PRODUCTS Cobra looking for a developer
UK inventor Mick Carrington has come up with a new steel fastening system he is calling ‘Cobra’, which he believes, when fully commercialised, will fulfil a number of different functions previously requiring expensive and complex connection systems to achieve.
C
obra Multi-Clamp connects steel ‘I beams’ without the need to drill and bolt, thereby enabling the erection of factory gantry systems quickly, easily and extremely strongly.
“Other systems,” says Mick, “need the inclusion
of a retaining plate when fastening steel beams together. This is invariably a stumbling block for the design engineer and makes mistakes easy to achieve in manufacture, not to mention being awkward to install.” Another benefit Mick foresees is the ability to connect beams that are at an angle to one another (non-orthogonal), another application where achieving similar results can prove extremely cost using existing systems. “An excellent by-product of my design,”
continues Mick, “is its ability to be used in an expansion joint system. A recent example was on a power station job where a leaking pipe had to be changed. The present system usually uses a welded piece of angle onto a beam to allow the pipe to move under thermal expansion. Hot work permits had to be obtained to allow a grinder to be used to remove the fastener and part of the plant had to be shut down. This happened again when reinstating the joint using a welder.
The whole process took a very long time and was very costly, as well as a potentially dangerous situation. With the Cobra Multi-Clamp, the pipe skid could be simply unbolted and the pipe changed, without the need for costly and dangerous hot work or even a plant shutdown.” Mick believes the Cobra is the only fastener in the world that allows thermal expansion to occur while still retaining structural integrity. Mick has produced the steel prototypes shown in the photograph. He says the Cobra has a reversible flat plate with two holes, so the joint is retained twice, giving it incredible strength. There are no handed parts making manufacture very easy and cheap. “Basically I am looking for an enterprising partner, who is maybe already in steel
manufacture/sales/distribution and wants to add another exciting string to their bow,” Mick explains. “The product needs further refinement in its development
and strength testing but once in production will make an inexpensive, strong and easy to fit fastener with a variety of applications.” For more information contact Mick Carrington at
mick.carrington@
ntlworld.com
New products from Lee Spring Lee Spring UK has launched two new springs, adding to its range of approximately 20,000 spring products.
with high load capacities, rated to pressures of 300psi, 400psi, and 500psi. High pressure series compression springs in 17-7PH stainless steel are passivated, shotpeened, and preset, to provide a balance of corrosion resistance, high strength, and toughness. Lee Spring has also introduced the new Metric Bantam™
T Mini
Compression Springs – powerful springs designed to operate in small spaces and are used in various applications, including in medical instruments and surgical tools, firearms, communication devices and hardware, as well as in the aerospace, automotive and marine sectors. The new metric range of Bantam compression springs starts at 0.01mm, with outside diameters from 0.81mm to 1.65mm and free lengths from 1mm to 14mm. The existing imperial (inches) range of Bantam springs ranges from 0.004 inch to 0.0055 inch wire diameter, with outside diameters of 0.025 inches to 0.057 inches. Made using Elgiloy™
, a high temperature resistant, non-magnetic nickel
alloy that is 10% stronger than Type 316 stainless steel, these miniature stock springs offer a combination of strength and corrosion resistance.
he first new addition is a line of high pressure compression springs, which are suitable for applications with small spaces – requiring firm, but not rigid, slender springs. They can be used in a variety of applications including switches, ball plungers, safety relief valves, quick change tools and vice clamps. The Lee Spring engineering team has designed an offering of 144 slender parts packed
118 Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 88 July 2014
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132