KR100393087B1 - Ring clamp for connecting two tubes - Google Patents

Abstract

The ring clamp according to the invention has two half rings 10, 20, each half ring having a first end with outer radially extending connections 12, 22 and also having a first end of the half rings. It has a second end of hook-shaped connection 14 and lug-shaped connection 24 in order to facilitate separate engagement with each other at two ends. The cross section of the half ring portion is substantially U-shaped, and both side walls of the “U” portion are bent in the inner radial direction to support the flange face which projects at the ends of the two tubes.

This clamp includes a tightening screw 30, the pillar portion 32 of which passes through the holes of the connecting portions 12, 22. The length L of the pillar portion is equal to or slightly larger than the radius R of the ring clamp in the engaged state, and the pillar portion is loosely inserted into the hole of the connecting portion. The hook and lug connecting portions 14 and 24 couple both ends of the second half ring portion to facilitate separation.

Description

Ring clamp for connecting two tubes

Ring clamps of the same type are known from US Pat. Nos. 3,014,259 and 3,964,773. In these ring clamps, the connecting means actually constitute a hinge and the hinges remain permanently joined together after the two half rings are connected. To place the ring clamp around the support surface of the tubes, the two half rings are spaced apart on the outer circumferential surface of the flange face of the tube about the hinge axis and then screwed into the holes formed in the connections of the half rings. In the structure, the hinge axes of the two half ring portions are joined to each other from the initial state.

This process is relatively easy, but after the semi-loop portion is placed around the flange face of the tube, the screw is inserted into the hole of the connection and the nut is screwed into the end of the screw. At this time, the operator who manipulates the ring clamp has to operate three separate parts, two half rings, screws and nuts together, which takes a considerable time. There is an easy issue.

Furthermore, ring clamps often need to be delivered with pre-assembled screws and nuts already in place. It may be necessary to unscrew the nut and / or remove the screw from the hole in the connection before carrying out the operation of installing the ring clamp.

GB-A-2 094 385 shows another ring clamp of this type, wherein the two half ring connecting means of the ring clamp comprise a padded pad and another pad engages in the slot. In this document, a connecting means is provided as a means for suppressing the number of parts of a ring clamp.

GB-A-2 094 385 does not specify a mode for assembling a ring clamp around an object to be fixed, but a single assembly mode that can be considered is the ring of US-A-3 014 259 and US-A-3 964 773. Seems like the one in the clamp.

The drawing of GB-A-2 094 385 shows that the tightening screw is relatively long because the length of the screw post seems to be slightly longer than the radius of the ring clamp. However, there is no special comment on this problem and the length of the screw shown in the drawings has no technical justification.

The present invention relates to a ring clamp for connecting two tubes, both ends of the tube is formed with a projection protruding in the radial direction from the outer circumferential surface and relates to a ring clamp for fastening them in a state in which the projections of the two tubes against each other will be. The ring clamp includes two half rings, and the first end of each semi-circular portion is bent in the outward radial direction to form a connecting portion. The connecting portion is formed with a screw hole, and the second end is separated from each other. The connection part which consists of this easy structure is formed. In addition, since the half ring portion has an arm formed radially inwardly over its entire circumference, the half ring portion fixes the flange faces of the two tubes during ring clamping and has a U-shaped cross section. In addition, the ring clamp includes a screw that is fitted and coupled to the connecting portion of the first end, and the pillar portion of the screw passes through the screw hole.

1 is a side view of a ring clamp according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a partial view in the direction of arrow II of FIG. 1,

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a partial view in the arrow IV direction of FIG. 1,

5 to 8 illustrate four successive steps of positioning the ring clamp at the ends of two tubes to be connected,

9 is a side view similar to FIG. 1 showing another embodiment of a ring clamp,

10 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of FIG. 9,

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-XI of FIG. 10.

The present invention is used for the above-described type of ring clamp having a length about the same size as the radius of the ring clamp in the state where the threaded portion of the screw is tightened. It is an object of the present invention to further simplify the position of the ring clamp and eliminate the need for manipulating a plurality of individual components.

The object is loosely mounted so as to have a length equal to the radius of the ring clamp in the tightened column of the screw and to have a predetermined gap in the connection hole, and the second end of the semi-loop portion in the state in which the connecting means are coupled to each other. The second ends can be arbitrarily separated in the state where they are fitted in the hole of the column connecting portion of the screw so as to be separated and coupled.

