GB2312919A

GB2312919A - Pipe clamping and coupling apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2312919A
Application number: GB9609905A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Hayden
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-05-11
Filing date: 1996-05-11
Publication date: 1997-11-12
Anticipated expiration: 2016-05-11
Also published as: GB9609905D0; GB2312919B

Abstract

A pipe clamp 10 comprises first and second hemicylindrical gripping members (12,14) pivotally connected at 16 by hinge members 18,20 between a gripping and a non-gripping position. Rotation of cam members 40,42 by movement of a lever 26 in direction B moves a bolt 28 downwardly to disengage a connecting bar 32 from a recess 34. Then the gripping members (12,14) can be moved to the non-gripping position. Pipe alignment apparatus (100, Fig 2) comprises first and second clamps (10), each being adapted to receive an end region of respective first and second pipes (104,106). A base (122) is provided upon which the clamps (10) are mounted, spaced from, and in alignment with, each other to hold the end regions of the pipes (104,106) in alignment for coupling. Coupling means (102) may be received between the first and second clamping means (10) to couple the pipes (104,106) together.

Description

Pipe Clamping Apparatus This invention relates to pipe clamping apparatus. Also, this invention relates to pipe alignment apparatus. More particularly, this invention relates to such clamping or alignment apparatus for use with pipes formed of a plastics material, for example polyethylene.

The laying of polyethylene pipes in trenches involves the use of rolls of pipe each being of a specified length. It is often necessary to couple together two lengths of pipe. In order to do this, a technique known as electrofusion welding is used, but this requires the pipes to be held precisely in alignment without any movement. Known techniques for carrying out this function have the disadvantage that it is not possible to hold the pipe still, and a degree of movement occurs which results in a non-perfect join between the two pipes.

In cases where it is necessary to repair a length of gas or water pipe, pipe is crimped on either side of the region to be repaired to halt the flow of gas or water. When the repair has been completed and the apparatus forming the crimp is removed, it is difficult to return the pipe to its pre-crimped configuration.

According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided pipe clamping apparatus comprising first and second substantially opposed gripping members movable relative to each other between a gripping and a non-gripping position, and securing means to secure the gripping members in the gripping position.

Preferably, the first and second gripping members are pivotally movable about a pivot between the gripping and non-gripping positions. Conveniently, the pivot is off-set from the first and second gripping members. The apparatus may further include first and second hinge members extending from the first and second gripping members respectively to define said pivot.

Each gripping member may be shaped to conform to the outer profile of the pipe. In the preferred embodiment, each gripping member is substantially hemicylindrical in configuration. Preferably each gripping member is elongate along its longitudinal axis.

A base member may be provided on which the second gripping member is mounted, preferably the second hinge member is pivotally attached to the second gripping member and base member.

According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided a pipe alignment apparatus comprising first clamping means to receive an end region of the first pipe, second clamping means to receive an end region of a second pipe, and a base member upon which the first and second clamping means are mounted spaced from, and in alignment with, each other to hold the end regions of the pipes in alignment for coupling. Coupling means may be received between the first and second clamping means to couple the pipes together.

The first clamping means may comprise first and second substantially opposed gripping members movable between a gripping and a non-gripping position. The first clamping means may further include securing means to secure the gripping members in the gripping position. The second clamping means may also comprise such first and second gripping members and, desirably, includes such securing means.

Preferably, the first and second gripping members are pivotally movable about a pivot between the gripping and non-gripping positions. Conveniently, the pivot is off-set from the first and second gripping members. First and second hinge members may extend from the first and second gripping members respectively at one end of the hinge members, and may be pivotally attached together at the opposite end region to define said pivot.

Each gripping member may extend lengthways of the base a sufficient distance to hold the pipe in a fixed position. Each gripping member may be shaped to conform to the outer profile of the pipe. In the preferred embodiment, each gripping member is substantially hemicylindrical in configuration.

The securing means may comprise an elongate shaft, preferably a bolt, extending between the first and second gripping members, and a lever connected to the elongate shaft to move the elongate shaft from a locked position to an unlocked position, whereby when the elongate shaft is in the unlocked position, the gripping members can be moved to the non-gripping position.

Preferably, the securing means further includes a sleeve member fixedly mounted to the first gripping member, and a connecting member received in the sleeve. Preferably, a movable lever is fixedly attached to the connecting member, and a counter lever is fixedly attached to the first gripping member, whereby the movable lever is movable relative to the first gripping member, wherein the movable lever can be moved between locked and unlocked positions and the counter member can be gripped to increase the force applied to the movable lever. Preferably, the securing means further includes a further sleeve in which is received a cam member. The further sleeve may be fixedly attached to the elongate shaft and the cam member may be fixedly attached to the connecting member, preferably in an off-set position. Preferably, the securing means comprises first and second elongate shafts arranged at opposite end regions of the gripping members, and the securing means further including a pair of said first mentioned sleeves and the connecting member extending between the cam member of each elongate member and the connecting member extending through the pair of sleeves. Preferably, the sleeves are spaced apart and the lever extends from the gap between the two sleeves.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front view of pipe clamping apparatus; Fig. 2 is a front view of pipe coupling apparatus; and Fig. 3 is a view along the lines III-III in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, there is shown pipe clamping apparatus 10 comprising first and second opposed substantially hemicylindrical gripping members 12,14. The gripping members 12,14 are connected together at pivot 16 by hinge members 18,20 being fixedly connected respectively to the first and second gripping members 12,14 and being connected together at the pivot point 16. A base member 22 is connected to, and extends the length of, the second gripping member 14. Support bars 23 are provided on the base member 22 and extend downwardly therefrom to support the base member 22 above the ground to provide sufficient room beneath the base member 22 for operation of the securing means (see below).

The gripping members 12,14 are pivotably movable about the pivot 16 in the direction of the arrows A between a gripping position, as shown, and a nongripping position, in which the two gripping members 12,14 are open. It will be appreciated, however, that while both gripping members can be pivoted about the pivot 16, in use the apparatus 10 will be disposed on the ground or other suitable surface, and only the first gripping member 12 will be moved.

Securing means 24 is provided to secure the first and second gripping members 12,14 together when they are in the gripping position. The securing means 24 comprises a movable lever 26 movable between locked and unlocked positions, and an elongate bolt 28. Reaction support means 30 is provided on the base member 22 to provide a reaction support for the bolt 28. As can be seen from Fig. 1, the securing means comprises two of said bolts 28, and a connecting bar 32 extends between the two bolts 28. The connecting bar 32 is received in a recess 34 defined in the reaction support 30, two of which are provided, as shown in Fig. 1.

A counter lever 27 is fixedly attached to the first gripping member 14 to provide a counter force to the apparatus when the movable lever 26 is moved between the locked and unlocked positions. The movable lever 27 is fixedly attached, for example by welding, to the first gripping member and one of the first hinge members 18.

A pair of first sleeves 36 are fixedly mounted to the first member 12 by, for example, welding as at weld 38. A cylindrical connecting member 40 is attached to the lever 26 and extends through the sleeves 36. Opposite ends of the connecting member 40 are attached to off-set cam members 42 by, for example, welds 44. The cam members 42 are held in second sleeves 46 provided on the upper ends of the bolts 28.

As shown in the drawings, the securing means 24 is in the locked position. When it is desired to move the securing means 24 to the unlocked position, the movable lever 26 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow B. If a large force is required to do this, assistance can be obtained by pushing down on the counter lever 27. Consequent rotation occurs in the connecting member 40 and the cam member 42. This moves the bolt 28 downwardly to disengage the connecting bar 32 from the recess 34. When this happens, the gripping members 12,14 can be moved to the non-gripping position.

In order to lock the gripping members 12,14 in the gripping position, the connecting bar 32 is engaged in the recess 34 in the reaction support member 30 and the movable lever 26 is then moved back in the direction opposite to the arrow B. In order to facilitate this movement of the lever 26, the operator can pull up on the canter lever 27. This locks the first and second gripping members in the gripping position as shown in Fig. 3.

The apparatus shown in Fig. 1 is particularly suitable for rounding pipes which have been deformed during a repair operation. The deformed area of the pipe is placed between the first and second gripping members 12,14 and the securing means 24 is moved to the locking position to move the first and second gripping members 12,14 to the gripping position. The configuration of the first and second gripping members conforms to that of a cylindrical pipe and, consequently, when the securing means is locked in the locking position, the pipe is returned to its normal cylindrical configuration.

Referring to Fig. 2, there is shown pipe alignment apparatus 100 which comprises first and second clamping apparatus 10, as described with reference to Fig. 1. Each of the clamping apparatus 10 shown in Fig. 2 comprises all the features of the clamping apparatus 10 shown in Fig. 1, and these have been designated with the same reference numerals. The first and second clamping apparatus 10 shown in Fig. 2 operate in the same way as a clamping apparatus 10 shown in Fig. 1.

In the alignment apparatus 100, the base member 22 as shown in Fig.. 1, is replaced by a base member 122 upon which the two clamping apparatus 10 are mounted, and extends between the two clamping apparatus, as shown.

As can be seen, the two clamping apparatus 10 are spaced from each other to enable a coupling device 102 to be placed therebetween to couple the ends of two pipes together, as will be explained below.

In operation, an end region of a first pipe 104 is placed in one of the two clamping apparatus 10, and the gripping members 12,14 are locked in the gripping position, as shown, to grip the first pipe 104. An end region of a second pipe 106 is placed in the other of the clamping apparatus 10 which is also locked in the gripping position, as shown, to grip the second pipe 106.

The two pipes 104,106 are so arranged in the two clamping apparatus 10 that their ends 104A,106A project into the space between the two clamping apparatus 10, as shown. Before the pipes are placed in the coupling apparatus 100, the coupling device 102 is arranged in the space between the two clamping apparatus 10, which means that the ends 104A, 106A of the pipes 104,106 are disposed inside the coupling device 102.

