FLEXIBLY INSERTABLE PROFILED CLAMP

Abstract

A profiled clamp having a clamp band and a clamping device which has two clamping jaws arranged at a distance (D) from one another in the circumferential direction (U). The clamping jaws are arranged on each end of the clamp band and can be moved towards one another by means of at least one clamping means. On an inner side of the clamp band, at least two profiled segments are arranged circumferentially spaced apart from one another. The profiled segments can be connected to the clamp band in each case by means of at least one latching connection.

Claims

1. A profiled clamp having a clamping band and a clamping device, wherein at least two profile segments which are spaced apart from each other at the peripheral side are arranged at an inner side of the clamping band, wherein the at least two profile segments are connected to the clamping band by means of at least one latching connection.

2. The profiled clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clamping band has at least one opening in order to construct the at least one latching connection, wherein at least one locking element which can be inserted into the at least one opening is arranged on a rear side of the profile segment facing the clamping band.

3. The profiled clamp as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one locking element of the profile segment can be inserted into the at least one opening of the clamping band in a positive-locking and/or frictionally engaging manner.

4. The profiled clamp as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one opening of the clamping band has an elongate shape which is orientated in a peripheral direction (U) of the clamping band.

5. The profiled clamp as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one locking element is arranged at the side of the profile segment facing the clamping band and is constructed in a materially engaging manner with the profile element facing the clamping band.

6. The profiled clamp as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one locking element is introduced into the profile segment in a punched state and/or by means of bending.

7. The profiled clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one profile segment has a round, a rectangular, a triangular or a trapezoidal profile which is open at an inner side facing away from the clamping band.

8. The profiled clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clamping band is formed from a different material from the at least two profile segments.

9. The profiled clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein a sealing element can be positioned on at least one profile segment, wherein the sealing element extends at the inner side of the profile segments facing away from the clamping band.

10. The profiled clamp as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one thin plate for securing the sealing element is arranged at the side of the profile segment facing away from the clamping band.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0023] Other features, details and advantages of the disclosure will be appreciated from the wording of the claims and from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a profiled clamp according to an embodiment,

[0025] FIG. 2 is a cross section A-A from FIG. 1

[0026] FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration of a profiled clamp according to another embodiment, and

[0027] FIG. 4 is a cross section B-B from FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a profiled clamp 1 according to an embodiment. The profiled clamp 1 has a clamping band 2 and a clamping device 3. The clamping band 2 is produced from a metal or a metal alloy, such as, for example, high-grade steel.

[0029] The clamping device 3 has two clamping jaws 4 which are arranged in a peripheral direction with a spacing D with respect to each other. The clamping jaws 4 are arranged in each case at the end of the clamping band 2. As a result of at least one clamping means 5, the clamping jaws can be moved toward each other. According to the embodiment illustrated, the clamping device 3 is configured as a toggle lever closure.

[0030] A lever which can be adjusted by means of a screw 6 is used as a clamping means 5. Using the screw 6, the spacing D between the clamping jaws 4 in the closed state of the clamping means 5 can be adjusted. In FIGS. 1 and 3, the clamping device 3 is illustrated in a closed state.

[0031] At an inner side 7 of the clamping band 2, according to the embodiment three profile segments 8 are arranged. The profile segments 8 are spaced apart from each other in a peripheral direction U. To this end, the profile segments 8 are connected to the clamping band 2 in a fixed manner by means of latching connections 9.

[0032] The profile segments 8 have a side 10 or rear side facing the clamping band 2 and an inner side 11 facing away from the clamping band 2. At the rear side 10, the profile segments 8 are coupled to the inner side 7 of the clamping band 2 by means of latching connections 9. According to an embodiment, each profile segment 8 is arranged on two latching connections 9 with the clamping band 2.

[0033] At the inner side 11 of the profile segment 8 facing away from the clamping band 2, a sealing element 12 is provided. The sealing element 12 is configured as an annular sealing lip and extends at the peripheral side inside the profile segments 8.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a cross section A-A from FIG. 1 to illustrate the structure of a latching connection 9. The latching connection 9 is constructed by means of cooperation of a locking element 13 with an opening 14 which is constructed in the clamping band 2.

[0035] The locking element 13 is constructed on the rear side 10 of the profile segment 8. According to the example illustrated, the profile segment 8 may be produced in one piece or integrally with the at least one locking element 13. For example, the profile segment 8 and the at least one locking element 13 may be produced from a plastics material or a fiber-reinforced plastics material.

[0036] The opening 14 is introduced into the clamping band 2. For example, a plurality of openings 14 may be punched with a defined spacing from each other in the clamping band 2. The opening 14 and the locking element 13 have a rectangular basic shape in this embodiment.

[0037] The locking element 13 is in an axial direction A formed to be slightly larger than an axial extent of the opening 14 as a result of a projection 15. It is thereby possible, using a defined application of force in a radial direction R for a locking element 13 to be pushed through the opening 14 and latched or locked. As a result of this cooperation, a latching connection 9 is produced. To this end, the locking element 13 may also have an undercut in which an edge of the opening 14 can engage.

