AU759664B2

AU759664B2 - A clamping device

Info

Publication number: AU759664B2
Application number: AU23086/01A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Kenneth Craige Hicks; Brian Ernest Robertson; Terrence John Waddington
Original assignee: Water Corp
Current assignee: Water Corp
Priority date: 2000-02-22
Filing date: 2001-02-20
Publication date: 2003-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 2021-02-20
Also published as: AU2308601A

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT (Original) APPLICATION NO:

LODGED:

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION LODGED:

ACCEPTED:

PUBLISHED:

RELATED ART: 0 0 0 0.0.

0 .000 o. o.

NAME OF APPLICANT: ACTUAL INVENTORS: ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: INVENTION TITLE: WATER CORPORATION Brian Ernest Robertson Kenneth Craige Hicks Terrence John Waddington LORD COMPANY Patent Trade Mark Attorneys 4 Douro Place West Perth, Western Australia, 6005

AUSTRALIA.

"A CLAMPING DEVICE" DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NO'S: PQ5769 filed on February 22, 2000 The following Statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2

TITLE

"A CLAMPING DEVICE" The present invention relates to a clamping device.

In the water supply industry, it is common to transport water to desired locations through interconnected underground pipes. Each such pipe includes at each elongate end a circumferential flange having a plurality of apertures disposed around the flange. Adjacent pipes are connected together by aligning the apertures of each two adjacent flanges and inserting bolts through the aligned apertures to fix the flanges and thereby the pipes together.

With such a system for connecting adjacent pipes together, over time, the integrity of the bolts deteriorates and the efficiency of the connection is reduced. Therefore, in order to maintain the efficiency and integrity of the connection between the two pipes, it is common practice to replace defective bolts with new bolts.

However, while this practice is generally satisfactory, in some cases removal of a S. 15 defective bolt could cause the other bolts to fail and thereby the connection between the two pipes to break. This situation is potentially dangerous to a user.

••eee Attempts have been made to overcome this problem by use of a G-clamp. However, application of a G-clamp to the flanges is not reliable since the clamp is liable to slip.

The present invention seeks, therefore, among other things, to provide a clamping device which overcomes at least some of the above mentioned disadvantages.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a clamping device for clamping respective end flanges of adjacent pipes, said device including a first clamping member, a second clamping member and connecting means for connecting the first clamping member to the second clamping member, at least one of said first or second clamping members being configured such that a flange bolt is at least partially receivable in said one of said first or second clamping members, and the connecting means being arranged such that the position of the first clamping means relative to the second clamping means is adjustable.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure I is a perspective view of a clamping device in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side view of the clamping device shown in Figure 1; Figures 3a and 3b are diagrammatic plan and side views respectively of a first clamping member of the clamping device shown in Figure 1; Figures 4a and 4b are diagrammatic plan and side views respectively of a second clamping member of the clamping device shown in Figure 1; "Figure 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of two clamping devices as shown in Figure 1 o 15 engaged, in use, with flanges of two adjacent pipes; and Figure 6 is diagrammatic side view of the clamping device shown in Figure 1 .o.o0i engaged, in use, with flanges of two adjacent pipes.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a clamping device 10 for use in clamping together adjacent flanges of two adjacent pipes.

20 The clamping device 10 includes a first clamping member in the form of a first jaw .i 12, a second clamping member in the form of a second jaw 14 and connecting means 16 for connecting together the first and second jaws 12, 14.

The first and second jaws 12, 14 each include an inner face 21, an outer face 23 and a side face 25. A first aperture 22 and a second aperture 24 extend through each jaw 12, 14 from the inner face 21 through to the outer face 23. A recess portion 26 extends inwardly of a gap 28 in the side face 25. The jaws 12, 14 further each include projecting members adjacent the gap 28 in the form of first and second claw members 32 respectively. The first and second claw members 30, 32 are defined by the side face 25, the recess portion 26 and the gap 28. In this embodiment, the recess portion 26 is of generally circular shape, although it will be appreciated that other shaped recess portions are also envisaged.

