EP1507996A1

EP1507996A1 - Pipe clamp

Info

Publication number: EP1507996A1
Application number: EP02754574A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jan Sedlacek; Juan Blazek; Martin Nemrava; Petr Bezdek
Original assignee: ABA of Sweden AB
Current assignee: Norma Sweden AB
Priority date: 2002-05-17
Filing date: 2002-05-17
Publication date: 2005-02-23
Also published as: WO2003098090A1; US20050179260A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a pipe clamp for connecting two fluid pipes that have different shapes. The inventive pipe clamp comprises a first area (10) receiving a pipe that has a first shape, a second area (11) receiving a pipe that has a second shape, a transition element (12) connecting the two receiving areas (10, 11) in a fluid-tight manner, a flange area (13) encompassing final sections (14, 15) of the two receiving areas (10, 11) and the transition element (13), which form a clamping slit (16) between each other in the border region thereof, and a fixing device (17) bracing the receiving areas (10, 11) around the pipes at the clamping slit (16). The inventive pipe clamp is characterized by the fact that the two receiving areas (10, 11) are eccentrically arranged relative to each other such that the transition element (12) and the receiving areas (10, 11) are positioned next to each other in a non-staggered manner, forming a level section.

Description

CLAMP

The present invention relates to a pipe clamp for connecting two fluid lines. In particular, the invention relates to a pipe clamp for connecting two fluid lines which have different shapes. Generic pipe clamps are commercially available. In this case, a band-shaped jacket is placed around both lines attached to one another and braced with angled end regions of the bands by means of screws passed through them in such a way that a seal between the band material of the clamp and the pipes or hoses accommodated in the clamps can be achieved. With these simple clamps with only one wide band around both lines, only pipes or hoses of identical diameter can be connected to each other.

In a further developed design, pipes or hoses of different diameters can also be connected to one another by assembling the clamp from two receiving areas of different diameters, which are adapted to the outer diameter of the pipes to be clamped in each case. The two recording areas are connected to each other by a transition area. This represents a step between the two receiving areas, which runs around the entire circumference of the pipe clamp. Just as with simple pipe clamps, the receiving areas are designed to be cylindrical to fit the cylindrical outer wall of the cables as well as possible. In this case, cylindrical is to be understood as a shape which does not change its distance from a center in the pipe direction, for example round cylinders, but to square or oval shapes.

To enable the above-mentioned types of pipe clamps to be braced around the lines to be accommodated, the Pipe clamps designed so that there is a small distance between the end areas, the so-called tensioning slot, which is contracted so far by the actual locking mechanism of the pipe clamp that tightness is ensured at the circumferential band or receiving areas.

So that no fluid, such as a liquid or a gas, can escape at the joint of the two pipes placed on top of each other, additional sealing measures are necessary especially in the tensioning slot, since there are no clamp bands and therefore fluid cannot escape through the receiving areas. A conventional sealing system includes a small sheet metal tongue or the like, which is arranged in the area of the tensioning slot on the inside of the wall of the pipe clamp and extends over both receiving areas in order to be able to reliably cover the tensioning slot in the area of the abutment of the two pipes. In the case of simple pipe clamps for connecting lines of identical diameter, this insertion tongue seal can provide a reliable one

Sealing can also be achieved in the area of the clamping slot. On the other hand, due to the gradation in the case of pipe clamps for receiving pipes of different diameters at the transition between the two receiving areas, sealing problems of this kind arise with insert lugs. The gradation, which is also necessary for the insert tongues, is extremely difficult to match with the gradation of the actual clamp in the transition area, so that gaps can occur here, through which liquid or especially gases can escape. The use of particularly flexible insert tongues has not brought the desired sealing success. It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a pipe clamp which is fluid-tight even when receiving differently shaped lines in the flange area, especially at the tensioning slot.

This object is achieved by the provision of a pipe clamp according to independent claim 1. Further advantageous configurations, details and aspects of the present invention result from the dependent claims, the description and the accompanying drawings.

The invention is based on the idea of designing the flange area by eccentric arrangement of the two receiving areas in such a way that the pipe clamp runs there as flat as a pipe clamp for two pipes of identical shape.

