TENSIONING RING WITH A TENSIONING SECTION

Abstract

The invention relates to a tensioning ring (1) having a tensioning section (3), the tensioning section (3) comprising a wedge element (6), a guide member (7a) and a tensioning screw (5), wherein a width of the tensioning section (3) and thus a circumference of the tensioning ring (1) can be changed by tightening the tensioning screw (5), for which purpose the wedge element (6) is guided at the guide member (7a) and is movable in this guide along a movement way (20a) at the guide member (7a) by tightening the tensioning screw (5), the movement way (20a) having a portion in a width direction (4) determining the width of the tensioning section (3), wherein the wedge element (6) and the guide member (7a) engage in one another with an undercut in such a way that they are held together in a form-locking manner with respect to the width direction (4).

Claims

1. A tensioning ring (1) having a tensioning section (3), the tensioning section (3) comprising a wedge element (6), a guide member (7a) and a tensioning screw (5), wherein a width of the tensioning section (3) and thus a circumference of the tensioning ring (1) can be changed by tightening the tensioning screw (5), for which purpose the wedge element (6) is guided at the guide member (7a) and is movable in this guide along a movement way (20a) at the guide member (7a) by tightening the tensioning screw (5), the movement way (20a) having a portion in a width direction (4) determining the width of the tensioning section (3), wherein the wedge element (6) and the guide member (7a) engage in one another with an undercut in such a way that they are held together in a form-locking manner with respect to the width direction (4).

2. The tensioning ring (1) of claim 1, wherein the tensioning screw (5) of the tensioning section (3) is aligned basically in parallel to a ring axis (2) of the tensioning ring (1) with its axis of rotation (15), about which it rotates during tightening.

3. The tensioning ring (1) of claim 1 having a tensioning strap (30) forming a section of the tensioning ring (1), wherein the guide member (7a) is arranged at a joint end (30a) of the tensioning strap (30).

4. The tensioning ring of claim 3, wherein the tensioning strap (30) is made of metal and forms the guide member (7a), for which purpose the tensioning strap (30) is bent at the joint end (30a) and engages in the wedge element (6).

5. The tensioning ring (1) of claim 1, wherein the guide member (7a) engages in a recess in the wedge element (6) to form the undercut.

6. The tensioning ring (1) of claim 1, wherein the guide member (7a) has the shape of an L-profile which engages in the wedge element (6) in such a way that one leg of the L-profile forms the undercut, wherein the other leg of the L-profile forms a transition basically without an offset into a wall surface of the wedge element (6), the wall surface facing radially inwards or outwards with respect to a ring axis (2).

7. The tensioning ring (1) of claim 1, wherein the movement way (20) extends to a front face (51) of the tensioning ring (1), wherein the width of the tensioning ring (3) increases when the wedge element (6) is moved towards this front face (51), and wherein the movement way (20) forms an angle (50) with this front face (51) on the guide member side, which angle is acute.

8. The tensioning ring (1) of claim 1, wherein the wedge element (6) is provided in the shape of a double wedge, being also movable on a side opposite to the first guide member (7a) in the width direction (4) at a second guide member (7b) of the tensioning section (3) along a second movement way (20b) with a portion in the width direction (4).

9. The tensioning ring of claim 8, wherein the double wedge-shaped wedge element (6) is provided multi-part, a first double wedge member (6a) being guided at the first guide member (7a) and a second double wedge member (6b), which is multi-part with respect to the first double wedge member (6a), being guided at the second guide member (7b).

10. The tensioning ring (1) of claim 9, wherein the tensioning screw (5) passes through the first and the second double wedge member (6b) and holds them together in the width direction (4).

11. The tensioning ring (1) of claim 1, wherein the tensioning section (3) comprises a further guide member (9a) and a further wedge element (8) guided at the further guide member (9a) and movable with respect thereto in this guide by tightening the tensioning screw (5), namely axially opposite to the first wedge member (6) with respect to the ring axis (2), the wedge elements (6, 8) being movable relative to one another by tightening the tensioning screw (5).

