Patent ID: 6363581
Filing Date: 2002-04-02
Classification: F16L,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of coupling a first hose to a second hose comprising:providing a first hose clamp comprising, a plurality of separate clamp segments, each of said clamp segments having an interior surface with a span ring slot therein, and a spiral-wound span ring, said span ring having portions disposed in each of said span ring slots with an interior edge of said span ring approximately flush with an interior surface of each of said clamp segments to facilitate a maximum pressing engagement of said interior surface of each said clamp segment with respect to engagement with said span ring against said hose for sealing said hose against said receptacle, thereby avoiding a localized compression force against said hose, said span ring having at least one portion spanning at least one space between adjacent ones of said clamp segments, positioning said span ring and said clamp segments of said first clamp over said first hose with said hose disposed between said interior surfaces of said clamp segments, said span ring, and a first portion of a hose coupling device; placing said interior surfaces of said first clamp in compression around said first hose to compress said hose against said first portion of the hose coupling device; and providing a second hose clamp comprising, a plurality of separate clamp segments, each of said clamp segments having an interior surface with a span ring slot therein, and a spiral-wound span ring, said span ring having portions disposed in each of said span ring slots with an interior edge of said span ring approximately flush with an interior surface of each of said clamp segments to facilitate a maximum pressing engagement of said interior surface of each said clamp segment with respect to engagement with said span ring against said second hose for sealing said second hose against said receptacle, thereby avoiding a localized compression force against said second hose, said span ring having at least one portion spanning at least one space between adjacent ones of said clamp segments, positioning said span ring and said clamp segments of said second clamp over said second hose with said second hose disposed between said interior surfaces of said clamp segments, said span ring, and a second portion of said hose coupling device; placing said interior surfaces of said second clamp in compression around said second hose to compress said second hose against said second portion of the hose coupling device.