Patent ID: 6269524
Filing Date: 2001-08-07
Classification: F01N,F16L,Y10T

Abstract:
In a band clamp for applying radial compression force against a roundish workpiece such as a pipe, said clamp comprising a clamp band adapted to be disposed around said workpiece, said clamp band having a cross-section including a roundish sector and a radially projecting channel-shaped sector,said channel-shaped sector comprising a first and second sidewalls extending outwardly from the roundish sector and being circumferentially separated from each other to form an opening in the band, said first and second sidewalls having a first sidewall bolt hole and a second sidewall bolt hole with first and second centerlines, respectively,a spline disposed between the sidewalls and having a concave surface disposed opposite each sidewall, said spline having a spline bolt hole with a third centerline, said spline being adapted to be seated on said workpiece when said clamp band is disposed around said workpiece,a pair of bars each having a convex surface, one bar being disposed against one sidewall opposite one concave surface of the spline and the other bar being disposed against the other sidewall opposite the other concave surface of the spline,tightening means including a bolt and nut with the bolt extending laterally from said one bar through said bolt holes in said sidewalls, spline and said other bar, said tightening means being adapted, when the nut is tightened on the bolt, to force the sidewalls toward the respective spline surfaces, whereby the clamp band is stretched around said workpiece,the improvement comprising:abutment means on said spline, andstop means on said sidewalls for engagement with said abutment means, said stop means being located on said sidewalls so that said stop means engages said abutment means during initial tightening of said nut when the centerlines of said first and second sidewall bolt holes are positioned in alignment with the centerline of said spline bolt hole whereby movement of said sidewalls relative to said spline is arrested and whereby said centerlines of said first and second sidewall bolt holes remain in alignment with said centerline of said spline bolt hole during further tightening of said nut until said clamp band is stretched enough to allow said sidewalls to be seated on the respective spline surfaces at said spline bolt hole.