CLAMPING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USE AND /OR MANUFACTURE THEREOF

Abstract

Clamping apparatus is provided for clamping two or more items together. The clamping apparatus includes at least one clamping member having an inner surface arranged to be brought into contact with an outer surface of at least one of the items being clamped. Thermal insulating means are provided between the inner surface of the at least one clamping member and the outer surface of said at least one item.

Claims

1. Clamping apparatus for clamping two or more items together in use, said, clamping apparatus including at, least one clamping member having an inwardly facing surface, or an inner surface arranged to be brought into contact, directly or indirectly, with an outer surface of at least one of the items being clamped in use, and wherein thermal insulating means are provided or associated with the inwardly facing surface, the inner surface and/or between the inner surface of the at least one clamping member and the outer surface of said at least one item.

2. (canceled)

3. Clamping apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the thermal insulating means is formed from any material or any combination of materials that provides a thermal insulating effect at temperatures equal to or greater than 500 C.; wherein the thermal insulating means is formed from any material or any combination of materials that allows heat transfer across the same of less than 5 W/mK; and/or wherein the thermal insulating means consists of or includes zirconium oxide or zirconium ceramic.

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. Clamping apparatus according claim 1 wherein the thermal insulating means is provided at a thickness of between 0.3 mm-0.5 mm.

7. (canceled)

8. Clamping apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the thermal insulating means is provided on, integral with or associated with the at least one clamping member and/or at least one item; or the thermal insulating means is provided on, integral with or associated with the inner surface or the inwardly facing surface of the at least one clamping member.

9. (canceled)

10. Clamping apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the thermal insulating means is also provided on, integral with or associated with an outer surface of the at least one clamping member.

11. Clamping apparatus according to claim 8 wherein where the at least one clamping member includes an outer band member and an inner band member or inner band member segments, the thermal insulating means is provided on, integral with or associated with at least the inwardly facing, inner or innermost surface of the inner band member or inner band member segments.

12. Clamping apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the thermal insulating means is also provided on, integral with or associated with the outer surface of the inner band member or inner band member segments, the inner surface of the outer band member and/or the outer surface of the outer band, member.

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. Clamping apparatus according to claim 1 in the form of or including a V-clamp, a ring clamp, a band clamp, a C-coupling, a slip joint and/or a flange.

16. Clamping apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the inner surface of the at least one clamping member and/or the outer surface of the at least one item is profiled or non-planar.

17. Clamping apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one clamping member, an outer band member and/or an inner band member or inner band member segments is annular or substantially annular in form.

18. Clamping apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus and/or the at least one clamping member is movable between a clamped position, wherein the clamping member can clamp two or more items together in use, and an unclamped position, wherein the two or more items can be located with and/or removed from the clamping apparatus in use; and wherein adjustment means are provided for allowing the clamping apparatus and/or the at least one clamping member to be moved between the clamped and unclamped positions in use.

19. (canceled)

20. Clamping apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the adjustment means includes any or any combination of one or more trunnions, threaded trunnions, nuts, bolts, threaded screws, clips, or inter-engaging members.

21. Clamping apparatus according to claim 1 wherein sealing means are provided with or associated with the clamping apparatus.

22. A method of using clamping apparatus for clamping two or more items together, said method including the step of moving at least an inner surface of at least one clamping member into contact, directly or indirectly, with an outer surface of at least one of the items being clamped, and providing thermal insulating means on or associated with an inwardly facing surface of the clamping member, the inner surface and/or between the inner surface of the at least one clamping member and the outer surface of said at least one item.

23. A method according to claim 22 wherein the thermal insulating means is applied to at least one surface of the at least one clamping member and/or item using plasma sputter coating technology or high velocity oxy-fuel spray technology.

24. (canceled)

Description

[0060] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the following figures, wherein:

[0061] FIG. 1a shows a perspective view of a V-Clamp according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0062] FIG. 1b shows a a cross sectional view of a V-Clamp according to a further embodiment of the present invention;

[0063] FIGS. 2a and 2b show a perspective view and a cross sectional view of a conduit with a flanged end in overlapping engagement with a further conduit according to an embodiment of the present invention respectively;

[0064] FIGS. 3a and 3b show a perspective view and a cross sectional view of a V-clamp according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0065] FIGS. 4a and 4b show a perspective view and a cross sectional view of a V-clamp according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

[0066] Referring firstly to FIG. 1a, there is illustrated clamping apparatus in the form of a V-Clamp 2 for clamping together the ends of two conduits used for the flow of hot gases therealong, such as for example exhaust gases, in use.