Accordingly, the invention is directed to a pipe clamp for connecting two fluid lines of different shapes, which has:

a first receiving area for receiving a line of a first shape;

a second receiving area for receiving a line of a second shape;

a transition to the fluid-tight connection of the two receiving areas; a flange area with end sections of the two receiving areas and the transition, which form a clamping slot between them adjacent to one another; and

a fastening for bracing the receiving areas around the line at the tension slot,

the pipe clamp being characterized in that the two receiving areas are arranged eccentrically to one another in such a way that the transition and the receiving areas in the flange area form a flat area lying next to one another in a stepless manner.

The receiving areas each have shapes and dimensions that are suitable for making positive contact with the lines to be received. The transition between the receiving areas mediates between the two receiving areas and serves as a kind of adapter for establishing a flow from one line to the other. The transition can have an inclined wall in order to allow a good flow of the fluid through the pipe clamp, or it can run at right angles to the receiving areas as a step, so that the two lines to be connected abut one another directly, which leads to simpler manufacture and better sealability , A fluid-tight connection is to be understood here to mean that, under the operating conditions to be expected, no fluid or only an irrelevant amount of fluid can occur between the inner walls of the receiving areas and the lines. The receiving areas surround the cables almost completely, only a small free area remains in the area of the flange, the clamping slot, which is present both at the two receiving areas and at the transition and is formed by the end sections of receiving areas and transition, which are adjacent to each other. If the transition is a step running orthogonally to the receiving areas, it is understood that it has no width in the longitudinal direction of the pipe clamp, so that the end sections experience no contribution from the transition. In such cases, the end sections are de facto formed only by the receiving areas.

A fastening, for example of a conventional type, serves to brace the receiving areas, to regulate the span width and to achieve the tightness of the overall system.

The eccentric arrangement of the receiving areas, the inner wall tangents of which come to lie in the flange area, avoids the step in the transition there. Therefore, the two recording areas and if necessary. the transition a smooth inner wall, which no longer has the sealing problems known from the prior art.

The concept of the flat area, as used according to the invention, is to be seen here against the background that, when viewed strictly mathematically, circles touching each other tangentially (in the case of curved lines) can only touch at one point due to the different circular curvature. Under a flat area in the sense of the present invention, the two on the side of this hypothetical point of contact extending area are understood, in which the curvature differences between the two receiving areas and the transition do not yet lead to deviations in which the step that occurs either at the transition or the deviation from the ideal shape when planning the pipe clamp due to the later bracing during Connections could not be compensated so far, and so that no more tightness could be achieved.

The special flat area up to a certain distance from the tensioning slot can actually be constructed as a flat area in the sense that no step occurs in the longitudinal direction of the pipe run at the transition. As a result, the inner shape of the pipe clamp deviates from the theoretically necessary ideal shape, with which an optimal seal and reception of the two lines of different shapes can be achieved. Within a certain planning tolerance, however, the tightness of the system is not compromised.

The pipe clamp can be formed from a sheet metal or, for example, injection molded from a plastic material, the choice of material depending on the specific area of application (pressure load, fluid passed through, operating temperature, pipe diameter, etc.). For example, the pipe clamp according to the invention can be produced from the materials customary for pipe clamps, such as steel, copper, brass or plastics. If the pipe clamp is designed with sufficient accuracy, in particular when determining the shape of the inner wall of the pipe clamp with respect to the fluid lines to be accommodated, the clamping slot can be closed completely, if necessary, so that the remaining clamping slot region is also fluid-tight without the need to use a seal. In many applications of the invention, however, it will not be possible to do without a seal due to the fluid pressures, the manufacturing tolerances, also for the pipes, and problems with the fastening.

Therefore, the invention can be further characterized in that it has a seal in the flange area for sealing the clamping slot against leakage of a fluid guided through the lines.

The seal can be a sealing tongue which bears against an inner wall of the clamp in the region of the tensioning slot, as is also known in a similar or similar manner from pipe clamps from the prior art. This tongue can be, for example, a very thin metal foil, a plastic foil or the like. Extremely thin, hard metal foils that have proven to be particularly favorable for sealing are particularly preferred. The sealing tongue used in this way should have a width which is equal to or less than that of the flat region and a thickness which ensures a seal between the sealing plate and the lines. The sealing tongue should have a depth (in relation to the longitudinal direction of the pipe clamp) point, which is smaller than that of the pipe clamp, so that the edges do not reach the edges of the receiving areas. In this way, the receiving areas can seal the sealing tongue with the bracing of the pipe clamp.

