# US 2012/0074632 A1 · Clamp comprising a multi-part guide path > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2012/0074632 A1 - Document ID: US20120074632A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/073,426 - Filed: 2011-03-28 - Published: 2012-03-29 - Earliest claimed: 2010-09-24 - Assignees: Serimax - Inventors: Jean-François DAGENAIS - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20120074632A1 ## CPC - B23P 11/00: Connecting or disconnecting metal parts or objects by metal-working techniques not otherwise provided for (connecting sheet metal or metal tubes, rods or profiles B21D39/00; riveting B21J; soldering, unsoldering, welding B23K; hand tools for connecting wire or strip B25B25/00; connecting metal parts by adhesives F16B11/00) - B23K 9/0286: {with an electrode moving around the fixed tube during the welding operation} - B23K 37/0217: {the guide member being fixed to the workpiece} - B23K 37/0276: {for working on or in tubes (B23K37/0211 takes precedence)} - B23K 37/0533: External pipe alignment clamps - B23K 2101/06: Tubes - Y10T 29/53961: with work-holder for assembly - B23P: METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q) - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Clamp for mechanical parts such as tubes or pipes, comprising a flange (5) with parts (13A, 13B, 13C) connected to one another so as to be pivotable as far as a closed position in which they are continuous. A locking device may be actuated when the flange is closed. The clamp further comprises supports (55; 57) by which rails (49) are connected to the parts with limited freedom of relative movement. The adjacent end faces of the rails have mating surfaces forming a connection by positive locking, which is active in the vicinity of the closed position. Each connection guides the end faces relative to one another into a working position in which the rails (49) form a guide path for tools, and helps to maintain this position when the clamping device is actuated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Device for assisting with the working of mechanical parts, comprising: a flange (5) having at least two parts (13A, 13B, 13C) joined together with the ability to move relative to one another in a common plane, up to a closed position of the flange (5) in which the parts are joined together; a locking device that can be actuated in the closed position of the flange to bring the said parts (13A, 13B, 13C) into mutual abutment; at least two rails (49); characterised in that it further comprises a set of resilient supports (57) by means of which each rail (49) is connected to at least one respective part (13A, 13B, 13C) of the flange with limited scope for relative movement; the adjacent end faces of two rails (49) have mating surfaces forming a connection by positive locking, this connection being active in the vicinity of the closed position; each connection is arranged so as to guide the adjacent end faces relative to one another in a movement relative to said parts (13A, 13B, 13C), to a working position in which the rails (49) form a guide path for one or more tools, and in order to help keep these rails (49) in mutual abutment, in this working position, when the locking device is actuated. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, wherein the said mating surfaces comprise two complementary surfaces (66) coming into mutual abutment in the working position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1, 2) Device according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein each rail (49) has one or more guide surfaces (64) and the connection comprises an arrangement adapted to ensure continuity of these guide surfaces in the working position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) Device according to claim 3, wherein the said arrangement comprises at least one tongue (69) projecting from the end face (66) of a rail (49) and a groove (71) provided in the adjacent end face (66) of a neighbouring rail, the tongue (69) and the groove (71) both being of the appropriate dimensions to fit into one another close to the position of closure of the flange (5). ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) Device according to claim 4, wherein the tongue (69) has a portion whose cross-section becomes progressively narrower towards its free end. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3, 4, 5) Device according to one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the arrangement comprises at least one stud (65) projecting from the end face (66) of a rail (49) and at least one recess (67) formed in the adjacent end face (66) of a neighbouring rail, the stud (65) and the recess (67) both being of the appropriate dimensions to fit into one another close to the position of closure of the flange. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) Device according to claim 6, wherein the stud (65) is at least partly hemispherical in configuration. ### Claim 8 Device according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a set of resilient parts (57) intercalated between the supports (55) and their respective rails (49), in which the resilient parts (57) are deformed on actuation of the locking device and are arranged so that this deformation generates a contact pressure between the end surfaces of the rails at a predefined minimum level. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) Device according to claim 8, wherein the resilient parts (57) are arranged so that the displacement of the rails (49) relative to the said parts of the flange takes place, at least in the vicinity of the closed position, with deformation of at least some of said resilient parts (57). ### Claim 10 (depends on 8, 9) Device according to one of claims 8 and 9, wherein the resilient parts (57) are arranged so that they each work with shear forces when the locking device is actuated. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8, 9, 10) Device according to one of claims 8 to 10, wherein at least some of the resilient parts (57) are in the form of a cylinder made of resilient material, and each cylinder is attached to one of the supports (55), on the one hand, and to a rail (49) and/or a part (13A, 13B, 13C) of said flange (5), on the other hand. ### Claim 12 Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the flange (5) is in the form of a flat crown. ### Claim 13 Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the guide path is of annular configuration.