Profile clamp

Abstract

Profile clamp has a base and flanks facing radially inwards. The clamp utilizes a tensioning device that connects two ends of the clamp band to one another. The clamp band has in a circumferential direction at least a first part and a second part. The first part has in at least one of its flanks a first connection geometry and the second part in at least one of its flanks has a second connection geometry. The first connection geometry and the second connection geometry are engagable with one another.

Claims

1. A profile clamp comprising: a first part having a base and flanks; a second part having a base and flanks; a tensioning device configured to connect ends of the first and second parts to one another; a first connection geometry arranged on the first part; a second connection geometry arranged on the second part; and the first connection geometry and the second connection geometry being engagable with one another so as to connect opposite ends of the first and second parts to one another, wherein the first connection geometry is formed exclusively within each flank of the first part and the second connection geometry is formed exclusively within each flank of the second part, whereby the bases of the first and second parts are continuous and free of connection geometries, and wherein the first connection geometry has a recess that opens radially outwardly relative to a circumferential direction of the profile clamp so as to engage with a portion of the second connection geometry.

2. The profile clamp of claim 1, wherein the first connection geometry has a configuration that is complementary to the second connection geometry.

3. The profile clamp of claim 1, wherein the base of the first part and the base of the second part have ends that one of: bear against one another when the clamp is in a mounted state; are spaced from each other via a gap; and are spaced apart by a gap that is no more than a radial thickness of the base.

4. The profile clamp of claim 1, wherein the first connection geometry further comprises a projection facing radially outwardly and being coupled to, in the circumferential direction, the recess.

5. The profile clamp of claim 1, wherein the second connection geometry has a recess that opens radially inwardly relative to the circumferential direction of the profile clamp so as to engage with a portion of the first connection geometry.

6. The profile clamp of claim 5, wherein the second connection geometry further comprises a projection facing radially inwardly relative to the circumferential direction of the profile clamp and being coupled to, in the circumferential direction, the recess of the first connection geometry.

7. The profile clamp of claim 1, wherein the tensioning device is structured and arranged to allow radial movement of the first and second parts by an amount that is sufficient to allow for engagement between the first and second connection geometries.

8. The profile clamp of claim 1, wherein the ends of first and second parts each comprise a bracket, and wherein the tensioning device further comprises: a tensioning element that can extend through the brackets; and a compression spring is arranged between the brackets.

9. The profile clamp of claim 8, wherein the compression spring is sized and configured to align the brackets with one another.

10. A method of connecting together two pipe ends comprising: arranging the profile clamp of claim 1 over ends of the pipes; engaging with one another the first and second connection geometries; and tightening the profile clamp.

11. A profile clamp comprising: a first C-shaped clamping part having a base and flanks extending radially inward from the base; a second C-shaped clamping part having a base and flanks extending radially inward from the base; a tensioning element configured to connect ends of the first and second C-shaped clamping parts to one another; a first connection geometry arranged on the first C-shaped clamping part and being located on an opposite end of the first C-shaped clamping part; a second connection geometry arranged on the second C-shaped clamping part and being located on an opposite end of the second C-shaped clamping part; and the first connection geometry and the second connection geometry being releasably engagable with one another, wherein the first connection geometry is formed exclusively within each flank of the first C-shaped clamping part and the second connection geometry is formed exclusively within each flank of the second C-shaped clamping part, wherein the first and second connection geometries are located radially inward with respect to each base, wherein an imaginary plane passing through a center of each said base in a base thickness direction does not intersect the first and second connection geometries, and wherein the first connection geometry has a recess that opens radially outwardly relative to a circumferential direction of the profile clamp so as to engage with a portion of the second connection geometry.

12. The profile clamp of claim 11, wherein the first connection geometry has a configuration that is complementary to the second connection geometry.

13. The profile clamp of claim 11, wherein the base of the first C-shaped clamping part and the base of the second C-shaped clamping part have ends that one of: bear against one another when the clamp is in a mounted state; are spaced from each other via a gap; and are spaced apart by a gap that is no more than a radial thickness of the base.

14. A method of connecting together two pipe ends comprising: arranging the profile clamp of claim 11 over ends of the pipes; engaging with one another the first and second connection geometries; and tightening the profile clamp via the tensioning element.

