NZ504356A - Pipe clamp - Google Patents

Abstract

The method of clamping flanges (21) of adjacent pipes (20) together by applying a substantially even pressure around and over the periphery of adjacent flanges (21), said flanges (21) having abutting faces (22), such that the flange faces (22) are compressed together. This is effected by the provision of a clamp (10) which includes clamping means (30, 35) able to be placed substantially around and over the periphery of adjacent pipe flanges (21) and the provision of a tensioning means (40) which, when tightened, causes that clamping means (30, 35) to apply a substantially uniform compressive force to the pipe flanges (21) such that inside faces (22) of the pipe flanges (21) are caused to closely abut one and other.

Description

1 PIPE CLAMP Technical area This invention relates to the area of plumbing apparatus and specifically to a means for clamping pipes together to obtain a close union between adjacent pipes.

Background to the invention Whenever adjacent pipes are to be joined it is desirable that the join be as close as possible to provide a leakproof joint.

Most pipe connection means for this purpose involve bolts through abutting flanges on the pipes however it may be that distortions in these flanges cause the actual join not to be a close fit. It is also inconvenient when a multiplicity of bolts are required for each such connection.

The result of such connection means is that even pressure is often not applied across the join and leakages can occur. 2 Summary of the Invention It is an object of this invention to provide a means of connecting flanges of adjacent pipes together in the form of a flange clamp assembly which provides more even pressure across adjacent flanges and hence an improved seal.

According to one broad aspect of the invention there is provided a clamp for clamping peripheral flanges of adjacent pipes together, which clamp includes two opposing arcuate clamp members, said clamp members being internally recessed to fit over adjacent pipe flanges . and adapted to be placed generally around and over the adjacent pipe flanges and having interengagement and tensioning means at either end of each clamp member which, when tightened, cause the clamp members to apply a substantially uniform compressive force to the pipe flanges such that inside faces of the pipe flanges are caused to closely abut one another.

It is preferred that in the clamp as described in the above broad aspect the clamp members have flanged extremities through which tensioning devices may pass, the arrangement being such that tightening of any one of the tensioning devices causes the pipe flanges to be compressed together. intellectual property office OF N.z. 13 may 2003 Received 3 K$PCT/AU99/00682 It is further preferred that the tensioning device is a.bolt device.

Preferably also the abutting pipe flange faces are provided with a compressible material therebetween. This can be in the form of at least one 0 ring, or rubber or other seal of some kind, for sealing and compression purposes.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood we shall describe by way of non limiting example a particular embodiment of the apparatus of the invention with, reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 3 may 289 received WO 00/11924 PCT/AU99/00682 4 Brief description of the drawing figures In these drawings: Fig. 1 shows a plan view of the clamp of the invention positioned over two pipe flanges.

Fig. 2 shows a side view of the clamp when positioned about abutting pipe flanges.

Detailed description of an embodiment of the invention In this embodiment of the invention a clamp assembly 10 is provided for connecting together pipes 20 having peripheral flanges 21 such that the faces 22 of abutting flanges 21 are flat while the outer edges 23 of the flanges 21 are tapered such that their outermost edges are narrowest.

The clamp assembly 10 includes two semi-hemispheric or arcuate components 3 0 and 35, each of which, in radial cross-section (Figure 2), is in the shape of a truncated cone having a hollow bore 31 which is adapted to be located over the outer edges 23 of the pipe flanges 21. Each component is provided with its own flanges 32 and 33 on either side, the arrangement being such that the flanges on these components may be bolted, or otherwise connected together.

WO 00/11924 PCT/AU99/00682 In this embodiment of the invention a bolt member 40 is used to interconnect flanges 32 and 33 this bolt member having a knurled end 41 for tightening against a nut 42 located in a similarly shaped recess 43 in flange 33.

In the embodiment shown arcuate component 30 is adapted to receive the knurled end 41 of bolt 40 on flange 32 while arcuate component 35 is adapted to receive the nut 42 within flange 33. It is however envisaged that the arcuate components could be identical such that each was provided with flange 32 at one end and flange 33 at its opposing end. This embodiment however would require access to both sides of the pipe clamp when tightening the bolt.

These arcuate components when in the untightened position have a gap between their flanges to permit these to be drawn closer to one and other upon tightening of nuts on the bolts.

Although some other means of drawing flanges 32 and 33 together could be used, in the embodiment of the invention described it is preferred that the components be bolted together and, as the nuts on the bolts are tightened, the arcuate components are drawn WO 00/11924 PCT/AU99/00682 6 down onto the outer edges of the pipe flanges thereby applying pressure to them and forcing their faces towards each other.

In order to accommodate any irregularities in these faces it is preferred that a rubber, or other suitable gasket or sealing device be positioned between these faces. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2 a rubber O ring 50 is partially recessed into the face 22 of one of the pipe flanges 21 such that as the faces are drawn together the 0 ring 50 is compressed and seals the pipe join.

In the embodiment of the invention described the arcuate clamp assembly components are of cast iron while the bolts and nuts are of stainless steel. Any appropriate materials could however be used.

It is envisaged that other embodiments of the invention will exhibit any number of and any combination of the features of the previously described and still lie within the method of the invention.

WO 00/11924 PCT/AU99/00682 7 Whilst we have described herein one specific embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that variations and modifications in this can be made without departing from the scope thereof. 8

Claims (5)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A clamp for clamping peripheral flanges of adjacent pipes together, which clamp includes two opposing arcuate clamp members, said clamp members being internally recessed to fit over adjacent pipe flanges and adapted to be placed generally around and over the adjacent pipe flanges and having interengagement and tensioning means at either end of each clamp member which, when tightened, cause the clamp members to apply a substantially uniform compressive force to the pipe flanges such that inside faces of the pipe flanges are caused to closely abut one another.

2. A clamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein the clamp members have flanged extremities through which tensioning devices may pass, the arrangement being such that tightening of any one of the tensioning devices causes the pipe flanges to be compressed together.

3. A clamp as claimed in claim 2 in which the tensioning device is a bolt device. intellectual property office of n.z. 13 may 2003 WO 00/11924 9 PCT/AU99/00682

4. A clamp as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein a compressible material is provided between the faces of the pipe flanges.

5. A clamp substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. MILNES PTY. LIMITED By its Attorneys DON HOPKINS & ASSOCIATES PER: 13 may 2003 received