The first and second claw members 30, 32 include a curved clamping surface 34 upon the inner face 21. Each jaw 12, 14 further includes a protruding portion 36 extending from the first and second apertures 22, 24 in a direction away from the first and second claw members 30, 32.

The connecting means 16 includes a first connecting bolt 18 extending from the outer fee.

face 23 of the first jaw 12 through the first apertures 22 of the first and second jaws *fee 12, 14 to the outer face 23 of the second jaw 14, and a second connecting bolt S. 15 extending from the outer face 23 of the first jaw 12 through the second apertures 24 of the first and second jaws 12, 14 to the outer face 23 of the second jaw 14. Also 99**9* •ooo9 provided are a first connecting nut 17 and a second connecting nut 19 which engage respectively with the first and second connecting bolts 18, .It will be understood that rotation of the first, and second connecting nuts 17, 19 in a *20 first direction relative to the respective first and second connecting bolts 18, 20 will *o effect movement of the first and second jaws 12, 14 towards each other, and that rotation of the connecting nuts 17 in the opposite direction relative to the respective first and second connecting bolts 18, 20 will permit the first and second jaws 12, 14 to move away from each other.

The clamping device 10 also includes alignment controlling means 38 which acts to restrict pivotal movement of the respective protruding portions 36 towards each other and of the first and second claw members 30, 32 of the first jaw 12 away from the first and second claw members 30, 32 of the second jaw 14.

The alignment controlling means 38 includes an alignment controlling bolt 40 which extends from the outer face 23 of the first jaw 12 through a third aperture 44 in the protruding portion 36 of the first jaw 12 to a location between the first and second jaws 12, 14. Also provided is an alignment controlling nut 42 disposed on the alignment controlling bolt 40 between the first and second jaws 12, 14.

The arrangement of the alignment controlling means 38 is such that the alignment controlling bolt 40 is rotatable relative to the alignment controlling nut 42. When the alignment controlling bolt 40 is rotated in a first direction relative to the alignment controlling nut 42, the alignment controlling bolt 40 contacts the inner face 21 of the second jaw 14 and thereby urges the protruding portions 36 of the first and second 15 jaws 12, 14 to move away from each other and the first and second claw members 32 of the first and second jaws 12, 14 to move towards each other. When the alignment controlling bolt 40 is rotated in the opposite direction, the protruding portions 36 are permitted to move towards each other and the first and second claw s.e members 30, 32 are permitted to move away from each other.

so*. 20 In Figures 5 and 6, the clamping device 10 is shown in use with an underground pipe.

sees The pipe includes a first pipe member 48 connected to a second pipe member 50. The first pipe member 48 includes a first circumferential flange 52 and the second pipe member 50 includes a second circumferential flange 54. Each of the first and second flanges 52, 54 includes eight apertures spaced at regular intervals around the 6 respective first or second flange 52, 54. The locations of the apertures are such that when the first and second pipe members 48, 50 are aligned with each other, the apertures of the first flange 52 are alignable with the apertures of the second flange 54. Eight flange bolts 56 and eight corresponding flange nuts 58 are provided, each flange bolt 56 extending through an aligned pair of apertures of the first and second flanges 52, 54, and each flange bolt 56 and corresponding flange nut 58 serving to fix the first and second flanges 52, 54 together to prevent egress of contents from the pipe.

In use, when it is desired to replace a defective bolt 60, a clamping device 10 is fitted to the first and second flanges 52, 54 at either side of the defective bolt 60 as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

In order to fit each clamping device 10 to the first and second flanges 52, 54, the first 19 and second connecting nuts are rotated relative to their respective first and second connecting bolts 18, 20 so as to permit the first and second jaws 12, 14 to move away from each other to a distance sufficient for the first and second flanges 52, 54 to fit between the first and second claw members 30, 32 of the first and second jaws 12, 14.

The connecting nuts are then rotated in the opposite direction so as to urge the first and second jaws 12, 14 to move closer to each other. At the same time the recess portions 26 of the first and second jaws 12, 14 are guided so that a head of a flange 20 bolt 56 is received in the recess portion 26 of one of the first or second jaws 12, 14 and its corresponding flange nut 58 is received in the recess portion 26 of the other of the first or second jaws 12, 14, as shown in Figure 5. Rotation of the connecting nuts o is continued until the clamping surface 34 contacts the first and second flanges 52, 54 and a sufficient clamping force is exerted on the first and second flanges 52, 54. It 7 will be understood that since the clamping surface 34 is curved, good contact is made between the jaws 12, 14 and the flanges 52, 54.

