Valve Lever Locking Clamp With Adjustable Screw Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve lever securing devices are not universally applicable and lack reliability, as they are typically designed for specific valve lever shapes, making them ineffective for different types of valve levers and prone to accidental or unauthorized adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A safety device comprising a base body, slider, and screw element with clamping surfaces and a threaded engagement system that allows for adjustable clamping of the valve lever, combined with a blocking mechanism using a cable or padlock for enhanced security, enabling secure attachment to various valve levers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the safety device is specifically designed for a certain valve lever shape through complementary design, then the holding reliability is improved, but the adaptability to different valve levers deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The safety device employs a clamping mechanism with adjustable clamping surfaces that can adapt to different valve lever shapes and sizes. The complementary design is made universal through the ability to adjust the clamping surfaces, allowing the same device to securely hold various valve lever configurations without requiring multiple specialized devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety device incorporates adjustable and movable clamping surfaces that can be dynamically positioned to match different valve lever geometries. This dynamic adjustability allows the device to maintain reliable holding across diverse valve lever shapes, transforming a static specialized design into a versatile adaptive solution.
2Reliability
If the safety device is attached directly to the valve lever, then the securing effectiveness is improved, but the risk of blocking valve lever adjustment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The safety device uses adjustable clamping surfaces that can be dynamically positioned to clamp securely on the valve lever without interfering with its rotational movement. The adjustable design allows the clamping points to be optimized for secure attachment while maintaining clearance from the valve lever's path of motion, preventing accidental blocking.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety device applies clamping force at specific localized points on the valve lever that are strategically chosen to provide secure attachment without interfering with the valve lever's operational movement. The local clamping action ensures securing effectiveness while the careful selection of clamping locations prevents blocking of adjustment.
3Reliability
If the safety device uses a locking mechanism to prevent removal, then the security against unauthorized adjustment is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety device incorporates a locking mechanism that can be engaged after the clamping surfaces are positioned on the valve lever. This preliminary positioning followed by locking provides secure attachment against unauthorized removal while keeping the overall device relatively simple, as the locking action is a secondary step that seals the already-positioned clamping surfaces.
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 safety device provides a reliable and universal solution for securing valve levers by ensuring they cannot be accidentally or unauthorizedly adjusted, with adjustable clamping surfaces and a secure locking mechanism that adapts to different valve lever shapes and sizes.
Implementation Method 1
the screw element (17) is also rotatably mounted on the base body (13) and has a thread (41) which engages with a counter-thread (43) of the slider (15), so that the position of the slider (15) relative to the body (13) along the longitudinal axis (L) is limited to a maximum distance
Implementation Method 2
one clamping surface comprises a surface made of roughened metal, while the other clamping surface comprises an elastic, in particular stretchable and/or compressible, mat... The roughening causes in particular an increase in the friction between the clamped valve lever and the clamping surface
Implementation Method 3
the other clamping surface comprises an elastic, in particular stretchable and/or compressible, mat... The elasticity of the mat makes it possible to insert the conical section of the anchoring extension into the corresponding receptacle
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A locking device (11) for securing a valve lever in a set position comprises a base body (13), a sliding piece (15) and a screw element (17), wherein the base body (13) and the sliding piece (15) each have a clamping surface (19, 27), the sliding piece (15) is slidably mounted on the base body (13) along a longitudinal axis (L) and the screw element (17) is rotatably mounted on the base body (13) and has a thread (41) which engages with a mating thread of the sliding piece (15), so that the position of the sliding piece (15) relative to the base body (13) along the longitudinal axis (L) is limited to a maximum distance between the clamping surfaces (19, 27), which can be changed by rotating the screw element (17) in order to clamp the valve lever between the clamping surfaces (19, 27).Depending on the rotational position of the screw element (17), one of possibly several locking receptacles (45) formed on the screw element (17) aligns with one of possibly several locking receptacles (47, 49) formed on the base body (13), so that a locking element, in particular a cable, can engage in both locking receptacles (45, 47) to block the screw element (17) in this rotational position.