CLAMPING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF

Abstract

Clamping apparatus is provided for clamping together two or more items in use. The clamping apparatus includes at least one clamp member that can be moved between clamped and undamped positions in use, and joining means for joining together the at least one clamp member and the two or more items in user. The joining means have first engagement means for engagement of the joining means to the at least one clamp member and at least second engagement means for allowing engagement between the joining means and at least one of the items being clamped in user. The joining means has a first edge or side, and a second edge or side different to and a spaced distance apart from the first edge or side. The first engagement means are provided on or associated with the first edge or side and the at least second engagement means are provided on or associated with the second edge or side.

Claims

1: Clamping apparatus for clamping together two or more items in use, said clamping apparatus including at least one clamp member that can be moved between clamped and unclamped positions in use, and joining means for joining together the at least one clamp member and the two or more items in use, said joining means having first engagement means for engagement of the joining means to the at least one clamp member, and at least second engagement means for allowing engagement between the joining means and at least one of the two or more items being clamped in use, characterised in that the joining means has a first edge or side, and a second edge or side different to and a spaced distance apart from the first edge or side, the first engagement means provided on or associated with the first edge or side and the at least second engagement means provided on or associated with the second edge or side.

2. (canceled)

3: Clamping apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the joining means is in the form of at least one of a band member; an inner band member; an annular or substantially annular band member; a continuous or substantially continuous band member; a sealing member; a gasket; collar; and/or washer.

4: Clamping apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first edge of the joining means is arranged to be closer and/or in abutting relationship with the at least clamp member compared to the second edge of the joining means.

5: Clamping apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the wall or walls of the joining means between the first and second edges have one or more of the following: the walls are angled so as to provide the joining means with a narrowing taper from the first edge to the second edge; the walls are complementary or substantially complementary in shape to at least part of a surface of at least one of the two or more items with which it is to engage in use; the walls provide a sealing region to allow the joining means to provide a sealing function in use.

6. (canceled)

7: Clamping apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first engagement means includes a single first engagement member, or at least two separate and spaced apart first engagement members; and wherein the first engagement means is provided on or associated with hinge means or resilient biasing means of the at least one clamp member and/or adjustment means of the at least one clamp member for allowing the at least one clamp member to be moved between the clamped and unclamped positions in use.

8-10. (canceled)

11: Clamping apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first engagement means include any combination of one or more hooks, clips, tabs, inter-engaging members, pins, screws, nut and bolt, welding or adhesive.

12: Clamping apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the first engagement means is or includes a hook, and opposing surfaces of the hook are resiliently biased inwardly of each other to create an engaging force with the adjustment means or a part of the clamping apparatus with which the opposing surfaces of the hook engage in use; and wherein the first engagement means is or includes a hook, said hook including one or more rib members provided longitudinally of the hook.

13. (canceled)

14: Clamping apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least second engagement means includes at least one tab member that protrudes outwardly from the second edge of the joining means.

15. (canceled)

16: Clamping apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least second engagement means includes at least two tab members; at least one of the at least two tab members is for engaging, directly or indirectly, with a surface of one of the two or more items being clamped in use, and at least one other of the at least two tab members is for engaging, directly or indirectly, with a surface of one other of the two or more items being clamped in use.

17. (canceled)

18: Clamping apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least second engagement means includes or consists of one or more barb members, the one or more barb members arranged so as to allow movement of the barb member relative to a surface of at least one of the two or more items in use in a first direction, but prevent or substantially prevent movement of the barb member relative to a surface of the two or more items in use in a second or opposite direction; wherein the one or more barb members protrude outwardly directly from the second edge of the joining means; and wherein the at least second engagement means includes at least one tab member and one or more barb members are provided on said at least one tab member.

19-21. (canceled)

22: Clamping apparatus according to claim 18 wherein a barb member for engaging with at least one of the two or more items in use is arranged to protrude outwardly from a tab member and/or joining means in an opposite direction to a barb member for engaging with one of the other two or more items in use.

23: Clamping apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least second engagement means includes one or more tab members and/or barb members and said members are resiliently biased inwardly and/or outwardly of the joining means during an assembly process of the clamping apparatus with the items in use.

