Ratchet clamp for pipe coupling

Abstract

A pipe coupling includes a coupling band and an elastomeric seal disposed inside the coupling band, ratchet depressions formed on a portion of the coupling band, and a ratchet rod assembly mounted on another portion of the coupling band. The ratchet rod assembly includes a ratchet rod formed with ratchet teeth that interface with the ratchet depressions, such that rotation of the ratchet rod causes the ratchet teeth to progressively advance from one set of the ratchet depressions to another set of the ratchet depressions, which reduces an inner diameter of the elastomeric seal in the coupling band.

Claims

1. A pipe coupling comprising: a coupling band and an elastomeric seal disposed inside said coupling band; ratchet depressions formed on a portion of said coupling band; and a ratchet rod assembly mounted on another portion of said coupling band, said ratchet rod assembly comprising a ratchet rod formed with ratchet teeth that interface with said ratchet depressions, such that rotation of said ratchet rod causes said ratchet teeth to progressively advance from one set of said ratchet depressions to another set of said ratchet depressions, which reduces an inner diameter of said elastomeric seal in said coupling band; wherein a gear arrangement is located at a portion of said ratchet rod distanced from opposite ends of said ratchet rod, and rotation of gear arrangement causes rotation of said ratchet rod to cause said ratchet teeth to progressively advance from one set of said ratchet depressions to another set of said ratchet depressions, which reduces an inner diameter of said elastomeric seal in said coupling band; and wherein said ratchet teeth are formed on one or more sleeves that fit over a drive rod of said ratchet rod assembly, and wherein said year arrangement comprises a housing through which said drive rod is journaled, and a spur gear is mounted on said drive rod and a worm gear rod is journaled in said housing and meshes with said spur gear, said worm gear rod comprising at least one end shaped to interface with a tightening tool configured to cause rotation of said ratchet rod.

2. The pipe coupling according to claim 1, wherein said ratchet teeth are formed on one or more sleeves that fit over a drive rod of said ratchet rod assembly.

3. The pipe coupling according to claim 2, wherein said sleeves are keyed with said drive rod so as not to slip or rotate with respect to said drive rod.

4. The pipe coupling according to claim 2, wherein said drive rod comprises at least one end shaped to interface with a tightening tool configured to cause rotation of said ratchet rod.

5. The pipe coupling according to claim 1, wherein said ratchet rod assembly comprises a base member and opposing side members.

6. The pipe coupling according to claim 5, wherein the portion of said coupling band with said ratchet depressions slides over said base member.

7. The pipe coupling according to claim 1, wherein said ratchet depressions are formed through an entire thickness of said coupling band.

8. The pipe coupling according to claim 1, wherein said ratchet depressions are not formed through an entire thickness of said coupling band.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective illustration of a pipe coupling with a ratchet mechanism, in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, in which the ratchet mechanism is tightened from the side of the coupling.

(3) FIGS. 2A and 2B are simplified pictorial and exploded illustrations, respectively, of the ratchet mechanism of FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 is a simplified perspective illustration of a pipe coupling with a ratchet mechanism, in accordance with another non-limiting embodiment of the invention, in which the ratchet mechanism is tightened from the center of the coupling.

(5) FIGS. 4A and 4B are simplified pictorial and exploded illustrations, respectively, of the ratchet mechanism of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which illustrates a pipe coupling 10, in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the invention.

(7) Pipe coupling 10 may include a coupling band 12, which without limitation, may be made of stainless steel or any other suitable material. An elastomeric seal 14 may be disposed inside coupling band 12.

(8) One portion of the coupling band 12, typically but not necessarily at one end of the band 12, is formed with ratchet depressions 16. The ratchet depressions 16 may be formed all the way through the thickness of the band, or they may be blind, that is, they do not extend through the entire thickness of the band. The ratchet depressions 16 may be formed by any suitable process, such as but not limited to, punching, stamping, embossing, and others.

