GB2472073A

GB2472073A - Pipe clamp

Info

Publication number: GB2472073A
Application number: GB0912858A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Norris; Stephen Manson
Original assignee: DC Norris and Co Engineering Ltd
Current assignee: DC Norris and Co Engineering Ltd
Priority date: 2009-07-23
Filing date: 2009-07-23
Publication date: 2011-01-26
Anticipated expiration: 2029-07-23
Also published as: GB2472073B; GB0912858D0

Abstract

A pipe clamp comprises first and second elongate components 2,4 respectively which may be fabricated from lengths of flat steel bar or strip. A first end piece 6 of the first component 2 is provided with a series of indentations 8 along its edges. An opening 16 in a first end piece of the second component 4 is capable of receiving the first end piece 6 of the first component 2. By introducing the edge of the opening 16 into a selected pair of oppositely disposed indentations 8, separation of the first ends of the components is resisted. A second end piece 20 of the second component 4 is provided with a plurality of apertures 22 arranged in a row extending lengthwise of the component, each aperture 22 being capable of receiving a nib 10 or other projection extending from the second end of the first component 2. The components are thereby locked together at both ends.

Description

PIPE CLAMPS AND THE LIKE

This invention relates to a clamp especially suitable for use as a pipe clamp, while having other applications.

Pipe clamps are known for holding a pipe in place relative to a support structure, securing lengths of pipe together, or holding fittings in place relative to a pipe. Conventional pipe clamps are dimensioned so as to fit pipes having a specific diameter and offer limited if any tolerances.

There is consequently a need for a pipe clamp that can be applied to pipes having a range of diameters.

Briefly stated, the clamp provided by the invention comprises first and second elongate components which may be fabricated from flat steel bars or strips. A first end piece of the first component is provided with a series of indentations along one or both of its edges. An opening in a first end piece of the second component is capable of receiving the first end piece of the first component. By introducing the edge of the opening into a selected indentation (or opposed pair of indentations) separation of the first ends of the components is resisted. A second end piece of the second component is provided with a plurality of apertures arranged in a row extending lengthwise of the component, each aperture being capable of receiving a nib or other projection extending from the second end of the first component. The components may thereby be locked together at both ends. The components are so shaped that they enclose a space, the cross-sectional area of which is determined on the one hand by which of the indentations in the first component cooperates with the first end piece of the second component, and on the other hand by which of the

I

apertures in the second component receives the nib extending from the first component.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of a first component of a pipe clamp, Figure 2 shows the first component viewed in the direction of arrow II in Figure 1, Figure 3 shows the first component viewed in the direction of arrow III in Figure 1, Figure 4 is a side view of a second component, Figure 5 shows the second component viewed in the direction of arrow V in Figure 4, Figure 6 shows the second component viewed in the direction of arrow VlinFigure4, Figure 7 shows the components interconnected so as to fit a pipe having a smaller diameter, and Figure 8 shows the components interconnected so as to fit a pipe having a larger diameter.

Referring to Figures 1 to 6, first and second clamp components 2 and 4, respectively, are fabricated from lengths of stainless steel bar stock or strip by machining and pressing. Bar stock having a width of substantially 20 mm and a thickness of substantially 3 mm has been found suitable, a convenient length for each component being in the region of! 50mm to 160mm. Although steel is the preferred material for use in fabricating the clamp components, other metallic materials of appropriate strength and rigidity may be employed, and other fabrication methods may be employed. In the case of clamps intended for light duty applications, the components may be injection moulded from plastics, for

example nylon.

During manufacture of the clamp components, each of the two lengths of bar stock has its ends rounded for aesthetic and safety reasons. A first end piece 6 of component 2 has indentations or cut-outs 8 in each of its edges, the indentations in both edges being aligned. As illustrated, there are four indentations in each edge of component 2 but there may be a greater or lesser number depending on requirements. A nib 10 lying in the plane of the second end piece 11 projects from the mid-point of the second end of component 2 in line with the centreline of that component, the nib being bevelled along the line marked 12.

A first end piece 14 of component 4 is provided with an opening 16 which has a circular profile interrupted by slots 18 aligned with the centreline of the component. The diameter of the circular part of the opening 16 is substantially equal to the distance between the bottoms of each of the pairs of indentations in opposite edges of the end piece 6 of component 2, and the distance between the ends of the slots 18 is substantially equal to the overall width of the component 2. A second end piece 20 of the component 4 is provided with rectangular apertures 22 arranged in a row along the centreline of the component, each aperture being dimensioned so as to be capable of receiving the nib 10.

A portion of each component intermediate its ends is provided with a pair of slots 24. The slots 24 may be used to receive mouldings of rubber or other resilient material to prevent vibration between pipework and the clamp, or receive a component used to hold the pipe in place.

After machining as described above, fabrication of the clamp components is completed by pressing the end pieces 6 and 20 out of the original plane P of the bar stock, such that the first end piece 6 of component 2 and the second end piece 20 of component 4 extend perpendicularly to the respective plane P. The intermediate portion of each length is deformed into a V-shape projecting in the opposite direction to end pieces 6 and 20.

In use, the two components are turned relative to each other to enable the end piece 6 to be introduced into the opening 16, the edges of the end piece 6 passing through the slots 18. When a selected pair of indentations 8 comes into alignment with the end piece 14, the components are placed around the pipe or other article to be clamped and rotated relative to each other to bring them both into alignment. The nib 10 is inserted into one of the apertures 20, the bevelling of the nib facilitating snapping of the nib into place. By appropriate selection of the pair of indentations 8 used to engage the end piece 14, and engagement of the nib 10 with a selected aperture 22, the components may be interlocked together and made to occupy relative positions as shown in Figure 7, or closer together, or more widely spaced as shown in Figure 8.

