Profiled Clamp

Abstract

A profiled clamp with a profiled strip and an annular seal element, The profiled strip has two clamping heads which are connected together via a clamping element. The profiled strip has at least one radially outer positioning aid which has a spring elastic contact section for adapting to a shape characteristic of a line end that can be coupled to the profiled clamp, said aid being arranged in an axially offset manner to the profiled strip.

Claims

1. A profiled clamp comprising a profiled band and an annular sealing element, wherein the profiled band has two tensioning heads which are connected to one another via a tensioning element, wherein the profiled band has at least one radially outer positioning aid which has a spring elastic bearing portion for clinging to a shape feature of a line end which can be coupled to the profiled clamp, said at least one positioning aid being arranged with an axial offset to the profiled band.

2. The profiled clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one positioning aid is a separate component which is connected to the profiled band.

3. The profiled clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the profiled band has at least two circumferentially spaced-apart positioning aids.

4. The profiled clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one positioning aid is produced in one piece from a metal sheet.

5. The profiled clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one positioning aid has a fastening portion which is designed for mounting on an outer circumference of the profiled band, and wherein the spring elastic bearing portion is arranged at an end of the at least one positioning aid that is directed away from the fastening portion.

6. The profiled clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spring elastic bearing portion takes the form of a strip-shaped tongue.

7. The profiled clamp as claimed in claim 6, wherein the spring elastic bearing portion extends obliquely to a circumferential direction (u) of the profiled band.

8. The profiled clamp as claimed in claim 5, wherein the spring elastic bearing portion is bent or kinked radially inwardly.

9. The profiled clamp as claimed in claim 5, wherein the spring elastic bearing portion is bent or kinked in the axial direction.

10. A line connection arrangement having a line end on which a profiled clamp as claimed in claim 1 is arranged.

11. The line connection arrangement as claimed in claim 10, wherein the line end has at least one circumferential shape feature to which the at least one positioning aid clings.

12. The line connection arrangement as claimed in claim 11, wherein the shape feature is a projection.

13. The line connection arrangement as claimed in claim 11, wherein the shape feature is a notch.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0018] Further features, details and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent from the wording of the claims and from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a profiled clamp in a schematic, three-dimensional illustration;

[0020] FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment in a three-dimensional illustration, with the positioning aid being bent in the axial direction; and

[0021] FIGS. 3a+3b show a further embodiment in a three-dimensional illustration, with the positioning aid being bent in the radial direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a profiled clamp 10 according to an embodiment of the disclosure which has a profiled band 12 with two tensioning heads or tensioning jaws 14 and 16. A tensioning element 18 connects the two tensioning heads 14 and 16 to one another and is designed to brace the profiled band 12. The latter is divided into two halves 12a and 12b which are connected to one another by means of a bridge element 20 on a side which is opposite to the tensioning heads 14 and 16. This provides a certain degree of elasticity through which there is formed a simple hinge which allows a relative movement of the two halves 12a and 12b during bracing.

[0023] The profiled band 12 is equipped on an outer circumference 22 with a plurality of circumferentially distributed positioning aids 24. These are shown in the schematic illustration in very simplified form as strip-shaped metal plates which extend in the axial direction from the outer circumference 22. However, it can be seen from this illustration that the positioning aids 24 are produced as separate components and are connected to the profiled band 12 via fastening elements 26. This allows the positioning aids 24 to be produced from another workpiece than the profiled band 12. It is thus possible for example for different material thicknesses to be realized.

[0024] The positioning aids 24 can be produced in particular from a metallic material. The aim is for the positioning aids 24 to provide spring elastic elements which can be brought into contact with shape features of a line end (not shown) in order to apply a force in the circumferential direction u that prevents rotation of the profiled clamp 10 during mounting thereof. Moreover, the positioning aids 24 are also suitable for assuming an intended position on the line end in question. For this purpose, the positioning aids 24 could for instance be arranged in such a way that the profiled clamp 10 can be mounted on the line end exclusively in an intended position.