It will be appreciated that these arrangements allow for the overall pre-assembly of the various elements constituting the ring clamp, the threaded part of the screw passing through the hole in the connection, and a slight tightening of the nut so that it stays near one end of the screwed part. . Typically the ring clamp is supplied in this preassembled state. To place the ring clamp in place, loosen the connecting means to separate the ends of the half annulus, and the support surface of the nut one by one with the length of the screw column also one by one using the gaps present in the openings around the column. It is sufficient to assemble around it and then assemble the second end of the semi-loop portion before tightening the ring clamp normally using screws and nuts. These operations are extremely simple and there is no risk of losing any part of the ring clamp when the ring clamp is in place.

The length of the threaded column is chosen to be about the same size as the radius of the ring clamp in the tightened state (this is a matter of the inner radius measured from the inner surface of the semi-looped section), and that length is the gap between the threaded column and the hole into which the screw is inserted. In addition, it has been demonstrated that it is sufficient to place the ring clamp in place without having to remove the screw.

For example, for a ring clamp with a radius of 25 to 40 mm and the height of the remaining U arm approximately 5 mm, a screw with a threaded column of 45 mm (thus this length is slightly larger than the radius of the ring clamp), It will be suitable when the gap between the column and the hole into which the screw is inserted is 0.5 to 1.5 mm.

In the case of a ring clamp with a radius of 45 to 50 mm, which is larger and the arm height of U still approximately 5 mm, the length of the threaded column of about 45 mm (approximately the radius) is appropriate. In fact, the length of the threaded column is determined by the ratio between the radius of the ring clamp and the height of the arm of U. A typical ring clamp with a larger arm would require a length slightly larger than the radius.

Generally, in the tightened state, the length of the screw column is within the range of 1 to 2 times the radius of the ring clamp, and the screw is removed when the gap between the screw column and the hole is 0.5 to 2 mm in the screw hole. The ring clamp can be removed or combined without removing it. It should be noted that in order to avoid nut tightening, which would have to turn quite a few turns, it would be desirable to make the threaded column length less than 1.5 times the ring clamp radius in the tightened state.

On the other hand, the connecting means comprises a first lug located at the second end of the first half annulus, which lugs substantially radially outwardly from the outer periphery of the first half annulus and curves inward to form a hook. And a connecting means comprising a second lug located at the second end of the second half ring portion, the lug protruding substantially outwardly radially from the outer periphery of the second half ring portion and to the hook. It is configured to be hooked up.

The connecting means are thus produced simply and economically. The present invention will be described in detail by the examples shown below.

The ring clamp of FIG. 1 comprises two half rings 10 and 20, each half ring having a first end with connections 12 and 22, and a connection 14 and 24, respectively. Has a second end. In other words, the connecting portions 14 and 24 provide a connecting means that allow the two ends of the semi-rings 10 and 20 to be assembled in a detachable manner. The connecting portions 12 and 22 extend in the radial direction outward of the ring clamp, ie extend outwardly from the outer circumferential surface of the clamp. The connecting portions 12 and 22 are parallel and the pillar portion 32 of the screw 30 is fitted through the holes 12 'and 14' formed in the connecting portions 12 and 22.

The two half rings are manufactured by bending the metal band about half a turn to moderately low temperature hammering.

In order to tighten the ring clamp, the connecting portion 24 of the half ring portion 20 is first bitten by the connecting portion 14 of the half ring portion 10, and then the connecting portion 12 (22) by tightening the nut 34. ) Is firmly combined. The head 36 of the screw is then located in the connector 12 and the nut 34 is located in the other connector 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the washer 38 is located in the connecting portion 22, and the end 38a of the washer 38 is pressed against the nut face when the nut 34 is tightened. The washer fits into the hole 14 ′ of the connection 22 and then deforms the exposed end 38b, ie the end opposite the end 38a, to be riveted.

