GB2081364A

GB2081364A - Pipe clamp

Info

Publication number: GB2081364A
Application number: GB8123150A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: KRATZER F MEFA DUEBEL GmbH
Current assignee: KRATZER F MEFA DUEBEL GmbH
Priority date: 1980-08-07
Filing date: 1981-07-28
Publication date: 1982-02-17
Also published as: DE3029861A1; CH653425A5; FR2488368B1; ATA322681A; DE3029861C2; NL8103659A; FR2488368A1; BE889849A; AT382448B

Abstract

This invention relates to pipe clamps of the kind used for securing pipes to structures or for securing holes onto tubular apertures. The clamp comprises a hoop shaped body 1 terminating in a pair of radially extending end parts 3, 4, a first one of which 4 engages with the head of a fastening screw 5 and the second one of which 3 cooperates with a hinged stirrup-shaped element 8 which incorporates a threaded aperture adapted to cooperate with the screw. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pipe clamp The invention relates to pipe clamps of the kind which comprise a hoop-shaped clamp body which serves for being looped around a pipe or the like and has end parts, one end part having a recess which is open towards the outside for engagement with a fastening and another end part which is provided with a connecting element through which the fastening screw is passed and which is pivotable in relation to the end part.

In the case of a known pipe clamp of the aforementioned kind, the connecting element is cylindrical in design and the pipe clamp end part receiving it is bent in a semi-circular manner. The connecting element, which is made of solid material, has to be worked differently from a sheet-metal strip. For pivoting the connecting element for the release of the pipe clamp, it is necessary to unscrew the fastening screw to such an extent that it does not obstruct the pivoting of the connecting element at the side that is directed away from its head.

According to this invention a pipe clamp comprises a hoop-shaped clamp body, a first end part incorporating a recess remote from said body for engagement of a fastening screw, a second end part and a connecting element through which the fastening screw is disposed, the connecting element being pivotable in relation to the second end part, wherein the connecting element comprises a stirrup having one or more legs a central part of which stirrup passes through the second end part, the fastening screw being disposed through at least one leg of the stirrup, at least one leg of the stirrup incorporating a thread adapted to cooperate with the thread of said fastening screw.

A pipe clamp in accordance with this invention may therefore incorporate a connecting element which consists of sheet metal and can be produced in a simple manner. The stirrup-shaped connecting element may also be made of sheet metal allowing the production operations for the sheet-metal strip and the connecting element to be identical. Consequently, a rational production of the entire pipe clamp is possible in an automatic working process.

By inclining the stirrup part carrying the thread for the reception of the fastening screw while the screw is tightened, the position of this screw is secured in the stirrup.

The invention may be better appreciated from the following description with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings in which a pipe clamp is diagrammatically shown as an exemplified embodiment of the subject matter of the invention. In the drawings Figure 1 is a side view, and Figure 2 is an elevation in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 1.

A two-part clamp body 1, whose parts are interconnected by a resilient web, is made from a sheet-metal strip in the usual way. To the side of the clamp body 1 there is welded a fastening nut 2, with the aid of which the clamp body can be fastened by means of a screw not shown. The clamp body 1 has two bent end parts 3 and 4. The end part 4 has a recess which is open towards the end thereof for the reception of a fastening screw 5, whose head 6 abuts the side of the end part 4 that is directed away from the end part 3.

The end part 3 is shorter than the end part 4 and has a rectangular hole 7 through it near its end. A connecting element 8, which is designed as a stirrup, is passed through this hole with a clearance therebetween. The connecting element 8 consists of sheet metal which is thinner than the sheet metal of the clamp body 1. Viewed from the side, it is U-shaped in design and has two parallel legs 9 and 10 and a semi-circular central part 11.

In the leg 9 of the connecting element 8 there is provided a tap hole for the fastening screw 5 shank, which carries the thread, to be screwed in, whereas the leg 10 has a through hole, through which the shank of the fastening screw 5 is passed with a clearance.

The fastening screw 5 remains screwed in the connecting element 8 when the pipe clamp is closed and when the pipe clamp is open. In Figure 1, the pipe clamp is shown in its closed state. When the end part 4 is held in the closed position of the pipe clamp, it is possible, by loosening the fastening screw 5, to remove the head 6 from the end part 4 to such an extent that the fastening screw 5 can be lifted from the recess in the end part 4 by pivoting of the connecting element 8 in relation to the end part 3. The fastening screw 5 is then held by the connecting element 8 so that it cannot be lost.

When the pipe clamp placed around a pipe, not shown, or the like is to be closed, the fastening screw 5 is re-inserted into the recess in the end part 4 in such a way that is assumes the position shown in Figure 1. Subsequently, the fastening screw 5 is tightened in the usual way. As the fastening screw 5 is tightened, at least the leg 9 of the connecting element 8 assumes an inclined position within the clearance between the threads of the fastening screw 5 and the tap hole in the leg 9, causing a clamping effect to be exerted on the fastening screw 5 that secures the position thereof in the connecting element 8.

