GB2123505A - Coupling - Google Patents

Abstract

A coupling for coupling together items, such as two hoses, has a flexible band 2 and a rectangular shackle 3 folded over upon itself to define an opening (7, FIG. 3) at the fold in which a tightening means in on the form of a split pin 4 is received. Disposed intermediate the ends of the folded shackle is an abutment surface over which the flexible band passes to apply a transverse loading on tightening of the coupling. The transverse loading causes the abutment surface to be pulled upwardly of the coupling so as to pinch the flexible band wound upon the split pin thereby resisting loosening. The abutment surface may either be one end of the folded shackle or may be a bar disposed intermediate the ends of the shackle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Coupling This invention relates to a coupling primarily for a hose.

At present hose couplings are normally what are known as worm-drive hose clips where a toothed metallic band is tightened about the hose by engagement with a transverse worm-drive.

Whilst such devices work satisfactorily, they are not infinitely variable because of the very nature of the metallic band and therefore many different sizes of coupling are produced to accommodate the various different sizes of hose.

A hose coupling incorporating a flexible band which would be suitable for various sizes of hose was proposed as long ago as 1922 in U.K. Patent Specification No. 203203. In that specification, there is disclosed a coupling comprising a flexible band and a shackle in the form of a rectangular link with one end adapted to receive a split winding pin. In use one end of the flexible band is wound about the shackle and the other end is wound about the hose and engaged with the split winding pin. By rotating the winding pin the coupling is tightened about the hose.

Whilst the arrangement provides a cheap uncomplicated coupling, in practice it has been found that the coupling proposed has a tendency to loosen.

According to the present invention, there is provided a coupling for binding together items such as two hoses, the coupling comprising a shackle, a flexible band anchored to the shackle, tightening means for tightening the flexible band, and an abutment surface cooperating with the band so as to apply a loading transverse to the longitudinal direction of the band on tightening of the coupling.

Preferably the shackle comprises a rectangular link having spaced ends, one end being folded back on itself to overlie a central portion of the shackle so as to define an opening in which tightening means in the form of a split pin is received, the said one end forming the abutment surface and the other end forming the anchorage.

According to another aspect of the invention a coupling for binding together items such as two hoses comprises a shackle, a flexible band anchored to the shackle, tightening means on which the flexible band is wound for tightening the flexible band and pinching means on the shackle which, on tightening of the coupling, pinches the band wound on the tightening means whereby the coupling is resistant to loosening.

The invention also includes a kit of parts for forming a coupling comprising a length of flexible band, a shackle, and tightening means for tightening the flexible band in use, the shackle being elongate and including means at one end for receiving the tightening means, means at the other end for anchoring the flexible band and an abutment surface intermediate the ends of the shackle positioned so that, in use, the band passes over the abutment surface and undergoes a change of direction so as to apply a loading on the shackle transverse to the general direction of the band.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which.~ Figure 1 is a plan view of a coupling in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a section on 2-2 in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged side view of the shackle and threading arrangement of the coupling in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view of an alternative, preferred, shackle; Figure 5 is a section on 5-5 in Figure 4 and showing the threading arrangement of the coupling; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a further alternative shackle; Figure 7 is a section on 7-7 in Figure 6 and showing the threading arrangement of the coupling; and Figure 8 shows, in an exaggerated form using the embodiment of Figures 4 and 5, how the shackle locks against the tightening means.

In the drawings, a hose coupling 1 comprises a flexible band 2, a shackle 3 and split winding pin 4. The shackle 3 is preferably a rectangular link having spaced ends 5 and 6. The end 5 is folded back upon itself to overlie the central portion of the shackle and so as to define an opening 7 in which the split winding pin 4 may be received. The central portion of the shackle 3 and the end 6 may be slightly curved as shown in Figure 2 to conform to the outer shape of a hose. The split winding pin has an aperture 8 to facilitate turning by means of a suitable tool or, alternatively, may be provided with a screw-head (not shown). The shackle 3 and the split winding pin 4 suitably are metallic whereas the flexible band 2 may be of plastics material.

In use to secure two hoses together, particularly as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the split winding pin 4 is inserted into the opening 7 in the shackle 3. A first end 9 of the flexible band is then folded about the end 6 of the shackle and turned back upon itself to anchor the band, passed around the telescoped ends of the hoses, through the end 5 of the shackle, around the hoses for a second time whereupon the other end of the flexible band 2 is inserted into the split winding pin 4. The split winding pin 4 is now manipulated in anticlockwise direction in Figure 2 whereby the coupling is tightened about the metal ends of the hoses.Because the flexible band 2 is threaded both about the end 5 and the end 6 of the shackle, forces are applied upon the shackle 3 which, in conjunction with the frictional interaction between the confronting surfaces of the band, 2 prevent the coupling from loosening. As indicated by the dotted line 10 in Figure 3, the tightening of the flexible band 2 causes the band 2 to pull down upon the shackle end 5 in direction of arrow 11 whilst the end 6 is also being pulled in the direction of arrow 12. Thus the displacement of the end 5 relative to the hoses causes the band 2 to apply a radial loading on the shackle whilst the pull on the end 6 ensures that the shackle end 5 is locked against the band 2 wound on the split pin 4.

