High pressure duct clamp and method of use

An improved duct joint for permanently and sealably connecting two duct sections, said duct sections having peripheral flanges forming opposite and corresponding halves of a composite, T-shaped, peripheral flange extending outwardly from said duct sections, said composite flange having an upper cross-piece portion and a lower upright portion, said lower upright portion containing a continuous reservoir of deformable gasket material, the improvement comprising:

• a plurality of clamps crimped to said upper portion of said T-shaped flange at spaced intervals thereon, the inner surface of the each of said clamps being pressed against upper and lower surfaces of said upper cross-piece portion co-extensive with said clamps, said upper portions being thereby pressed together with sufficient pressure to force a portion of said gasket material to flow out from said reservoir between said flange halves toward said duct sections and produce a sealed joint therebetween;
• and, each of said plurality of clamps and corresponding co-extensive sections of said upper cross-piece portion having a series of ripples therethrough, said series of ripples preventing said plurality of clamps from slipping out of clamping contact with said upper portion of said T-shaped flange, thereby permanently connecting said duct sections.