The tap hole in the leg 9 may be provided in a part that has been drawn from the plane thereof so that the thread is longer than the leg 9 is thick.

1. A pipe clamp comprising a hoop-shaped clamp body, a first end part incorporating a recess remote from said body for engagement of a fastening screw, a second end part and a connecting element through which the fastening screw is disposed, the connecting element being pivotable in relation to the second end part, wherein the connecting element comprises a stirrup having one or more legs a central part of which stirrup passes through the second end part, the fastening screw being disposed through at least one leg of the stirrup, at least one leg of the stirrup incorporating a thread adapted to cooperate with the thread of said fastening screw.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Pipe clamp The invention relates to pipe clamps of the kind which comprise a hoop-shaped clamp body which serves for being looped around a pipe or the like and has end parts, one end part having a recess which is open towards the outside for engagement with a fastening and another end part which is provided with a connecting element through which the fastening screw is passed and which is pivotable in relation to the end part. In the case of a known pipe clamp of the aforementioned kind, the connecting element is cylindrical in design and the pipe clamp end part receiving it is bent in a semi-circular manner. The connecting element, which is made of solid material, has to be worked differently from a sheet-metal strip. For pivoting the connecting element for the release of the pipe clamp, it is necessary to unscrew the fastening screw to such an extent that it does not obstruct the pivoting of the connecting element at the side that is directed away from its head. According to this invention a pipe clamp comprises a hoop-shaped clamp body, a first end part incorporating a recess remote from said body for engagement of a fastening screw, a second end part and a connecting element through which the fastening screw is disposed, the connecting element being pivotable in relation to the second end part, wherein the connecting element comprises a stirrup having one or more legs a central part of which stirrup passes through the second end part, the fastening screw being disposed through at least one leg of the stirrup, at least one leg of the stirrup incorporating a thread adapted to cooperate with the thread of said fastening screw. A pipe clamp in accordance with this invention may therefore incorporate a connecting element which consists of sheet metal and can be produced in a simple manner. The stirrup-shaped connecting element may also be made of sheet metal allowing the production operations for the sheet-metal strip and the connecting element to be identical. Consequently, a rational production of the entire pipe clamp is possible in an automatic working process. By inclining the stirrup part carrying the thread for the reception of the fastening screw while the screw is tightened, the position of this screw is secured in the stirrup. The invention may be better appreciated from the following description with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings in which a pipe clamp is diagrammatically shown as an exemplified embodiment of the subject matter of the invention. In the drawings Figure 1 is a side view, and Figure 2 is an elevation in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 1. A two-part clamp body 1, whose parts are interconnected by a resilient web, is made from a sheet-metal strip in the usual way. To the side of the clamp body 1 there is welded a fastening nut 2, with the aid of which the clamp body can be fastened by means of a screw not shown. The clamp body 1 has two bent end parts 3 and 4. The end part 4 has a recess which is open towards the end thereof for the reception of a fastening screw 5, whose head 6 abuts the side of the end part 4 that is directed away from the end part 3. The end part 3 is shorter than the end part 4 and has a rectangular hole 7 through it near its end. A connecting element 8, which is designed as a stirrup, is passed through this hole with a clearance therebetween. The connecting element 8 consists of sheet metal which is thinner than the sheet metal of the clamp body 1. Viewed from the side, it is U-shaped in design and has two parallel legs 9 and 10 and a semi-circular central part 11. In the leg 9 of the connecting element 8 there is provided a tap hole for the fastening screw 5 shank, which carries the thread, to be screwed in, whereas the leg 10 has a through hole, through which the shank of the fastening screw 5 is passed with a clearance. The fastening screw 5 remains screwed in the connecting element 8 when the pipe clamp is closed and when the pipe clamp is open. In Figure 1, the pipe clamp is shown in its closed state. When the end part 4 is held in the closed position of the pipe clamp, it is possible, by loosening the fastening screw 5, to remove the head 6 from the end part 4 to such an extent that the fastening screw 5 can be lifted from the recess in the end part 4 by pivoting of the connecting element 8 in relation to the end part 3. The fastening screw 5 is then held by the connecting element 8 so that it cannot be lost. When the pipe clamp placed around a pipe, not shown, or the like is to be closed, the fastening screw 5 is re-inserted into the recess in the end part 4 in such a way that is assumes the position shown in Figure 1. Subsequently, the fastening screw 5 is tightened in the usual way. As the fastening screw 5 is tightened, at least the leg 9 of the connecting element 8 assumes an inclined position within the clearance between the threads of the fastening screw 5 and the tap hole in the leg 9, causing a clamping effect to be exerted on the fastening screw 5 that secures the position thereof in the connecting element 8. The tap hole in the leg 9 may be provided in a part that has been drawn from the plane thereof so that the thread is longer than the leg 9 is thick. CLAIMS

2. A pipe clamp as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the central part of the connecting element is generally semi-circular in shape.

3. A pipe clamp as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the threaded part of the connecting element is provided in a part which has been drawn from the plane thereof.

4. A pipe clamp as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein there is a clearance between the connecting element and the second end part.

5. A pipe clamp substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.