CA2051226C

CA2051226C - Pipe coupler

Info

Publication number: CA2051226C
Application number: CA 2051226
Authority: CA
Inventors: Mario Pezzutto
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-09-12
Filing date: 1991-09-12
Publication date: 1997-03-18
Anticipated expiration: 2011-09-12
Also published as: CA2051226A1

Abstract

A clamp for joining two sections of pipe, the ends of which to be joined have radially extending flanges projecting outwardly, comprises a clamping ring with two adjacent end sections and an inverted V-shaped cross-section. There are two bearing elements, each of which is affixed to a respective one of the end sections and extends radially outwardly. The clamp includes an elongate threaded rod member having a slotted plate rigidly affixed to one end thereof. One of the bearing elements extends through the slotted plate to secure one end of the rod member to the ring. The rod member extends through the other bearing element and is secured therein by an elongate nut member and adjacent washer. Preferably, the slotted plate has two parallel slots and each bearing element is an inverted U-shaped connector.

Description

This invention relates to a clamp or coupler for joining the ends of aligned tubular members or pipes.
A variety of devices are known for joining the ends of pipe sections together. These devices may include a sealing element to ensure that the joint is completely sealed as well as firmly held together. One common form of connecting device is in the form of an open or broken ring with an inverted V-shaped cross-section and a mechanism for tightening or closing the ring about end flanges formed on the pipe sections.
One form of open ring clamp known to the applicant has two inverted U-shaped bearing elements each affixed to a respective end section of the ring and extending radially outwardly. An elongate bolt having a head at one end extends through both of these bearing elements and its head engages the side of one of the bearing elements. A nut member holds the bolt in the other bearing element and by tightening the nut member on the bolt, the ring clamp can be tightened to securely fasten the pipe sections together.
Although the aforementioned pipe clamp will work satisfactorily, difficulties have been encountered with its use. For example, when this form of clamp is being used to connect two pipe sections together, it is necessary for the installers to hold the head of the bolt in some manner while the nut member is being threaded onto the bolt and this operation may require two men. Also, during the tightening procedure, it can be difficult for the installers to ensure proper alignment between the bolt and nut member and the bearing elements through which the bolt extends. If the bolt ., and nut member are not properly aligned during the torquing procedure, the clamp may not close or tighten evenly. Another difficulty with the known ring clamp is that the elongate nut member requires a special tool in order to be turned and tightened on the bolt and this can result in further inconvenience for the installers.
U.S. patent 4,438,960 issued March 27, 1984 to Alcolite Products Corporation describes a plastic clamping ring for securing and sealing the joint between adjoining ducts. This ring has a generally V-shaped cross-section and is provided with a molded in place or bonded seal which engages the flange rims. A latching feature permits the ends of the clamp to be temporarily latched in position to frictionally limit, without preventing, adjustment of the relative angular position of the adjoining ducts.
U.S. patent 3,544,137 issued December 1, 1970 to Aeroquip Corporation also describes a clamping ring designed to be used in conjunction with a ball joint in a low pressure fluid line.
This ring has a central web connecting a pair of diverging sidewalls. Outwardly extending flanges extend from these sidewalls. The ring has two upstanding bolt receiving posts which have apertures receiving a bolt therethrough. A
standard nut is threaded onto the bolt to draw the posts together.
According to the present invention, there is provided a clamp for joining two sections of pipe, the ends of which are to be joined, the clamp comprising a clamping ring with two adjacent end sections. Two bearing elements are each affixed 20!~122~

to a respective one of the end sections and extend radially outwardly. An elongate threaded rod member has a slotted plate attached to one end thereof and one of the bearing elements extends through this slotted plate to secure one end of the rod member to the ring. There are means for securing an end portion of the rod member in the other of the bearing elements. The securing means includes a nut member adapted for threaded engagement with the rod member.
Preferably, the slotted plate has two parallel slots and the bearing element that connects this plate to the ring is an inverted U-shaped connector having two leg sections, each of which extends through a respective one of the slots.
Further features and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a complete ring clamp constructed in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 is a side view of the ring clamp of the invention connecting together the ends of two pipe sections;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing how the slotted plate is connected to an end section of the ring clamp, this view being taken along the line II-II of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the elongate nut member used to secure one end of the threaded rod; and Figure 5 is a detailed view showing the preferred configuration of the slotted plate attached to one end of the rod member.