In order to ensure that a satisfactory and reliable clamping force is exerted on the first and second flanges 52, 54, the alignment controlling bolt 40 is rotated relative to the alignment controlling nut 42 in a direction such that the respective protruding portions 36 of the first and second jaws 12, 14 are urged to move away from each other and the respective first and second claw members 30, 32 of the first and second jaws 12, 14 are urged to move towards each other.

Once both clamping devices 10 are in position adjacent the defective bolt 60, the defective bolt 60 can be removed by any suitable means, for example by means of a spanner 62, and a fresh flange bolt 56 inserted into the aperture and tightened with a corresponding flange nut 58.

It will be understood that since the flange bolt heads and the flange nuts 58 adjacent .".the defective bolt 60 are received in the recess portions 26 of the first and second jaws 12, 14 respectively, the risk of clamp slippage during use is greatly reduced.

Preferably, the first and second jaws are formed of bisalloy. However, it will be appreciated that the first and second jaws may be formed of any sufficiently strong material suitable for use with fluid carrying pipes.

Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are 20 deemed to be within the scope of the present invention o*

S.

Claims

1. A clamping device for clamping respective end flanges of adjacent pipes, said device including a first clamping member, a second clamping member and connecting means for connecting the first clamping member to the second clamping member, the connecting means not passing through the end flanges, at least one of the first or the second clamping members being configured such that a flange bolt is at least partially receivable in said one of the first or the second clamping members, and the connecting means being arranged such that the position of the first clamping means relative to the second clamping means is adjustable.

2. A clamping device according to Claim 1, wherein at least said one of the first or the second clamping members includes a recess, and wherein the flange bolt is at least partially receivable within the recess. S 3. A clamping device according to Claim 2, wherein at least said one of the first or S• the second clamping members includes at least one projecting member such that, in use, the projecting member extends at least partially about the flange bolt so as to prevent disengagement of the flange bolt from within the recess.

4. A clamping device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first clamping member and the second clamping member each include a first aperture, and wherein the connecting means includes a first bolt which is receivable within the first aperture of the first clamping means and the first aperture of the second clamping means. 9 A clamping device according to Claim 4, wherein the connecting means includes a first nut arranged to engage with the first bolt, and wherein rotation of the first nut in a first direction relative to the first bolt effects movement of the first and the second clamping members towards each other, and rotation of the first nut in a second direction opposite to the first direction permits the first and the second clamping members to move away from each other.

6. A clamping device according to Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein the first clamping member and the second clamping member each include a second aperture, and wherein the connecting means includes a second bolt which is receivable within the second aperture of the first clamping means and the second aperture of the second clamping means.

7. A clamping means according to Claim 6, wherein the connecting means includes a second nut arranged to engage with the second bolt, and wherein rotation of the second nut in a first direction relative to the second bolt effects movement of the first and the second clamping members towards each other, and rotation of the first nut in a second direction opposite to the first direction permits the first and the second clamping members to move away from each other.

8. A clamping device according to any on the preceding claims, wherein the clamping device includes an alignment controlling means arranged, in use, to selectively 20 permit rotation of the first clamping member relative to the second clamping member.

9. A clamping device according to Claim 8, wherein the alignment controlling S means comprises an alignment controlling bolt which, in use, is movable relative to one of the first and the second clamping members and fixed relative to the other of the first and the second clamping members. A clamping device according to Claim 9, wherein the alignment means includes an alignment controlling nut arranged to engage with the alignment controlling bolt, and wherein, in use, rotation of the alignment controlling nut relative to the alignment controlling bolt effects movement of the said one of the first and the second clamping members relative to the alignment controlling bolt.

11. A clamping device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS 12TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2003. .2 oO •20 oe oo WATER CORPORATION By their Patent Attorneys LORD COMPANY PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. ki