Two Part Locking Clamp

This two-part handrail clamp has been designed to be manufactured quickly and economically whilst performing to specification. The design consists of two interlocking components that slide together on an incline, providing positive compression onto the rail. When the two components are in locking configuration, a retaining clip falls into place, reducing the risk of inadvertent disconnect. The positive compression minimises the risk of slippage along the handrail length and rotation about the handrail. To disengage the clamp, a crew member simply pulls outwards on the retaining clip, allowing the components to be slid apart. The design has been optimized for additive manufacture, with the geometry ensuring that tensile stresses encountered by the handrail clamp are directed along the grain of the extruded material, perpendicular to the build direction. This is done in an effort to reduce the risk of delamination during use. As much as was possible, the parts have been given a consistent profile in the Z direction, free of overhangs and other geometry that could jeopardise the part during manufacture. The clamp has been designed such that the entire assembly fits into the available print volume of the printer. Therefore, only one print cycle is required to manufacture the clamp, minimising the required crew intervention. All exposed corners have been rounded to the minimum values to protect the crew. Furthermore, areas that encounter minimal stress have been removed to minimise filament usage.