Pipe clamp, in particular, pipe coupling

• US 6,749,232 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2002
• Issued: 06/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Norma Germany Gbmh
• Original Assignee: Rasmussen GmbH (NORMA Group SE)
• Inventors: Wachter, Gerhard, Krüger, Manfred, Heise, Rainer, Krämer, Markus, Barbett, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Bochna, David
• Application Number:
  US10/142,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20020171244A1
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 285/373, 285/104, 285/419, 285/253
• US Class Current: 285/104
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 21/06 with a divided sleeve or ring clamping around the pipe-ends flanged joints F16L23/00; couplings of the quick-acting type F16L37/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 21/08 with additional locking means F16L17/035, F16L17/04, F16L21/04, F16L21/06 take precedence; screwed joints F16L19/08; couplings of the quick-acting type F16L37/00

Abstract

A pipe clamp has a tightenable clamp body and at least one spike strip arranged radially inwardly within the clamp body and slanted toward the axial center of the clamp body. The spike strip and a radially inner side of the clamp body delimit an acute angle therebetween. The spike strip has a first longitudinal edge provided with teeth projecting radially inwardly and slanted axially relative to the clamp body. The at least one spike strip has a second longitudinal edge supported in a radial direction and in an axial direction on the clamp body. An area between the at least one spike strip and the radially inner side of the clamp body defined by the acute angle is free of parts counteracting a bending of the at least one spike strip toward the radially inner side of the clamp body.

Claims

1. A pipe clamp comprising:

a tightenable clamp body;

at least one spike strip arranged radially inwardly within the clamp body and slanted toward an axial center of the clamp body, wherein the at least one spike strip and a radially inner side of the clamp body delimit an acute angle therebetween;

wherein the at least one spike strip has a first longitudinal edge provided with teeth projecting radially inwardly and slanted axially relative to the clamp body;

wherein the at least one spike strip has a second longitudinal edge supported in a radial direction and in an axial direction on the clamp body, wherein the at least one spike strip is directly positive-lockingly connected with the clamp body; and

wherein an area between the at least one spike strip and the radially inner side of the clamp body defined by the acute angle is free of means counteracting a bending of the at least one spike strip toward the radially inner side of the clamp body.

2. The pipe clamp according to claim 1, wherein the second longitudinal edge of the at least one spike strip rests against the clamp body, wherein the clamp body and the at least one spike strip have matching contact shapes which receive pressure forces in the axial and radial directions.

3. The pipe clamp according to claim 2, wherein the clamp body has a radially inwardly bent edge portion forming an inner angle area, wherein the second longitudinal edge of the spike strip is arranged in the inner angle area.

4. The pipe clamp according to claim 3, wherein the at least one spike strip has ends directly connected to the clamp body.

5. The pipe clamp according to claim 3, wherein the edge portion in the circumferential direction has at least one interruption.

6. The pipe clamp according to claim 5, wherein the interruption is formed in that the edge portion is bent outwardly about a predetermined circumferential length.

7. The pipe clamp according to claim 6, wherein the interruption in the circumferential direction is arranged outside of the spike strip.

8. The pipe clamp according to claim 1, further comprising hoops connecting the clamp body and the at least one spike strip to one another, wherein the hoops are formed integrally with the clamp body and are positive-lockingly connected to the at least one spike strip.

9. The pipe clamp according to claim 8, wherein one of the hoops on the at least one spike strip is connected at least on two sides of the hoop with the clamp body and forms a pocket, wherein the at least one spike strip is inserted into the pocket.

10. The pipe clamp according to claim 9, wherein one end of the hoop is fastened on the edge portion.

11. The pipe clamp according to claim 8, wherein one of the hoops has one attached end and one bendable end configured to be bent into an open position.

12. The pipe clamp according to claim 1, further comprising hoops connecting the clamp body and the at least one spike strip to one another, wherein the hoops are formed integrally with the at least one spike strip and are positive-lockingly connected to the clamp body.

13. The pipe clamp according to claim 12, wherein one of the hoops on the at least one spike strip is connected at least on two sides of the hoop with the clamp body and forms a pocket, wherein the at least one spike strip is inserted into the pocket.

14. The pipe clamp according to claim 13, wherein one end of the hoop is fastened on the edge portion.

15. The pipe clamp according to claim 12, wherein one of the hoops has one attached end and one bendable end configured to be bent into an open position.

16. The clamp body according to claim 1, further comprising hoops connecting the clamp body and the at least one spike strip to one another, wherein the hoops are connected positive-lockingly with the at least one spike strip and the clamp body.

17. The pipe clamp according to claim 16, wherein one of the hoops on the at least one spike strip is connected at least on two sides of the hoop with the clamp body and forms a pocket, wherein the at least one spike strip is inserted into the pocket.

18. The pipe clamp according to claim 17, wherein one end of the hoop is fastened on the edge portion.

19. The pipe clamp according to claim 16, wherein one of the hoops has one attached end and one bendable end configured to be bent into an open position.

20. The pipe clamp according to claim 1, wherein the at least one spike strip has at least at one end provided with a fastening portion rotated relative to the remainder of the at least one spike strip.

21. The pipe clamp according to claim 20, wherein the fastening portion is arranged at least substantially parallel to the clamp body.

22. The pipe clamp according to claim 1, wherein the clamp body has a circumferential length and opposed circumferential ends, wherein the circumferential length is selected such that the opposed circumferential ends of the clamp body rest against one another when the pipe clamp is tightened to such an extent around a pipe or pipes to be connected that the diameter of a circle described by free tooth ends of the teeth is smaller than a smallest nominal outer diameter of the pipe or pipes to be received in the pipe clamp, when taking into consideration a pipe diameter tolerance range.