associated components, the invention achieves arm movement through a purely mechanical synchronization mechanism, thereby removing all space, maintenance, and environmental issues associated with hydraulics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the hydraulic system with a mechanical synchronization mechanism. Instead of using hydraulic pressure to move the clamping arms, the invention uses a mechanically coupled system with interlinked arms and synchronization elements that transmit motion directly, eliminating the need for hydraulic fluid and power units.
3Ease of operation
If a torsion spring is used to force clamping arms to spread apart, then the clamp can be opened, but the force applied may be too low to guarantee complete detachment from interconnected flanges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the clamping arms movable and interlinked through the synchronization mechanism. The arms can dynamically adjust their positions and apply variable forces during the opening process. The synchronization mechanism ensures that the forces from both arms are coordinated and combined, creating sufficient total force for complete detachment while maintaining automatic operation.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a clamping clamp (1) for force-fit and/or form-fit connection of two lines via their flanges, with two clamping arms (3) that are pivotally and/or rotatably movable relative to each other via a joint (2), wherein the clamping arms (3) are connected to each other via a coupling device. The coupling device is a synchronizing mechanism (4) which forces both clamping arms (3) to pivot and/or rotate simultaneously.