AU2005318939A1 - Hose repair method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

WO 2006/066328 PCT/AU2005/001929 1 HOSE REPAIR METHOD AND APPARATUS Technical Field This invention relates to a hose repair method and apparatus which is particularly applicable to the repairing of or sealing of leaks in flexible high pressure 5 hoses such as hydraulic hoses but which may be applied to the repair of or sealing of leaks in other hoses or pipes. Background Art Many different types of machinery use hydraulic fluid as a means for actuating various mechanisms of the machinery. The types of machinery which use hydraulic 10 fluid driven mechanisms include earthmoving equipment which for example may have hydraulic rams for lifting and manipulating buckets or other digging equipment, for manipulating earthmoving blades or driving other mechanisms. Hydraulic powered machinery and implements are also common in agriculture. It is a relatively common occurrence for flexible hydraulic hoses in hydraulic 15 powered machinery to become damaged in use for example through wear which results in leakage of hydraulic fluid from the hose. When hydraulic fluid leakage occurs, there is a loss of hydraulic pressure and therefore the machinery or mechanisms thereof becomes non-functional or unusable. It is then necessary for the machine operator to call in a repair specialist to carrying out repairs on the damaged hydraulic hose which 20 usually requires replacement of the hose or inserting an intermediate joining section in the hose. Not only is this a costly procedure to the machine operator but it also results in considerable down time of machinery and therefore substantial loss of income to the operator. Furthermore, in many circumstances, particularly in agricultural situations, breakdowns may occur in an isolated location and thus the operator may be faced with 25 waiting a considerable period of time before repairs can be carried out. Summary of the Invention The present invention aims to provide in one aspect apparatus for repairing or sealing leaks in hoses particularly flexible high pressure hoses which enables such hoses to be repaired or leaks in the hose sealed -rapidly and effectively. The present invention 30 in a further aspect aims to provide a method of repairing or sealing leaks in hoses particularly flexible high pressure hoses. It is to be understood however that whilst the method and apparatus of the present invention are particularly suited to the repair of high pressure flexible hoses such as hydraulic fluid hoses formed of any flexible WO 2006/066328 PCT/AU2005/001929 2 material such as plastics, synthetic rubber such as neoprene or natural rubber, they may readily be applied to the repairing of or sealing leaks in other forms of pipes or hoses and thus the reference to hoses throughout the specification includes pipes and hoses of all types whether high pressure or otherwise. 5 The present invention thus provides in a first preferred aspect, apparatus for repairing or sealing a leak in a hose, said apparatus including a pair of complementary elements, each said element having a part cylindrical internal surface having a radius substantially the same as the external radius of a said hose to be repaired or sealed, at least one pair of longitudinally spaced apart part annular grooves formed in each said 10 internal surface, said elements being adapted to be brought into register with each other such that said internal surfaces cooperate to define a substantially cylindrical elongated chamber for encompassing said hose with said part annular grooves in the respective said elements being aligned to define annular grooves within said chamber for accepting annular sealing means for sealing said apparatus to said hose. 15 Most preferably and where the hose to be repaired or sealed comprises a flexible hose, one of the elements, comprising a major element, has in cross section an inner arc angle greater than 180", the inner are angle being the arc angle at the inner surface of the element. When the major element has an arc angle greater than 180*, the other the element comprising a minor element has a complementary inner arc angle of less than 20 180*. Thus when the major and minor elements are brought into register with each other, they form apparatus having an internal cylindrical surface which can encircle and encompass a tubular hose. Most preferably, the one or major element has an inner arc angle of between approximately 2200 to 2400 and the other or minor has an inner complementary arc angle of between approximately 1400 to 1600 so that the total arc 25 angles of the elements is 360". The one or major element has opposite longitudinal sides which define therebetween a restricted entrance into the element which has a minimum transverse dimension less than the diameter of the substantially cylindrical chamber and thus the hose to be repaired or sealed. Thus the hose to be repaired is required to be forced 30 through the restricted entrance by radial deformation so as to be captured at least partially within the one or major element. Preferably, the one or major element has opposite side surfaces extending along the opposite longitudinal sides of the element. The opposite side surfaces are suitably WO 2006/066328 PCT/AU2005/001929 3 angled outwardly at an acute angle relative to radial lines extending from the centre of curvature of the inner surface of the one element through the inner edges of the surfaces between which the restricted entrance is defined. Preferably, the other or minor element has longitudinal sides and opposite side 5 surfaces extending along the opposite longitudinal sides, the side surfaces being angled inwardly at an acute angle relative to radial lines extending from the centre of curvature of the inner surface of said other element through the inner edges of said surfaces. In one preferred form, the elements have outer surfaces which are part cylindrical. Preferably in cross section the outer surface of the elements extend through 10 different arc angles than their inner surfaces. Most preferably, in cross section the arc angle of the outer surface of the one or major element is greater than the arc angle at its inner surface. In this configuration, in cross section the arc angle of the outer surface of the other or minor element is correspondingly less than the arc angle at its inner surface such that the opposite side surfaces of the major and minor elements may be juxtaposed 15 with and mate with each other. The longitudinally extending side surfaces of the one or major element thus define a tapering throat leading to the restricted entrance into the one element. The tapering throat assists in guiding a flexible hose into and through the restricted entrance into the one or major element. Furthermore the complementary configuration of the 20 longitudinally extending side surfaces of the other or minor element assist in guiding the other or minor element into register with the one or major element in which position the respective longitudinal side surfaces of the one or major element and other or minor element are juxtaposed. The part annular grooves for receiving the annular sealing means preferably are 25 of a cross sectional form such that the majority of an annular sealing means in cross section is received within an annular groove. Each annular groove may have in cross section a curved end wall and opposite side walls, which are preferably planar and parallel, extending from opposite sides of the curved end wall to the side surfaces of the elements. The annular sealing means are suitably in the form of O-rings and the annular 30 grooves suitably have a maximum width slightly greater than the cross sectional diameter of the material forming the O-rings. The annular grooves however may be of other configurations to receive, and/or substantially match the cross sectional shape of, the annular sealing means which locate within the grooves.

