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