GB2216614A

GB2216614A - Hose securing device and method

Info

Publication number: GB2216614A
Application number: GB8904241A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michel Alexandre; Jack Guillot
Original assignee: Draftex Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Laird Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 1988-03-12
Filing date: 1989-02-23
Publication date: 1989-10-11
Also published as: FR2628504A1; IT8909364A0; JPH01312294A; DE3907012A1; ES1010067Y; IT1233171B; GB8805921D0; ES1010067U; GB8904241D0

Abstract

For securing a flexible rubber hose 5 onto a pipe end 6 carrying a rigid shoulder 14, a worm-drive clamp (10), in its un-tightened state, is positioned within a housing (12). The housing (12) is in the form of a rubber channel 20 integral with a rubber sleeve 18, the latter being fixed (for example, adhesively or otherwise fixed) to the hose 5 at such position as to locate the worm-drive clamp (10) longitudinally with respect to the end of the hose. The operating screw 24 of the clamp 10 protrudes through an opening (22) and the sleeve 18 is circumferentially located so as to position this screw in the best angular position for subsequent tightening. Therefore, even though the clamp (10) is sufficiently loose to permit clearance for the shoulder 14, it is firmly located on the hose end. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to devices and methods for connecting pipes together so as, for example, to permit the flow of fluid through the connection.

According to the invention, there is provided a method of securing the end of a flexible hose to a mating member, comprising the steps of placing an untightened but tightenable clamping collar around the outside of the flexible hose adjacent its end and in a sufficiently un-tightened state to permit easy insertion of the mating member within the end of the hose so as to project into the hose beyond the clamping collar, and tightening the collar after the said insertion, including the step of securing the un-tightened clamping collar on the hose with respect to the hose end.

According to the invention, there is also provided a securing arrangement for securing the end of a hollow -flexible pipe onto a mating member inserted therein, comprising a clamping collar extending loosely around the outside of the hose adjacent the end thereof and having an operating member by means of which the clamping collar may be tightened so as securely to clamp the end of the flexible pipe onto the outside of the mating member inserted therein, including a device for positively locating the un-tightened clamping collar on the outside of the flexible pipe.

According to the invention, there is further provided a securing device for securing a tightenable clamping collar in position on the outside of and adjacent to the end of a flexible hose which is subsequently to be secured in a substantially liquid-tight manner onto a pipe end carrying a raised shoulder around its end, comprising sleeve means sized to fit over the outside of the flexible hose and defining a channel extending partway around the circumference of the sleeve with the mouth of the channel facing inwardly of the sleeve and defining an externally accessible opening, the channel being sized to receive the clamping collar when in its un-tightened state and locating the clamping collar with respect to the axial direction along the sleeve, the operating member of the clamping collar extending through the said opening and being located thereby in a direction circumferentially of the sleeve, the clamping collar in its said un-tightened state allowing clear space through the sleeve for insertion into the latter of the hose which is then secured longitudinally and axially to the sleeve.

A clamping arrangement embodying the invention, and for clamping a flexible hosepipe onto a pipe end, will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the clamping device arranged on the end of a rubber hose and for clamping the hose to a pipe end; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a clamping collar used in the securing device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a clamp housing which is used in the securing device of Figure 1; Figure 4 is an end view of the rubber hose of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a section on the line V-V of Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a section on the line VI-VI of Figure 4.

Figure 1 shows the end of a hose 5 made of rubber (or similar. material), such as a hose as used in the cooling system of an internal combustion engine. The hose 5 is to be secured in a liquid-tight manner to a pipe end 6 such as a rigid, metal, pipe end and which carries a rigidly fixed shoulder 14.

In order to effect the securing operation (in the manner to be explained), the hose 5 carries a clamping device 8 which is in the form of a clamping collar or worm-drive clamp 10 (see Fig. 2), positioned in a housing 12 (see Fig. 3).

The housing 12 is made of rubber or similar material and has the form shown in Figure 3. As shown, the housing comprises a tubular sleeve 18 which is integral with, and axially interrupted by, a channel-shaped part 20 which extends partway, only, around the circumference, so as to leave clear an opening 22.

Before assembly of the securing device onto the hose 5, the clamping collar 10 is easily fitted within the channel-shaped part 20, by virtue of the latter's flexibility. This fitting operation is such that the operating screw 24 (see Figs. 1 and 2) protrudes through the opening 22 (Figure 3). The housing 12, with the clamping collar 10 within it, is then placed over the end of the hose 5 and secured in position as by means of adhesive acting between the inner circumferential surface of the sleeve 18 and the outer surface of the hose 5. This fitting operation is carried out so that the housing 12 is accurately positioned on the hose 5 both longitudinally with respect to the end of the hose and circumferentially with respect thereto. In operation, the pipe end 6 is inserted firmly into the end of hose 5.The positioning of the housing 12 on the hose 5, in relation to the end of the hose, is such that, when the hose is properly placed on the pipe end 6, the shoulder 14 is positioned on the far side of (that is, further into the hose 5 than) the clamping collar 10. The clamping collar 10 is then tightened in the usual way, using a screwdriver or the like, so as to clamp the end of the rubber hose 5 very tightly around the pipe end 6. This tightening action, in combination with the provision of the shoulder 14, ensures a liquid-tight seal.