24-25. (canceled)

26: A method of using clamping apparatus for clamping together two or more items in use, said clamping apparatus including at least one clamp member, and joining means for joining together the at least one clamp member and the two or more items in use, the joining means having first engagement means for engagement of the joining means to the at least one clamp member, and at least second engagement means for allowing engagement between the joining means and at least one of the two or more items being clamped in use, said method including the steps of locating the joining means and the at least one clamp member around at least one of the two or more items to be clamped; engaging one or more of the second engagement means of the joining means with at least one of the two or more items to be clamped, and moving the at least one clamp member from an unclamped position to a clamped position, characterised in that the joining means has a first edge or side, and a second edge or side different to and a spaced distance apart from the first edge or side, the first engagement means provided on or associated with the first edge or side and the at least second engagement means provided on or associated with the second edge or side.

27: The method of claim 26 wherein after one or more of the at least second engagement means has engaged with a first of the two or more items to be clamped, a second item to be clamped is moved into engagement with the first item, joining means and/or at least one clamp member.

28: The method of claim 27 wherein one or more further second engagement means are engaged with the second item to be clamped; wherein the at least second engagement means include barb members and the barb members engaging with the first item protrude in an different or opposite direction to the barb members engaging with the second item; and wherein the at least second engagement means includes one or more tab members and the tab members are located in an interior of the one or more of the two or more items being joined together in use.

29-30. (canceled)

Description

[0106] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the following figures, wherein:

[0107] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of clamping apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0108] FIGS. 2a and 2b show the clamping member only in FIG. 1, and the joining means or gasket member only in FIG. 1 respectively;

[0109] FIGS. 3a and 3b show a female or flared end conduit, and a male or bubble end conduit respectively on which the clamping apparatus in FIG. 1 can be used;

[0110] FIG. 4a shows the clamping apparatus of FIG. 1 fitted to a male or bubble end conduit in a partially assembled and unclamped position;

[0111] FIG. 4b shows a detailed view of a tab and barb in FIGS. 4a and 4c;

[0112] FIG. 4c shows a perspective view of the joining means or gasket only of FIG. 1;

[0113] FIG. 4d shows a detailed view of a tab and barb in FIGS. 4c and 4e;

[0114] FIG. 4e shows the clamping apparatus of FIG. 1 fitted to a female or flared end in a partially assembled and unclamped position;

[0115] FIG. 4f shows a cross sectional view of part of the clamping apparatus fitted to the male or bubble end conduit; and

[0116] FIG. 4g shows a cross sectional view of part of the clamping apparatus fitted to the female or flared end conduit;

[0117] FIG. 5 shows the clamping apparatus of FIG. 1 located on a male or bubble end conduit in an assembled or partially assembled and unclamped position and being fitted to a female or flared end conduit in use;

[0118] FIG. 6 shows the clamping apparatus of FIG. 1 located on a female or flared end conduit in an assembled or partially assembled and unclamped position and being fitted to a male or bubble end conduit in use;

[0119] FIG. 7 shows the clamping apparatus of FIG. 1 when fitted on a female or flared end conduit and a male or bubble end conduit in a fully assembled and unclamped position;

[0120] FIG. 8 shows the clamping apparatus of FIG. 7 in a clamped and assembled position;

[0121] FIG. 9 shows a cross sectional view taken through the clamping apparatus of FIG. 8;

[0122] FIG. 10 shows an exploded view of the clamping apparatus in FIG. 7;

[0123] FIGS. 11a and 11b show a front view and a perspective view of joining means or a gasket for use with the clamping apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0124] Referring firstly to FIGS. 1-2b, there is illustrated clamping apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention in the form of an integrated gasket clamp 2. The clamp 2 is for clamping together two conduits and for providing a desired seal between the same.

[0125] The clamp 2 comprises an outer clamping band member 4 and joining means in the form of an inner gasket member 6. The inner gasket member 6 is fixedly attached to the outer clamping band member 4 and is arranged in overlapping relationship with the same when in clamped and unclamped positions.

