Wire Clamping Jaw and Gate for Safer Line Tensioning

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Utility workers face challenges when tensioning electrical distribution lines, as the free end of the line becomes unwieldy and poses risks of injury and electrical shock.

Innovation Solution

A hand-operated clamping device that secures the free end of the distribution line to a strap of a strap hoist, featuring a pivotally connected first and second component with jaws and handles, a slot in the second jaw for the strap, and a gate to secure the strap.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the free end of the distribution line is left unsecured during tensioning, then the tensioning process can proceed freely, but the free end becomes unwieldy and poses safety risks including injury and electrical shock

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetensioning process efficiencyVSAvoidsafety risks from unwieldy free end

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a clamping device as an intermediary tool between the wire and the strap hoist. This device includes a first component with a first jaw and first handle, and a second component with a second jaw and second handle, where the second jaw cooperates with the first jaw to clamp the wire. The clamping device secures the free end of the wire to the strap hoist, allowing tensioning to proceed efficiently while eliminating safety hazards from the unwieldy free end.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a clamping device is used to secure the wire to the strap hoist, then safety is improved by controlling the wire, but the device complexity increases due to additional components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety risksVSAvoidclamping device structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The clamping device is segmented into two main components: a first component with a first jaw and first handle, and a second component with a second jaw and second handle. These components are pivotally connected, allowing independent manipulation and simplifying the operation. The segmentation enables the device to be opened and closed easily while maintaining structural integrity and safety functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The clamping device incorporates dynamic elements including a pivot connection between the first and second components, a slot formed in the second jaw to receive a strap, and a gate pivotally connected to the second jaw that secures the strap in the slot. These dynamic features allow the device to adapt to different wire sizes and tensioning requirements while maintaining safety and control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12308623B2Clamping device and method

Publication Date: 2025.05.20 UTILITY SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

A clamping device is disclosed. The clamping device including a first component pivotally connected to a second component, the first component having a first jaw and a first handle and the second component having a second jaw and a second handle, the second jaw cooperating with the first jaw to clamp a wire between the first and second jaws; a slot formed in the second jaw to receive a strap therein; and a gate pivotally connected to the second jaw, the gate securing the strap in the slot.