Wire Gripper Coupling Member Angled Ring Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wire grippers are heavy, making them difficult to use at heights and pose safety risks due to the need for workers to handle them in elevated environments, where accidental contact with active wire portions can occur.

Innovation Solution

A lightweight wire gripper design featuring a coupling member with excellent mechanical strength, including a ring portion bent at a prescribed angle to minimize interference with the linear body and facilitate safer attachment, and a thumb hooking portion for easier single-handed operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If each part of the wire gripper is made thicker to improve mechanical strength, then the strength increases, but the weight increases making it difficult to use at heights

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical strengthVSAvoidweight
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the thickness parameters of each component to achieve the minimum necessary thickness for structural strength. Instead of uniformly thickening all parts, the design calculates and implements specific thickness values (e.g., lever member thickness of 3-7mm, coupling member thickness of 2-5mm) that provide adequate strength while minimizing weight. This resolves the contradiction by transforming the approach from qualitative thickening to quantitative optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local quality by varying the thickness of different components based on their specific functional requirements and stress conditions. Critical load-bearing parts like the lever member and coupling member are given sufficient thickness (3-7mm and 2-5mm respectively), while non-critical parts maintain minimal thickness. This localized optimization ensures structural integrity where needed while reducing overall weight for safe handling at heights.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If the wire gripper is made lightweight, then ease of operation at heights improves, but mechanical strength may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidmechanical strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this contradiction through precise parameter optimization, setting specific thickness ranges for each component that balance weight and strength. The lever member is designed with 3-7mm thickness and the coupling member with 2-5mm thickness, creating a lightweight structure that maintains adequate mechanical strength for wire handling operations at heights.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The design applies local quality by concentrating material thickness in critical load-bearing areas while keeping non-critical areas thin. This ensures the gripper is lightweight enough for safe operation at heights while maintaining structural strength where mechanical loads are applied during wire gripping and tensioning operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the ring portion is positioned closer to the linear body center, then bending damage is reduced, but interference with the linear body increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebending damageVSAvoidinterference
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by designing the ring portion with an inclined configuration rather than a symmetric circular shape. The ring is positioned and angled such that its center is offset from the linear body center, creating an asymmetric arrangement that reduces bending moments on the wire while providing sufficient clearance to avoid interference during gripping operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The patent resolves this spatial contradiction by utilizing the angular dimension. Instead of simply moving the ring portion closer or farther along the radial direction, the design inclines the ring at a specific angle relative to the linear body axis. This angular positioning allows the ring center to be closer to the wire center (reducing bending) while the inclined orientation prevents radial interference with the linear body during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3402021B1Wire gripper
Publication Date: 2023.03.08 NAGAKI SEIKI CO LTD
  • EP3402021B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3402021B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3402021B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a wire gripper that can make it easier to lift its tip being grasped by fingers. A wire gripper 10 includes: a wire gripper body member 12 including a fixed gripping body 20 having a linear body pressing portion 24; an operating member 14 pivotably mounted to the wire gripper body member 12 through a support shaft 70; a movable gripping body member 16 including a linear body holding portion 22 that pivotally moves toward the linear body pressing portion 24 of the fixed gripping body 20 in accordance with the pivotal movement of the operating member 14; and a coupling member 18 coupled to the operating member 14 through a rotary shaft 72 for coupling member for pivotally moving the operating member 14. The coupling member 18 includes a ring portion 130 provided at the backward end of an elongate coupling member body 80. The ring portion 130 is bent at a prescribed angle in the bending region 100 relative to a reference plane Pyz including a lateral axis along which the linear body pressing portion 24 and the linear body holding portion 22 extend.