Variable-Height Toothed Gripper for Irregular Pipe Grip

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gripper designs with uniform-height teeth struggle to securely grip objects with irregular shapes or varying thicknesses, lacking versatility and efficiency in handling objects of different sizes and configurations.

Innovation Solution

A toothed gripper with variable tooth heights, featuring a front tooth taller than middle teeth, and a wave pattern that aligns with the pipe's outer diameter, providing enhanced gripping performance and adaptability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If uniform-height teeth are used in the gripper, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the gripper cannot securely grip objects with irregular shapes or varying thicknesses

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegripping capability for different object shapes and sizesVSAvoidgripper structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gripper teeth are designed with varying heights at different locations along the tooth plane. Front and back teeth have greater height than middle teeth, creating local quality variations that allow the gripper to adapt to objects with irregular shapes and varying thicknesses. This non-uniform tooth height distribution enables secure engagement with diverse object geometries while maintaining a relatively simple overall gripper structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Force

If variable height teeth are implemented, then gripping force and adaptability are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegripping forceVSAvoidgripper manufacturing ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The teeth are configured with specific local quality variations where front and back teeth extend higher than middle teeth. This localized height differentiation concentrates gripping force at critical contact points while maintaining manufacturability through a systematic rather than random design approach.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The tooth heights are arranged in a wave pattern along the tooth plane, creating a curved or oscillating profile rather than straight uniform lines. This wave pattern aligns with the outer diameter of pipes and provides enhanced gripping performance while being manufacturable through standard forming processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS20260043500A1Toothed gripper with variable height teeth

Publication Date: 2026.02.12 MUELLER INT LLC

AI summary

The present invention discloses a gripper comprising a gripper body with an inner surface defining a tooth plane. The gripper includes a front tooth extending from the tooth plane with a front height, a middle tooth extending from the tooth plane with a middle height, and a back tooth extending from the tooth plane with a back height. The front height is equal to the back height, while the middle height is less than either the front height or the back height. This unique gripper configuration enhances gripping efficiency and stability in various applications requiring precise handling and manipulation.