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US 6,602,016 B2Granted
Hydraulic line mounting clamp
AssigneeHKX Inc.
InventorsDennis D. Eckart, Lee D. Keddie
Life of this patent
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AssigneeHKX Inc.
InventorsDennis D. Eckart, Lee D. Keddie
Estimating the term…
A bolt-on clamp assembly for mounting a hydraulic line to a support structure, such as a boom or articulated arm. There are upper and lower clamp members having jaw portions that define a receiving area for the hydraulic line. The clamp members are joined by a hinge structure on one side of the receiving area, which forms a fulcrum for downward pivoting motion of the upper clamp member while the lower clamp member rests on the underlying structure. A mounting area is formed on the opposite side of the receiving area, and includes coaxially aligned bores for passage of a mounting bolt through a upper and lower clamp members. As the mounting bolt is tightened, the hydraulic line is gripped between the jaw portions of the clamp members. Opposing stop faces are formed on the mounting portions of the upper and lower clamp members to limit the pivoting motion and thereby prevent crushing or deformation of the hydraulic line. A depending flange may also be provided on the upper clamp member to form a pivot point that enables the upper clamp member to be used separately as a one-piece clamp, without the lower clamp member.
A bolt-on clamp assembly for mounting a hydraulic line to a support structure, said clamp assembly comprising:
A hydraulically-operated apparatus, comprising:
A hydraulic line assembly mounted to a hydraulically operated apparatus, said hydraulic line assembly comprising:
A clamp assembly for mounting a hydraulic line to a support structure, said clamp assembly comprising:
A bolt-on clamp assembly for mounting a hydraulic line to a support structure, said clamp assembly comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Divided, i.e. with two members engaging the pipe, cable or protective tubing: with two members, the two members being hooked in on one side and…
Arrangements or adaptations of elements for hydraulic drives: hoses and supports therefor and protection therefor
Divided, i.e. with two members engaging the pipe, cable or protective tubing: with two members engaging the pipe, cable or tubing, the two members…
External, i.e. with contracting action: using screw-thread elements
Term ended 18 Jun 2021 (estimated)
a. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to hydraulic systems used in heavy equipment and the like, and, more particularly, to a clamp assembly for mounting hydraulic lines to the booms and arms of heavy equipment and similar structures.
b. Related Art
FIG. 1 is a perspective, environmental view of an exemplary excavator arm, showing the general manner in which hydraulic lines are mounted to the support members thereof;
FIGS. 2A-2B are, respectively, side and end elevational views of a prior art form of clamp assembly, showing the manner in which this engages a section of hydraulic line;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a clamp assembly in accordance with the present invention, showing the manner in which the upper and lower members thereof fit into engagement with one another for installation;
The terms “upper”, “lower”, “horizontal”, “vertical” and the like are used in this description and the appended claims for ease of clarity in describing the configuration and relationship of the components of the present invention, with, for reference, “lower” generally meaning in the direction towards the underlying support structure to which the clamp assembly is bolted and “horizontal” generally meaning the orientation of the surface of the support structure. It will be understood however, that the actual physical orientation of the clamp assembly and its components will depend of the physical orientation of the structure (e.g., a boom or arm) to which it is mounted.
FIG. 3 shows a two-piece bolt-on clamp assembly 100 in accordance with the present invention. As can be seen, the assembly includes an upper clamp member 102 and a lower clamp member 104. The upper clamp member includes a concave upper jaw portion and the lower clamp member includes a corresponding concave lower jaw portion 108. As can be seen, each of the jaw portions has a generally hemi-cylindrical contour, so that in combination they define an almost continuous cylindrical receiving area for engaging substantially at the entire circumference of the hydraulic line 110 (see FIG. 4); as is described in greater detail below, this configuration is made possible in part by the clamping action which is generated by the present invention, as opposed to the longer travel “pincer” action of the prior-art type of clamp described above.
As can be seen in FIG. 4, the receiving area defined by the upper and lower jaw portions is located in a middle portion of the assembly, with the co-axially aligned upper and lower bores 110, 112 for the mounting bolt on one side of the receiving area and a hinge structure which defines an upwardly-directed fulcrum 114 on the other. The hinge structure is formed by engagement of the tip 116 of an upturned flange 118 along the edge of the upper clamp member with the inside surface 120 of an inverted channel 122 which is formed along the edge of the lower clamp member. As can be seen, the inverted channel 122 is supported at the end of a web 124 that extends outwardly and upwardly from the base 126 of the lower clamp member. In some embodiments the mounting area for the bolt may be a U-shaped slot or may be formed only in the upper clamp member, or may have another suitable configuration; similarly, in some embodiments the hinge structure may have a configuration somewhat different from that which is shown, so long as it provides a suitable pivoting interconnection between the two members.