PIPE CLAMP

Abstract

The invention relates to a pipe clamp, in particular an electric welding pipe clamp which can be mounted around a plastics pipeline, containing a saddle element having a connecting piece for a tapping unit or for the connection of an outgoing pipeline, straps to wrap around the pipeline, strap ends, wherein the strap ends have latching means, at least one latching area, wherein the strap ends are latched in in the latching area in order to fix the pipe clamp to the plastics pipeline, wherein the latching area has a tensioning element, wherein the tensioning element is arranged such that the tensioning element can be slid into a tensioning element groove.

Claims

1. A pipe clamp, in particular an electric welding pipe clamp, which can be fitted around a plastics pipeline, said pipe clamp comprising a saddle element having a connecting piece for a tapping unit or for the connection of an outgoing pipeline, straps for wrapping around the pipeline, strap ends, wherein the strap ends have latching means, at least one latching region, wherein, for the fastening of the pipe clamp to the plastics pipeline, the latching means of the strap ends are latched in the latching region, and wherein the latching region has a tensioning element, wherein the tensioning element is arranged slidably in a tensioning element groove.

2. The pipe clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the latching region has at least one spring element, wherein the spring element exerts a force on the tensioning element and the straps are thereby constantly tensioned or continuously retensioned.

3. The pipe clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tensioning element has a locking device, wherein the locking device prevents the tensioning element from inadvertently springing out of the tensioning element groove.

4. The pipe clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pipe clamp has a locking pin, wherein the removal of the locking pin releases the force of the spring element onto the tensioning element.

5. The pipe clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tensioning element has unlocking tongues.

6. The pipe clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the saddle element and the straps are configured in one piece.

7. The pipe clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pipe clamp has a latching region, which is arranged on one side of the saddle element and runs parallel to the center axis.

8. The pipe clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the saddle element has two latching regions, which are arranged on both sides of the saddle element and run parallel to the center axis.

9. The pipe clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the straps are mutually connected with a crosspiece.

10. The pipe clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unlocking tongues have latching means.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0025] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0026] An illustrative embodiment of the disclosure is described with reference to the figures, though the disclosure is not limited only to the illustrative embodiment, wherein:

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional representation of a pipe clamp according to the disclosure, having a latching region,

[0028] FIG. 2 shows a partial section of a pipe clamp according to the disclosure in the latching region,

[0029] FIG. 3 shows an exploded representation of a pipe clamp according to the disclosure,

[0030] FIG. 4 shows a partial section of a pipe clamp according to the disclosure through the spring elements,

[0031] FIG. 5 shows a three-dimensional representation of a pipe clamp according to the disclosure, having two latching regions.

[0032] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a pipe clamp 1 according to the disclosure, wherein the straps 5 are not yet latched in the latching region 7 for fitting on a pipeline. That embodiment of the pipe clamp 1 according to the disclosure which is represented in FIG. 1 shows a latching region 7, which is arranged on one side of the saddle element 2, and the straps 5, which are molded onto the saddle element 2, so that the saddle element 2 and the straps 5 are in one piece. Preferably, the pipe clamp 1 according to the disclosure is an electric welding pipe clamp, as also demonstrated in the illustrative embodiments, though the pipe clamp 1 according to the disclosure can also be adopted in pipe clamps which are not configured as an electric welding pipe clamp. The present pipe clamp 1 has a saddle element 2, on which is arranged a connecting piece 3 for the connection, for instance, of an outgoing pipeline. The pipe clamp 1 has straps 5 for wrapping around a plastics pipeline (not represented). Preferably, the pipe clamp 1 has a plurality of straps 5, which run in parallel. Of course, a version having just one strap would also be conceivable, in which case this would be made wider. In the illustrative embodiment there are arranged two parallelly running straps 5, which are configured in one piece with the saddle element 2. Moreover, they are connected to one another via a crosspiece 15 and then extend further into two strap ends 8, which serve for the fastening of the pipe clamp 1 or for the fastening in the tensioning element 9. By all means, differently configured straps which have no crosspiece 15, for instance, can also be used.

[0035] Preferably, the saddle element 2, the straps 5, the crosspiece 15 and the strap ends 8 are configured in one piece, that it to say that, for instance by injection molding, a one-piece manufacture can be realized and hence low manufacturing costs are incurred. Of course, a multipart version is also conceivable, while a different design of the straps 5, of the crosspiece 15 and of the strap ends 8 is also imaginable. In a multipart variant as is represented in FIG. 5, the saddle element 2 has on both sides a latching region 7, which latching regions run parallel to the center axis and extend preferably over the length of the saddle element 2. In this embodiment, the straps 5 are configured as separate parts and are not molded directly onto the saddle element 5. The straps 5, whether with or without a crosspiece 15 which connects them, are latched with their strap ends 8 and their latching means 6 in the tensioning elements 9 in the latching regions 7. Upon the release of the locking pins 13, the tensioning elements 9 are respectively activated on both sides and a bilateral tensioning of the straps 5 takes place.

[0036] The strap ends 8 have latching means 6, which serve for the latching of the straps 5 in the latching region 7 and thereby fix the pipe clamp 1 to the plastics pipe. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the latching region 7 is disposed on one side of the saddle element 2 and runs along the center axis of the pipe clamp 1 or of the plastics pipeline, onto which the pipe clamp 1 is fitted.

[0037] The latching region 7 has a tensioning element groove 10, in which the tensioning element 9 is displaceably arranged. That is to say, the tensioning element 9 cannot be displaced along the center axis of the plastics pipeline, but roughly tangentially to the plastics pipeline circumference, so that the tensioning element 9 can be slid out of the tensioning element groove 10, as is evident in FIG. 3.

[0038] The tensioning element 9 extends over the entire length of the tensioning element groove 10 or over the length of the pipe clamp 1. Beneath the tensioning element 9 or on the floor of the tensioning element groove 10 are arranged spring elements 11, preferably compression springs, which push up the tensioning element 9. The strap ends 8 are then pushed through the floor of the tensioning element groove 10, which floor has cutouts 4, and latched in the tensioning element 9 by means of the latching means 6 on the strap ends 8. By the spring elements 11, which push up the tensioning element 9, the straps 5 are tensioned once the locking pin 13 is pulled and the pipe clamp 1 is thereby activated. This means that the pipe clamp 1 is placed around the plastics pipe, the strap ends 8 are latched into the tensioning element 9, and the locking pin 13, which is disposed in the locking device 12 of the tensioning element 9, is pulled and the straps 5 are thereby tensioned still further. Moreover, the pipe clamp 1 according to the disclosure has the advantage that it constantly keeps itself tensioned, and also retensions itself. This is also advantageous in an electric welding pipe clamp in which, during the welding, a welding pressure is built up and an expansion of the saddle 2 is discernible, whereby the geometric and press-generated differences are compensated by the tensioning element 9 and in this way the tensioning element 9 maintains the tension by retightening of the straps 5.

[0039] To prevent the tensioning element 9 from inadvertently springing out of the tensioning element groove 10, for instance in the event of accidental pulling of the locking pin 13, the tensioning element 9 has a locking device 12 which prevents this. In this embodiment, the locking device 12 is configured as a type as pin, which is directly arranged on the tensioning element 9. The locking device 12 has stopping elements 17, which are here configured as barbs on the lower region and abut the rim of the opening or cutout 4 in the floor of the tensioning element groove 10 when the tensioning element 9 lifts too far, since the opening is of such a size that the locking device 12 can only pass through when the stopping elements 17 are compressed, as is evident in FIG. 2. Furthermore, in FIG. 2 it can clearly be seen how the latching means 6 of the strap ends 8 engage in the latching means 16 on the tensioning element 9 or on the unlocking tongues 14. Preferably, the latching means 6, 16 are configured as teeth, and preferably more than just one tooth is arranged on the unlocking tongues 14. In FIG. 2, the locking operation can clearly be seen. The strap ends 8 are pushed through the grooves 18 on the tensioning element 9 and, at the same time, guide the strap ends 8.

[0040] An unlocking is only possible if the unlocking tongues 14 are pressed rearward in order that the latching means 6 of the strap ends 8 are no longer in engagement with the latching means 16 of the unlocking tongues 14.

[0041] It has proved to be a further advantage that if the spring elements 1 are guided, preferably as in the shown embodiment, on guide pins 19 and guide bores 20 in the tensioning element 9, which are fixedly arranged in the tensioning element groove 10 and in which the spring elements 11 are received and guided, as is represented in FIG. 4.

[0042] FIG. 3 shows the pipe clamp 11 according to the disclosure in an exploded view. It can thereby clearly be seen in what direction the tensioning element 9 can be displaced or in what direction it shifts when the locking pin 13 is pulled and the pipe clamp 1 or the latching region 7 is activated.

[0043] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.