Hinged Clamping Collar

• US 20130212842A1
• Filed: 10/28/2011
• Published: 08/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Etablissements Caillau
• Original Assignee: Etablissements Caillau
• Inventors: Rigollet, Nicolas, Prevot, Fabrice
• Granted Patent: US 9,273,706 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 24/461
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/08 using bands
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 23/08 connection by tangentially arranged pin and nut
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44051 having operator or locking means

Abstract

Disclosed is a clamping collar which includes a belt made up of two belt portions, each of which has a first end provided with a tightening tab and a second end provided with an assembly member. The assembly members are suitable for co-operating to assemble the second ends together in a releasable manner. The collar also includes tightening means suitable for co-operating with the tightening tabs so as to move the tabs relative to each other once the second ends are assembled together, in such a manner as to tighten the collar.

Claims

1-17. -17. (canceled)

18. A clamping collar comprising a belt made up of two belt portions, each of which has a first end provided with a tightening tab and a second end provided with an assembly member, the assembly members being suitable for co-operating with each other so as to assemble said second ends together in releasable manner, the tightening tabs being able to be moved relative to each other once the second ends are assembled together, in such a manner as to tighten the collar, the first ends of the two belt portions being interconnected via a bridge that, when the collar is in a free, non-tightened state, holds the tightening tabs relative to each other and makes it possible for the second ends of the belt portions to be brought closer together until the assembly members co-operate with each other, the configuration of said bridge being modified while the collar is being tightened so as to enable the tightening tabs to move relative to each other.

19. The clamping collar according to claim 18, wherein the bridge is secured to or integral with the first end of at least one of the two belt portions.

20. The clamping collar according to claim 18, wherein the bridge is secured to or integral with the first end of each of the two belt portions.

21. The clamping collar according to claim 20, wherein the two belt portions and the bridge are formed in one piece.

22. The clamping collar according to claim 18, wherein the bridge is secured to or integral with the first end of at least one of the belt portions via a tightening bolt which serves to move the tabs relative to each other for tightening the collar.

23. The clamping collar according to claim 18, wherein the bridge extends between the tightening tabs.

24. The clamping collar according to claim 18, wherein the bridge is suitable for being deformed under the effect of the tightening force during tightening.

25. The clamping collar according to claim 18, wherein the bridge forms a hinge zone between the two belt portions.

26. The clamping collar according to claim 18, wherein the bridge is suitable for breaking under the effect of the lugs moving while the collar is being tightened.

27. The clamping collar according to claim 18, wherein the bridge is formed by at least one strip portion that is narrower than the belt portions.

28. The clamping collar according to claim 18, wherein each of the tightening tabs is provided with a hole, and the collar comprises a bolt having a shank which passes through said holes said bolt being retained relative to the tabs so as to cause them to move relative to each other by screw-engagement.

29. The clamping collar according to claim 28, wherein the hole in at least one of the tightening tabs is oblong.

30. The clamping collar according to claim 28, wherein the hole in one of the tightening tabs has a tapped projecting bushing for co-operating by screw-engagement with the shank of the bolt.

31. The clamping collar according to claim 18, wherein the assembly members co-operate with each other by hooking.

32. The clamping collar according to claim 31, wherein the assembly member of the second end of one of the belt portions comprises a first lug projecting radially outwards and having a free end curved back inwards to form a hook, while the assembly member of the second end of the other belt portion comprises a second lug projecting radially outwards and that is suitable for co-operating with said hook.

33. The clamping collar according to claim 31, wherein the assembly member of the second end of one of the belt portions is formed on an extension of said second end that is offset radially outwards.

34. The clamping collar according to claim 33, wherein the extension has a hooking inside edge, and the assembly member of the second end of the other belt portion comprises a hooking edge suitable for hooking onto the hooking inside edge, on the inside of the extension.

35. The clamping collar according to claim 18 provided with an abutment between the tightening tabs defining a minimum spacing between said tabs when the collar is in the tightened state.

36. The clamping collar according to claim 18, wherein, in the non-tightened state, the bridge holds the tightening tabs relative to each other and makes it possible for the second ends of the belt portions to be brought closer together until the assembly members cooperate with each other, while a tightening bolt is in place relative to the tightening tabs.

37. A clamping collar comprising a belt made up of two belt portions, each of which has a first end provided with a tightening tab and a second end, the second ends being able to cooperate with each other by hooking so as to be assembled together in a releasable manner, the tightening tabs being able to be moved relative to each other once the second ends are assembled together, in such a manner as to tighten the collar, the first ends of the two belt portions being interconnected via a bridge that, when the collar is in a free, non-tightened state, holds the tightening tabs relative to each other and makes it possible for the second ends of the belt portions to be brought together until the seconds ends of the belt portions are hooked together, the configuration of said bridge being modified while the collar is being tightened so as to enable the tightening tabs to move relative to each other.

38. The clamping collar according to claim 37, wherein, in the non-tightened state, the bridge holds the tightening tabs relative to each other and makes it possible for the second ends of the belt portions to be brought closer together until the second ends are hooked together, while a tightening bolt is in place relative to the tightening tabs.