As an alternative or in addition, it is also possible for the seal to be a sealing lip which bears against an inner wall of the clamp in the region of the tensioning slot. This is inserted into the tension slot in the composition of the pipe clamp according to the invention and consists of an elastic material, for example a rubber, which gives in due to its compressibility when the pipe clamp is clamped on the lines and thus fills the tension slot over its entire width.

In order to ensure good tightness also in the area of the transition, it is particularly preferred that the two receiving areas are formed in one piece with the transition. This can be achieved, for example, by starting from a common workpiece into which the transition is made by punching or the like or, in the case of pourable or injectable materials such as plastics or the like, using a mold which jointly shapes the two receiving areas and the Serves transition.

The lines that can be connected to the pipe clamp according to the invention and thus the receiving areas can have different shapes. In a simple embodiment, the receiving areas are of circular shape, and the the two lines to be connected have different diameters. However, it is also possible for the receiving areas to be of polygonal shape. In this way, lines or pipes of different types can be easily and tightly connected to one another, provided that there is an area of the line shape which, with an eccentric arrangement of the two receiving areas for the pipe clamp, can result in a flat or essentially (see above) flat area. Any combination is possible. So 'a square tube can be connected to a hexagonal tube, the arrangement of the receiving areas should then take place in such a way that a flat area can be formed with a flat side of the square and a flat side of the hexagon. In principle, a wide variety of shapes, for example triangular, quadrangular, pentagonal, hexagonal or octagonal, can be taken into account, as well as irregularly shaped lines, for example those with embossed grooves to ensure a certain preferred orientation.

The pipe clamp can be fastened in different ways. Thus, a flange lock can be used, which is known from the prior art. Thus it can have: two flange sections with opposite openings projecting essentially radially from the end sections of the receiving areas and at least one screw projecting through opposite openings of the flange sections for tensioning the pipe clamp around the lines by means of a nut placed on the screw. The opposite openings serve for the passage of the screws. Usual flange locks have two openings in each radially projecting flange section, the two openings opposite in the other flange section lie, so that a total of two screw-nut arrangements are used to clamp the pipe clamp.

The attachment can be realized by means of two band clamps, which are placed around the outside of the receiving areas and compress the tensioning slot by their tightening and tension the pipe clamp according to the invention around the lines.

In order to prevent a flow of material in the region of the end sections / flange sections, which would result in a bending of the shape and thus a deterioration in the seal, means for preventing this reflow can also be arranged on the flange lock. For example, angle plates can be used to stabilize the transition.

The lines to be connected can be hoses or pipes or the like.

The fluid passed through can be a liquid, but also a gas or an aerosol. For example, the aerosol can be an engine exhaust gas if the pipe clamp according to the invention is used in exhaust systems for internal combustion engines. A particularly preferred application of the pipe clamp according to the invention is the use in exhaust pipes of trucks.

The pipe clamp according to the present invention enables a significant improvement in the tightness of the connection made with it in a simple constructive manner. The usual components of simple pipe clamps can also be used here, and the assembly changes does not differ from conventional pipe clamps, so that no additional learning effort is required when converting to this pipe clamp system.

The invention is to be explained in more detail below on the basis of specific exemplary embodiments, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which the following is illustrated:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the pipe clamp according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows a side view (through the pipe clamp opening) of the pipe clamp according to the embodiment of Fig. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a further side view of a pipe clamp with a seal that has been modified compared to FIG. 2;

Fig. 4 shows a plan view of a pipe clamp according to the invention according to the embodiment of Fig. 1; and

5 shows a further embodiment of a pipe clamp according to the present invention for connecting polygonal pipes.

1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention. The pipe clamp shown there has a first receiving area 10 and a second receiving area 11, which are connected to one another via a transition area 12. The transition 12 is a slope integrally embedded in the wall of the pipe clamp, which leads to a step between the two receiving areas. It goes without saying that instead of a slant, a straight one running transition can be used so that the two lines to be connected directly meet. Due to the eccentric arrangement of the two receiving areas with respect to their center, the step in the flange area 13 of the pipe clamp is lost. There, the end sections 14, 15, which run over the entire depth of the pipe clamp, ie ^" both receiving areas and possibly the transition, form a tension slot 16 between them.