12. The tensioning ring (1) of claim 1, comprising a plurality of tensioning sections (3a,b,c) distributed over the circumference, each having a wedge element (6), a guide member and a tensioning screw (5), wherein the width of each tensioning section can be varied by tightening the respective tensioning screw (5), whereby the circumference of the tensioning ring (1) can be changed.

13. The tensioning ring (1) of claim 1, comprising a first (90) and a second tensioning ring segment (91), the tensioning ring segments (90, 91) being arranged consecutive with respect to a circumference around the ring axis (2) and being held together in a form-fit manner with an undercut, wherein the form-fit is provided such that the tensioning ring segments (90, 91), with respect to the ring axis (2), are either not axially displaceable relative to one another or that, in case of an axial relative displacement of the tensioning ring segments (90, 91), their total extension in the circumferential direction remains unchanged.

14. A set comprising a plurality of tensioning rings (1) of claim 1, wherein the tensioning rings (1) of the set are identical in construction to one another with respect to their tensioning sections (3), but differing in a circumferential length of their tensioning straps and/or a number of tensioning ring segments (90, 91).

15. A use of a tensioning ring (1) of claim 1 for pressing on, with respect to a ring axis (2), radially inwards and/or radially outwards, in particular against an inner wall surface or an outer wall surface of a tube element, in particular for pressing on a sleeve which is softer than the tube element, in particular against the tube element and/or against a line, and/or for pressing against an entry or a duct for a line.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] Below, the invention is explained in more detail by means of exemplary embodiments, wherein the individual features can, within the scope of the independent claims, also be relevant for the invention in a different combination, and wherein no difference is made between the different claim categories.

[0043] In detail, it is shown in:

[0044] FIG. 1 a tensioning ring according to the invention in an oblique view;

[0045] FIG. 2 the tensioning ring of FIG. 1, in particular its tensioning section, in a view radially from the outside;

[0046] FIG. 3 the tensioning ring of FIG. 1, in detail its tensioning section, in an axial view;

[0047] FIG. 4 the tensioning ring of FIG. 1, in detail its tensioning section, in a view looking from the inside radially outwards;

[0048] FIG. 5 a further tensioning ring according to the invention, in a view like in FIG. 2;

[0049] FIG. 6 a further tensioning ring according to the invention, in a view like in FIG. 3;

[0050] FIG. 7 a further tensioning ring according to the invention, again in a view like in FIG. 3;

[0051] FIG. 8 a further tensioning ring according to the invention in an axial schematic view;

[0052] FIG. 9a a further tensioning ring according to the invention or segments thereof in a radial view;

[0053] FIG. 9b the tensioning ring of FIG. 9a in an axial view.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0054] FIG. 1 shows a tensioning ring 1 according to the invention in an oblique view, looking onto it obliquely to a ring axis 2. The tensioning ring 1 comprises a tensioning section 3, wherein the width thereof, which is taken in a width direction 4, can be changed by tightening a tensioning screw 5. For that purpose, the tensioning section 3 comprises a wedge element 6 which is guided movable at guide members 7a,b. Below, reference is additionally made to FIG. 2. The wedge element 6 is respectively guided at the respective guide member 7a,b along a movement way 20a,b. As apparent from FIG. 2, the movement ways 20a,b respectively have a portion in the width direction 4 so that the axial displacement of the wedge element 6 changes also the width of the tensioning section 3.

[0055] In the example here, a thread 5a of the tensioning screw 5 is a right-hand thread, so that the wedge element 6 is moved towards the axial center of the tensioning ring 1 when the tensioning screw 5 is tightened (by a clockwise rotation at the screw head 5b). Thereby, the guide members 7a,b are pushed away from each other, the circumference of the tensioning ring 1 increases. The tensioning ring 1 shown here can in particular be used for pressing radially outwards. It can for instance be inserted into a rubber or elastomer sleeve and be inserted together with the latter into a tube element; by tightening the tensioning screw 5, the circumference of the tensioning ring 1 is widened and the sleeve is pressed against the inner wall surface of the tube element.