20~1226 The coupler or clamp 10 of the invention is used to connect together the ends of pipes or duct sections 12 and 14.
The adjacent ends of the pipes are each provided with a short, outwardly extending annular flange 50 (see Figure 3) and the two adjacent flanges are surrounded by the clamp 10. By tightening the clamp in the manner to be described, the two pipes sections are secured firmly together. This type of coupler or clamp is ideal for underground use such as for connecting steel duct sections used in the ventilation of mine shafts. In a preferred embodiment of the clamp 10, there are rubber seals 52 of known construction that extend about the circumference of the ring that acts to seal the joint between the pipe sections. The seals 52 can be made from long strips of sponge rubber that can be purchased from Jacobs & Thompson of Weston, Ontario, Canada. The preferred rubber material is sold under type No. 1380. The seals 52 are bonded by a suitable adhesive (such as PLYBOND*) to the clamp.
Because the ring clamp is broken at one point, it has two adjacent end sections 54 and 56, portions of which may overlap as indicated at 58 in Figure 1. The clamping ring can have an inverted V-shaped cross-section as shown clearly in Figure 3 and this cross-section extends about the circumference of the clamp. The clamping ring is made in a variety of sizes in order to fit various duct sizes. Two bearing elements or clips 22 and 24 are each affixed to a respective one of the end sections 54 and 56 and extend radially outwardly. The preferred form of bearing element is an inverted U-shaped connector having two leg sections 26 and 28 shown clearly in * trade-mark ' 20~1226 Figure 3 and an end of each leg section is welded to the outside of the ring. Preferably the leg sections diverge slightly outwardly in the radially inwards direction of the rlng .
There are also means for tightening and holding the clamping ring in a closed position about the ends of the pipe sections. The tightening means includes an elongate threaded rod member 36 having a slotted plate or buckle-like member 34 rigidly affixed to one end thereof. The plate 34 can be welded to one side of the end of the rod as shown in Figure 5.
The centre of the threaded rod 36 is aligned with the centre-line C of the plate 34 in the manner illustrated in Figure 5.
The bearing element 22 extends through the slotted plate to secure one end of the rod member to the ring. In the preferred version of the clamping ring, the slotted plate 34 has two parallel slots 30 and 32 and each of the leg sections of the bearing element 22 extends through a respective one of these slots. Preferably the two slots 30 and 32 are straight slots that are closed at both ends and that are slightly larger than the transverse cross-sections of the leg sections 26 and 28 so as to permit some movement of the slotted plate along these leg sections. In one preferred embodiment, the slotted plate is 4" long and 2 5/8" wide and the two slots are 2 3/4" long and spaced apart a distance of 5/8ths of an inch.
In this particular embodiment the two slots are each 3/8ths of an inch wide. As can be seen from Figure 3, the slotted plate 34 prevents any significant rotation of the threaded rod 36 and acts to effectively hold the rod member in the re~uired position as the clamp is being tightened.
The aforementioned tightening and holding means also includes an elongate nut member for securing the rod member 36. This nut member 42 preferably is an elongate tubular member having an internally threaded portion 46 at one end.
The portion 46 can be constructed by welding a suitable nut to a pipe section having an internal diameter sufficiently large to accommodate the threaded rod. The threads of the nut will, of course, match those on the threaded rod. The pipe that is attached to the nut has sufficient length to permit the clamping ring to be fully tightened but is not so long that it will not fit into relatively tight spaces or is cumbersome.
A preferred feature of the nut member 42 is the provision of a nut turning portion 48 at the end of the pipe opposite the internally threaded portion 46. In the version illustrated in Figure 4, the nut turning portion 48 has four sides and preferably is sized to fit a standard wrench. A square solid metal block or a further nut can be used for purposes of the nut turning portion 48 which is welded to the end of the pipe.
Preferably there is also a standard flat washer 40 which is placed on the rod member and which rests against one side of the bearing element 24. As the nut member 42 is threaded onto the rod member, the nut member 42 presses against this washer which in turn is pressed against the side of the bearing element. It will be understood that the diameter of the washer is greater than the width of the opening in the bearing element 24.
From the above description it will be seen that the 20~1226 present invention provides a ring clamp which has distinct advantages over known ring clamps that employ a simple bolt and nut connector. With the use of the slotted plate 34 that holds one end of the threaded rod and effectively prevents it from turning, less time is required to install this ring clamp at a pipe joint and it is more convenient to use. The present construction allows the clamp installer to concentrate solely on tightening the nut member 42 onto the threaded rod.
Because the slotted plate 34 can slide and pivot to some extent on its bearing element, proper alignment between the threaded rod and the bearing elements during the tightening procedure is ensured. The present arrangement permits the threaded rod to pull evenly on both bearing elements allowing even clamping\drawing action.
With the use of the special elongate nut member construction disclosed herein, the nut member 42 can be readily tightened using a standard wrench or socket member and even a speed handle with a suitable socket can be used to tighten this member. No special tightening tool is required for this purpose.
Although the clamping ring described and illustrated herein has a standard inverted V-shaped cross-section, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the clamping ring of the invention could have a variety of cross-sections.
The cross-section of the clamping ring will depend to some extent on the type of pipe being joined and on particular job and sealing requirements.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in this art that 20~1226 various modifications and changes can be made to the clamping ring described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications and changes are intended to be part of this invention.

