Patent ID: 6409228
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: F01N,F16L

Abstract:
Spring device in combination with two flanges for connecting the two flanges to ends of pipes to be connected to one another, in particular of two pipes of a motor-vehicle exhaust system, having the following features:the spring device is as an elastically flexible clamp having U-shaped, functionally first and second clamping jaws (1, 2) and (4, 5), respectively, situated opposite each other, U-limbs (6, 7) of the functionally first clamping jaws (1 and 2, respectively) lie in two essentially parallel clamping planes (100, 200) of the clamping jaw (1 and 2, respectively), said U-limbs (6, 7) of the functionally second clamping jaws (4 and 5, respectively) lie in two essentially parallel clamping planes (400, 500) of the second clamping jaws (4 and 5, respectively), the spring device is in one piece with a spring back region (3) and consists exclusively of the elastically flexible clamp, the first and second clamping jaws (1, 2 and 4, 5, respectively) have respective pivot axes (S1 and S2, respectively) which intersect each other in the spring back region (3) at right angles in a common plane, by being pivoted about the pivot axis S1 of the functionally first clamping jaws (1, 2) and also at least by being pivoted about the pivot axis S2 of one of the functionally second clamping jaws (4, 5), the clamp is fixed on the mutually remote end surfaces of the flanges (13, 14) with a clamping force that includes an axial force desired for the flange connection, said U-limbs (6, 7) of the clamping jaws (1, 2; 4, 5) for the first and second function of these clamping jaws (1, 2; 4, 5) have, in the respective clamping planes (100, 200, 400 and 500), regions (8, 9, 10), which are only locally tightly restricted, for a direct bearing against the parts (11, 13; 12, 14) which are to be connected to one another by the clamp, there being in at least one of the clamping planes (100 or 200) four bearing regions (8) which exert two clamping functions and of which in each case two are arranged in pairs diametrically opposite each other.