[0056] The tensioning section 3 comprises a further wedge element 8, which is also guided at guide members 9a,b. Also in this case, the corresponding movement ways, are oriented obliquely to the ring axis 2 or turning axis 15 of the tensioning screw 5, but they are not shown in FIG. 2 for the sake of clarity. When the tensioning screw 5 is tightened, both wedge elements 6, 8 are moved axially towards each other so that the guide members 7a,b and 8a,b are pushed away from each other in the width direction and the circumference of the tensioning ring 1 is widened.

[0057] The wedge elements 6, 8 are multi-part respectively, namely are respectively made of a first double wedge member 6a, 8a and a second double wedge member 6b, 8b. When assembling the tensioning section 3, the double wedge members 6a,b, 8a,b are first placed on or threaded onto their respective guide member 7a,b, 9a,b, see also the axial view according to FIG. 3 for illustration. The multi-part construction of the wedge elements 6, 8 simplifies the placement on the guide members. Subsequently, the wedge elements 6, 8 are respectively assembled, the double wedge members 6a,b or 8a,b are pushed into each other in the circumferential direction. Subsequently, the tensioning screw 5 is inserted, intersecting and holding together respectively both double wedge members 6a,b or 8a,b at each wedge element 6, 8.

[0058] Below, reference is particularly made to FIG. 3. The present tensioning ring 1 is to a large extent over its circumference formed by a tensioning strap 30 which is made of metal. In detail, it is made of a steel sheet brought into the ring-shape by bending. The joint ends 30a,b of the tensioning strap 30 are bent radially inwards so that the tensioning strap 30 itself forms the guide members 7a,b (and also 9a and 9b).

[0059] Generally, namely also in case of guide members 7a,b which are multi-part to the tensioning strap 30 (see for instance FIG. 6 for illustration), the wedge elements 6, 8 are held together with the guide members 7, 9 by an undercut in a form-fit manner (with respect to width direction 4). The wedge elements 6, 8 are consequently guided at the guide members 7, 9, independently of whether the tensioning ring is widened (in FIG. 2 by tightening the tensioning screw 5 and moving the wedge elements 6, 8 towards each other) or narrowed. The wedge elements 6, 8 can also pull the guide members 7a,b or 9a,b towards each other in the width direction 4.

[0060] FIG. 4 shows again the same tensioning ring like FIGS. 1 to 3, but in a view looking from the inside outwards, namely from the ring axis 2 radially outwards. Here it can be seen how the guide members 7a,b, 9a,b are formed by bending the tensioning strap 30 radially inwards, namely towards the viewer. The viewing direction in FIG. 4 is onto the joint ends of the tensioning strap 30.

[0061] FIG. 5 shows a further tensioning ring 1 which is to a large extent comparable to the tensioning ring 1 discussed so far. Generally, in this disclosure, parts having the same or basically the same function are referenced by the same reference numerals. To summarize, the main difference is the orientation of the movement ways 20a,b. In case of the variant of FIG. 5, the movement ways respectively enclose outside of the respective wedge element 6, 8 an acute angle 50 with the front face 51 of the tensioning ring 1. Thus, the guidance formed by the guide members narrows axially outwards. For comparison, reference is made to FIG. 2 where the angle 50 is obtuse, the guidance widening axially outwards.

[0062] As a result, in the variant of FIG. 5, the guide members 7a and b or 9a and b are not pushed away from each other when the wedge elements 6, 8 are moved towards each other, the guide members are pulled towards each other instead. Thus, the width of the tensioning section 3 and the circumference of the tensioning ring 1 decreases when the wedge elements 6, 8 are moved towards each other, which is exactly the opposite to the variant of FIG. 2. By a respective orientation of the movement ways, the tensioning ring 1 can be designed such that it is either widened (FIG. 2) or narrowed (FIG. 5) when the tensioning screw 5 with the right-hand thread is tightened (clockwise rotation), wherein both is possible with a clockwise rotation.