In the embodiment shown, the coupling device 102 is an electrofusion coupler which is known in the art, and includes electrical connection sockets 108,110 to which electrical cables can be connected.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 with the ends 104A,106A in the coupling, electrical cables (not shown) are connected to the sockets 108,110.

When electricity is passed through the coupling device 102, it causes at least the inner surface of the coupling device to melt thereby fusing the two ends 104A,106A of the pipes together. After the coupling device 102 has been allowed to cool, the coupling apparatus 100 can be removed by moving the two securing means 24 to the unlocked position thereby enabling the pipes 104,106 to be removed therefrom.

The clamping apparatus 10 shown in Fig. 1, and the coupling apparatus 100 shown in Fig. 2, are particularly suitable for use with pipes formed of a plastics material, for example, polyethylene, such as medium density polyethylene (MDPE) or high density polyethylene (HDPE).

Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. Pipe clamping apparatus comprising first and second substantially opposed gripping members movable relative to each other between a gripping and a non-gripping position, and securing means to secure the gripping members in the gripping position.

2. Pipe clamping apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the first and second gripping members are pivotally movable about a pivot between the gripping and non-gripping positions.

3. Pipe clamping apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein the pivot is off-set from the first and second gripping members.

4. Pipe clamping apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the apparatus further includes first and second hinge members extending from the first and second gripping members respectively to define said pivot.

5. Pipe clamping apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein each gripping member is shaped to conform to the outer profile of the pipe.

6. Pipe clamping apparatus according to Claim 5 wherein each gripping member is substantially hemicylindrical in configuration.

7. Pipe clamping apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein each gripping member is elongate along its longitudinal axis.

8. Pipe clamping apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein a base member is provided on which the second gripping member is mounted, the second hinge member being pivotally attached to the second gripping member and base member.

9. Pipe alignment apparatus comprising first clamping means to receive an end region of the first pipe, second clamping means to receive an end region of a second pipe, and a base member upon which the first and second clamping means are mounted spaced from, and in alignment with, each other to hold the end regions of the pipes in alignment for coupling.

10. Pipe alignment apparatus according to Claim 9 wherein the first and/or the second clamping means each comprises first and second substantially opposed gripping members movable between a gripping and anon-gripping position.

11. Pipe alignment apparatus according to Claim 10 wherein the first and/or the second clamping means each further includes securing means to secure the gripping members in the gripping position.

12. Pipe alignment apparatus according to Claim 10 or 11 wherein the first and second gripping members of the first and/or second clamping means are pivotally movable about a pivot between the gripping and non-gripping positions.

13. Pipe alignment apparatus according to Claim 12 wherein the pivot is offset from the first and second gripping members.

14. Pipe alignment apparatus according to Claim 12 or 13 wherein first and second hinge members extend from the first and second gripping members respectively at one end of the hinge members, and are pivotally attached together at the opposite end region to define said pivot.

15. Pipe alignment apparatus according to any of Claims 12 to 14 wherein each gripping member extends lengthways of the base a sufficient distance to hold the pipe in a fixed position.

16. Pipe alignment apparatus according to any of Claims 12 to 15 wherein each gripping member is shaped to conform to the outer profile of the pipe.

17. Pipe alignment apparatus according to Claim 15 wherein each gripping member is substantially hemicylindrical in configuration.

18. Pipe alignment apparatus according to any of Claims 10 to 16 wherein the securing means comprises an elongate shaft extending between the first and second gripping members, and a lever connected to the elongate shaft to move the elongate shaft from a locked position to an unlocked position, whereby when the elongate shaft is in the unlocked position, the gripping members can be moved to the non-gripping position.

19. Pipe alignment apparatus according to Claim 17 wherein the securing means further includes a sleeve member fixedly mounted to the first gripping member, a connecting member received in the sleeve, a movable lever fixedly attached to the connecting member, and a counter lever fixedly attached to the first gripping member, whereby the movable lever is movable relative to the first gripping member, wherein the movable lever can be moved between locked and unlocked positions and the counter member can be gripped to increase the force applied to the movable lever.

20. Pipe alignment apparatus according to Claim 18 wherein the securing means further includes a further sleeve in which is received a cam member, the further sleeve being fixedly attached to the elongate shaft, and the cam member being fixedly attached to the connecting member.

21. Pipe alignment apparatus according to Claim 19 wherein the cam member is fixedly attached to the connecting member in an off-set position.

22. Pipe alignment apparatus according to Claim 18, 19 or 20 wherein the securing means comprises first and second elongate shafts arranged at opposite end regions of the gripping members, and the securing means further includes a pair of said first mentioned sleeves, the connecting member extending between the cam member of each elongate member and the connecting member extending through the pair of sleeves.

23. Pipe alignment apparatus according to Claim 21 wherein the sleeves are spaced apart and the lever extends from the gap between the two sleeves.

24. Pipe clamping apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

25. Pipe alignment apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

26. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.