(9) A ratchet rod assembly 18 may be mounted on another portion of the coupling band 12. The ratchet rod assembly 18 includes a ratchet rod 20 formed with ratchet teeth 22 that interface with ratchet depressions 16 formed on the coupling band 12. Rotating ratchet rod 20 causes ratchet teeth 22 to progressively advance from one set of ratchet depressions 16 to another set of ratchet depressions 16, which reduces the inner diameter of the elastomeric seal 14 in coupling band 12 to tighten it around the outer diameter of the pipe (not shown).

(10) Reference is now made to FIGS. 2A and 2B, which illustrate the ratchet rod assembly 18 of FIG. 1.

(11) The ratchet rod assembly 18 may include a base member 24 to which opposing side members 26 may be coupled by means of fasteners 28 that pass through holes 27 (FIG. 2B) in side member 26 and screw into threaded holes 29 (FIG. 2B) in base member 24. The base member 24 may be secured to the side members 26 with a keyed arrangement, such as a lug 30 that protrudes from base member 24 which is received in a notch 32 formed in the side member 26. The base member 24 may be secured to the coupling band 12 by any suitable means, such as but not limited to, welding, riveting or other mechanical fasteners.

(12) The ratchet teeth 22 may be formed on one or more sleeves 34 that fit over an inner drive rod 36 (FIG. 2B). Sleeves 34 may be keyed with drive rod 36 so as not to slip or rotate with respect to the drive rod 36. For example, drive rod 36 may be hexagonal and mate with an internal hexagonal shape of the sleeve 34. Drive rod 36 may have an end or ends 38 shaped to interface with a tightening tool, such as a wrench. Accordingly, ends 38 may be hexagonal, without limitation. The tightening tool rotates drive rod 36 and ratchet rod 20 to cause ratchet teeth 22 to progressively advance from one set of ratchet depressions 16 to another set, as mentioned above.

(13) The assembly of rod 20 (which includes sleeves 34 and drive rod 36) may be journaled (mounted for rotation) in bearings 40 (such as, but not limited to, a bushing, ball bearing, or other suitable bearing) mounted in a hole 42 in side member 26. A ratchet ring 44 (FIG. 2B) may be mounted at each end of drive rod 36.

(14) Referring again to FIG. 1, it is noted that the portion of coupling band 12 with the ratchet depressions 16 slides over base member 24, which reduces the friction between the overlapped portions of the coupling band 12.

(15) Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which illustrates a pipe coupling 50, in accordance with another non-limiting embodiment of the invention. Pipe coupling 50 is similar to pipe coupling 10, with like elements being designated by like reference numbers.

(16) Pipe coupling 50 differs from pipe coupling 10 in that pipe coupling 50 includes a gear arrangement 52 located at a central portion of rod 20 of ratchet rod assembly 18. As seen in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the gear arrangement 52 may include a housing 54 through which drive rod 36 is journaled by means of bearings 56 (such as, but not limited to, a bushing, ball bearing, or other suitable bearing) mounted in holes 58 in housing 54. A spur gear 60 may be mounted on drive rod 36 and separated from sleeves 34 by means of spacers 62. A worm gear rod 64 is journaled in housing 54 and meshes with spur gear 60. Worm gear rod 64 may have an end or ends 66 shaped to interface with a tightening tool, such as an impact wrench. Accordingly, ends 66 may be hexagonal, without limitation. A tightening tool engages end 66 to rotate worm gear rod 64. The meshing of worm gear rod 64 with spur gear 60 transfers the rotation of worm gear rod 64, which is perpendicular to spur gear 60, to rotation of spur gear 60, thereby rotating drive rod 36 and ratchet rod 20 to cause ratchet teeth 22 to progressively advance from one set of ratchet depressions 16 to another set, as mentioned above.

(17) Accordingly, in pipe coupling 50, the ratchet rod assembly 18 may be rotated from the center of the coupling by means of gear arrangement 52. This version may be preferable in certain hard-to-reach areas where the end of the drive rod is not easily accessible. Another advantage of pipe coupling 50 is that the central actuation provides more evenly distributed torque to the drive rod as opposed to the side actuation of pipe coupling 10.