Claims

1. A clamp for joining two sections of pipe, the ends of which to be joined have radially extending flanges projecting outwardly, said clamp comprising a clamping ring with two adjacent end sections, said ring having an inverted V-shaped cross-section, two bearing elements each affixed to a respective one of said end sections and extending radially outwardly, and means for tightening and holding said ring in a closed position about the ends of said pipe sections, said tightening and holding means comprising an elongate threaded rod member having a slotted plate attached to one end thereof, and nut means for securing said rod member, wherein said slotted plate has two slots, one of said bearing elements is a connector having two leg sections which extend through said slots to secure one end of said rod member to said ring, said slots are slightly larger than the transverse cross-sections of the respective leg sections so as to permit movement of the slotted plate along said leg sections, said rod member extends through the other of said bearing elements, and in use of said clamp, said nut means is threaded onto said rod member to hold an end portion of said rod member in said other bearing element.

2. A clamp according to claim 1 wherein said slots are parallel and said connector is an inverted U-shaped connector.

3. A clamp according to claim 1 wherein said nut means is an elongate tubular member having an internally threaded portion at one end, said nut turning portion being suitable for engagement by a wrench.

4. A clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein both of said bearing elements are inverted U-shaped connectors having two leg sections, each of which is welded at one end thereof to the outside of said ring.

5. A clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said tightening and holding means includes a washer on said rod member and located between one side of said other bearing element and said nut means.

6. A clamp according to claim 2 wherein said two slots are straight slots that are closed at both ends.

7. A clamp according to claim 6 wherein said leg sections diverge slightly outwardly in the radially inwards direction of said ring.

8. A clamp according to claim 6 or 7 wherein said nut means is an elongate tubular member having an internally threaded portion at one end and a nut turning portion at the opposite end, said nut turning portion being suitable for engagement by a wrench.

9. A clamp according to claim 6 or 7 wherein both of said bearing elements are inverted U-shaped connectors having two leg sections, each of which is welded at one end thereof to the outside of said ring.

10. A clamp for joining two sections of pipe the ends of which are to be joined, said clamp comprising a clamping ring with two adjacent end sections, two bearing elements each affixed to a respective one of said end sections and extending radially outwardly, an elongate threaded rod member having a slotted plate attached to one end thereof and having two slots, one of said bearing elements being a connector having two leg sections which extend through said slots to secure one end of the rod member to the ring, and means for securing an end portion of said rod member in the other of said bearing elements, said securing means including nut means adapted for threaded engagement with said rod member, wherein said slots are slightly larger than the transverse cross-sections of the respective leg sections so as to permit movement of the slotted plate along said leg sections.

11. A clamp according to claim 10 wherein said slots are parallel and said one connector is an inverted U-shaped connector.

12. A clamp according to claim 10 wherein said nut means is an elongate tubular member having an internally threaded portion at one end and a nut turning portion being suitable for engagement by a wrench.

13. A clamp according to any one of claims 10 to 12 wherein both of said bearing elements are inverted U-shaped connectors having two leg sections, each of which is welded at one end thereof to the outside of said ring.

14. A clamp according to claim 11 wherein said two slots are straight slots that are closed at both ends.

15. A clamp according to claim 14 wherein said leg sections diverge slightly outwardly in the radially inwards direction of said ring.

16. A clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and 10 to 12 wherein said slotted plate is rigidly affixed to one end of the rod member.