Tube clamp

• US 20020174524A1
• Filed: 04/26/2002
• Published: 11/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bio Pure Technology Limited
• Original Assignee: Bio Pure Technology Limited
• Inventors: Maunder, Roy Peter
• Granted Patent: US 6,708,377 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 24/483
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 23/10 with a pivoting or swinging pin
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1441 Tangential screw
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1443 Adjustable girth
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1447 Plural separable parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1453 Pivotal strap parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44239 Encircling gripping member including semirigid band and operator for tightening

Abstract

A clamp has two injection moulded tangs 1, 2 hinges together by a pin 3 and held closed by a wing nut 4 and a screw 5 having a cross-head 6. The tangs each have a tapered groove 7 running around inside them. In use, this groove engages flanges F on tubes T with a seal S therebetween to hold the tubes in sealing relationship with each other. The one tang 2 has a clevis 10 defined by two lugs 11. Each has an overhung recess 12 into which the cross-head 6 of the screw clips. A crossbar 14 connects the lugs remote from their tang, whereby the screw is limited in its angular displacement about the recesses 12, as shown in FIG. 3. The crossbar also stabilizes the lugs against relative displacement under load when the nut is tightened. The other tang 1 has a part conical formation 21 on lugs 22 defining a clevis 23 similar to clevis 10. The nut has a complementary conical recess 24. Engagement of the formation 21 in the recess 24 restrains the lugs from separating under load as the nut is tightened.

Claims

1. A clamp comprising a pair of generally semi-circular tangs, hinged together at one end and connectable together at the other end by means of a screw and nut, the tangs having an inwards facing tapered groove for drawing two flanged tubes into sealing engagement, the screw having a crossbar for engaging in a clevis in one of the tangs, the clevis having a cross piece distal of the tang for stabilising the clevis and limiting angular displacement of the screw.

2. A clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clevis is defined by two lugs, each having an overhung recess into which the cross-head clips.

3. A clamp as claimed in claim 2, wherein the other tang also has a clevis for receiving the screw, this clevis and the nut having complementary conical formations for restraining the clevis from spreading as the nut is tightened.

4. A clamp as claimed in claim 3, including projections for limiting approach of the tangs and over-tightening of the clamp.

5. A clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the other tang also has a clevis for receiving the screw, this clevis and the nut having complementary conical formations for restraining the clevis from spreading as the nut is tightened.

6. A clamp as claimed in claim 2, including projections for limiting approach of the tangs and over-tightening of the clamp.

7. A clamp as claimed in claim 1, including projections for limiting approach of the tangs and over-tightening of the clamp.