WO 2006/066328 PCT/AU2005/001929 4 The chamber formed by the cooperating elements may have more than two annular grooves with each element having a corresponding number and spacing of part annular grooves. For example, the chamber may have four equally spaced annular grooves. 5 A longitudinal side surface of at least one of the elements may include one or more longitudinally extending grooves for receipt of one or more elongated seals for sealing against the longitudinal side surface of the opposing element. Most preferably the longitudinally extending grooves are provided in opposite side surfaces of one or the other element. Preferably the longitudinally extending grooves are provided in the one 10 or major element. Any suitable means may be provided for releasably holding the elements in register with each other to enable the elements to be clamped about a hose. The releasable holding means may comprise separate external clamping means such as hose clamps of the encircling band or strap type. Locating means may be provided to locate 15 the clamps along the elements. The locating means may comprise annular grooves in the outer surfaces of the elements. Suitably the annular grooves are of a width in the longitudinal direction substantially the same as the width of the band or strap of the hose-type clamp so that the band or strap may be neatly received and located therein. Alternatively, the releasable holding means may be incorporated in the elements. 20 For the latter purpose, one of the elements may have in its periphery apertures for receipt of clamping screws for screw engagement with the other element suitably with aligned internally threaded apertures in the other element. Alternatively, the respective elements may be provided with corresponding outwardly projecting lugs or ears which cooperate with each other when the elements are brought into register with each other. 25 Any suitable fasteners or clamping means may be associated with the lugs or ears to urge the lugs or ears and thus the elements towards each other. In one arrangement, the lugs or ears of the respective elements may have apertures or slots to receive fasteners such as nut and bolt fasteners which when tightened urge the lugs or ears and thus the elements towards each other. 30 The present invention in a further aspect provides a method of repairing or sealing a leaks in a hose, said method including the steps of providing a pair of complementary elements, each said element having a part cylindrical internal surface having a radius substantially the same as the radius of said hose to be repaired or sealed, WO 2006/066328 PCT/AU2005/001929 5 at least one pair of longitudinally spaced apart part annular grooves formed in each said surface, locating at least one pair of annular seals about said hose and on opposite sides of a section of said hose to be repaired or sealed, positioning said elements on opposite sides of said hose such that the part annular grooves thereof are substantially aligned 5 with said seals and bringing said elements into register with each other such that said surfaces cooperate to define a substantially cylindrical elongated chamber encompassing said hose with said annular seals being located partially in said part annular grooves of said elements being urged by said elements into sealing engagement with said hose. Preferably and where the hose to be repaired or sealed comprises a flexible hose, 10 one element has in cross section an inner arc angle greater than 180" such as to have a restricted entrance into the interior thereof and the other of the elements has a complementary inner are angle of less than 1800 and wherein the method includes the step of forcing the hose though said restricted entrance into the interior of the one element subsequent to location of said seals about the hose. 15 The elements may have a part cylindrical external configuration such that when the elements are brought into register with each other, they define a substantially tubular member. The elements however may have any external configuration. The elements may be formed of any suitably material such as metal or plastics. A particularly suitable material for the elements comprises aluminium or an aluminium 20 alloy. To resist pressures encountered in high pressure hoses however, it is preferred that the elements be substantially rigid. Brief Description of the Drawings In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a 25 preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein Figs. 1 and 2 are side elevation views of the major and minor elements respectively of the hose repair apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention; Figs. 3 is an exploded end view showing the elements of the hose repair apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2; 30 Fig. 4 is a view of a longitudinal side surface of an element in the direction A of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the longitudinal side surface of the element in the direction B-B of Fig. 4 shown in association with a longitudinal seal; WO 2006/066328 PCT/AU2005/001929 6 Fig. 6 is an end view showing the engagement between the elements; Fig. 7 is an exploded view illustrating the manner of use of the apparatus of the invention; Fig. 8 illustrates in sectional view, the hose located in a major element of the 5 apparatus during application of the apparatus to a hose; Fig. 9 illustrates the apparatus applied to a hose; Fig. 10 illustrates in perspective view a further embodiment of hose repair apparatus according to the invention associated with one clamp; Fig. 11 is an end view of the apparatus of Fig. 10; and 10 Fig. 12 illustrates in cut away perspective view details of the side surface of the major element of the apparatus. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to the drawings and firstly to Figs. 1 to 3, there is illustrated hydraulic hose repair apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention including 15 a pair of co-operable elongated rigid elements comprising a major element 11 and a complementary minor element 12. The major element 11 is of part cylindrical form and of part annular cross section and includes a part cylindrical internal surface 13 having a radius substantially the same as a hose to be repaired and a part cylindrical outer surface 14. A plurality, in this case, four spaced apart part annular grooves 15 coaxial with the 20 central axis of the apparatus 10 are formed in the internal surface 13 at spaced positions therealong. The grooves 15 typically are spaced equally along the element 11. The inner surface 13 in cross section has an arc angle a greater than 1800 such as to define a restricted entrance 16 into the interior 17 of the element. Thus the width W of the entrance 16 between inner edges 18 of the element is less than the internal diameter of 25 the element 11. The element 11 is thus of re-entrant form. Most preferably, the inner surface 13 of the element 11 has an arc angle of between approximately 2200 and 2400. The element 11 also has longitudinally extending symmetrical side surface 19 at opposite sides of the of the elements 11 extending outwardly from the inner edges 18 which are angled outwardly at an acute angle relative to radial lines "Ra" extending 30 from the centre of the surface 13 through the inner edges 18. Thus the outer surface 14 of the element 11 has in cross section a greater arc angle than that of the inner surface 13. The longitudinal side surfaces 19 of the elements 11 are thus angled such that the planes in which they lie intersect along a line which is offset towards the surface 11 on WO 2006/066328 PCT/AU2005/001929 7 one side of an axial line through the centre of the surface 13. The longitudinal surfaces 19 thus define a tapering throat leading into the entrance 16 