In the connecting portion 14, a first lug is formed at the second end of the one half ring portion 10. The first lug protrudes from the outer circumferential surface of the semi-loop portion in the radially outward direction of the ring clamp, and its free end is further curved inward to form the hook 14a. In the connecting portion 24, a second lug is formed at the second end of the other half ring portion 20, and the second lug protrudes outward from the outer circumferential surface of the half ring portion 20 and the hook 14a is formed. It is configured to hang on. The lug protrudes outwardly from the outer circumferential surface of the ring clamp, and the height (engagement height) h from the free end of the hook 14a to the lug of the connecting portion 24 is usually about 2 to 5 mm, so that the lug portion When engaging the 10 and the half ring portion 20, the hub 14 can be coupled to the lugs of the connecting portion 24 even if the half ring portion 10 is not pulled with a large force in the radially outward direction. Moreover, the width of the hook bottom is greater than the lug thickness of the connection part 24 (approximately equal to 1.5 times the thickness) so that the two half rings are relatively inclined so that the lugs of the connection part 24 can be easily engaged in the hook 14a. Could be. When the ring clamp is intended to be fixed, the connecting portions 14 and 24 act like a hinge, so that the half rings 10 and 20 rotate about it when the screws are tightened.

As can be seen in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, the half ring portion represents a substantially U-shaped cross section with flat ends 40 and two arms 41 and 42. FIG. 3 also shows the ends of the two tubes 44 and 46 representing the flanges 44a and 46a in a thin line, where the half ring of the ring clamp is located. More specifically, the surfaces 44b and 46b of the flange come into contact with the arms 41 and 42 of the half annular portion, and the arms exert a force to keep the tubes in close contact with each other.

The support surfaces 44b and 46b are formed to have similar inclinations so as to be in close contact with the arms 41 and 42, and thus, when the ring clamp is tightened, the two tubes are in close contact with each other. It should be emphasized by saying that the cross section of the half ring portion is generally U-shaped, the ring clamp has two inwardly facing sidewalls or sidewalls 16, 18 over most of its perimeter, The arms are symmetrically formed about their central plane P and abut the surface of the flanges formed at both ends of the tube. The flat portions 40 which form the base of U and define the outer circumference of the ring clamp can be long or short depending on the dimensions of these flanges. The flats may be very absent, in which case the cross section of the ring clamp will be similar to the V-shape.

The partial view of FIG. 2 shows that the connections 14, 24 are formed by modifying the ends of the half annulus, such as by stamping. Their ends are bent in the outward radial direction, while the side walls 16 and 18 are also bent in the outward radial direction to help form the lugs easily.

On the other hand, it is possible to join each other by inserting a screw between the connecting parts 12 and 22 and then tightening the two nuts, but as shown in FIG. 1, the head 36 uses a screw integral with the column part. It is preferable to tighten the screw only by operating the nut 34. In that case, the connecting portion 12 where the head 36 of the screw is located needs a means for preventing the head 36 from turning while tightening the screw.

More precisely, as shown in FIG. 4, the head of the screw includes at least one angled 36a (a polygonal head is employed for illustrative purposes only). The connecting portion 12 at which the head of the screw is located has a flange 12a extending in the opposite direction to the other connecting portion 22. This flange comprises a housing 13 for receiving the head 36 of the screw (the flange is configured somewhat longer than the thickness of the head to fully receive the head). The flange 12a is formed at an angled portion 13a in close contact with the angled portion 36a on at least one portion of the inner circumferential surface. However, in the case of using a polygonal head, the angled portion 13a having the same shape as the head portion is formed on the flange, wherein the angled portion is formed so that a small gap f can be formed between the head of the screw and the flange. The inner periphery of 13a is slightly larger than the side of the head 36a of the screw.

Thus, the head 36 is configured to have some play in the connecting portion 12, but cannot rotate in the housing 13. Meanwhile, in order to prevent the head 36a of the screw from being separated from the housing 13, a locking jaw 15 is formed at the outer end of the housing 13.

Meanwhile, the locking jaw 15 formed by bending the end portion of the flange 12a to be close to the right angle is configured to maintain the gap between the screw and the connecting portion 12 to some extent. The flange of the connecting portion 12 Similar to the flange 22a of the mating connecting portion 22, 12a functions to narrow the gap between the connecting portions so that the connecting portion does not bend inward when the ring clamp is tightened.

In FIG. 1 J1 denotes the gap maintained between the pillar of the screw and the hole 12 'of the connection 12 and the symbol J2 denotes the gap maintained between the pillar of the screw and the inner circumference of the washer 38. Display. It will be noted that in the absence of the washer 38, the gap j2 will be formed between the hole 14 'of the connection 22 and the column of the screw.

