GB2241986A

GB2241986A - Hose clamp device

Info

Publication number: GB2241986A
Application number: GB9105533A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Edward Marshall
Original assignee: Lucas Industries Ltd
Current assignee: ZF International UK Ltd
Priority date: 1990-03-16
Filing date: 1991-03-15
Publication date: 1991-09-18
Also published as: GB9105533D0; GB9006025D0

Abstract

The device has a pair of flexible arms 2, 3 between which, in use, is placed a hose T to be clamped and means e.g. a ratchet device 4, 6 act between the arms to retain them in clamping position. The ratchet device shown is a tongue 4 having a series of teeth 5 thereon, and an aperture 7 through which the tongue is inserted so that the teeth 5 coact with a formation 6 within the aperture to prevent withdrawal of the tongue. As shown each arm 2,3 is of generally T-shaped cross-section. The arms may be drawn together manually or by using a tool. The retaining means may be a separate component - and may be a screw clamp. <IMAGE>

Description

HOSE CLAMP DEVICE This invention relates to a hose clamp device useful particularly, but not exclusively, for clamping a flexible brake hose when it is required, for example, to disconnect the hose from a brake during a servicing procedure.

An object of the invention is to provide a hose clamp device of simple construction which may be economically manufactured and which is simple and effective to use.

According to the invention, a hose clamp device comprises a body having a pair of flexible arms between which, in use, is placed a hose to be clamped, and means acting between the arms to retain the arms in clamping position on the hose.

Preferably, the retention means, which is typically an integral part of the clamp, is a ratchet device, of which cooperating parts are conveniently carried respectively by the arms. It can be convenient for the retention means to be non-releasable, requiring it to be damaged or destroyed in order to release the hose, the clamp device then being disposed of after use.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of hose clamp device of the invention; Figure 2 is an end view of part of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-section along the line X-X of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating the clamp device in use.

Referring to the drawings, the hose clamp device illustrated therein has a unitary body, illustrated generally at 1, conveniently formed by moulding from plastics material. The body has a pair of generally parallel flexible arms 2, 3 which, in their unstressed condition, lie in mutually inclined spaced relationship, as illustrated in Figure 1. A locking tongue 4 is carried by the end of the arm 3 and is provided with locking serrations or teeth 5 on a free end portion of its outwardly facing surface adapted to coact with a formation 6 provided within an aperture 7 in the arm 2, into which the tongue is inserted for locking purposes, in the manner to be described. The device is typically moulded in one piece from plastics material.

Each arm is of generally T-shaped cross-section and arranged with each transverse flange 8 of the T forming part of a main outer wall of the device with the stems 9 of the T projecting inwardly in generally opposed relationship. The stems 8 of the arms are interrupted at 9A in the region of the junction 10 between the arms in order to facilitate relative flexing of the arms.

Recesses 11 are formed respectively in opposed regions of the stems to provide an opening for receiving a tube T to be clamped. The stem 9 of the arm 2 is foreshortened at the free end of the arm and the opening 7 is formed in the flanges 8 at a location beyond this end of the stem.

An additional flange 12 extends perpendicular to the flanges 8 and from the extreme outer edge of one of the latter in the region of the aperture 7 in order to reinforce the arm in this region. As can be seen more clearly from Figure 3, the formation 6 within the aperture 7 extends inwardly from the forward edge of this aperture and is inwardly tapered so as to form a kind of flexible pawl for cooperation with the teeth 5 on the tongue 4. A notch 13 is provided in the outer edge of the flange 8 in a region adjacent the aperture 7 for the purpose to be described.

When it is desired to use the clamp device to clamp the hose T, which would typically be a flexible fluid supply hose to a vehicle brake, the open device, as illustrated in Figure 1, is placed so as to embrace the hose T with the latter in the region of the recesses 11 and, with the tongue 5 inserted in the opening 7, the arms 2, 3 are drawn together, either manually or using a suitable clamping tool, to clamp the hose. During this process, the tongue 4 is pushed through the opening 7 to a position in which cooperation between one of the teeth 5 thereon with the nawl 6 retains the arms in their clamping positions, as illustrated in Figure 4.The nature of the teeth 5 and the pawl 6 within the aperture 7 is such that together they form a uni-directional ratchet device so that, once inserted, the tongue 5 cannot be withdrawn without severe damage to or destruction of the cooperating parts of the tongue and opening. In practice, therefore, the device would be released by cutting the tongue 4 at its portion lying between the arms 2, 3 or breaking the arm 2 at the notch 13 into the aperture 7 to free the tongue 4, the device being subsequently discarded.

The body and locking device may take any convenient alternative form and the latter may be a separate component from the body 4, although it will still preferably be such as to be non-releasable, when locked so that the device, once used, is destroyed upon release. In an alternative arrangement, the retention device may be a screw clamp or the like enabling the clamp device to be used repeatedly.

Claims

1. A hose clamp device comprising a body having a pair of flexible arms between which, in use, is placed a hose to be clamped, and means acting between the arms to retain the arms in clamping position on the hose.

2. A hose clamp according to Claim 1, wherein the retention means is an integral part of the clamp.

3. A hose clamp according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the retention means is a ratchet device.

4. A hose clamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein cooperating parts of the retention means are carried respectively by the arms.

5. A hose clamp according to Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein the ratchet device comprises a tongue carried by one of the arms and having a series of ratchet teeth thereon, and an aperture in the other arm containing at least one fixed tooth and arranged to receive the tongue therein for secure retention by cooperation between said fixed and ratchet teeth.

6. A hose clamp according to Claim 5, wherein each arm is of generally T-shaped cross-section with the opposed flanges of the T extending laterally of the arm and the stem directed inwardly towards the adjacent arm, the stem being foreshortened at the free end portion of said other arm and the opening being formed through the flanges at a location on the arm beyond the end of the stem.

7. A hose clamp according to Claim 6, wherein said free arm end portion is reinforced by an additional flange directed perpendicularly to the T flange and extending longitudinally from the end of the foreshortened stem to the end of the associated arm.

8. A hose clamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the free edge of the T stem of each arm is recessed adjacent the junction between the arms to receive the hose.

9. A hose clamp according to any one of Claims 6 to 8, wherein the T stem is interrupted in the region of the junction between the arms to provide a hinge.

10. A hose clamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the retention means is non-releasable, requiring it to be damaged or destroyed in order to release the hose.

11. A hose clamp according to Claim 10 when dependent upon Claim 5, wherein a notch or the like is provided in the side of the arm in the region of the aperture in order to facilitate releasing the clamp by fracturing the arm into the aperture.

12. A hose clamp substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.