BAND CLAMP WITH RIB ON ITS INNER SURFACE

Abstract

The invention relates to a band clamp (10) for connecting a cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) tubing (14) and a metal or plastic insert fitting (16), the band clamp (10) including a clamping band (18) including an ear-like tightening structure (12) and a closing structure (20) for connecting overlapping portions of the clamping band (18).

It is proposed that the inner contact surface (18a) of the clamping band (18) is configured to abut to the outer surface of the tubing (14) is provided with circumferential ribs (26, 28) protruding radially inward

Claims

1. A band clamp (10) for connecting a cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) tubing (14) and a metal or plastic insert fitting (16), the band clamp (10) including a clamping band (18) including an ear-like tightening structure (12) and a closing structure (20) for connecting overlapping portions of the clamping band (18), wherein the inner contact surface (18a) of the clamping band (18) is configured to abut to the outer surface of the tubing (14) is provided with circumferential ribs (26, 28) protruding radially inward.

2. A band clamp (10) according to claim 1, wherein the circumferential ribs (26, 28) extend over at least 90% of the length of the inner contact surface (18a).

3. A band clamp (10) according to claim 1 wherein the circumferential ribs (26, 28) are provided at the lateral edges of clamping band (18).

4. A band clamp (10) according to claim 1 wherein the distance (GP) between at least two of the circumferential ribs (26, 28) essentially equal to the distance between annular ribs (30, 32) of the insert fitting (16).

5. A band clamp (10) according to claim 1 wherein the distance (GP) between at least two of the circumferential ribs (26, 28) is within a range between 0.9 times and 1.1 times the distance (G) between axially outer edges of annular ribs (30, 32) of the insert fitting (16).

6. A connector system for connecting a cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) tubing (14) and a metal or plastic insert fitting (16), the connector system including a band clamp (10) according to claim 1 wherein the distance between at least two of the circumferential ribs (26, 28) of the inner contact surface (18a) of the clamping band (18) is approximately equal to the distance between axially outer edges of annular ribs (26, 28) of the insert fitting (16).

Description

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a band clamp 10 according to first embodiment of the invention. The band clamp comprises a tightening structure 12 in the form of a so-called Oetiker ear. The tightening structure 12 includes two radially outward extending legs and a web interconnecting the outer ends of the legs. A depression is stamped in the web of the tightening device to prevent buckling. In the mounted configuration of FIG. 3, band clamp 10 surrounds a PEX tubing 14 at a position where a PEX insert fitting 16 in compliance with ASTM Standard F 2098 is inserted into the tubing 14.

[0024] The band clamp 10 further comprises a closing structure for connecting overlapping portions of the clamping band 18. The clamping band 18 includes an inner end portion which is overlapped by and outer end portion. The closing structure 20 is formed by one or more hooks at the inner end portion and openings at the outer end portion, wherein the hooks are configured to engage with the openings in use.

[0025] On the side opposite to the closing structure 20 in relation to the tightening structure 12, the inner end portion is provided with a tongue 22 and the outer band portion is provided with a recess 24 for receiving the tongue 22 when the tightening structure 12 is being closed, i.e. when the legs of the tightening structure 12 are pressed against each other to reduce the diameter of the band clamp 10.

[0026] In order to make the installation of the clamp 10 on a tubing 14 (FIG. 3) easier, the clamp 10 is pre-deformed beforehand, for example in the course of production. Ideally this deformation is such that, prior to tightening the tightening structure 12, the band clamp 10 surrounds the tubing 14 for which the clamp 10 is intended without play. Because of the elasticity produced in the clamp 10 by this pre-deformation, the clamp 10 still can be moved effortlessly to the installation location on the pipe and yet is retained there in the position of the clamp 10 and in the desired orientation. However, in real life, the tolerance range of the fitting a 16 and the tubing 18 are so large that the clamp 10 is sometimes difficult to be brought into the correct position with the maximum outer diameter of the fitting 16 and tubing 18, whereas clamp may not hold on the tubing 18 if the diameter of the tubing 18 is at the lower range of the tolerance range.

[0027] The diameter of the pre-assembled (i.e. closed but not tightened) configuration of the band clamp 10 is preferably adapted to the outer diameter corresponding to one of the standard diameters for PEX tubing 14s as defined in the following Table:

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Standard sizes for PEX tubes Nominal Tubing 14 Outer Minimum wall Inner size Diameter thickness Diameter 3/8″ 0.500″ 0.070″ 0.360″ 1/2″ 0.625″ 0.070″ 0.485″ 5/8″ 0.750″ 0.083″ 0.584″ 3/4″ 0.875″ 0.097″ 0.681″ 1″ 1.125″ 0.125″ 0.875″

[0028] According to the invention, the inner contact surface 18a of the clamping band 18 is provided with circumferential, continuously formed ribs 26, 28 26, 28 at the lateral edges of clamping band 18, the ribs 26, 28 protruding radially inward. In this context, the inner contact surface 18a is defined as the surface designed to abut to the outer surface of the tubing 14.

[0029] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the circumferential ribs 26, 28 display a small gap at the shoulders delimiting the tongue 22 from the remainder of the clamping band 18. However, the circumferential ribs extend over at least 90% of the length of the inner contact surface 18a. In other embodiments of the invention, the circumferential ribs 26, 28 extend over at least 80% of the length of the inner contact surface 18a.

[0030] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the distance GP between at least two of the circumferential ribs 26, 28 preferably roughly the same than the distance between annular ribs 30, 32 of the insert fitting 16, wherein differences in the order of magnitude of the tolerances are, of course, unavoidable. The ridges or ribs 26, 28 on the inside are the result of a corresponding notches 26a, 28a or dimples (FIG. 3) embossed on the outside of the band, wherein the notches 26a, 28a are made with the distance and dimensions as specified.

[0031] The Gap GP between the outermost ribs 26, 28 as illustrated in FIG. 3 is preferably in compliance with the formula

0.9*GP≤G≤1*GP

wherein G is the gap between the ribs 30, 32 of the fitting 16 as defined in the ATSM standard F2159 for plastic fittings or F1807 for metal fittings. Specifically, the recommended range for G is 0.12″-0.145″ (3.05-3.68 mm) for nominal sizes ⅜″, ½″, ⅝″, ¾″, 1″, 1¼″ and 0.12″-0.18″ (3.05-4.57 mm) for nominal sizes 1½″ and 2″ for metal fittings 16 and G is 0.135″-1.52″ (3.43-3.86 mm) for plastic fittings 16 of any nominal size.

[0032] The inventors have found that the width W of the band is preferably increased over the value of the ASTM Standard F 2098, specifically that the clamps with nominal diameters ⅜″, ½″, ⅝″ (20.8 mm, 23.3 mm or 29.6 mm) preferably have a width W of 9 mm or more instead of 7 mm as prescribed in the ASTM Standard F 2098.

[0033] The inventors have experimentally verified that clamp 10 according to the invention passes the thermal cycle test according to ASTM Standard F 2098 even when lower clamping forces than in conventional clamps are applied.

[0034] The reason for this improved sealing performance is that the pressure exerted by the clamp concentrates in narrower ranges because the ribs 26, 28 of the band clamp 10 and the ribs 30, 32 of the fitting 16 act from both sides of the tubing 18. Each of the ribs 26, 28, 30, 32 generates a peak of the force in the axial force distribution as illustrated in FIG. 4a and in FIG. 4b.

[0035] FIG. 4a illustrates the force distribution generated by an ideally mounted band clamp according to the invention in which the ribs 26, 28 of the band clamp 10 are aligned with the ribs 30, 32 of the fitting 16 such that the force peaks are superimposed. The resulting peaks (solid line) in the surface pressure distribution is narrower than the corresponding peak generated by a conventional clamp tightened with the same clamping force, which is indicated as a dashed line in FIG. 4a.

[0036] FIG. 4b illustrates the force distribution generated by band clamp according to the invention mounted at a displaced position. In the configuration of FIG. 4a, the ribs 26, 28 of the band clamp 10 are not aligned with the ribs 30, 32 of the fitting 16 such that the resulting peaks are not superimposed. However, the inventors have found that the performance of the clamp is improved by the ribs 26, 28 nonetheless due to the une-venness in the force distribution and the intermeshing arrangement of the ribs 26, 28 and the ribs 30, 32, even in the worst case scenario.

[0037] It is to be noted that, in real-life scenarios, the tolerances of the gap G and the width W of the ribs 30, 32 of the fitting 16 are quite large such that a perfect alignment is rarely ever achievable. However, even in scenarios where the gaps G and GW do not match, the sealing performance can be improved by the effect of the additional force peaks as illustrated in FIG. 4b. Depending on the circumstances, it is possible that one pair of ribs 26, 30 or 28, 32 is aligned as in FIG. 4a and the other pair of ribs is displaced as in FIG. 4b. Again, the sealing-and clamping-performance is improved even in the worst-case scenario.

[0038] In further embodiments of the invention, a third rib may be provided on the inner surface of the band clamp 10 so as to be located in the gap G between the ribs 30, 32 of the fitting 16 in the mounted configuration.

List of Reference Numbers

[0039] 10 band clamp [0040] 12 tightening structure [0041] 14 PEX tubing [0042] 16 insert fitting [0043] 18 clamping band [0044] 20 closing structure [0045] 22 tongue [0046] 24 recess [0047] 26 rib [0048] 28 rib [0049] 30 rib [0050] 32 rib