of the element 11 to assist in guiding a hose into interior 17 of the element 11. The part annular grooves 15 as shown in Fig. 4 have in cross section a curved 5 end wall 20 and opposite flat and parallel side walls 21 extending from opposite sides of the curved end wall 20 to each longitudinal side surface 19. The depth of the grooves 15 is such that the majority of the cross section of an annular seal is received within a groove 15 as described further below. The other element 12 is complementary to the element 11 being also of part 10 cylindrical form and of part annular cross section and includes a part cylindrical internal surface 22 having a radius substantially the same as a hose to be repaired. The element 12 also has a part cylindrical outer surface 23. Four spaced apart part annular grooves 24 are formed in internal surface 22 at the same spacing of the grooves 15 in the surface 13 of the element 11. The grooves 24 also have the same configuration as the grooves 15 15 shown in Fig. 5. Both the inner and outer surfaces 22 and 23 of the element 12 have in cross section arc angles of less than 1800 such that the total arc angles of the inner surface 13 and 22 of the elements 11 and 12 and of the outer surfaces 14 and 12 of the elements 11 and 12 are approximately 3600 whereby the element 12 may mate with the element 11 20 and form therewith a substantially tubular casing or housing as shown in Fig. 7. The element 11 preferably has at its inner surface an arc angle of between approximately 1400 to 120'. The element 12 also has opposite symmetrical longitudinal side surfaces 25 which are angled inwardly at an acute angle relative to radial lines "Rb" extending from the centre of the element 10 to be complementary to and mate with the side 25 surfaces 19 of the element 11. In this case however, the surfaces 25 are angled to the opposite side of the radial lines "Rb" as compared to the surfaces 19 relative to the radial lines "Ra" such that the outer surface 23 of the element 12 has in cross section an arc angle less than that of the inner surface 22. Thus the longitudinal surfaces 25 of the elements 12 are angled such that the planes in which they lie intersect along a line 30 which is offset away from the element 12 and to one side of the axial line through the centre of the curved surface 22 and at an opposite and complementary inclination to the surfaces 19. One of the elements 11 or 12, in this case the major element 11 may have its WO 2006/066328 PCT/AU2005/001929 8 opposite side surfaces 19 provided with longitudinally extending grooves 26 (see Figs. 4 and 5) for receiving longitudinally extending sealing strips or bands 27 for sealing against the surfaces 25 of the opposite element 12. Alternatively or additionally, grooves 26 to accept sealing strips or bands 27 may be formed in the surfaces 25 or one 5 or more grooves 26 may be formed in one surface 19 of one element 11 and one or more grooves 26 formed in a surface 25 of the other element 12. In any of the above configurations, provision of the sealing strip or band 27 assists in ensuring that the elements 11 and 12 are longitudinally sealed along both longitudinal side surfaces 29 and 25 when brought together. 10 To enable the elements 11 and 12 to be interconnected, one of the elements 11 is provided with longitudinally spaced apertures 28 adjacent the longitudinal surface 19 which extend generally tangentially of the surface 14 (see Fig. 7). The other element 12 is provided with spaced internally threaded apertures 29 to receive screws 30 which may be passed through the apertures 28. The apertures 28 and 29 thus have the same spacing 15 and the screws 30 may have heads which enable engagement by Allen keys or the like. In use and as shown in Figs. 7 to 9 and where a high pressure flexible hose 31 having a damaged area or region 32 is to be repaired, O-ring seals or other annular seals 33 are placed over the hose 29 such that the damaged area or region 32 is preferably positioned between the inner two seals 33. The seals 33 may be simply applied by 20 being passed over one end of the hose 31 which is disconnected and the seals 33 are spaced apart substantially the same spacing as the grooves 15 and 24. The element 11 may then be positioned on the side of the hose 31 opposite the damaged section 32 and forced over the hose 32 such that the hose 32 will be guided by the throat between the longitudinal side surfaces 19 into the restricted entrance 16 to 25 locate within the interior 17 of the element 11 as shown in Fig. 8. The flexibility of the hose 31 allows it to be compressed radially when forced into the throat and thereby move into the interior 17 of the element 11. In addition, the seals 33 are positioned such that they align with and locate within the grooves 15. The other element 12 is then brought into register with the element 11 with the seals 33 locating in the grooves 24 30 with the surfaces 19 and 25 being juxtaposed and mating. The elements 11 and 12 thus define a substantially tubular housing or casing as shown in Figs. 7 and 9 which encloses the hose 31 around the damaged region or section 32. The screws 30 are applied through the openings 28 and screwed into the threaded holes 29 such that the WO 2006/066328 PCT/AU2005/001929 9 elements 11 and 12 are held firmly together as in Fig. 9. The annular seals 33 located by the grooves 15 and 24 are thus compressed against the external surface of the hose 31 such that leakage of fluid from the damaged region or area 32 is substantially prevented. Where the longitudinal seals 27 are 5 employed, the element 11 and/or element 12 are provided with the grooves 26 and the seals 27 are positioned in the grooves 26 prior to the elements 11 and 12 being placed about the hose 31. The seals 27 are thus compressed against the opposite side surfaces 19 or 25 when the elements 11 and 12 are clamped together. This further assists in preventing leakage from the damaged region 32. 10 The hose 31 after repair as above may be reconnected if it is still disconnected and the operator may recommence use of the machinery. Any suitably means may be provided for releasably holding the elements in register with each other and clamped about a hose. For example, the releasable holding means may comprise separate external clamping means such as hose-type clamps. 15 Furthermore the seals 27 and 33 may be formed of any sealing material such as elastomeric material. Figs. 10 to 12 illustrates a further embodiment of hose repair apparatus 10 'which is similar to the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 8 and in which like components have like numerals but designated by a prime. The apparatus 10'includes as before a 20 pair of co-operable rigid elements comprising a major element 11' and a complementary minor element 12'of substantially the same configuration as the elements 11 and 12, the major element 11' being of part annular cross section and including a part cylindrical internal surface 13 ' having a radius substantially the same as a hose to be repaired and a part cylindrical outer surface 14'. Four spaced apart part 25 annular grooves 15'for receipt of O-rings are formed in the internal surface 13 'at spaced locations therealong. As previously, the element 11' extends in cross section through an arc greater than 1800, preferably 2200 to 240" so as to be of re-entrant form. The other element 12'is complementary to the element 11 'being also of part cylindrical form and of part annular cross section and includes a part cylindrical internal 30 surface 22'having a radius substantially the same as a hose to be repaired. Four spaced apart part annular grooves (not shown) are formed in internal surface 22 at the same spacing as the grooves 15'in the surface 13'of the element 11 and are also adapted to receive O-rings.