Instead of adhesive, any other suitable fixing means may be used to secure the sleeve 18 in the correct longitudinal and angular position.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the housing 12 must be so fitted that the clamping collar 10 is sufficiently close to the end of the hose 5 as to be located further onto the pipe end 6 than the shoulder 14 when the pipe end is inserted properly into the hose 5. In addition, the housing 12 is positioned circumferentially so that the operating screw 24 of the clamping collar 10 will be presented in the correct position and at the correct angle to enable the fitter to tighten the clamping collar readily in position on the engine.

The securing device illustrated enables hoses 5 to be delivered to customers with clamping collars 10 in position on their ends - and in the correct positions thereon. It will be understood that the clamping collar 10 has initially to be a loose fit on the hose 5, in order to provide clearance for insertion of the pipe tip 6 and its shoulder 14. The securing device illustrated allows the clamping collar 10 to have this looseness - but at the same time to be correctly located both longitudinally and circumferentially on the hose 5 and without any danger of this looseness resulting in loss of the clamping collar. It is particularly advantageous that the securing device fixes the clamping collar circumferentially on the hose 5 - thus fixing it at the correct angle for operation of the screw 24 by the fitter when subsequently making the connection between the hose 5 and the pipe end 6 on the engine.

Claims

1. A method of securing the end of a flexible hose to a mating member, comprising the steps of placing an untightened but tightenable clamping collar around the outside of the flexible hose adjacent its end and in a sufficiently un-tightened state to permit easy insertion of the mating member within the end of the hose so as to project into the hose beyond the clamping collar, and tightening the collar after the said insertion, including the step of securing the un-tightened clamping collar on the hose with respect to the hose end.

2. A method according to claim 1, in which the untightened collar is secured both longitudinally and circumferentially with respect to the hose end.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, in which the mating member is a hollow pipe whereby to provide a substantially fluid-tight through passage for fluid after the pipe has been inserted in the hose and the clamping collar tightened.

4. A securing arrangement for securing the end of a hollow flexible pipe onto a mating member inserted therein, comprising a clamping collar extending loosely around the outside of the hose adjacent the end thereof and having an operating member by means of which the clamping collar may be tightened so as securely to clamp the end of the flexible pipe onto the outside of the mating member inserted therein, including a device for positively locating the un-tightened clamping collar on the outside of the flexible pipe.

5. An arrangement according to claim 4, in which the said device positively locates the untightened clamping collar both longitudinally with respect to the end of the pipe and circumferentially with respect to the pipe.

6. An arrangement according to claim 4 or 5, in which the locating device comprises a housing secured on the outside of the flexible pipe adjacent its end and extending around the flexible pipe and locating the un-tightened clamping collar longitudinally with respect to the pipe and circumferentially with respect thereto, and including an opening in the housing providing external access for the operating member of the clamping collar.

7. An arrangement according to claim 6, in which the housing includes a channel-shaped sleeve extending around the flexible pipe adjacent its end with the mouth of the channel facing the external circumferential surface of the flexible pipe, the said opening being a circumferential interruption in the sleeve and through which protrudes the operating member.

8. An arrangement according to claim 7, including fixing means for securing the sleeve to the external surface of the flexible pipes.

9. An arrangement according to claim 8, in which the fixing means comprises a flexible tubular sleeve attached to the channel-shaped sleeve and itself secured, such as by adhesive, to the outside of the flexible pipe.

10. An arrangement according to any one of claims 4 to 9, including a raised shoulder on the outside of the mating member, the shoulder being so positioned longitudinally with respect to the mating member as to be positioned further from the end of the flexible pipe than the clamping collar when the mating member is inserted therein.

11. An arrangement according to any one of claims 4 to 10, in which the mating member is a hollow pipe whereby to provide a substantially fluid-tight through passage for fluid after this pipe has been inserted in the flexible pipe and the clamping collar tightened.

12. An arrangement according to any one of claims 4 to 11, in which the clamping collar is a worm-drive clamp.

13. A securing device for securing a tightenable clamping collar in position on the outside of and adjacent to the end of a flexible hose which is subsequently to be secured in a substantially liquid-tight manner onto a pipe end carrying a raised shoulder around its end, comprising sleeve means sized to fit over the outside of the flexible hose and defining a channel extending partway around the circumference of the sleeve with the mouth of the channel facing inwardly of the sleeve and defining an externally accessible opening, the channel being sized to receive the clamping collar when in its un-tightened state and locating the clamping collar with respect to the axial direction along the sleeve, the operating member of the clamping collar extending through the said opening and being located thereby in a direction circumferentially of the sleeve, the clamping collar in its said un-tightened state allowing clear space through the sleeve for insertion into the latter of the hose which is then secured longitudinally and axially to the sleeve.

14. A device according to claim 13, in which the clamping collar is a worm-drive clamp.

15. A securing device for securing a flexible hose onto a pipe end, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. A method of securing the end of a flexible hose onto a pipe end, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.