The pillar portion of the screw is loosely mounted in the hole, which means that when the connecting portions 14 and 24 are separated, the gap j1 and so that the two half rings can move relative to the screw in the direction of F1 and F2 shown in FIG. j2) is large enough. In this way, the inner circumference of the washer 38 is configured to be wider toward the end portion 38a so that the half ring portion can move in the direction of F1 and F2. On the other hand the angular gap of the two half annular parts with respect to the pillar part of the screw in the direction of arrows F1 and F2 depends on the height of the arms 41 and 42 of U (FIG. 3), more specifically the arms 41 and 42. And the height of the overlap between the flanges 44a and 46a. Also, the angular gaps F1 and F2 are determined by the gaps j1 and j2, and the angular displacement from the position of the half ring portions 10 and 20 in FIG. 6 to the position of the half ring portion in FIG. 7 is F2 and F1. to be.

In FIG. 1, it can be observed that the length L of the pillar portion of the screw is at least approximately equal to the radius of the ring clamp in the engaged state. By this arrangement, when the nut is located at the end of the threaded column marked with dashed lines, the first ends of the semi-looped sections 10 and 20 are of sufficient length along the columnar portion (similar to the length except the thickness of the nut 34). The distance between each other is adjusted by slipping over.

In order to position the ring clamp, which is initially pre-assembled (ie, the screw has previously been inserted into the hole of the joint), the second ends of the half loops 10 and 20 are first separated from each other, thereby connecting the joint 14 And 24). Then the first ends of the half annulus are spaced apart by moving in opposite directions along the threaded column 32. It should then be noted that the nut will be positioned at almost the end of the screw, the position indicated by the dashed line in FIG. 1 to ensure maximum travel. The two half rings are then pivoted about each other around the screw post so that the first half rings are positioned on the support surface of the tube. Thus, the situation shown in FIG. 5 is obtained. In this case, preferably lying on the flange of the tube is a half loop 20 with a lug-shaped connection 24 and the other half loop 10 is pivoted approximately at right angles (perpendicular to the plane of the drawing). do.

Only the half loops are spaced apart from each other, and then the second half loop 10 is turned down to coincide with the angle of the first half loop 20. In this case, the second end of the half ring portion 10 can be rotated without interfering with the pipe and its flange because the length of the pillar portion is configured sufficiently long. At this time, the half ring portion 10 has a minute angular gap in the direction opposite to the arrow F2 with respect to the half ring portion 20.

From this position, the two ends of the half ring portion are assembled by engaging the connecting portions 14 and 24. In this case the two half annular portions have a sufficiently large gap with respect to each other in relation to the length of the pillar portion and that it is loosely assembled in the hole 14 'of the connecting portion 22. Furthermore, as described above, the connecting portions 14 and 24 advantageously have the form of lugs, which are coupled to facilitate separation in the engaged state. 7 shows a step in which the hook-shaped connecting portion 14 is engaged with the lug-shaped connecting portion 24 using the gap in the direction of the arrows F1 and F2.

After this connection, the first ends of the half annulus can be moved relatively along the screw to access the ends and at the same time bring the half annulus 10 against the support surface of the tube, wherein the connection (14) and 24 are used as hinges. Then it is positioned as shown in Fig. 8, in which position it is sufficiently possible to tighten and fix the ring clamp by screwing the nut.

In FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the parts corresponding to the elements in FIGS. 1 to 8 are indicated by adding the numerals in the drawings.

The two half annular portions 110 and 120 have a U cross section with edges 110a and 120a in which the inner leading end of the arm is partially bent in the axial direction, as shown in FIG.

The connecting portions 112 and 122 are reinforced by flanges or side walls 112a and 122a, which, as opposed to the flanges 12a and 22a of FIG. 1, extend the U cross section of the semi-ring portion without bending the arm outward. It consists of one form.

In conclusion, in FIG. 9, the head 136 of the screw 130 is not disposed in the housing. In order to prevent the screw from rotating in the hole 112 ′ of the connection 112, the region of the screw column 132 immediately adjacent to the head 136 is a non-circular neck 133 (eg a rectangular neck bearing). Or a ball with a flat portion) and the hole 112 'is configured to fit and engage the neck. As indicated in FIG. 10, the hole 112 ′ is slightly larger than the neck 133 so that a gap j 1 is maintained between the pillar of the screw and the edge of the hole 114 ′.