Modifications may be made to the clamp described above. Thus, for example, the ends of the clamp components may be squared-off instead of being rounded-off, and there may more than one nib for cooperation with two or more rows of apertures. The apertures 22 may be in the form S of blind holes, provided that the clamp components are of sufficient thickness. Instead of the end piece 6 being indented on both of its edges it may be indented along a single one of its edges, in which case only a single row of slots 18 needs to be provided. These and other modifications are intended to fall within the claims which follow. is

Claims

CLAIMS1. A clamp comprising first and second elongate components, wherein: a first end piece of said first component is provided with a series of indentations along an edge thereof, a first end piece of said second component is provided with an opening extending therethrough, the first end piece of the first component is dimensioned so as to enter the opening and occupy a position in which the edge of the first end piece of the second component bounding the opening enters a selected indentation, a second end piece of the second component is provided with a series of apertures extending lengthwise thereof, each of the apertures is capable of receiving a projection provided at the second end of the first component, whereby the components are interlocked together when, on the one hand, the second component is received in one of the indentations and, on the other hand, the projection engages one of the apertures.
2. A clamp as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the first end piece of the first component extends perpendicularly to the original plane of the material from which that component is formed.
3. A clamp as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the second end piece of the second component extends perpendicularly to the original plane of the material from which that component was formed.
4. A clamp as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein an intermediate portion of each component is substantially V-shaped.
5. A clamp as claimed in claim 4, wherein the intermediate portion of at least one component is provided with at least one opening therethrough.
6. A clamp as claimed in claim 5, wherein the or each opening in the intermediate portion of at least one component receives a resilient moulding for engaging with a pipe or other component to be clamped.
7. A clamp as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein each of the components is fabricated from metallic bar stock or strip, the width of which is substantially greater than its thickness..
8. A clamp as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said indentations are provided along both edges of the first end piece of the first component, the indentations in opposite sides of the component being in alignment.
9. A clamp as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the opening through the first end piece of the first component is predominantly of circular cross-section, slots extending in opposite directions from the opening, the diameter of the opening and the lengths of the slots being such as to enable the first end piece of the first component to be inserted into the opening and twisted into a position in which the edge of the opening enters a pair of oppositely disposed indentations.
10. A clamp as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the projection at the second end of the first component is in the form of a bevelled nib.
11. A method of manufacturing a clamp comprising providing first and second lengths of metallic material, machining a first end piece of said first length to form a series of indentations along an edge thereof, machining a first end piece of said second length to form an opening extending therethrough, machining a second end piece of the second length to form a series of apertures extending lengthwise thereof, machining the second end of the first length to form a projecting nib, pressing the first end piece of the first length and the second end piece of the second length into positions perpendicular to the plane of each such length, pressing an intermediate portion of each length to form V-shaped projections extending in the opposite directions to the pressed out end pieces.S
12. A clamp substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the drawings.Amendments to the claims have been filed as followsAMENDED CLAIM1. A clamp comprising first and second elongate components, wherein: S a first end piece of said first component is provided with a series of indentations along an edge thereof, a first end piece of said second component is provided with an opening extending therethrough, the first end piece of the first component is dimensioned so as to enter the opening and occupy a position in which the edge of the first end piece of the second component bounding the opening enters a selected indentation, a second end piece of the second component is provided with a series of apertures extending lengthwise thereof, each of the apertures is capable of engaging with the second end of the first component, whereby the components are interlocked together when, on the one hand, the second component is received in one of the indentations and, on the other hand, the second end of the first component engages one of the apertures in the second end piece of the second component, said components being so shaped that when they are interlocked they enclose a space, the cross-sectional area of which is determined, firstly, by which of the indentations in the first component receives the first end piece of the second component and, *. secondly, by which of the apertures in the second component is engaged with the * . 30 second end of the first component. S...S:h 2. A clamp as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the first end piece of the first * component extends perpendicularly to the original plane of the material * from which that component is formed. *.. * S3. A clamp as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the second end piece of the second component extends perpendicularly to the original plane of the material from which that component was formed.4. A clamp as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein an intermediate portion of each component is substantially V-shaped.5. A clamp as claimed in claim 4, wherein the intermediate portion of at least one component is provided with at least one opening therethrough.6. A clamp as claimed in claim 5, wherein the or each opening in the intermediate portion of at least one component receives a resilient moulding for engaging with a pipe or other component to be clamped.7. A clamp as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein each of the components is fabricated from metallic bar stock or strip, the width of which is substantially greater than its thickness..8. A clamp as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said indentations are provided along both edges of the first end piece of the first component, the indentations in opposite sides of the component being in alignment.9. A clamp as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the opening through the first end piece of the first component is predominantly of circular cross-section, slots extending in opposite directions from the opening, the diameter of the opening and the lengths of the slots being such as to enable the first end piece of the first component to be inserted into the opening and twisted into a position in which the edge of the opening enters a pair of oppositely disposed indentations.10. A clamp as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the projection at the second end of the first component is in the form of a bevelled nib.11. A method of manufacturing a clamp comprising providing first and second lengths of metallic material, machining a first end piece of said first length to form a series of indentations along an edge thereof, machining a first end piece of said second length to form an opening extending therethrough, machining a second end piece of the second length to form a series of apertures extending lengthwise thereof, machining the second end of the first length to form a projecting nib, pressing the first end piece of the first length and the second end piece of the second length into positions perpendicular to the plane of each such length, pressing an intermediate portion of each length to form V-shaped projections extending in the opposite directions to the pressed out end pieces.12. A clamp substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the drawings.