GB2347982A

GB2347982A - A tube clamp

Info

Publication number: GB2347982A
Application number: GB9821423A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Henry Epsom
Original assignee: AMPLEX APPLIANCES
Current assignee: AMPLEX APPLIANCES
Priority date: 1998-10-02
Filing date: 1998-10-02
Publication date: 2000-09-20
Also published as: GB9821423D0

Abstract

A tube clamp 16 comprises two parts 18, 20 which fit round tubes to be joined (see fig 1), the two parts of the clamp when joined together producing a through bore 26 into which fits one or more tubes and a second bore 28 at an angle to the first bore into which fits a further tube. The bores contain gripping means to securely hold the tubes, and the clamp is further equipped with tightening devices, eg nuts and bolts 22, to hold the two parts together. The gripping means may comprise a series of protrusions 30 from the inside surfaces of the two parts of the clamp. Preferably the clamp is made of moulded plastics material for joining stainless steel tubes, for instance those used in the construction of swimming pool equipment such as ladders, diving board supports, and pool reels.

Description

A TUBE CLAMP The present invention relates to a tube clamp for joining two pieces of tubing together.

In the past it has been necessary when joining two pieces of stainless steel tubing together to weld these tubes together. This first of all requires the end of the tube that is to be joined onto part of the other tube to be milled to fit exactly onto the tube and then it requires specialist welding. Once the tube has been welded further polishing is required to produce the original finish. It is an aim of the present invention to produce a method of joining tubes which overcomes these problems.

Accordingly the present invention is directed to a tube clamp comprising two parts which fit round the tubes to be joined, the two parts of the clamp when joined together produce a through bore into which fits one or more tubes and a second bore at an angle to the first bore into which fits the other tube, in which the bores contain gripping means to securely hold the tube, and the clamp is further equipped with tightening devices to hold the two parts together.

Preferably the gripping means comprises a series of protrusions from the inside surface of the two parts of the clamp. Advantageously the two parts comprise effectively two halves. Preferably the clamp is made of moulded plastics material for joining stainless steel tubes. In a preferred embodiment the tightening devices are nuts and bolts.

Advantageously, there are three clamping devices, two on either side of the tube held at an angle and one in the centre of the through bore. The through tube which engages with the centre bolt through a hole in the through tube is thus secures the clamp in position.

An example of a tube clamp made in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows an example of the former joining tubes; Figure 2 shows tubes equipped with such clamps; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a clamp without any tubes fitted together; Figure 4 shows an exploded view of the clamp shown in Figure 3; and Figure 5 shows a top view and a side view of the clamp shown in Figure 3.

Figure 1 shows three tubes, 10,12 and 14 joined together, in which tube 12 is joined to tube 10 in the manner of a"T"junction and similarly tube 14 is joined to tube 12 by the manner of a"T"junction. As you can see the end of tube 12 has been milled to fit on the side of tube 10 and similarly the end of tube 14 has been milled to fit onto the side of tube 12. These tubes are then joined together by welding and subsequent polishing to improve the surface.

Figure 2 shows a similar layout of tubes joined together by clamps 16 which fit round the tubes 10,12 and 14 without the necessity of the tubes being cut, milled to fit and subsequently welded.

Figure 3 shows the clamp 16 in greater detail. The clamp 16 comprises two halves, 18 and 20 and is held together by three bolts 22. Two of the bolts 22a and 22b go through webs 24. The clamp 16 has a main body with a through bore 26 and a side body a bore 28 into which the tube coming in at an angle fits. In this case the clamp 16 ensures that the two tubes are perpendicular. The webs 24 are on either side of the side body containing the bore 28 support the side body on the main body the clamp containing through bore 26. The bolt 22c goes through a hole 29 in the centre of the main body of the tube clamp and will in fact go through the tube contained therein, thus securing the clamp 16 in a fixed position.

Figure 4 shows the clamp 16 in an expanded state.

As can clearly be seen inside the bores 26 and 28 there are a series of protrusions 30 which grip on the side of the stainless steel tubes to be secured. This enables a tight fitting joint to be created.

The clamp 16 provides an easy and quick method of joining stainless steel tubes together in a visually attractive method with considerable ease. In the past it has not been possible to have such ease of joining and has thus made creating structures using stainless steel considerably harder.

These clamps can be used in the construction of pool side equipment such as ladders, diving board supports, pool reels. This is especially useful as such pieces of equipment are normally built in situ in swimming pools and such an environment requires stainless steel products to avoid corrosion as a rusty structure could severely damage swimmers.

Claims

Claims 1. A tube clamp comprising two parts which fit round tubes to be joined, the two parts of the clamp when joined together producing a through bore into which fits one or more tubes and a second bore at an angle to the first bore into which fits a further tube, in which the bores contain gripping means to securely hold the tubes, and the clamp is further equipped with tightening devices to hold the two parts together.
2. A tube clamp according to claim 1, in which the gripping means comprises a series of protrusions from the inside surfaces of the two parts of the clamp.
3. A tube clamp according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the two parts comprise effectively two halves.
4. A tube clamp according to any preceding claim, in which the clamp is made of moulded plastics material for joining stainless steel tubes.
5. A tube clamp according to any preceding claim, in which the tightening devices are nuts and bolts.
6. A tube clamp according to any preceding claim, which further comprises three clamping devices, two on either side of the tube held at an angle and one in the centre of the through bore.
7. A tube clamp substantially as described herein, with reference to the accompanying figures 2,3,4 and 5.