[0025] In the simplified illustration shown, the positioning aids 24, by virtue of their elongate, strip-like shape, act as sheet metal springs which spring in a radial direction. This allows the positioning aids 24 to cling to associated shape features of the line end if the profiled clamp 10 is opened. Upon bracing of the profiled clamp 10 by way of the tensioning element 18, the movement of the halves 12a and 12b is met with no resistance and the positioning aids 24 can spring radially outward. Here, they maintain their function of positioning if the profiled clamp 10 is opened again. They can then spring back into the original position and yet cling to the shape features.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment in the form of a profiled clamp 26. Here again, there is shown a profiled band 12 having two halves 12a and 12b which can be braced by way of a tensioning element 28. FIG. 2 at the same time shows a line end 30 on which the profiled clamp 26 is arranged. The line end 30 has a shape feature 32 in the form of a projection or of a leadthrough or of a connection for a further line. On the profiled clamp 26 there is a situated a positioning aid 34 which has a fastening portion 36 and a bearing portion 38. The fastening portion 36 follows the shape of the profiled band half 12b and has at a corner region 40 a fold 42 which is adjoined by a transition region 44 between the fastening portion 36 and the bearing portion 38. The fold 42 is configured in such a way that the transition region 44 extends virtually exclusively in the radial direction, with a kink 46 of approximately 45° being arranged between the transition region 44 and the bearing portion 38. The bearing portion 38 is therefore kinked in the axial direction. As a result, the positioning aid 34 acts as a spring in the circumferential direction and in the axial direction.

[0027] Upon bracing of the profiled clamp 26, it may be virtually impossible for the positioning aid 34 to interfere with the bracing movement. By virtue of the radial transition region 44, the bearing portion 38 is arranged with a radial offset to the profiled band 12 and can therefore slide along the shape feature 32. Even when a braced position of the profiled clamp 26 is reached, the bearing portion 38 is situated radially still outside the profiled band 12. Nevertheless, precise positioning of the profiled clamp 26 on the line end 30 can be performed by the bearing portion 38.

[0028] Particularly by virtue of the configuration of the bearing portion 38, the positioning aid 34 is suitable for clinging to the surface 48 of the shape feature 32 that extends substantially in the radial direction. This illustration, given the perspective, does not reveal that a positioning aid 34 can also be arranged on the half 12a.

[0029] FIG. 3a shows a further embodiment in the form of a profiled clamp 50 which is positioned on a line end 52. This embodiment demonstrates that a positioning aid can be adapted for completely different configurations of shape features. Here, just like in the previous embodiment, there is shown a positioning aid 54 which is adapted to a shape feature 56. The shape feature 56 is configured as a type of notch which is directed radially outwardly. The positioning aid 54 has a fastening portion 58 which is connected to the half 12b of the profiled band 12. In a corner region 60 of the fastening portion 58 there adjoins a transition region 62 which has three successive kinks 64, 66 and 68. The two kinks 64 and 66 extend approximately substantially parallel to the circumferential direction u, with the result that the transition region 62 forms a type of radially-axially extending ramp which is adjoined by a plateau which runs approximately parallel to the fastening portion 58. The kink 68 therefore runs parallel to an axial direction. This is adjoined by a bearing portion 70 which is accordingly kinked in the radial direction.

[0030] By virtue of its shape, the bearing portion 70 produces a spring force in the circumferential direction or radial direction. On account of its axial and radial offset to the fastening portion 58, it is possible for the shape feature 56 to be virtually enclosed by the bearing portion 70, with it being the case that, upon tensioning of the profiled clamp 50, the bearing portion 70 and the transition region 62 can spring radially slightly outward. The bracing of the profiled clamp 50 is therefore met with no resistance.

[0031] FIG. 3b schematically shows the shape feature 56, the notch-like shape of which is clearly visible here. The shape feature 56 can be produced by targeting bowing of the line end 52. This could be carried out virtually with any desired line end such that precise positioning by means of a positioning aid can be carried out. The notch 56 does not necessarily have to come about by deforming the line end. Rather, it is also merely possible for a projection, that can also be notch-like, to be soldered on or adhesively bonded on.

[0032] The invention is not limited to one of the above-described embodiments but can be modified in numerous ways.

[0033] All of the features and advantages, including constructional details, spatial arrangements and method steps, which emerge from the claims, the description and the drawing may be essential to the invention both on their own and in the various combinations.

[0034] 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.

[0035] 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 SIGNS

[0036] 10 Profiled clamp [0037] 12 Profiled band [0038] 12a, 12b Profiled band halves [0039] 14 Tensioning head [0040] 16 Tensioning head [0041] 18 Tensioning element [0042] 20 Bridge element [0043] 22 Outer circumference [0044] 24 Positioning aid [0045] 26 Profiled clamp [0046] 28 Tensioning element [0047] 30 Line end [0048] 32 Shape feature/projection [0049] 34 Positioning aid [0050] 36 Fastening portion [0051] 38 Bearing portion [0052] 40 Corner region [0053] 42 Fold [0054] 44 Transition region [0055] 46 Kink [0056] 48 Radial surface [0057] 50 Profiled clamp [0058] 52 Line end [0059] 54 Positioning aid [0060] 56 Shape feature/notch [0061] 58 Fastening portion [0062] 60 Corner region [0063] 62 Transition region [0064] 64 Kink [0065] 66 Kink [0066] 68 Kink [0067] 70 Bearing portion [0068] u Circumferential direction