Pipe clamping assembly
AssigneeClamp-All Corp.
InventorFrederick R. Swartz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pipe clamping assembly is provided with an improved first and second encircling ends on a sheet metal clamping band so as to provide upward and reversely extending end sections each having an inwardly directed flange positioned to extend toward an underlying pipe and act in conjunction with the clamping band to prevent unwanted movement of an underlying sealing gasket under operating conditions of the pipe clamping assembly. In one embodiment, the ends are slotted to allow for adjustment to inexact contours while in another embodiment, the band is unslotted providing greater rigidity for use with pipes of consistently repeatable defined circumference.
Claims4
In a clamping assembly for joining two pipes in end to end relationship in a clamping position and having a flexible, corrosion resistant sheet metal clamping band of defined circumferential length having a first encircling end and a second encircling end axially spaced from the first encircling end, with a preformed raised central section extending generally the defined circumferential length of the clamping band,
- and band strap retaining areas extending on both sides of said central section, with tension bands mounted in said retaining areas on both sides of said central section adjacent said ends, said clamping band enclosing an underlying elastomeric compressible, circumferential sealing gasket having first and second gasket end surfaces and partially mounted against movement by said central section,
- the improvement comprising said first and second encircling ends extending from said retaining areas with said ends each carrying an upwardly and reversely extending section defining an inwardly directed substantially continuous, integral, bent over sheet metal flange having the thickness of said sheet metal facing said pipe positioned to extend toward an underlying pipe to grip said pipe and to prevent unwanted movement of said sealing gasket under operating conditions of said assembly with each said substantially continuous flange providing a stop against outward flow of said gasket beyond said flange by engaging substantially the entire end surface of said gasket so that said flange prevents cold flow beyond the flange.
A clamping assembly coupling a plurality of pieces and comprising:
- (a) two, opposing, generally axially aligned cylindrical pipes, each pipe having a peripheral edge placed in a generally abutting end relationship;
- (b) a clamping assembly positioned circumferentially about and bridging the gap between the pipe ends in a clamping position, the clamping assembly comprising
- (a) a flexible, corrosion-resistant sheet-metal, clamping band of defined length surrounding circumferentially the ends of the pipes with the opposite ends of the clamping band in an overlapping, slidably adjustable, nesting relationship, the clamping band having
- (i) a raised edge bead along each outer edge of the band and extending generally about the circumference of the clamping band in the clamping position;
- (ii) a preformed, raised, central section extending generally the defined length of the clamping band;
- (iii) band-strap-retaining areas extending on both sides of the raised central section, the raised edge beads on each side and the sides of the raised central section forming two generally parallel band-strap-retaining areas of sufficient width to accommodate a flat band-strap therein, and
- (iv) a plurality of slots extending inwardly from the outer edges of the clamping band and generally longitudinal to the joint ends, the slots extending generally throughout the defined length to permit the adjustment of the clamping band in each band-strap-retaining area;
- (b) a compressed, circumferential, sealing gasket disposed between the pipe ends and the overlapping clamping band and overlapping and bridging the entire junction between the pipe ends, the gasket characterized by an outwardly raised, peripheral, central section, which central section is contoured in form and fits snugly within the raised central section of the band clamp to prevent movement of the sealing gasket in the clamping position;
- and
- (c) at least a pair of flat band straps, one strap disposed and positioned in each of the band-retaining areas of the band clamp, the band straps including a band-tensioning means, whereby the band straps may be tightened to compress the underlying sealing gasket into a fluid-tight sealing relationship, said raised edge beads on each side of said band strap retaining area defining a section of an inwardly directed substantially circumferentially continuous, integral, bent over sheet metal flange having an end formed of the thickness of said sheet metal, extending toward and gripping an underlying pipe at said flange end and acting to prevent flow of said gasket beyond said band clamp when said clamping band is compressed by having said flange engage substantially an entire end surface of said gasket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.