Clamp assembly and method of clamping
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorsGabriel Ruiz, James Streeter, Ryan Matthew Kelley, Michael Zager
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clamp assembly includes a first arm, a second arm, a hinge, and a fastening arrangement. The first arm and the second arm each include a hinge end, a free end, a web between the hinge end and the free end, a curved portion between the hinge end and the web, and a curved portion between the free end and the web. The hinge pivotably connects the hinge ends. The fastening arrangement is configured to connect the free ends when the clamp assembly is in a closed position. The curved portions are configured to encircle a first structure and a second structure when the clamp assembly is in the closed position.
Claims20
A clamp assembly comprising:
- a first arm including:
- a first hinge end;
- a first free end;
- a first web between the first hinge end and the first free end;
- a first curved portion between the first hinge end and the first web;
- and
- a second curved portion between the first free end and the first web;
- a second arm including:
- a second hinge end;
- a second free end;
- a second web between the second hinge end and the second free end;
- a third curved portion between the second hinge end and the second web;
- and
- a fourth curved portion between the second free end and the second web;
- a hinge that pivotably connects the first hinge end to the second hinge end;
- and
- a fastening arrangement configured to connect the first free end to the second free end when the clamp assembly is in a closed position;
- wherein the first curved portion and the third curved portion are configured to encircle a first structure when the clamp assembly is in the closed position and the second curved portion and the fourth curved portion are configured to encircle a second structure when the clamp assembly is in the closed position;
- and
- wherein the first curved portion, the second curved portion, the third curved portion, and the fourth curved portion each have a V-shaped cross-section, each V-shaped cross-section including angled sides and a flat bottom portion.
(canceled)
A method of clamping axially aligned portions of a first structure and axially aligned portions of a second structure, the method comprising:
- separating a first free end of a first arm and a second free end of a second arm of a hinged clamp assembly to place the clamp assembly in an open position;
- positioning the first arm and the second arm of the clamp assembly in the open position around flanges of a first tube and a second tube of the first structure and around flanges of a third tube and a fourth tube of the second structure, the second structure being spaced from the first structure;
- joining the first free end and the second free end together such that a first curved portion of the first arm and a third curved portion of the second arm encircle the first structure and a second curved portion of the first arm and a fourth curved portion of the second arm encircle the second structure, placing the clamp assembly in a closed position, wherein the first curved portion, the second curved portion, the third curved portion, and the fourth curved portion each have a V-shaped cross-section, each V-shaped cross-section including angled sides and a flat bottom portion;
- and
- connecting the first free end to the second free end at a fastening arrangement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.