15. A profile clamp for connecting together ends of pipes, comprising: a first C-shaped part comprising: a connecting end; a base; and two spaced-apart radially inwardly oriented diverging flanks integrally formed with the base and extending to an opposite connecting end; a second C-shaped part comprising: a connecting end; a base; and two spaced-apart radially inwardly oriented diverging flanks integrally formed with the base and extending to an opposite connecting end; a tensioning device configured to connect the connecting ends of the first and second parts to one another; a first connection geometry located radially inward of the base and arranged on each of the two diverging flanks of the opposite connecting end of the first part; a second connection geometry located radially inward of the base and arranged on each of the two diverging flanks of the opposite connecting end of the second part; the first connection geometry and the second connection geometry being engagable with one another, wherein the profile clamp is installable on the ends of the pipes so that the two diverging flanks contact tapered contact surfaces of the pipe ends, wherein an imaginary plane passing through a center of each said base in a base thickness direction does not intersect the first and second connection geometries, and wherein the first connection geometry has a recess that opens radially outwardly relative to a circumferential direction of the profile clamp so as to engage with a projection of the second connection geometry that extend radially inwardly relative to the circumferential direction.

16. The profile clamp of claim 15, wherein: the first connection geometry comprises the recess and a projection; and the second connection geometry comprises a recess and the projection.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention is further described in the detailed description which follows, in reference to the noted plurality of drawings by way of non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, in which like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a profile clamp in an unmounted state;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a profile clamp in a mounted state;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a cross section of according to FIG. 2; and

(5) FIG. 4 shows an enlarged portion of FIG. 3 illustrating in detail a region of the first and second connecting geometries.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

(6) The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the present invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the present invention in more detail than is necessary for the fundamental understanding of the present invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the present invention may be embodied in practice.

(7) In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, there is shows a profile clamp 1 that utilizes a clamp band having a base 2 and two flanks 3, 4 facing radially inwards. The flanks 3, 4 are arranged to oppose and sloped away from one another, such that they roughly form the shape of a trapezoid in cross-section (see FIG. 3). A profile clamp 1 of this type can be used, for example, to form a so-called coned flange connection.

(8) In a coned flange connection as shown in FIG. 3, two pipes 5, 6 can be connected to one another which have respectively projections 7, 8 facing radially outwards. The projections 7, 8 have on their back sides (pointing away from one another) conically sloped contact surfaces 9, 10, on which the two flanks 3, 4 of the profile clamp 1 can engage or contact. When the profile clamp 1 is tightened, then the clamp band is reduced in diameter such that the base 2 increasingly moves toward or approaches the projections 7, 8. During this tightening movement, the flanks 3, 4 intensify their pressure on the contact surfaces 9, 10, such that the projections 7, 8 are forced against one another by a predetermined tension force.

(9) In another embodiment, the projections 7, 8 can be embodied in a solid manner and can be, on their front faces facing one another, aligned perpendicularly to an axis of the pipes 5, 6. The use or operation of the profile clamp 1 would be analogous.

(10) Referring back to FIGS. 1-3, one should appreciate that prior to the mounting, the profile clamp 1 must be able to be opened far enough so that the flanks 3, 4 can be guided past the projections 7, 8.

(11) Achieving this in a simple manner can occur because the profile clamp 1 has a first part 11 and a second part 12. The first part 11 and the second part 12 are connected to one another by a tensioning device 13. In the present case, the tensioning device can have the form of a screw 14 which is guided through a first bracket 15 on the first part and a second bracket 16 on the second part. The screw 14 is connected to an inside thread in the bracket 15. An additional nut, which bears against the bracket 15 of the first part 11 from the outside, can, however, also alternatively or additionally be provided.

(12) The first part 11 has a first connection geometry 17 which is arranged roughly diametrically opposed to the tensioning device 13. The second part 12 similarly has a second connection geometry 18 which is likewise arranged roughly diametrically opposed to the tensioning device 13.

(13) The first connection geometry 17 is exclusively arranged in the two flanks 3, 4 of the first part 11, and therefore is not arranged in the base 2 of the first part 11. The base 2 of the first part 11 can thus be made continuous.

(14) The second connection geometry 18 is likewise only arranged in the flanks 3, 4 of the second part 12. The base 2 of the second part 12 is therefore also made continuous, unchanged, unmodified or preserved.

(15) In both the first part 11 and also in the second part 12, the connection geometries 17, 18 in the flanks 3, 4 can be embodied with identical configurations. This is apparent when one compares the connection geometries 17, 18 in the flank 3 shown FIG. 1 with the configuration shown in FIG. 2 showing the connection geometries 17, 18 of the other flank 4.

(16) The first connection geometry 17 has a recess 19 opening radially outwards, to which a projection 20 facing radially outwards is attached in a circumferential direction. The transitions between the flank 3, the recess 19 and the projection 20 can be embodied in a rounded manner, that is, sharp edges are avoided or not utilized.

(17) The second connection geometry 18 similarly has a recess 21 opening radially inwards, to which a projection 22 facing radially inwards is attached in a circumferential direction.

