Patent Application
20120284988
Clamps are commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) parts and/or specialty-made parts. Clamps are generally used for securing piping and/or cabling in military and commercial applications (e.g., cabling in a building, cabling in an aircraft, etc.). Clamps (e.g., loop clamps, hose clamps, spring clamp, etc.) are generally challenging to close due to the tight grip needed to hold the cabling and/or piping. In other words, a large amount of force is generally needed to create the tight grip required on the cabling and/or piping for installation in extreme environments (e.g., high vibration, high movement, etc.). Clamps can be installed in fragile and/or difficult-to-access environments (e.g., on treated surfaces, in space-confined environments, etc.) which increases the challenges associated with installation of the clamps. As such, there is a need in the art for an improved clamp installation tool.
An approach to securing a clamp onto a mounting surface utilizes a clamp installation tool. The tool includes a notch section adapted to capture an engagement end of a loop clamp in a closed position and adapted to capture a mounting mechanism for engaging the loop clamp to a mounting surface. The tool further includes a handle section angularly connected to the notch section and adapted to hold the closed loop clamp on the mounting surface.
Another approach to securing a clamp onto a mounting surface utilizes a clamp installation tool. The tool includes a notch section. The notch section includes two opposed tabs. Each tab has three walls defining a cavity adapted to engage a flange of a loop clamp in a closed position and spaced apart at a first distance. The notch section further includes a notch having an opening sized to the first distance and adapted to accept a connection mechanism adapted to secure the loop clamp to a mounting mechanism. The tool further includes a handle section connected to the notch section and including a linear shaft extending away from the notch section.
Another approach to installing a clamp onto a mounting surface includes a method. The method includes placing a clamp installation tool over flanges of the loop clamp in a closed position; positioning the loop clamp on a mounting surface via the clamp installation tool; mounting the loop clamp to the mounting surface via a connection mechanism; and removing the clamp installation tool from the loop clamp.
In other examples, any of the approaches above can include one or more of the following features.
In some examples, the tool further includes an angular section adapted to angularly connect the handle section to the notch section and align the loop clamp with the mounting mechanism.
In other examples, a top flange of the loop clamp abuts a bottom flange of the loop clamp when the notch section captures the engagement end of the loop clamp in the closed position.
In some examples, the notch section is approximately axially aligned to a top hole of a loop clamp and a bottom hole of the loop clamp upon the notch section engaging the loop clamp.
In other examples, the tool is constructed as a single unitary piece.
In some examples, the tool further includes an adjustable mechanism connected to the two opposed tabs and adapted to modify the first distance by moving one or more of the two opposed tabs.
In other examples, the two opposed tabs hold the flange of the loop clamp for securely maintaining the loop clamp on and in engagement with the mounting surface and allowing the connection mechanism to be tightened for securing the loop clamp to the mounting surface.
In some examples, the two opposed tabs cradle the flange of the loop clamp allowing the notch section to sit flush with the mounting surface.
In other examples, the tool is constructed as a single unitary piece.
In some examples, the method further includes placing the clamp installation tool over the flanges of the loop clamp securely maintains the flanges together for positioning the loop clamp on and in engagement with the mounting surface and allowing the connection mechanism to be tightened for securing the loop clamp to the mounting surface.
In other examples, the method further includes tightening the connection mechanism onto the mounting surface to secure the loop clamp to the mounting surface.
The clamp installation tool described herein can provide one or more of the following advantages. An advantage of the technology is that the tool can increase the effective applications of clamps (e.g., small spaces, sensitive components, etc.) which increases the efficient uses of the tool and decreases the cost of installing a clamp. Another advantage of the technology is that the tool can decrease the possibility of damage to cable and/or wire which increases the efficient uses of the tool and decreases the cost of installing a clamp. Another advantage of the technology is that the tool can prevent scratches, nicks, etc. on the mounting surface and/or the cable and/or a pipe by securely holding the clamp during the installation process, thereby decreasing the cost associated with fixing installation mistakes.
Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating the principles of the invention by way of example only.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the following more particular description of the embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the embodiments.
A clamp installation tool, generally, holds clamps (e.g., loop clamps, wire clamps, etc.) in a closed position for installation, thereby providing compression of the clamp and/or alignment of the clamp for the installation process. The tool (also referred to as a device) can be utilized to hold the clamp during the installation process (e.g., screw is tightened, nut is tightened, etc.) on a mounting surface (e.g., wall of an aircraft, floor of a ship, electronics control board, etc.). The tool can hold the clamp while the clamp is positioned and installed in challenging installation environments (e.g., limited space, limited visibility, limited mobility, next to a sensitive component, in space-confined location, etc.).