WO 2006/066328 PCT/AU2005/001929 10 The element 12' extends in cross section through an arc less than 1800 typically 1400 to 1200 such that the element 12' may mate with the element 11' and form therewith a substantially tubular casing or housing as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. The major element 11' and minor element 12'in this embodiment are provided 5 with grooves in their outer surfaces which form three spaced annular grooves 34 when the elements 11' and 12' are held together. The grooves 34 act as locating grooves to receive and locate three band-type hose or pipe clamps 35, one of which is shown in Fig. 10 located within a groove 34 to hold the major element 11'and minor element 12'in engagement with each other. More than three annular grooves 34 may be 10 provided for receiving a corresponding number of clamps 35 whilst in some applications only two grooves 34 and clamps 35. The clamps 35 have bands or straps 36 of a width substantially the same as the width of a groove 34 so that they may locate neatly thereof. In this embodiment, the clamps 35 include bolts 37 for tightening the bands or straps 36 around the elements 11' and 12' however other forms of band 15 tightening means may be provided. The major element 11' as shown in Fig. 12 is provided along its opposite side surfaces 19 (only one of which is shown) with longitudinally extending grooves 26 ' for receipt of an elongated sealing strip 27 ' such as a strip formed as rubber or other elastomeric material for sealing against the corresponding opposing side surface 25' of 20 the minor elements 12' when the elements 11'and 12'are clamped together. The sealing strip 27'may be of any cross section. The clamp 10' is assembled and used in the same manner as described with reference to Figs. 7 and 8 except in this case the hose clamps 35 are used to hold the elements 11' and 12' in engagement about the hose being repaired. 25 Whilst the apparatus described in the above embodiments above is of a generally tubular configuration, it may of course have various external configurations for example a square or rectangular configuration or be of other multi-sided configurations. In some situations only two sets of grooves 15 and 24 may be required for locating the seals 33 whilst in other situations more than four sets of grooves 15 and 24 may be required. 30 The terms "comprising" or "comprises" or derivatives thereof as used throughout the specification and claims are taken to specify the presence of the stated features, integers and components referred to but not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other feature/s, integer/s, component/s or group thereof WO 2006/066328 PCT/AU2005/001929 11 Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative embodiment of the invention, all such variations and modifications thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein defined in the appended claims. 5 10 15 20 25 30