[0063] In case of the variant of FIG. 6, the guide members 7a,b are not formed by the tensioning strap 30 itself. Instead, the guide members 7a,b are separate elements placed at the tensioning strap 30. With a respective rivet 60a,b, the guide members 7a,b are fixed at the tensioning strap 30, wherein a fixation by for instance screwing or the like will also be possible. During assembly, in case of the variant of FIG. 6, the tensioning section 30 could also be assembled first, namely before the guide members 7a,b are fixed at the tensioning strap 30. Likewise, a simplified threading would be possible even without the two-part design of the wedge element 6.

[0064] The variant of FIG. 6 differs from that of FIG. 3 in so far as the L-profiles of the guide members 7a,b are not oriented radially inwards, but radially outwards. Accordingly, in case of the variant of FIG. 6, the radially inner wall surface of the wedge element 6 forms a smooth or step-free transition with the respectively horizontal leg of the L-profile (not with the leg oriented respectively outwards). Thus, the tensioning ring of FIG. 6 is in particular adapted for being pressed inwards, because it allows for an even transfer of the pressing force there. For comparison, in case of the variant of FIG. 3, the respective horizontal leg of the L-profile forms a smooth transition with the wall surface of the wedge element 6 facing radially outwards, such that the tensioning ring is in particular adapted for being pressed radially outwards. Even though the tensioning ring is specially adapted for being pressed radially inwards or outwards, it can be advantageous in terms of a demounting or review, when it is also held together by the form-fit in the opposite direction.

[0065] In case of the variant of FIG. 7, the tensioning strap 30 is not made of metal, instead it is an injection molded synthetic material ring made of glass fiber reinforced polyamide. Again, the guide members 7a,b are provided at the joint ends 30a,b, namely as female form-fit elements. Accordingly, the wedge element 6 forms male form-fit elements which are T-shaped in a sectional view and engage in the pockets of the guide members 7a,b, being held there by a form-fit. The pockets can be introduced into the tensioning ring already upon an injection molding.

[0066] Generally, the wedge elements 6, 8 can be made of metal, or they can be injection-molded of a synthetic material instead (in particular of a glass fiber reinforced polyamide), also in combination with a tensioning strap made of metal. In its functionality, the variant of FIG. 7 does not differ from the concepts discussed so far, the wedge element 6 (and the wedge element 8 arranged in FIG. 7 behind) are brought towards each other by tightening the tensioning screw 5, such that the width either increases or decreases depending on the orientation of the movement way (obtuse or acute angle, see above).

[0067] FIG. 8 shows a further tensioning ring 1 in a schematic view, which comprises in contrast to the variant of FIG. 1 not only one tensioning section 3, but three tensioning sections 3a,b,c in total. Those are arranged evenly distributed over the circumference 80, which results in a uniform distribution of the pressing force. The tensioning ring shown schematically is adapted for being pressed radially inwards, but a tensioning ring 1 with a multiple tensioning (a plurality of tensioning sections) can also be realized with any one of the variants discussed above.

[0068] FIGS. 9a,b illustrate a modular tensioning ring 1 or a portion thereof. Therein, FIG. 9a shows a view looking radially inwards, and FIG. 9 shows an axial view. Like the variants discussed so far, also the tensioning ring 1 comprises a tensioning section 3 with wedge elements 6, 8 and corresponding guide members 7, 9. In so far, reference is in particular made to the explanation relating to FIG. 7.

[0069] Apart from that, the tensioning ring 1 of FIG. 9a,b is made of modules, it comprises a first 90 and a second tensioning ring segment 91. Also these engage in each other by a form-fit, however this form-fit does only serve for holding them together in the circumferential direction. In the present design, the first 90 and the second tensioning ring segment 91 can be displaced with respect to each other in the axial direction, which would however not change the width taken in the circumferential direction. Further, a third form-fit element 92 is provided, which is in the like manner assembled neutrally (not for a variable width adjustment) with the first tensioning ring segment 90 at one circumferential side. However, at the opposite circumferential side, the second double wedge member 6b is guided obliquely as described above (for a width adaption).