The tool can assist in the installation process of the clamp (e.g., loop clamp in a space-confined location) thereby reducing a two-person operation to a one-person operation advantageously reducing the cost of the installation process. The tool can advantageously reduce the amount of force required to close the clamp, thereby increasing the locations for efficient installation of clamps. The tool can advantageously increase maneuverability in tight spaces thereby enabling installation by a single person (e.g., one hand on the tool and one hand on the installation device), which further increases the locations for efficient installation of clamps and decreasing installation errors. The tool can advantageously increase the effective applications of the clamps while decreasing the possibility of damaging to the cable and/or wire, thereby increasing the efficient uses of the tool and decreasing the cost of installing a clamp. The tool can advantageously prevent scratches, nicks, etc. on the mounting surface and/or the cable and/or pipe by securing holding the clamp during the installation process, thereby decreasing the cost associated with fixing installation mistakes (e.g., slipped screwdriver scratching a treated mounting surface, slipped pliers nicking an electrical wire, etc.).
In some examples, the tool closes the clamp over the cable and/or pipe before installation of the clamp. In other examples, another mechanical tool (e.g., pliers, crimp tool, etc.) closes the clamp over the cable and/or pipe.
The two tabs 134 and 136 can be sized to securely hold the clamp together (i.e., closed) during the installation process. For example, if the height of the flanges is 2 millimeters, the tabs are approximately 2 millimeters in height (e.g., 2.001 millimeters, 2.1 millimeters, etc.). As another example, if the height of the flanges is 3 millimeters, the tabs are 4 millimeters in height. The two tabs 134 and 136 can cradle the flange of the loop clamp allowing the bottom of the tool 100 (i.e., the pocket 130) to sit flush with the mounting surface. The placement of the bottom of the tool 100 flush with the mounting surface advantageously enables the tool 100 to be utilized in small spaces, thereby increasing the effective uses and placement areas for the tool 100.
The notch 132 enables the installation of the flange on a mounting surface via a mounting mechanism (e.g., bolt, screw, fastener, spring fastener, pin fastener, etc.). The notch 132 can be sized to enable the mounting mechanism in between the two tabs 134 and 136. The notch 132 enables the mounting mechanism to be utilized on the clamp while the clamp is being held closed around the cable and/or pipe. The notch 132 enables the mounting mechanism to be engaged with the mounting surface while the clamp is being held closed around the cable and/or the pipe. The notch 132 enables the tool 100 to be removed from the clamp while the clamp is being held in place by the partial or complete engagement of the mounting mechanism with the mounting surface. For example, if the mounting mechanism is 10 millimeters, the notch 132 is 11 millimeters wide. As another example, if the mounting mechanism is 8 millimeters, the notch 132 is 20 millimeters wide. Although
In some examples, the two tabs 134 and 136 are two opposed tabs which advantageously secures the flanges of a clamp together for installation of the clamp onto a mounting surface. Each tab 134 or 136 can have three walls (as illustrated in
In other examples, the tool 100 includes an adjustable mechanism (not shown) connected to the two opposed tabs 134 and 136. The adjustable mechanism modifies the distance by moving one or more of the two opposed tabs 134 and/or 136. The adjustment of the tabs 134 and/or 136 enables the tool 100 to fit on different size clamps thereby increasing the effective uses of the tool 100.
In some examples, the handle 110 (also referred to as a handle section) is connected to the notch 132 (also referred to as the notch section) and includes a linear shaft extending away from the notch 132. In other examples, the handle 110 is a curved shaft extending away from the notch 132. In some examples, the tool 100 is constructed as a single unitary piece (e.g., metal, plastic, etc.). The construction of the tool 100 as a single unitary piece advantageously decreases the manufacturing price of the tool 100 and decreases the overall size of the tool 100.
In some examples, the bottom of the tool 100 is flat. The flat bottom of the tool 100 can advantageously enable the tool 100 to be placed against flat mounting surfaces and/or in tight places. In other examples, the bottom of the tool 100 is angled based on the flange 210 of the clamp 200.
In some examples, the handle 110 of the tool 100 is shorter than the height of the clamp 200 (e.g., 45 millimeters, 200 millimeters, etc.) and/or some multiple thereof (e.g., 1.5×the height of the clamp, 2×the height of the clamp, etc.). The short handle of the tool 100 can advantageously enable the tool 100 to be used in space-confined environments while still handling the clamp 200 securely. In other examples, the handle of the tool 100 is long (e.g., 100 centimeters, 80 centimeters, etc.) to enable the tool 100 to be utilized in hard-to-reach environments.