Claims (20)

1. Apparatus for repairing or sealing a leak in a hose, said apparatus including a pair of complementary elements, each said element having a part cylindrical internal 5 surface having a radius substantially the same as the external radius of a said hose to be repaired or sealed, at least one pair of longitudinally spaced apart part annular grooves formed in each said internal surface, said elements being adapted to be brought into and held in register with each other such that said internal surfaces cooperate to define a substantially cylindrical elongated chamber for encompassing said hose with said part 10 annular grooves in the respective said elements being aligned to define annular grooves within said chamber for accepting annular sealing means for sealing against said hose.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of the said element has in cross section an inner arc angle greater than 1800 and the other of the said elements has a 15 complementary inner arc angle of less than 1800 whereby when the elements are brought into register with each other, they form apparatus having an internal cylindrical surface adapted to encircle and encompass said hose.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said one element has an inner arc angle 20 of between approximately 2200 to 2400 and the other said element has an inner arc angle of between approximately 1400 to 1600.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said one element has opposite longitudinal sides which define a restricted entrance into the element of a 25 transverse dimension less than the diameter of said hose whereby the hose can be captured at least partially within said one element.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said one element has opposite side surfaces extending along said opposite longitudinal sides of said one element, said side 30 surfaces being angles outwardly at an acute angle relative to radial lines extending from the centre of curvature of said one element through the inner edges of the said surfaces between which said restricted entrance is defined. WO 2006/066328 PCT/AU2005/001929 13