[0126] The outer clamping band member 4 is almost annular inform with two opposing free ends 8, 10 having connecting portions 12, 14 protruding outwardly from the band member 4. Each connecting portion 12, 14 has an aperture defined through the same for receiving part of adjustment means in use. In the illustrated embodiment the adjustment means is in the form of a threaded bolt 16 that passes through the apertures in the connecting portions 12, 14, having a first end 18 with a stop member 20 to prevent removal of the bolt 16 through aperture 12 in use, and an adjustment nut 22 provided at a second end 24 to allow movement of the connecting portions 12, 14 (and therefore the band member 4) between clamped and unclamped positions.

[0127] In the clamped position, the connecting portions 12, 14 are relatively close together and the items being clamped in use are held together between the clamping apparatus 2. In the unclamped position, the connecting portions 12, 14 are relatively further apart from each other compared to the clamped position, and the items to be clamped can be located within and/or removed from the clamping apparatus. The connecting portions 12, 14 allows load to be transferred from the adjustment means to the band member 4 in use. It is to be noted that in the unclamped position, the apparatus can be provided in an unassembled position wherein it is not engaged to the conduits; a partially assembled position, wherein it is engaged to one conduit; or a fully assembled position, wherein it is engaged to both conduits. In the clamped position, the apparatus is typically in the assembled position.

[0128] A hinge portion 26 is provided centrally of the outer band member 4 and opposite to the adjustment means. The hinge portion 26 allows the adjacent clamping parts 4′, 4″ of the band member 4 to be moved inwardly towards the conduits being clamped to form the clamped position in use.

[0129] The outer band member 4 has a profiled inner surface 28. For example, the outer band member 4 can be of a type often referred to as a V-clamp or a G-clamp. More particularly, the outer band member 4 is profiled so as to form an inwardly facing trough or channel having a base wall and two opposing side walls, or two opposing side walls 30, 32 (depending on the profile of the band member). The opposing side walls 30, 32 protrude radially inwardly of the band member. The opposing side walls 30, 32 typically interact directly with the outer surfaces of the conduits being clamped in use.

[0130] The gasket 6 in one example can be formed from stainless steel in order to withstand the high temperatures of the fluid that may pass through the conduits being clamped in use.

[0131] The gasket 6 is in the form of a continuous annular band having a first outer edge 34 and a second inner edge 36. The region of the band between the outer and inner edges 34, 36 provides the sealing region of the gasket. The sealing region is arranged so as to be complementary or substantially complementary in shape to the surface(s) of the conduit(s) being clamped/engaged by the sealing gasket in use. The sealing region also includes a number of circumferential protrusions that can protrude inwardly and/or outwardly of the gasket so as to enhance the sealing effect of the sealing region in use.

[0132] The first outer edge 34 has a larger diameter than the second inner edge 36, such that the gasket has a narrowing taper from the first outer edge 34 towards the second inner edge 36.

[0133] In accordance with the present invention, gasket 6 is provided with first engagement means on the first outer edge 34 for allowing engagement of the gasket 6 to the outer clamping band 4, and second engagement means provided on the second inner edge 36 for allowing engagement of the gasket with one or both of the conduits being clamped by the clamping apparatus 2 in use. More particularly, the first engagement means includes a first hook element 38 for location over the threaded bolt 16 of the adjustment means, and a second hook element 40 for location over the hinge portion 26 of the outer clamping band 4. The second engagement means includes a first set of tab members 42, 44, 46 protruding outwardly of the gasket 6 in a direction away from first outer edge 34, and a second set of tab members 48, 50, 52 also protruding outwardly of the gasket 6 in a direction away from first outer edge 34. The tab members 42-52 are provided parallel or substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the conduits being clamped in use. Each tab member 42-52 is provided with a barb member thereon for allowing engagement of the gasket with a surface of a conduit in use, as will be described in more detail below. The barb members frictionally engage with one or more surfaces of the conduits being clamped together and generate axial and rotational resistance to a desired level to ensure the clamp does not disconnect from the conduits in use.

[0134] The clamping apparatus 2 in this example is used for clamping together two conduits in the form of a flared end conduit or female conduit 54 and a bubble end conduit or male conduit 58, as shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b respectively. The flared end conduit 54 has an outwardly tapered end 55, and the bubble end conduit 58 has a protruding region 56 of greater diameter compared to the free end 60 of the conduit and is a spaced distance set back from the free end 60.

