Distributed force hose clamp

• US 6,253,422 B1
• Filed: 10/26/1999
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Echelon Supply & Service Incorporated
• Original Assignee: JGB Enterprises, Inc.
• Inventors: Zipp, Guy Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): SANDY, ROBERT JOHN
• Application Number:
  US09/427,290
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 24/19, 24/16.R, 242/79, 242/84, 242/87, 285/252, 285/253, 285/318, 285/411, 285/420
• US Class Current: 24/19
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 33/02 Hose-clips
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1412 with tighteners
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1451 Plural separable parts

Abstract

A hose clamp is provided for establishing a reliable, fluid-tight, seal between a hose and a receptacle therefore. The clamp includes a plurality of clamp segments and a span ring, e.g., a spiral wound ring. Each clamp segment includes an arcuate interior surface having a span ring slot therein which is positioned to align with a corresponding span ring slot in an adjacent clamp segment. The span ring has a portion disposed in each span ring slot with the interior surface of the span ring approximately flush with the interior surfaces of the segments. Each clamp segment further includes a bore on a first end thereof which is adapted to align with a corresponding bore on an end of an adjacent segment. A fastener, e.g., a screw, may be inserted into the bores to draw the ends of the clamp segments toward each other, thereby tightening the segments of the clamp around the hose and receptacle. As the clamp tightens around the hose, the diameter of the span ring changes so that the top surface of the span ring remains approximately flush with the interior surfaces of the clamp segments. The clamp provides an evenly distributed compression force against the hose, and may flex to maximize contact between the clamp and the hose. Spaces between the clamp segments are spanned by the span ring, which provides a localized compression force against the hose in the areas of the spaces.

Claims

1. A distributed force hose clamp for securing a hose to a receptacle comprising:

a plurality of separate clamp segments, each of said clamp segments having an interior surface with a span ring slot therein; and

a spiral-wound span ring;

said span ring having portions disposed in each of said span ring slots with an interior edge of said span ring approximately flush with said interior surface of each of said clamp segments to facilitate pressing engagement of said interior surface of each said clamp segment with respect to engagement with said span ring against said hose for sealing said hose against said receptacle, thereby avoiding a localized compression force against said hose, said span ring having at least one portion spanning at least one space between adjacent ones of said clamp segments.

2. A hose clamp according to claim 1, wherein said clamp comprises three of said clamp segments.

3. A hose clamp according to claim 1, wherein each of said clamp segments has a first end having a first fastener bore therein and a second end having a second fastener bore therein, and wherein said clamp further comprises a plurality of fasteners, each of said fasteners having a portion disposed in one of said first fastener bores and a second portion extending into one of said second fastener bores for releasably joining said clamp segments in an end-to-end configuration.

4. A hose clamp according to claim 3, wherein each said second fastener bore is threaded for meshingly engaging threads on a corresponding one of said plurality of fasteners.

5. A hose clamp according to claim 1, wherein each of said clamp segments is generally arcuate, and wherein each of said clamp segments is generally rectangular in cross-section with chamfered top edges.

6. A hose clamp according to claim 1, wherein each of said clamp segments comprises aluminum.

7. A hose clamp according to claim 1, wherein said interior surface of each clamp segment comprises a portion of an arc approximately equal to 360°

divided by a total number of said plurality of clamp segments.

8. A distributed force hose clamp for securing a hose to a receptacle comprising:

a plurality of separate clamp segments, each of said clamp segments having a generally arcuate interior surface with a continuous span ring slot therein, each of said arcuate interior surfaces comprising a portion of an arc approximately equal to 360°

divided by a total number of said plurality of clamp segments, each of said clamp segments having a first end having a first fastener bore therein and a second end having a second fastener bore therein;

a plurality of fasteners, each of said fasteners having a portion disposed in one of said first fastener bores and a second portion extending into one of said second fastener bores for releasably joining said clamp segments with each of said first ends being separated from one of said second ends of an adjacent clamp segment by a space; and

a spiral-wound span ring;

said span ring having portions disposed in each of said span ring slots with an interior edge of said span ring approximately flush with said interior surfaces of said clamp segments to facilitate a maximum pressing engagement of said interior surface of each said clamp segment with respect to engagement with said span ring against said hose for sealing said hose against said receptacle, thereby avoiding a localized compression force against said hose, said span ring having span portions, each of said span portions spanning a corresponding space between adjacent ones of said clamp segments.

9. A hose clamp according to claim 8, wherein each said second fastener bore is threaded for meshingly engaging threads on a corresponding one of said plurality of fasteners.

10. A hose clamp according to claim 8, wherein each of said clamp segments is generally rectangular in cross-section with chamfered top edges.

11. A hose clamp according to claim 8, wherein each of said clamp segments comprises aluminum.

12. A hose clamp according to claim 8, wherein said clamp comprises three of said clamp segments and three of said fasteners.

13. A method of coupling a hose to a receptacle comprising the steps of:

providing a hose clamp comprising, a plurality of separate clamp segments, each of said clamp segments having an interior surface with a span ring slot therein, and a spiral-wound span ring, said span ring having portions disposed in each of said span ring slots with an interior edge of said span ring approximately flush with an interior surface of each of said clamp segments to facilitate a maximum pressing engagement of said interior surface of each said clamp segment with respect to engagement with said span ring against said hose for sealing said hose against said receptacle, thereby avoiding a localized compression force against said hose, said span ring having at least one portion spanning at least one space between adjacent ones of said clamp segments,

positioning said span ring and said clamp segments over said hose with said hose disposed between said interior surfaces of said clamp segments and said receptacle; and

placing said interior surfaces in compression around said hose to compress said hose against said receptacle.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein each of said clamp segments has a first end having a first fastener bore therein and a second end having a second fastener bore therein, and wherein said clamp further comprises a plurality of fasteners, each of said fasteners having a portion disposed in one of said first fastener bores and a threaded second portion for meshingly engaging corresponding threads in one of said second fastener bores for releasably joining said clamp segments in an end-to-end configuration, and

wherein said placing step is performed by threading each of said fasteners into one of said second fastener bores.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein said clamp comprises three of said clamp segments and three of said fasteners.

16. A method according to claim 13, wherein each of said clamp segments is generally arcuate, and wherein each of said clamp segments is generally rectangular in cross-section with chamfered top edges.

17. A method according to claim 13, wherein each of said clamp segments comprises aluminum.

18. A method according to claim 13, wherein said interior surface of each clamp segment comprises a portion of an arc approximately equal to 360°

divided by a total number of said plurality of clamp segments.