WO2000011924A1

WO2000011924A1 - Pipe clamp

Info

Publication number: WO2000011924A1
Application number: PCT/AU1999/000682
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gary Rickards; John Smith
Original assignee: Milnes Pty. Limited
Priority date: 1998-08-28
Filing date: 1999-08-25
Publication date: 2000-03-09
Also published as: ZA200002202B; AUPP550598A0; NZ504356A

Abstract

The invention provides a 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

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. 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.

The invention includes a method of clamping flanges of adjacent

pipes together by applying a substantially even pressure around and over the periphery of adjacent flanges, said flanges having abutting faces, such that such that the flange faces are

compressed together.

The invention also includes a clamp for clamping flanges of adjacent pipes together which clamp includes clamping means able

to be placed around and over at least part of the periphery of adjacent pipe flanges and tensioning means which, when tightened,

causes that clamping means 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.

Preferably the clamping means may extend substantially around the

periphery of adjacent pipe flanges. It is preferred that the pipe flange clamp include two components

able to be interconnected with tensioning means provided between

the components on at least one side of the clamp.

It is further preferred that the clamp components be arcuate in

shape and adapted to fit over adjacent pipe flanges and that the

tensioning means be provided by at least one bolt between them.

It is also preferred that the clamp components be provided as two separate components adapted to be interconnected and tensioned together. Preferably also the abutting pipe flange faces are provided with at least one 0 ring, or rubber or other seal of some kind, between them 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 .

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 30 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. 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 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. 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.

Claims

The claims defining this invention are as follows:

1. A method of clamping flanges of adjacent pipes together by

applying a substantially even pressure around and over the

periphery of adjacent flanges, said flanges having abutting

faces, such that such that the flange faces are compressed

together.

2. A method of clamping flanges of adjacent pipes together

substantially as hereinbefore described.

3. A clamp for clamping flanges of adjacent pipes together which clamp includes clamping means able to be placed around and over at least part of the periphery of adjacent pipe flanges and tensioning means which, when tightened,

causes that clamping means 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.

4. A clamp as claimed in claim 4 having clamping means

extending substantially around the periphery of the

adjacent pipe flanges.

5. A clamp as claimed in claim 3 wherein the clamping means

consists of a first component and a second component which

can be interconnected such that the tensioning means may be

applied to at least one side of the clamp between the

components .

6. A clamp as claimed in claim 4 wherein the clamp components

are arcuate in shape, substantially hemispheric and internally recessed to fit over adjacent pipe flanges.

7. A clamp as claimed in claim 5 wherein the clamp components 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.

8. A clamp as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6 in which the

tensioning member is a bolt device.

9. A clamp as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 7 wherein a

compressible material is provided between the faces of the

pipe flanges.

0. A clamp substantially as herein described with reference to

the accompanying drawings .