In the embodiment shown, a flange lock 17 with its elements lies on both sides of the tensioning slot 16. A flange section 21 projecting essentially radially to the receiving areas is arranged directly on the end section 14, while a further flange section 22 is arranged on the end section 15. Both flange sections 21 and 22 each have two openings (not shown) through which screws 23 are guided. The screws 23 are screwed with nuts 24 and washers 25 and in this way allow the pipe clamp to be braced while changing the width of the tensioning slot 16. In the area of the flange, the inner wall 19, which extends over both receiving areas and the transition, is in essentially flat, so that here the pipe clamp can fit positively on both pipes to be connected. In order to ensure tightness in this area, a sealing tongue 18, which does not cover the tensioning slot over the entire depth of the pipe clamp, can be shown in FIG. 1. The edges 18a of the sealing tongue 18 are set back from the outer edges of the receiving areas in order to ensure their sealing. Fig. 2 shows the embodiment of Fig. 1 in a side view, whereby the eccentricity of the two receiving areas 10 and 11 can be seen more clearly. The same reference numerals are intended to identify the same elements of the invention. It can be seen very clearly that in

Flange region 13, the curvatures of the two receiving regions run practically identically due to the eccentricity and thus form an essentially flat region which causes fewer sealing problems than conventionally known pipe clamps.

FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of the present invention, in which a sealing lip 20 is introduced into the split slot 16 instead of a sealing tongue 18. When the pipe clamp is clamped by means of the screws 23 and nuts 24, the sealing lip 20, which consists of a compressible material such as rubber, is pressed together in such a way that it presses against the opening between the joints of the two pipes and seals them.

FIG. 4 shows the step-like structure of the two receiving areas through the transition 12, which, however, according to the invention is not present in the right area of FIG. 4, since the two receiving areas are arranged eccentrically. The transition can also take place at right angles, so that the

Transition 12 forms a wall running in the image plane.

Finally, FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment in which a first receiving area 10 is square and one second receiving area 11 hexagonal. Both receiving areas are mounted eccentrically in that they are aligned with each other at one edge. The transition 12 has a significantly more complex shape than in the previously described round embodiments of the pipe clamp, so that special manufacturing techniques and / or materials may have to be used to produce this pipe clamp.

Claims

Claims:

1. Pipe clamp for connecting two fluid lines of different shapes, comprising:

a first receiving area (10) for receiving a line of a first shape;

a second receiving area (11) for receiving a line of a second shape;

a transition (12) for the fluid-tight connection of the two receiving areas (10, 11);

a flange area (13) with end sections (14, 15) of the two receiving areas (10, 11) and the transition (13), which form a clamping slot (16) between them, adjacent to each other; and

a fastening (17) for bracing the receiving areas (10, 11) around the lines on the tensioning slot (16);

characterized in that the two receiving areas (10, 11) are arranged eccentrically to one another in such a way that the transition (12) and the receiving areas (10, 11) in the flange area (13) form a flat area lying next to one another in a stepless manner.

2. Pipe clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a seal (18, 19) in the flange area (13) for sealing the tensioning slot (16) against leakage of a fluid guided through the lines,

3. Pipe clamp according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the seal is one, on an inner wall (19; the clamp in the area of the clamping slot sealing tongue (18).

4. Pipe clamp according to claim 3, characterized in that the sealing tongue (18) has a width which corresponds to that of the flat region, a depth which is less than a depth of the pipe clamp in the longitudinal direction and a thickness which has a Seals between the sealing tongue (18) and lines.

5. Pipe clamp according to claim 2, characterized in that the seal is a compressible sealing lip (20) in the clamping slot (16).

6. Pipe clamp according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the two receiving areas (10, 11) with the transition (12) are integrally formed.

7. Pipe clamp according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the receiving areas (10, 11) are of circular shape with different diameters.

8. Pipe clamp according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the receiving areas (10, 11) are of polygonal shape.

9. Pipe clamp according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the fastening (17) is a flange lock, which has:

two flange sections (21, 22) projecting essentially radially from the end sections (14, 15) of the receiving areas (10, 11) with opposite openings; and

at least one screw (23) projecting through opposite openings of the flange sections (21, 22) for tensioning the pipe clamp around the lines.

10. Pipe clamp according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the lines to be connected comprise pipes.

11, pipe clamp according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the lines to be connected comprise hoses.

12. Pipe clamp according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the fluid to be passed through is a liquid.

13. Pipe clamp according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the fluid to be passed through is a gas or an aerosol.

14. Pipe clamp according to claim 13, characterized in that the aerosol is an engine exhaust.

15. Pipe clamp according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the transition (12) is perpendicular to the inner walls (19) of the receiving areas (10, 11).