(18) The two connection geometries 17, 18 are matched to one another, that is, the projection 20 on the first part 11 fits exactly into the recess 21 on the second part 12, and the projection 22 on the second part 12 fits exactly into the recess 19 on the first part 11.

(19) When the two parts 11, 12 have been placed around the pipes 5, 6, an engagement between the two connection geometries 17, 18 can be formed by a relatively simple movement. This movement involves moving the projection 22 on the second part 12 over the recess 19 on the first part 11 and then moving the second part 12 radially with respect to the first part 11 such that the projection 22 can enter into the recess 19. In this movement, the projection 20 then simultaneously enters into the recess 21.

(20) A radial movement of this type between the two parts 11, 12 of the profile clamp 1 is possible because the tensioning device 13 permits this movement. For this purpose, it is only necessary that, for example, the bracket 16 arranged on the second part include a slotted hole opening that receives therein the screw 14.

(21) Once the two connection geometries 17, 18 have been engaged with one another, there results a situation as it is illustrated in FIG. 2which provides for a completely mounted profile clamp 1. It can easily be recognized that the projection 22 has entered into the recess 19 and the projection 20 into the recess 21.

(22) Once the engagement has been produced and the two flanks 3, 4 have come to bear against the contact surfaces 9, 10 of the projections 7, 8, the engagement between the two connection geometries 17, 18 can essentially no longer be released without difficulty. A movement of the two parts 11, 12 relative to one another in an axial direction of the pipes 5, 6 is not possible, because such movement is prevented by the projections 7, 8. Accordingly, the two connection geometries 17, 18 in the flanks 3, 4 of the two parts 11, 12 cannot be and/or are prevented from being disengaged in an axial direction.

(23) Once the profile clamp 1 is tightened, further movement of the two parts 11, 12 in a radial direction is also no longer possible such that, in this manner, the engagement of the two connection geometries 17, 18 can likewise no longer be released.

(24) As it is, the engagement also cannot be released in a circumferential direction. Here, the engagement is embodied such that it can accommodate the forces occurring during the tightening between the two parts 11, 12 without difficulty.

(25) In the mounted state, there results between the two parts 11, 12 of the profile clamp a point of impact 23, in which the base 2 of the part 11 is arranged very tightly on or against the base 2 of the part 12. In the ideal case, there results here a light contact. However, a small gap is also permissible which favorably should not be larger in a circumferential direction than the thickness of the base 2 in a radial direction. Accordingly, there is essentially no region on which the projections 7, 8 are not covered by the base 2 in a circumferential direction,if the region of the tensioning device 13 can be disregarded. Accordingly, any heat radiation in a circumferential direction can, for example, be kept very uniform.

(26) A compression spring 24 can optionally be arranged between the two brackets 15, 16. As long as the two connection geometries 17, 18 have not been engaged with one another, the compression spring 24 can retain the two parts 11, 12 at a certain distance from one another.

(27) The compression spring 24 interacts with alignment geometries on the brackets 15, 16 such that the two parts 11, 12 are retained in a predetermined alignment relative to one another. This alignment can of course be released when external forces are removed.

(28) The alignment geometries can be produced in a simple manner, for example, by utilizing a compression spring 24 that has on its ends a particular geometry, for example, a polygon, in particular a rectangle, and the brackets 15, 16 can have on their ends facing one another a correspondingly embodied geometry, for example a recess of the type that is comparable to the polygon, into which the compression spring 24 enters. Other possibilities for the alignment of the two parts 11, 12 of the profile clamp are, of course, possible.

(29) The two brackets 15, 16 also have on their radially outer ends stops 25, 26 which, n the tightened state of the profile clamp 1 shown in FIG. 2 can come to bear against one another and provide an indication that a tightened state has been achieved.

(30) As should be apparent from FIGS. 1-4, the first and second connecting geometries can be located on the parts 11 and 12 only on the ends opposite the ends having the brackets 15 and 16 and exclusively in the flanks 3 and 4. When viewed in FIG. 3, if one imposes an imaginary vertical plane (not shown) bisecting (passing through a center) the base 2 in a thickness direction, this imaginary plane would be spaced from the flanks 3 and 4 and would not intersect the first and second connecting geometriesowing to the fact that the connecting geometries are located exclusively in the flanks 3 and 4 in FIG. 3. Furthermore, as is apparent from FIG. 4, one can discern that with the first and second connecting geometries being connected, a gap G can exist between ends of part bases 2. Moreover, one can also discern that the projection 22 and recess 21 of one part face or are oriented radially inwardly relative to a circumferential direction CD and has a complementary shape to the projection 20 and recess 19 of the other part, which face or are oriented radially outwardly relative to a circumferential direction CD.

(31) It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present invention. While the present invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it is understood that the words which have been used herein are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention in its aspects. Although the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims.