GB2101666A

GB2101666A - Clamping device

Info

Publication number: GB2101666A
Application number: GB08113156A
Authority: GB
Inventors: E M Engineering J
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-04-29
Filing date: 1981-04-29
Publication date: 1983-01-19
Also published as: GB2101666B

Abstract

Two identical clamp members 2 and 3 have parallel limbs 4 and 5 joined by a bridge portion 6 the inner surface of which, between the limbs, has two gripping portions 10A and 10B mutually at right-angles. Limb 4 consists of two flattened fingers 7. Limb 5 consists of three such fingers 7, spaced by spaces 8 which can in each case accommodate the fingers 7 of a limb 4 on the other clamp member to define a clamp with good grip over a range of pipe diameters held by the gripping surfaces 10A, 10B inside each bridge portion 6. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Clamping device This invention relates to a clamping device, in particular for clamping elongate objects of uniform circular cross-section such as cables or pipes.

Cable and pipe clamping devices are, in general, made to cater for a particular diameter of cable or pipe. They will also accommodate a limited range of smaller diameters, though with a reduced clamping efficiency owing to the change of their clamping profile from an optimum circular to an oval profile.

According to the invention, there is provided a clamp for gripping an elongate object of uniform circular cross-section comprising two opposed identical clamp members each having first and second spaced generally parallel limbs joined by a bridge portion, the first and second limbs having two or more separate generally parallel finger portions which are interdigitatable and thus progressively interengage to provide a range of separation distances from the two bridge portions, the surface of each bridge portion located between the two limbs having two gripping regions lying mutually at right angles, whereby the progressive longitudinal interengagement of the limbs of the two clamp members causes the four gripping regions to occupy at least part of a square or rhomboidal configuration to provide a fourfold contact over a range of object diameters.

Preferably, each finger portion is of a flattened shape to permit interengagement movement transversely in relation to the fingers in addition to longitudinal movement.

It is preferred that one limb has three flattened fingers and the other limb two fingers of a size to fit into the spaces between the said three fingers.

Each outer finger of said three fingers preferably engages a shoulder portion adjacent to the two fingers on the other limb.

Preferably, each limb of each clamp member has a through-hole extending longitudinally of the limb, whereby fastening elements can be accommodated into the assembled clamp.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a clamp according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the clamp gripping an elongate object.

Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a clamp 1 having two opposed identical clamp members 2 and 3. Each clamp member has first and second spaced generally parallel limbs 4 and 5 joined by a bridge portion 6. The limbs 4 and 5 of each clamp member 2, 3 are integral with the bridge portion 6. Each clamp member 2, 3 can be formed from a suitable synthetic polymeric material by, for example, moulding. For high temperature use, each clamp member 2, 3 can be cast, prefabricated or machined from a suitable metal, such as iron orstee.

The limbs 4 and 5 have two or more separate generally parallel finger portions 7 which are interdigitable. Thus, it is possible that finger portions on opposed clamp members can interengage to enable the two clamp members to be progressively longitudinally interengaged to provide a range of separation distances from the two bridge portions 6.

Figure 1 shows each finger portion 7 is of a flattened shape to permit interengagement movement transversely in relation to the fingers in addition to longitudinal movement. The limb 5 of each clamp member 2, 3 has three flattened fingers, and the limb 4 two flattened fingers of a size to fit into the spaces 8 between the three fingers. Figure 1 also shows that the outer finger 9 of the three fingers of the limb 5 engages, when assembled, a shoulder portion 1 1 adjacent to the two fingers on the other limb 4.

Each limb 4, 5 of each clamp member 2, 3 has a through hole 12 extending longitudinally of the limb, whereby fastening elements e.g. a nut and bolt 13 (as shown in Figure 2) can be accommodated into the assembled clamp.

The surface of the bridge portion 6 located between the two limbs 4 and 5 has two gripping regions 1 OA and 1 OB lying mutually at right angles. Progressive longitudinal interengagement of the limbs 4 and 5 of the two clamp members 2 and 3 causes the four gripping regions to occupy at least part of a square or rhomboidal configuration to provide a fourfold contact over a range of object diameters. Typically, a clamp according to the present invention would have a clamping range of 2 to 1, so that only three sizes of clamp would be needed to cover an object diameter range of from 12.5 to 100 mm.

Figure 2 shows the clamp 1 assembled around an elongate object 14 of uniform circular crosssection. The clamp 1 can be firmly held against the elongate object by suitable tightening of the fastening elements 13. The clamp 1 can be moved along the elongate object by releasing the fastening elements.

Figures 1 and 2 show a recess 15 located in a face 1 6 of the clamp member 2, the recess being capable of holding, for example, an information bearing card.

It is to be appreciated that the finger portions 7 need not be of a flattened shape, but can be of another suitable shape to permit interengagement movement transversely in relation to the fingers in addition to longitudinal movement.

An advantage of the present invention is that the clamp has a high clamping efficiency, and is capable of gripping elongate objects of varying diameter.

Claims (Filed 15 March 1982).

1. A clamp for gripping an elongate object of uniform circular cross-section comprising two opposed identical clamp members each having first and second spaced generally parallel limbs joined by a bridge portion, the first and second

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Clamping device This invention relates to a clamping device, in particular for clamping elongate objects of uniform circular cross-section such as cables or pipes. Cable and pipe clamping devices are, in general, made to cater for a particular diameter of cable or pipe. They will also accommodate a limited range of smaller diameters, though with a reduced clamping efficiency owing to the change of their clamping profile from an optimum circular to an oval profile. According to the invention, there is provided a clamp for gripping an elongate object of uniform circular cross-section comprising two opposed identical clamp members each having first and second spaced generally parallel limbs joined by a bridge portion, the first and second limbs having two or more separate generally parallel finger portions which are interdigitatable and thus progressively interengage to provide a range of separation distances from the two bridge portions, the surface of each bridge portion located between the two limbs having two gripping regions lying mutually at right angles, whereby the progressive longitudinal interengagement of the limbs of the two clamp members causes the four gripping regions to occupy at least part of a square or rhomboidal configuration to provide a fourfold contact over a range of object diameters. Preferably, each finger portion is of a flattened shape to permit interengagement movement transversely in relation to the fingers in addition to longitudinal movement. It is preferred that one limb has three flattened fingers and the other limb two fingers of a size to fit into the spaces between the said three fingers. Each outer finger of said three fingers preferably engages a shoulder portion adjacent to the two fingers on the other limb. Preferably, each limb of each clamp member has a through-hole extending longitudinally of the limb, whereby fastening elements can be accommodated into the assembled clamp. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a clamp according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the clamp gripping an elongate object. Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a clamp 1 having two opposed identical clamp members 2 and 3. Each clamp member has first and second spaced generally parallel limbs 4 and 5 joined by a bridge portion 6. The limbs 4 and 5 of each clamp member 2, 3 are integral with the bridge portion 6. Each clamp member 2, 3 can be formed from a suitable synthetic polymeric material by, for example, moulding. For high temperature use, each clamp member 2, 3 can be cast, prefabricated or machined from a suitable metal, such as iron orstee. The limbs 4 and 5 have two or more separate generally parallel finger portions 7 which are interdigitable. Thus, it is possible that finger portions on opposed clamp members can interengage to enable the two clamp members to be progressively longitudinally interengaged to provide a range of separation distances from the two bridge portions 6. Figure 1 shows each finger portion 7 is of a flattened shape to permit interengagement movement transversely in relation to the fingers in addition to longitudinal movement. The limb 5 of each clamp member 2, 3 has three flattened fingers, and the limb 4 two flattened fingers of a size to fit into the spaces 8 between the three fingers. Figure 1 also shows that the outer finger 9 of the three fingers of the limb 5 engages, when assembled, a shoulder portion 1 1 adjacent to the two fingers on the other limb 4. Each limb 4, 5 of each clamp member 2, 3 has a through hole 12 extending longitudinally of the limb, whereby fastening elements e.g. a nut and bolt 13 (as shown in Figure 2) can be accommodated into the assembled clamp. The surface of the bridge portion 6 located between the two limbs 4 and 5 has two gripping regions 1 OA and 1 OB lying mutually at right angles. Progressive longitudinal interengagement of the limbs 4 and 5 of the two clamp members 2 and 3 causes the four gripping regions to occupy at least part of a square or rhomboidal configuration to provide a fourfold contact over a range of object diameters. Typically, a clamp according to the present invention would have a clamping range of 2 to 1, so that only three sizes of clamp would be needed to cover an object diameter range of from 12.5 to 100 mm. Figure 2 shows the clamp 1 assembled around an elongate object 14 of uniform circular crosssection. The clamp 1 can be firmly held against the elongate object by suitable tightening of the fastening elements 13. The clamp 1 can be moved along the elongate object by releasing the fastening elements. Figures 1 and 2 show a recess 15 located in a face 1 6 of the clamp member 2, the recess being capable of holding, for example, an information bearing card. It is to be appreciated that the finger portions 7 need not be of a flattened shape, but can be of another suitable shape to permit interengagement movement transversely in relation to the fingers in addition to longitudinal movement. An advantage of the present invention is that the clamp has a high clamping efficiency, and is capable of gripping elongate objects of varying diameter. Claims (Filed 15 March 1982).

1. A clamp for gripping an elongate object of uniform circular cross-section comprising two opposed identical clamp members each having first and second spaced generally parallel limbs joined by a bridge portion, the first and second limbs having two or more separate generally parallel finger portions which are interdigitatable and thus progressively interengage to provide a range of separation distances from the two bridge portions, the surface of each bridge portion located between the two limbs having two gripping regions lying mutually at right angles, whereby the progressive longitudinal interengagement of the limbs of the two clamp members causes the four gripping regions to occupy at least part of a square or rhomboidal configuration to provide a fourfold contact over a range of object diameters.

2. A clamp as claimed in claim 1 in which each finger portion is of a flattened shape to permit interengagement movement transversely in relation to the fingers in addition to longitudinal movement.

3. A clamp as claimed in claim 2 in which on each clamp member one limb has three flattened fingers and the other limb two fingers of a size to fit into the spaces between the said three fingers of the other, identical, member.

4. A clamp as claimed in any one preceding claim in which each limb of each clamp member possesses a through hole extending longitudinally of the limb whereby fastening elements can be accommodated into the assembled clamp.

5. A clamp as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.