[0067] The V-Clamp 2 comprises two clamping members; an outer band 4 which is annular in form having two opposing ends 6, 8, each end 6, 8 having a loop portion 14, 16 associated with the same; and an inner band formed from three segments 12, 12, 12. (Although three segments are shown in the figure, any number of segments could be provided). The three segments 12-12 are joined in an end to end manner with a space between each of the ends. The three segments have a V-shaped cross sectional profile and are joined to the inner surface of the outer band 4.

[0068] Each end 6, 8 of the outer band 4 is provided with a strap portion 14, 16 respectively for the location of adjustment means in the form of a trunnion 18 and a nut 20. The adjustment means allows the distance between the free ends 6, 8 and the straps 14, 16 to be adjusted, thereby increasing or decreasing the size of the band aperture and allowing the clamp 2 to be moved between an unclamped position, wherein the clamp 2 can be located over or removed from two overlapping conduits and the ends are a relatively large spaced distance apart, and a clamped position, wherein the clamp is clamped around two overlapping conduits and the ends are adjacent to each other or a relatively small spaced distance apart.

[0069] In one application of use of the V-Clamp 2, the conduits which are being clamped are arranged to allow hot exhaust gases to flow through channels defined in the same. In order to prevent the clamp 2 from becoming too hot, and in order to retain the heat of the gases within the conduit channels to maintain volumetric flow of the gases through the conduit channels, heat insulating means in the form of a zirconium oxide layer 22 is provided on the inner surface of the three segments 12, 12, 12 that face towards the conduit. The zirconium oxide layer has a thermal conductance of approximately 1.0-1.4 W/mK, thereby preventing heat from passing from the conduits to the clamp in use. The zirconium oxide layer is typically provided at a thickness of 03.-0.5 mm on the segments. However, any suitable thermal conductance or thickness of the thermal insulating means could be provided so as to provide a thermal insulating effect.

[0070] In one example the zirconium oxide layer is applied to the inner surface of the inner clamping member segments 12-12 using a High Velocity Oxy-Fuel spray technique but any suitable technique could be used.

[0071] Thus, in this embodiment the zirconium oxide layer is directly in contact with the outer surface of the outer conduit in use, thereby thermally insulates the clamp from the gases/fluids flowing in the conduits in use. It will be appreciated that the zirconium oxide layer may be indirectly in contact with the outer surface of the outer conduit in use if sealing means for example where also provided between the zirconium oxide layer and the outer conduit surface. The zirconium oxide layer retains the heat of the hot gases/fluids within the conduit, thereby maintaining the volumetric flow of the gases/fluid along the conduits in use. This allows the clamp to be formed from a lower grade stainless steel than conventional clamps, or could allow the clamp to be formed from materials other than stainless steel, such as for example other metals, rubber, plastic, carbon fibre and/or the like.

[0072] FIG. 1b shows a further example of V-clamp 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention wherein an intermediate band 10 is provided between the outer band 4 and the inner band segments 12-12.

[0073] Referring to FIGS. 2a-2b, there is illustrated an example of two items in the form of conduits 24, 26 that could be joined together by clamping apparatus, such as for example by the V-clamp shown in FIGS. 1a-1b in use, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0074] One end of conduit 24 is provided with an outwardly extending flange portion 28 and the end 30 of conduit 26 is located in the channel of conduit 24. In this example in addition to the innermost surface of the clamp 2 being provided with a heat or thermal insulating layer 22, the outer surface of the flange portion 28 is provided with a heat or thermal insulating zirconium oxide layer 22. The provision of the heat insulating layer on the outer surface of the flange portion 28 of the conduit 24 provides the same benefits as the heat insulating layer being provided on the inner surface of the innermost clamping member. Thus, in both embodiments, a heat or thermal insulating layer is provided between the contacting surfaces of the conduit and clamping member to prevent heat from being transferred from the conduit to the clamping member and vice versa in use.

[0075] It will be appreciated that the heat insulating layer could be provided on the flange portion only of the conduit if required, and not on the clamping apparatus.

[0076] Referring to FIGS. 3a and 3b, there is illustrated clamping apparatus 102 according to a further embodiment of the present invention in the form of a V-clamp. The same reference numerals are used to describe the same features as previously described.

[0077] The V-clamp 102 is similar in form to the V-clamp shown in FIG. 1a with the exception that thermal insulating means, in the form of a zirconium oxide layer, is provided on the inner surface and the outer surface of the inner band segments 12.

[0078] Referring to FIGS. 4a and 4b, there is illustrated clamping apparatus 202 according to a yet further embodiment of the present invention in the form of a V-clamp. The same reference numerals are used to describe the same features as previously described.

[0079] The V-clamp 202 is similar in form to the V-clamp shown in FIGS. 1a, 3a and 3b with the exception that thermal insulating means, in the form of a zirconium oxide layer, is provided on the inner surface and the outer surface of the inner band segments 12, in addition to the inner and outer surfaces of the outer band 4.