In Figures 4 and 5 an alternative shackle 13 is shown which is similar to the shackle 3 of the first embodiment except that the spaced ends 5 and 6 are folded so as to overlie one another and it is provided with a bar 14. The flexible band 2 is anchored by both the ends 5 and 6 as shown and passes over the bar 14 to apply the lateral loading.

The anchoring of both the ends 5 and 6 stabilises the shackle and the position of the bar 14 ensures a wide area of frictional surface contact between the outside turn of the band 2 and the scroll of band 2 wound onto split winding pin 4 (not shown in Figures 4 and 5). The longitudinal force applied along the length of the band 2 by the anchoring of ends 5 and 6, within limits, ensures that the bar 14 is locked against the scroll of band 2. This comes about by the shackle rolling about the winding pin 4 to move the bar 14 nearer to the scroll of band as may be necessary, the ends of the shackle moving relative to one another in opposite directions. Thus the bar 14 is self-locking with respect to the scroll by being pulled inwardly of the coupling and into the scroll to pinch and lock the scroll against loosening.

The smbodiment of Figures 6 and 7 includes a further bar 1 6 defining an opening 1 7 through which the flexible band 2 passes. The opening 17 is formed in the manner of a louvre so as to present a square barbed edge 18 to the scroll of banding 2 wound around the split winding pin 4, thus being an additional locking device.

As clearly seen from Figure 8, which is an enlarged view of the locking of the second embodiment, the position of the abutment surface 14 causes the band 2, intermediate its anchorage at ends 5 and 6 and the scroll of band 2 wound on the split winding pin 4, to undergo a change of direction thereby applying a lateral loading in a direction transverse to the direction of pull on the anchorage. This factor, combined with the pull applied on the ends 5 and 6 on tightening causes the shackle to self-lock by urging the abutment surface 14 into pinching or biting engagement with the scroll of band 2. Moreover, the change of direction of the band 2 effected by passing the band over the abutment surface 14 enhances the frictional interengagement of the band 2 by greatly increasing the surface to surface area of contact.

Claims (9)

1. A coupling for binding together items such as two hoses, the coupling comprising a shackle, a flexible band anchored to the shackle, tightening means for tightening the flexible band, and an abutment surface cooperating with the band so as to apply a loading transverse to the longitudinal direction of the band on tightening of the coupling.

2. A coupling according to claim 1 wherein the shackle comprises a rectangular link having spaced ends, one end being folded back on itself to overlie a central portion of the shackle so as to define an opening in which tightening means in the form of a split pin is received, the said one end forming the abutment surface and the other end joining the anchorage for the flexible band.

3. A coupling according to claim 1 wherein the shackle comprising a rectangular link having spaced ends and a transverse bar intermediate the spaced ends, the ends being folded so as to overlie one another so as to define an opening in which tightening means in the form of a split pin is received, the transverse bar forming the abutment surface and the overlying ends forming the anchorage for the flexible band.

4. A coupling for binding together items such as two hoses, the coupling comprising a shackle, a flexible band anchored to the shackle, tightening means on which the flexible band is wound for tightening the flexible band and pinching means on the shackle which, on tightening of the coupling, pinches the band wound on the tightening means whereby the coupling is resistant to loosening.

5. A coupling according to claim 4 wherein the shackle comprises a folded rectangular link defining an opening in which the tightening means is received, and a transverse bar forming said pinching means over which the flexible band passes, the transverse bar causing the band to undergo a change in direction thereby, on tightening, applying a transverse loading on the shackle which in conjunction with the pull in the general direction of the flexible band on the anchorage for the flexible band, pulls the bar into pinching engagement with the band wound on the tightening means.

6. A coupling according to claim 5 wherein the change of direction undergone by the flexible band increases the surface to surface contact of a turn of the band and the band wound on the tightening means.

7. A coupling according to claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein the tightening means is a split pin.

8. A kit of parts for forming a coupling comprising a length of flexible band, a shackle, and tightening means for tightening the flexible band in use, the shackle being elongate and including means at one end for receiving the tightening means, means at the other end for anchoring the flexible band and an abutment surface intermediate the ends of the shackle positioned so that, in use the band passes over the abutment surface and undergoes a change of direction so as to apply a loading on the shackle transverse to the general direction of the band.

9. A coupling substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any one of the accompanying drawings.