IL209936A - Pipe clamp assembly with handle - Google Patents

Description

PIPE CLAMP ASSEMBLY WITH HANDLE 2045 RS-IL 2045krs.doc 7-Dec-lO PIPE CLAMP ASSEMBLY WITH HANDLE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to pipe clamp assemblies, such as those used to sealingly connect pipes together or to repair breaks or leaks in pipes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many kinds of removable band-type couplings for pipes exist in the art. It is noted that throughout the specification and claims, the term "pipe" encompasses any kind of generally cylindrical object, and the terms "clamp" and "coupling" are used interchangeably.

For example, one well known type of pipe coupling includes a seal clamp housing. Clamp members are positioned face to face and a tightening element is tightened to press an annular seal element against the outside of the pipe inserted through the seal clamp housing. One end of the tightening element is generally installed in one of the clamp members and the other end must be brought into a socket or opening formed in the other clamp member. It is sometimes cumbersome or difficult to place the tightening elements in these sockets or openings. First, the installer must bring the clamp members sufficiently close to one another before one can place the tightening elements in the proper places. Sometimes one person must help wrap the metal band and the annular seal element around the pipe or pipes and bring the clamp members towards each other, while another person positions the tightening elements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to provide novel pipe clamp assembly with a handle, as is described more in detail further below. The handle can be used to easily mount and wrap the metal band and the annular seal element around the pipe or pipes, bring the clamp members towards each other and properly bring the tightening elements into their proper places in the opposing clamp member. The job is done quickly and easily in one movement of the handle, with no need for any extra person to hold the clamp members. The handle can also double as a carrying handle. The handle can be supplied as an accessory for a pipe clamp assembly.

There is provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a pipe clamp assembly including a band having an inner annular seal element wrappable around a pipe, opposing clamp members extending from the band, the clamp members including opposing receiving members for receiving therein tightening elements, and a handle mechanically linked to the clamp members, the handle being movable between first and second positions, wherein in the first position, the clamp members are distanced from one another, and movement of the handle to the second position moves the clamp members towards one another. Tightening elements are received in one of the opposing receiving members. When the tightening elements are received in the other of the opposing receiving members and tightened, the clamp members move towards each other more than in the second position and press the annular sea! element around the pipe.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a first portion of the handle is connected to an end portion of one of the clamp members and a second portion of the handle is connected to the tightening elements, and movement of the handle to the second position moves the tightening elements to be received in the other of the opposing receiving members.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the handle includes a gripping member and two side members, and the first portion of the handle is formed on the side members and is pivotally connected to the end portion of one of the clamp members. For example, the end portion of one of the clamp members includes a protruding element and the first portion of the handle includes an opening into which the protruding element is pivotally received. In another example, the end portion of one of the clamp members includes an opening and the first portion of the handle includes a protruding element pivotally received in the opening.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the second portion of the handle includes a groove assembly formed in side members of the handle and a lug slidingly received in the groove assembly, the lug protruding from a holder that holds the tightening elements.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the groove assembly includes a straight groove extending at an angle from an arcuate groove.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: Figs. 1A and IB are simplified pictorial illustrations of a pipe clamp assembly, constructed and operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, respectively before and after assembling a pivoting end of a handle on to an end of a clamp member of the pipe clamp assembly; Figs. 1C and ID are simplified pictorial illustrations of a pipe clamp assembly, similar to the embodiment of Figs. 1A and IB but having a different pivoting arrangement; Fig. 2 is a simplified pictorial illustration of the pipe clamp assembly of Figs. 1 A and IB, with the handle starting to move from a first position to a second position, wherein a lug has moved along a straight portion of a groove assembly in the handle; Fig. 3 is a simplified pictorial illustration of continuing to move the handle, wherein the handle pivots about the lug at the end of the straight portion of the groove assembly; Fig. 4 is a simplified pictorial illustration of continuing to move the handle, wherein the lug starts to slide in an arcuate portion of the groove assembly; and Fig. 5 is a simplified pictorial illustration of the handle moved to the second position, wherein the lug has moved to the end of the arcuate portion of the groove assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Reference is now made to Figs. 1A and IB, which illustrate a pipe clamp assembly 10, constructed and operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

Pipe clamp assembly 10 includes a band 12 having an inner annular seal element 14 wrappable around a pipe (not shown). Band 12 is typically, but not necessarily, made of metal and annular seal element 14 is typically, but not necessarily, made of an elastomer, such as natural or synthetic rubber.

Opposing clamp members 16 extend from ends of band 12. Clamp members 16 include opposing receiving members 18 for receiving therein tightening elements 20, such as but not limited to, bolts tightened by nuts. For example, the receiving members 18 are openings formed in the clamp members 16. Each of the tightening elements 20 has one end 22, e.g., the bolt head end, which passes through a hole formed in a holder 24 assembled against one of the clamp members 16. The other end 26 of the tightening element 20, e.g., the nut end, also passes through a hole formed in another holder 28. The holders 24 and 28 serve as nut plates against the clamp members 16. The array of the tightening elements 20 held in holder 28 is arranged to be received in the receiving members 18 of the opposing clamp member 16. In the prior art, this can be cumbersome or difficult to carry out, but with the present invention is easy and straightforward, as will be described below.