[0135] A barb member 62 is provided on each of the first set of tab members 42, 44, 46 and protrudes outwardly from an outwardly facing surface of the tab members. The barb member 62 is joined to the tab members 42-46 at one end 66 thereof. A free end 68 of barb member 62 opposite to the end 66 faces towards the first outer edge 34 of the gasket 6, as shown in FIG. 4d.

[0136] A barb member 70 is provided on each of the second set of tab members 48, 50, 52 and protrudes inwardly from an inwardly facing surface of the tab members. The barb member 70 is joined to each tab member 48-52 at one end 72 thereof. A free end 74 of barb member 70 opposite to the end 74 faces away from first outer edge 34 of gasket 6, as shown in FIG. 4b.

[0137] An advantage of the barb members 62, 70 protruding in opposite directions from the tab members is that they allow the clamping apparatus 2 of the present invention to be engaged with either the flared end conduit 54 and/or the bubble end conduit 58, as shown in FIGS. 4e and 4a respectively. This is in contrast to the prior art clamping apparatus wherein the tab members can only be used to clamp to a flared end of a conduit. Thus, the clamping apparatus of the present invention can be pre-mounted of affixed to either of the conduits 54, 58 without the need for a secondary holding device to be used to secure the other conduit in position.

[0138] On assembly, the clamping apparatus 2 is first fitted to either the flared end conduit 54 or the bubble end conduit 58 with the apparatus in an unclamped position, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 5 respectively. More particularly, in order to first fit the clamping apparatus 2 to the bubble end conduit 58, the apparatus 2 is located over the free end 60 of conduit 58 to sit over and around the bubble portion 56 of conduit 58, as shown in FIG. 5. The inwardly protruding barb members 70 located on tab members 48, 50, 52 engage with the exterior facing surface of the conduit 58. The flared end 55 of the conduit 54 is then moved into engagement with the end 60 of conduit 58, as shown by arrow 80. The outwardly protruding barb members 62 located on tab members 42, 44, 46 engage with the interior facing surface of the conduit 54. The adjustment nut 22 of the clamping apparatus 2 is then rotated to allow the connection portions 12, 14 of band member 4 to be brought together and move the clamping apparatus 2 to a clamped position.

[0139] In order to first fit the clamping apparatus 2 to the flared end conduit 54, the tab members of the gasket 6 of apparatus 2 are located in the interior of conduit 54, as shown in FIG. 6. The outer clamping band member 4 is positioned on the exterior of the conduit 54. The outwardly protruding barb members 62 located on tab members 42, 44, 46 engage with the interior facing surface of the conduit 54. The free end 60 of the conduit 58 is then moved into engagement into the end 55 of conduit 54, as shown by arrow 82. The inwardly protruding barb members 70 located on tab members 48, 50, 52 engage with the exterior facing surface of the conduit 58. The adjustment nut 22 of clamping apparatus 2 is then rotated to allow the connection portions 12, 14 of clamping band member 4 to be brought together and move the clamping apparatus 2 to a clamped position.

[0140] Referring to FIGS. 11a and 11b, there is illustrated a further embodiment of a gasket 104 that can be used with the clamping band 4 of the present invention. The same references have been used to refer to the same features as in FIG. 2b of the first described embodiment. In this embodiment a plurality of barb members 106 are provided directly on second inner edge 36 of the gasket 104 in a spaced apart arrangement, and protrude outwardly of the gasket 4 in a direction towards aperture 64. This embodiment can be used if the clamping apparatus is to engage only with the bubble end conduit 58.

[0141] Thus, in accordance with the present invention, in one embodiment one set of the second engagement means or barb means protrude inwardly of the apparatus, thereby allowing engagement with the bubble end conduit 58 in addition to or as an alternative to engagement with the flared end conduit. In the prior art, the barb means associated with the tab members only protrude outwardly of the apparatus and can only be engaged with the flared end conduit. Assembly of the clamp apparatus to the bubble end conduit allows for a more robust assembly process as the bubble end conduit is typically more easy to manipulate and handle. In the present invention, the clamping apparatus is arranged such that there is direct engagement between the outer clamping band and the exterior surface of the flared end conduit and the bubble end conduit, thereby providing increased axial loading and an increased even load transfer from the clamp face to the flanged end conduit face.