[0038] The profile segment 8 has a trapezoidal profile which at the rear side 10 thereof has the at least one locking element 13 and is open at the inner side 11 facing away from the clamping band 2. The opening angle B between the profile flanks of the profile segment 8 is 90° in this embodiment. However, the opening angle B may also be greater or less than 90°.

[0039] At the inner side 11 of the profile segment 8 which is configured to be open, a thin plate 16 is arranged. The thin plate 16 extends in a radial direction R from the profile segment 8 and is introduced into a slot of the sealing element 12. The thin plate 16 may be connected to the profile segment 8 in a positive-locking or materially engaging manner and consequently position the sealing element 12 at least in a peripheral and/or axial direction in a fixed manner with respect to the profile segment. In this instance, there may be provision for no fixing to be provided in the radial direction in order in the event of the diameter reduction which occurs as a result of the clamping of the profiled clamp to enable a relative movement between the sealing element and the profile segment. According to an alternative embodiment, the thin plate 16 may be stamped in an annular manner and be inserted without a fixed connection in the opening angle B of the profile segments in a non-releasable manner.

[0040] The profile segments 8 serve to receive connection flanges (not illustrated) of two lines. Preferably, in an axial direction A at both sides of the sealing element 12 a connection flange of a line may be arranged and, as a result of the closure of the clamping device 3, the connection flanges may be pressed by means of the profile segments 8 axially toward each other and against the sealing element 12.

[0041] FIG. 3 illustrates a profiled clamp 1 according to another embodiment. In contrast to the profiled clamp 1 shown in FIG. 1, no sealing element is provided in this instance. Furthermore, the openings 14 in a peripheral direction U are sized to be significantly larger than the locking elements 13 of the profile segments 8. For example, the openings may have two to ten times the extent in a peripheral direction U compared with an extent of the locking elements 13. As a result of such elongate openings 17, the profile segments 8 can be moved on the latched locking elements 13 in a peripheral direction U. In this instance, the elongate openings 17 act as guides in which a movement of the profile segments 8 in a peripheral direction is possible. Since the profile segments 8 can be displaced in the openings 17, a friction force when the profiled clamp 1 is clamped between the profile segments 8 and connection flanges can be reduced.

[0042] FIG. 4 illustrates the cross section B-B from FIG. 3. Here, it is shown that the locking elements 13 have been introduced into the profile segments 8 by means of a punching/bending process. Profile segments 8 which have been punched in this manner may be produced from a metal sheet. The locking elements 13 are in an axial direction A slightly larger than the openings 17 and can consequently be inserted into the openings in a frictionally engaging and/or positive-locking manner.

[0043] Depending on the shape of the locking elements 13, the profile segments 8 may be able to be inserted laterally or from an axial direction obliquely into the openings 14, 17 provided for this purpose. Alternatively, the profile segments 8 may be able to be latched in a radial direction R in the openings 14, 17.

[0044] The invention is not limited to one of the embodiments described above, but instead can be modified in many ways. Thus, for example, more than two or three profile segments may also be provided. Furthermore, the profile segments may, for example, also be constructed in several parts with two flank elements which each have at least one locking element which is received in different or common openings in the clamping band.

[0045] All of the features and advantages derived from the claims, the description and the drawings, including structural details, spatial arrangements and method steps, may be inventively significant both individually and in extremely varied combinations.

[0046] All the features and advantages, including structural details, spatial arrangements and method steps, which follow from the claims, the description and the drawing can be fundamental to the invention both on their own and in different combinations. It is to be understood that the foregoing is a description of one or more preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention. The invention is not limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed herein, but rather is defined solely by the claims below. Furthermore, the statements contained in the foregoing description relate to particular embodiments and are not to be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention or on the definition of terms used in the claims, except where a term or phrase is expressly defined above. Various other embodiments and various changes and modifications to the disclosed embodiment(s) will become apparent to those skilled in the art. All such other embodiments, changes, and modifications are intended to come within the scope of the appended claims.

[0047] As used in this specification and claims, the terms “for example,” “for instance,” “such as,” and “like,” and the verbs “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and their other verb forms, when used in conjunction with a listing of one or more components or other items, are each to be construed as open-ended, meaning that the listing is not to be considered as excluding other, additional components or items. Other terms are to be construed using their broadest reasonable meaning unless they are used in a context that requires a different interpretation.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0048] 1 Profiled clamp

[0049] 2 Clamping band

[0050] 3 Clamping device

[0051] 4 Clamping jaw

[0052] 5 Clamping means

[0053] 6 Adjustment screw of the clamping means

[0054] 7 Inner side of the clamping band

[0055] 8 Profile segment

[0056] 9 Latching connection

[0057] 10 Rear side of the profile segment

[0058] 11 Inner side of the profile segment

[0059] 12 Sealing element

[0060] 13 Locking element

[0061] 14 Opening

[0062] 15 Projection

[0063] 16 Thin plate

[0064] 17 Elongate opening

[0065] A Axial direction

[0066] B Opening angle of the profile segment

[0067] D Spacing of the clamping jaws

[0068] R Radial direction

[0069] U Peripheral direction