A handle 30 is mechanically linked to the clamp members 16. in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, handle 30 includes a gripping member 32 and two side members 34. A first portion 36 of handle 30 is connected to an end portion of one of the clamp members 16 and a second portion 38 (described below) of handle 30 is connected to tightening elements 20. As will be described below, handle 30 is movable between first and second positions, wherein in the first position, the clamp members 16 are distanced from one another, and movement of handle 30 to the second position moves clamp members 1 towards one another. The movement of handle 30 to the second position also moves tightening elements 20 so that they are received in the opposing receiving members 18. When tightening elements 20 are received in the other of the opposing receiving members 18 and tightened, clamp members 16 are moved towards each other more than in the second position and press annular seal element 14 around the pipe.

In accordance with a non-limiting embodiment o the present invention, the first portion 36 of handle 30 is formed on side members 34 and is pivotally connected to the end portion of one of the clamp members 16. For example, in the embodiment of Figs. 1 A and IB, the end portion of the clamp member 16 includes a protruding element 40 (e.g., a pin or rod) and the first portion 36 of handle 30 includes an opening 42 (e.g., a groove or channel) into which protruding element 40 is pivotally received. In another example shown in Figs. 1C and ID, the end portion of the clamp member 16 includes an opening 44 (e.g., a hole) and the first portion 36 of handle 30 includes a protruding element 46 (e.g., a pin or rod) pivotally received in opening 44. A lever 45 may be moved to lock element 46 in opening 44.

The second portion 38 of handle 30 includes a groove assembly 48 formed in side members 34. In one embodiment, groove assembly 48 includes a straight groove 50 extending at an angle from an arcuate groove 52. A lug 54 (any kind of protruding member) is slidingly received in groove assembly 48. Lug 54 protrudes from holder 28.

Operation of the pipe clamp assembly 10 will now be described with reference to Figs. 2-5.

Fig. 2 illustrates handle 30 starting to move from the first position that was shown in Fig. IB (eventually to the second position which is shown in Fig. 5). Lug 54 has moved along straight groove 50, from one end thereof to the other to reach the junction of straight groove 50 and arcuate groove 52.

Fig. 3 illustrates continued movement of handle 30, wherein handle 30 pivots about lug 54 at the junction of straight groove 50 and arcuate groove 52. Holder 28 together with tightening elements 20 are now brought just above, and aligned with, receiving members 18 of the opposite clamp member 16.

Fig. 4 illustrates continued movement of handle 30, wherein lug 54 starts to slide in arcuate groove 52. The shanks of tightening elements 20 have entered receiving members 18 of the opposite clamp member 16.

Finally, in Fig. 5, handle 30 has moved to the second position, wherein lug 54 has moved to the end of arcuate groove 52. The nut ends of tightening elements 20 are now fully seated and received in receiving members 18. Tightening elements 20 can now be tightened to clamp the clamp members 16 towards each other and press annular seal element 14 around the pipe.

The scope of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of the features described hereinabove as well as modifications and variations thereof which would occur to a person of skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description and which are not in the prior art. 6 209936/2

Claims (7)

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A pipe clamp assembly comprising: a band having an inner annular seal element wrappable around a pipe; opposing clamp members extending from said band, said clamp members comprising opposing receiving members for receiving therein tightening elements; and a handle mechanically linked to said clamp members, said handle being movable between first and second positions, wherein in the first position, said clamp members are distanced from one another, and movement of said handle to the second position moves said clamp members towards one another.

2. The pipe clamp assembly according to claim 1, further comprising tightening elements received in one of said opposing receiving members, wherein when said tightening elements are received in the other of said opposing receiving members and tightened, said clamp members move towards each other more than in the second position and press said annular seal element around said pipe.

3. The pipe clamp assembly according to claim 2, wherein a first portion of said handle is connected to an end portion of one of said clamp members and a second portion of said handle is connected to said tightening elements, and movement of said handle to the second position moves said tightening elements to be received in the other of said opposing receiving members.

4. The pipe clamp assembly according to claim 3, wherein said handle comprises a gripping member and two side members, and said first portion of said handle is formed on said side members and is pivotally connected to the end portion of one of said clamp members.

5. The pipe clamp assembly according to claim 4, wherein the end portion of one of said clamp members comprises a protruding element and said first portion of said handle comprises an opening into which said protruding element is pivotally received.

6. The pipe clamp assembly according to claim 4, wherein the end portion of one of said clamp members comprises an opening and said first portion of said handle comprises a protruding element pivotally received in said opening.

7. The pipe clamp assembly according to claim 3, wherein said handle comprises a gripping member and two side members, and said second portion of said handle comprises a groove assembly formed in side members of said handle and a lug slidingly