Exhaust system clamp

A clamp for clamping a lap joint, the clamp comprising:

• A) a strap having a concave inner curvature that curves about a central axis, the strap including:
• i) a first axial end positioned opposite from a second axial end;
• ii) a first strap portion positioned at the first axial end, the first strap portion including a cylindrical inner surface defining an effective inner diameter D1;
• iii) a second strap portion positioned at the second axial end, the second strap portion having an effective inner diameter D2;
• iv) the effective inner diameter D1 being larger than the effective inner diameter D2;
• B) a single fastener for tightening the strap about the lap joint, the fastener including a single bolt for tightening both the first and second strap portions about the lap joint;
• (C) the strap includes opposing longitudinal edges that define a gap thereinbetween, wherein the first strap portion defines a convex outer surface, and wherein the single bolt is fixedly connected to the outer convex surface of the first strap portion and extends across the gap;
• and
• (D) the second strap portion includes a cylindrical sealing surface defining the effective inner diameter D2, and wherein the first and second strap portions are interconnected by a radial in-step that extends from one of the longitudinal edges continuously around the circumference of the strap to the other of the longitudinal edges.

A clamp for sealing a lap joint formed by a first pipe positioned over a second pipe, the clamp comprising:

• A) a strap having a concave inner curvature that curves about a central axis, the strap having a thickness of at least 0.06 inches and a total axial length less than 2 inches, and the strap including:
• i) a first axial end positioned opposite from a second axial end;
• ii) a first axial portion positioned at the first axial end, the first axial portion having a cylindrical inner surface adapted to provide a seal about the first pipe, and the first axial portion having a substantially constant inner diameter D1;
• iii) a second axial portion positioned at the second axial end, the second axial portion having a cylindrical inner surface adapted to form a seal about the second pipe, the second axial portion having a substantially constant inner diameter D2;
• iv) a radial in-step connecting the first and second axial portions, the radial in-step providing a diameter transition between the inner diameter D1 and the inner diameter D2 such that the inner diameter D1 is larger than the inner diameter D2;
• and
• B) a fastener for tightening the strap about the lap joint, the fastener including a bolt.