Tube clamp and coupling
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorDennis R. Walling
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coupling assembly is disclosed for connecting a tube to a housing member. Preferably, the coupling assembly includes a tube end having a pair of spaced apart annular beads defining a groove for receiving a resilient seal ring seated therein and a housing member defining a bore for receiving the tube end. Also, a guide ring preferably centers the tube end in the bore. A clamping assembly is provided according to the present invention which includes symmetric clamping members, each defining a tube engaging portion between a seat portion and a seat engaging portion. The clamping members assemble axially and resiliently flex relative one another to clamp onto the tube as the seat portions axially engage the seat engaging portions.
Claims18
An interlocking clamp assembly adapted for receipt clamped about a tube, the tube defining a central axis and the clamp assembly assembling onto the tube axially along the central axis, the clamp assembly comprising:
- a first clamping member, said first clamping member defining a first seat portion, a first seat engaging portion and a first tube engaging portion between said first seat portion and said first seat engaging portion;
- and
- a second clamping member, said second clamping member defining a second seat portion interlockable with said first seat engaging portion, a second seat engaging portion interlockable with said first seat portion and a second tube engaging portion between said second seat portion and said second seat engaging portion;
- said first seat portion including a first axial lead-in portion and said second seat engaging portion including a second axial lead-in portion, said first seat engaging portion and said second seat portion radially flexing relative to one another as said second seat portion is axially received in said first axial lead-in portion and said second seat engaging portion and said first seat portion radially flexing relative to one another as said first seat portion is axially received in said second axial leads-in portion to resiliently compress said first tube engaging portion and said second tube engaging portion about the tube and resiliently restrain said first seat engaging portion against said second seat portion and said second seat engaging portion against said first seat portion to interlock said first clamping member with said second clamping member.
A coupling assembly, comprising:
- a tube member defining a central axis;
- a housing member adapted for receiving an end of said tube member coupled therewith;
- a first clamping member defining a first seat portion, a first seat engaging portion and a first tube engaging portion between said first seat portion and said first seat engaging portion;
- a second clamping member defining a second seat portion interlockable with said first seat engaging portion, a second seat engaging portion interlockable with said first seat portion and a second tube engaging portion between said second seat portion and said second seat engaging portion;
- said first seat engaging portion and said second seat portion radially flexing relative to one another as said second seat portion is axially received by said first seat engaging portion and said second seat engaging portion and said first seat portion radially flexing relative to one another as said first seat portion is axially received by said second seat engaging portion to resiliently compress said first tube engaging portion and said second tube engaging portion about the tube and resiliently restrain said first seat engaging portion against said second seat portion and said second seat engaging portion against said first seat portion to interlock said first clamping member with said second clamping member;
- and
- means for clamping said first clamping member and said second clamping member to said housing member.
In a coupling assembly for releasably connecting a tube member to a housing member defining a cylindrical bore, the coupling assembly including a clamping assembly releasably connected to the tube member, the clamping assembly including first and second clamping bands that encompass the tube member, the improvement comprising:
- said first clamping band defining a first seat portion, a first seat engaging portion and a first tube engaging portion between said first seat portion and said first seat engaging portion;
- and
- said second clamping band defining a second seat portion interlockable with said first seat engaging portion, a second seat engaging portion interlockable with said first seat portion and a second tube engaging portion between said second seat portion and said second seat engaging portion;
- said first seat engaging portion and said second seat portion radially flexing relative to one another as said second seat portion is axially received by said first seat engaging portion and said second seat engaging portion and said first seat portion radially flexing relative to one another as said first seat portion is axially received by said second seat engaging portion to resiliently compress said first tube engaging portion and said second tube engaging portion about the tube and resiliently restrain said first seat engaging portion against said second seat portion and said second seat engaging portion against said first seat portion to interlock said first clamping member with said second clamping member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.