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said other element has opposite side surfaces extending along opposite longitudinal sides of said other element, said side surfaces being angled inwardly at an acute angle relative to radial lines extending from the centre of curvature of said inner surface of said other element through the inner 5 edges of said surfaces.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the outer surfaces of the elements are part cylindrical wherein the outer surfaces of the elements in cross section extend through different arc angles than their inner surfaces. 10

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein in cross section, the arc angle of the outer surface of the one element is greater than the arc angle at its inner surface and the wherein the arc angle of the outer surface of the other element is correspondingly less than the arc angle at its inner surface whereby said opposite side surfaces may be 15 juxtaposed and mate with each other.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the part annular grooves are of a cross sectional form such that the majority of an annular sealing means in cross section is received within an annular groove. 20

10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said annular sealing means comprise O-rings.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8 wherein a longitudinal side 25 surface of at least one of the elements includes one or more longitudinally extending grooves for receipt of one or more elongated seals for sealing against the longitudinal side surface of the opposing element.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein longitudinally extending said grooves 30 are provided in opposite side surfaces of one or the other element.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and including means for releasably holding the elements in register with each other to enable the elements to WO 2006/066328 PCT/AU2005/001929 14 be clamped about a hose.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said releasable holding means may comprise separate external clamping means adapted to encircle said elements. 5

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 and including locating means for locating said external clamping means.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein said locating means comprise 10 annularly extending grooves in the outer surfaces of the elements.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said means for releasably holding said elements in register with each other comprise apertures in the periphery of one said element for receipt of clamping screws for screw engagement with the other element. 15

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said elements are provided with corresponding outwardly projecting lugs or ears which cooperate with each other when the elements are brought into register with each other and fasteners or clamping means adapted to be associated with the lugs or ears to urge the lugs or ears and thus the 20 elements towards each other.

19. A method of repairing or sealing a leak in a hose, said method including the steps of providing a pair of complementary elements, each said element having a part cylindrical internal surface having a radius substantially the same as the radius of said 25 hose to be repaired or sealed, at least one pair of longitudinally spaced apart part annular grooves formed in each said surface, locating at least one pair of annular seals about said hose and on opposite sides of a section of said hose to be repaired or sealed, positioning said elements on opposite sides of said hose such that the part annular grooves thereof are substantially aligned with said seals and bringing said elements into 30 register with each other such that said surfaces cooperate to define a substantially cylindrical elongated chamber encompassing said hose with said annular seals being located partially in said part annular grooves of said elements and urged by said elements against said hose. WO 2006/066328 PCT/AU2005/001929 15

20. A method as claimed in claim 19 wherein one said element has in cross section an inner arc angle greater than 180' such as to have a restricted entrance into the interior thereof and the other of the said elements has a complementary inner arc angle of less than 1800 and wherein said method includes the step of forcing said hose though said 5 restricted entrance into the interior of said one element subsequent to location of said seals about said hose.