Claims (8)

A ring clamp for engaging them in a state in which the support surfaces 44b and 46b protruding from the cylindrical outer circumferential surfaces of the two tubes are opposed to each other, the ring clamp comprising two half rings 10, 20 or 110, 120; The first end, which is one end of the two half-loop portions, is formed with connecting portions 12, 22 or 112, 122 which are bent in the radially outward direction and through which holes 12 ', 14' or 112 ', 114' are perforated. The second end, which is the opposite end, is hinged to each other, and the cross section of the half annular portion is U-shaped so as to enclose the support surface of the tube, and between the holes of the connecting portion, the pillar portion of the screw 30 or 130 ( In the ring clamp for connecting two pipes in which the two pipes are tightly coupled by tightening the nut by 32 or 132 through penetration, The length of the pillar portion 32 or 132 of the screw 30 or 130 is the other half ring portion 10 or 110 with the one half ring portion 20 or 120 fitted to the flanges 44a and 46a of the tube. Even if it is rotated about, the range of 1 to 2 times of the ring clamp radius (R) so that interference with the flange does not occur, and the distance between the first end portion between the half annular portions spaced apart the maximum (state of FIG. 6) The outer circumferential surface of the pillar portion 32 or 132 and the inner circumferential surface of the holes 12 ', 14' or 112 ', 114' so as to be able to be retracted until the second ends of the two semi-ring portions touch each other in the state of FIG. The gaps j1 and j2 are formed therebetween, and the gaps j1 and j2 are used to overcome the overlapped height between the U-shaped arms 41 and 42 of the semi-circular portion and the flanges 44a and 46a of the tube end. The two semi-circular portions are provided with angular gaps F1 and F2 so that the second ends of the two semi-circular portions are separated from each other. Connection of the hook shape to facilitate the coupling (14 or 114) and a ring clamp for connecting two pipes, characterized in that the connection of the lug been formed shape (24 or 124). A connecting portion (14 or 114) and a connecting portion (24 or 124) at the second end of the first half ring portion (10 or 110) and the second half ring portion (20 or 120), respectively, as a connecting means. And the connecting portion 14 or 114 protrudes substantially radially outwardly from the outer circumference of the first half ring portion 10 or 110 and is curved inwardly to form the hook 14a. Or 124 is adapted to protrude substantially radially outwardly from the outer circumference of the second half ring portion and to be hooked to the hook (14a). According to claim 1 or 2, wherein the screw (30 or 130) is a pillar portion (32 or 132) and the head portion 36 or 136 is integrally formed, the connection portion through which the screw and the screw ( 12 or 112, the angled portion (36a or 133) and the angled portion (13a or 112 ') corresponding to the angled portion is formed respectively to connect the two tubes, characterized in that configured to prevent the screw from screwing Ring clamp. 4. A screw head (36) according to claim 3, wherein the head (36) of the screw has at least one angled portion (36a), and the connecting portion (12) has a flange (12a) extending in the opposite direction to the other connecting portion (22). The flange 12a includes a housing 13 for accommodating the head 36 of the screw, and an angled portion 13a corresponding to the angled portion 36a is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the flange 12a. Ring clamp for connecting two tubes characterized in that the. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the locking jaw 15 is formed at an outer end of the housing 13 so that the head 36a of the screw is not separated from the housing 13. Ring clamp for 4. The non-circular neck 133 is formed in the column 132 of the screw 130 adjacent to the head 136 to prevent the screw from rotating in the hole of the connecting portion 112. Ring clamp for connecting the two pipes, characterized in that the hole is formed in a shape corresponding to the neck 7. The washer according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 4 to 6, wherein a washer (38) is mounted and fixed to a hole of one of the connecting portions (12, 22), and the other connecting portion (12). Ring clamps for connecting two pipes, characterized in that the face of the nut 34 for tightening the screw 30 touches at the end 38a of the washer 38 opposite to 8. A method for positioning a ring clamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the screw (30 or 130) is first fitted into the connection (12, 22 or 112, 122) hole; The second ends of the half loops 10, 20 or 110, 120 separate the connecting means so as to be spaced apart from each other; First ends of the semi-annular portions are spaced apart from each other by relative linear movement between the first ends along the pillar portions 32 or 132 of the screw; Turning the two half rings relative to each other about the pillar of the screw; Placing a first half loop 20 or 120 over the flange face of the tube with the half loops spaced apart from each other; Turn the second half ring portion 10 or 110 to return to the flange face of the first half ring portion; Assembling the second ends (14, 24 or 114, 124) of the half rings; Tightening the ring clamp using screws by moving the first ends of the half annulus to each other by relatively straight movement along the pillars 32 or 132 of the screw, thereby allowing the second half annulus to be placed on the flange face of the tube. A method for joining two tubes by means of ring clamps.