Tensioned Clip Clamping Element for Automotive Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern clamping element designs face challenges in achieving ease of assembly, high attachment strength, reliability, and low production costs, particularly in the automotive industry, where standardization and automation demands are high.
Innovation Solution
A clamping element with a housing and a clip having two legs connected by a bridge, where a force is applied to move one leg away from the other, creating a tensioned state with a restoring force that allows for efficient clamping, utilizing holding protrusions and ledges for secure attachment and disengagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a force is applied to move the first leg away from the second leg in a pre-assembly state, then the clip is held in a tensioned state creating a restoring force for secure clamping, but the assembly process becomes more complex requiring additional force application mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The clip is pre-tensioned during assembly by applying force to move the first leg away from the second leg before the element is inserted. This preliminary action creates a restoring force that automatically clamps the element securely once inserted, eliminating the need for additional locking mechanisms and simplifying the overall assembly process.
Solution Approach 2:
The tensioned state of the clip creates a self-generating restoring force that automatically performs the clamping function. Once the element is inserted into the receiving space, the restoring force naturally pushes the legs together to clamp the element, making the system self-servicing without requiring external actuation during operation.
2Reliability
If holding protrusions and ledges are used to connect the legs to the housing, then secure attachment is achieved, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the clip and housing is segmented into discrete holding protrusions on the legs and corresponding ledges on the housing. This segmentation allows for reliable attachment while maintaining simplicity, as each protrusion-ledge pair acts as an independent connection point that is easy to manufacture and assemble.
3Strength
If the clip is designed to require force application for pre-assembly, then high attachment strength is achieved, but the ease of assembly is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The manual force application required for pre-assembly can be replaced by automated assembly systems that apply the necessary force to tension the clip. This substitution maintains the high clamping strength while improving ease of assembly through automation, reducing manual labor and increasing productivity.
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 solution enables easy assembly and secure clamping with reduced material usage, maintaining high attachment strength while minimizing production costs and ensuring efficient automation in the automotive sector.
Implementation Method 1
the clip is in a tensioned state creating a restoring force onto the first leg that is directed to moving the first leg towards a second position of the first leg that is closer towards the second leg
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a clamping element to clamp to a portion of an element. The clamping element has a housing with a receiving space, the housing having an opening that connects the outside of the housing with the receiving space, a clip arranged inside the housing, the clip having a first leg and a second leg arranged opposite each other, a bridge connecting the first leg and the second leg, the receiving space at least partially being arranged between the first leg and the second leg, wherein a force needs to be applied to move the first leg away from the second leg and in a pre-assembly state of the clip, which describes the position that the elements of the clip have prior to the portion of the element that is to be clamped having been introduced into the receiving space.