In some examples, the tool 100 is sized based on the size of the clamp 200. The clamp 200 can be sized based on the cable and/or pipe size (e.g., bundle size, tube diameter, etc.). In other examples, the tool 100 is made of a metal, a composite, a plastic, and/or any other type of material. For example, the tool 100 is made of a plastic to reducing any potential damage to the mounting surface 230. In some examples, the tool 100 is coated with a material (e.g., plastic coating on a metal base, rubber coating on a composite base, etc.). The material coating can reduce static, decrease a coefficient of friction between the tool 100 and the mounting surface 230, decrease scratches on the mounting surface 230, and/or any other type of protective mechanism.
The tool 300 advantageously enables the male connector 352 to be shorter in length (e.g., 2 millimeters longer than the height of the clamp flange plus the height of the nut, 10% longer than the height of the clamp flange plus the height of the nut, etc.) due to the ability to hold the cable clamp 360 closed during installation of the cable clamp 360 on the mounting surface 350. The shorter length of the male connector 352 advantageously reduces the risk of the male connector 352 damaging the cable 356 and/or any other nearby components. The shorter length of the male connector 352 advantageously reduces the risk of debris (e.g., metal shavings, plastic shavings, etc.) contaminating the cable 356 and/or other components in the installation environment (e.g., shorting an electrical connection, interfering with a mechanical mechanism, etc.).
In some examples, the notch section 310 and the handle section 330 of the tool are connected via the angular section 320. The angular section 320 can connect the notch section 310 and the handle section 330 at an angle (e.g., 45 degrees, 85 degrees, etc.) based on space constraints associated with the installation environment. In some examples, the angular section 320 is flexible to allow for various angles (e.g., 40-65 degrees of flexibility, 20-85 degrees of flexibility, etc.). For example, if another device is adjacent to the male connector 352, the angular section 320 is close to 90 degrees to avoid the adjacent device. In some examples, the notch section 310 is sized and/or positioned based on the male connector (e.g., size, position, etc.). In other examples, the handle section 330 is sized and/or positioned based on the installation environment (e.g., sticky material on the handle section for high heat/humidity installation environment to reduce slippage, small handle section for space-confined installation environment, etc.).
In some examples, the placement of the tool over the flanges of the loop clamp securely maintains the flanges together for positioning the loop clamp on and in engagement with the mounting surface and allowing the connection mechanism to be tightened for securing the loop clamp to the mounting surface.
In other examples, the torque (990g) of the nut 80 can secure the clamp 900 to the mounting surface 940. In other words, the tightening of the connection mechanism onto the mounting surface secures the loop clamp to the mounting surface.
Although the clamp 900 described herein is illustrated as a single-sided flange clamp, the tool 960 can be utilized during the installation process of any type of clamp (e.g., double-sided clamp, hose clamp, etc.). Although the clamp 900 described herein attaches to a cable and/or a pipe, the clamp can attach to any type of mechanism that needs to be secured (e.g., string, rope, wire, bundle, etc.).
In other examples, the clamp installation tool includes a pocket, the pocket comprising a notch and two tabs; an angular section connected to the pocket; and a handle section connected to the angular section.
In some examples, the clamp installation tool includes a notch section, the notch section comprising a notch and two tabs; an angular section connected to the notch section; and a handle section connected to the angular section.
In other examples, the two tabs engage a flange of a clamp.
In some examples, the notch enables an installation of a mounting mechanism.
In other examples, the angular section is flexible.
In some examples, the clamp installation device includes means for engaging a flange of a clamp in a closed position (e.g., tabs on the device); and means for holding the tool on a mounting surface during an installation of a mounting mechanism (e.g., handle of the device).
In other examples, a clamp is installed via a method. The method includes placing a clamp installation tool over flanges of the clamp; positioning the clamp over a mounting mechanism via the clamp installation tool; mounting the clamp to a mounting surface via the mounting mechanism; and removing the clamp installation tool from the clamp.
One skilled in the art will realize the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The foregoing embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects illustrative rather than limiting of the invention described herein. Scope of the invention is thus indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/484,877, filed on May 11, 2011. The entire teachings of the above application are incorporated herein by reference.
The invention was supported, in whole or in part, by a grant F33657-91-C-0006 from the Department of Defense. The Government has certain rights in the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61484877 | May 2011 | US |
