CLAMPING BRACKET ASSEMBLY

Abstract: A clamping bracket assembly (10) comprises a pair of clamp halves (11) each comprising a semi-circular body portion (12) having flanged ends, at least one of the halves being formed with a slot (18) at the juncture of one flanged end (14) and the clamp half body portion, the slot extending axially inwards from one side of the clamp half, arranged so that one pair of the flanged ends (14) can be interlocked in superimposed relationship and form a limited pivotal connection to allow the clamp halves (11) to be moved apart and located around a pipe to be clamped and subsequently closed therearound, and fastening means (16, 19) for securing together the other pair of flanged ends (13) in opposed face-to-face relationship. The clamping bracket assembly (10) is especially suitable for securing together pipe elements of a motor vehicle muffler system.

Description: CLAMPING BRACKET ASSEMBLY The present invention relates to an improved clamping bracket for supporting or securing together pipe members (or similar shaped articles), and in particular relates to 5. an improved clamping device for securing together spigot- socket type interengaged pipe portions of an automobile exhaust system. Many different types of pipe clamps are known, the most common form consisting of U-bolt clamps, each 10. including a saddle member for co-operatively clamping a U-bolt around a pipe or the like. Such clamping devices generally prove satisfactory in use; however, the cost of manufacture is not insignificant owing to the fact that the device requires a U-bolt, a pair of nuts, and 15. a saddle member normally formed by a pressing operation. It is also known to produce a clamp comprised of two semi¬ circular clamp halves secured together by bolts passing through the mating flanged ends of the halves. Once again, a pair of nuts and bolts are employed and are required to 20. be tightened. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a clamping bracket, especially for automobile exhaust pipe members, which is of extremely simple design, of low manufacturing cost, and which is far easier to 25. fit in comparison to prior art clamps. According to this invention therefore, in its broadest form, an improved clamping bracket assembly comprises a pair of semi-circular clamp halves which co¬ operate together to form a clamping bracket arranged to encircle a pipe to be clamped thereby, each said clamp half comprising a semi-circular body portion having first 5. and second out-turned flanged ends, at least one of the clamp halves being formed with a slot or cut-out portion at the juncture of said first out-turned flanged end and the clamp half body portion, said slot or cut-out portion extending axially inwards from one side of the clamp half, 10. constructed and arranged so that the pair of said first flanged ends can be interlocked in superimposed relationship and form a limited pivotal connection so that the clamp halves may be moved apart to allow same to locate around the pipe to be clamped and subsequently 15. closed therearound, and mechanical fastening means for releasably securing together the pair of second flanged ends in opposed approximately face-to-face relationship to in turn secure the halves about the pipe. Preferably, the fastener means comprises a bolt 20. and nut assembly. When fitted the securing bolt and the interlocking engagement of the second flanged ends hold the clamping halves securely together such that the bracket assembly is capable of withstanding stresses to which exhaust pipe joints are normally subjected during 25. use which might otherwise result in the separation of the pipe joint. Preferably, the clamp halves are identical with each being provided with a said axial slot, the second flanged ends being interlocked by axially sliding same together with the slots engaging one within the other. Preferably, each of the slots has an axial length which approximates to half of the width of the flange so 5. that when said flanged ends are interlocked, their corresponding edge surfaces are flush with one another. Preferably, each of the clamp halves is formed of strip metal by a pressing operation. With this invention, the simple mechanical 10. interlocking of one pair of the flanged ends greatly facilitates the fitting of the clamp in that only one securing bolt need be employed. In the specification and claims, the terms "radial(ly)" and "axial(ly)" are used with reference 15. to the central axis of the clamp bracket in its assembled condition. In order to more fully explain the present invention, two embodiments are described hereunder in some further detail and with reference to the accompanying drawings 20. in which:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pipe clamp in its clamped condition according to one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the pipe 25. clamp halves shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the clamp shown in Fig. 1 ; Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the clamp shown in Fig. 1 in its spread apart ■ condition ready to clamp around a pipe to be clamped; Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of a pipe clamp 5. according to a second embodiment; and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the interlocked flanged ends of the pipe clamp shown in Fig. 5. In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, there is shown a clamping bracket assembly 10 for clamping 10. together a pair of pipe elements, e.g. those of a motor vehicle muffler system. The bracket assembly 10 comprises a pair of identical semi-circular clamp halves 11 each formed from a length of strip metal and comprising a semi-circular body portion 12 which terminates at its ends 15. in approximately radially out-turned planar flanges 13, 14. The flange 13 of each clamp half 11 is formed with a securing bolt receiving aperture 15, for receiving a securing or clamping bolt 16 for clamping together the flanges 13 in opposed approximately face-to-face 20. relationship. Each clamp half 11 is also provided with a slot or cut-out 18 at the junction of the semi-circular body portion 12 and the flange 14, the slot 18 extending axially inwards from one of the margins of the half 11. 25. In this embodiment each of the slots 18 has an axial length which is approximately one half of the overall axial width of the clamp half 11. The slots 18 are sized and shaped to permit the flanges 14 to interlockingly engage in superimposed relationship, and to provide a limited pivotal or hinge connection whereby the halves 11 can be moved apart as shown in Fig. 4, to allow a 5. pipe to be clamped to pass between the flanged ends 13 and in turn allow the halves 11 to locate around the pipe. Use of the clamping device 10 to couple together two pipe elements engaged in spigot-socket relationship, is carried out by interengaging the respective slots 10. 18 so that the flanges 14 are "crossed-over", with the flanges 14 in superimposed face-to-face contact with their marginal edges approximately aligned. With the halves 11 spread apart, the pipe is located therebetween and the halves closed around it, so that the semi-circular body 15. portions 12 engage respective curved portions of the pipe, and the flanges 13 are secured together in opposed relationship with the apertures 15 aligned. The securing bolt 16 is passed through the aligned apertures 15 and a clamping nut 19 threaded onto the securing bolt 16 to 20. firmly clamp together the flanges 13 and thereby tension the clamp halves 11, this in turn increasing the frictional engagement between the interlocking flanges 14. When in the clamped condition, the outward forces 25. applied against the clamp halves 11 by the clamped pipe maintains the flanges 14 in firm interlocking engagement (which are thus restrained against axial separation). When in the clamped condition, the outward forces applied against the clamp halves 11 by the clamped pipe maintains the flanges 14 in firm interlocking engagement (against axial separation). 5. In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, one of the interlocking flanges 20 is longer than the other flange 14, the flange 20 being provided with an aperture 21 for receiving a mounting bolt (not shown) so that the clamp 10 may be mounted to a support surface. 10. In each embodiment each of the clamp half body portions 12 is formed with an arcuate strengthening rib 22 which projects radially outwards, the ribs 22 serving to strengthen the clamp halves 11. In another (non-illustrated) embodiment of the 15. invention, only one of the clamp halves 11 is provided with a slot 18, the other half 11 having out-turned flanged ends similar to the flanges 13, the axial width however, of the other half being much less than that of the clamp half which has the slot. With this arrangement, 20. the solid flanged end is slid axially into the slot and the interlocking engagement is similarly achieved, along with the limited pivotal connection. However, such an embodiment has the disadvantage in that the clamp halves 11 are not identical and therefore requires additional 25. tooling. A brief consideration of the above embodiment will indicate that the invention provides for a very simple, inexpensive yet highly effective, clamping device which is especially suitable for securing together pipe elements of a motor vehicle muffler system. However, it should be appreciated that the device will have application in other 5. areas, e.g. scaffolding, where lengths of pipes are required to be joined end to end and clamped together.

Claims: THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. An improved clamping bracket assembly comprising a pair of semi-circular clamp halves which co-operate together to form a clamping bracket arranged to encircle a pipe to be clamped thereby, each said clamp half 5. comprising a semi-circular body portion having first and second out-turned flanged ends, at least one of the clamp halves being formed with a slot or cut-out portion at the juncture of said first out-turned flanged end and the clamp half body portion, 10. said slot or cut-out portion extending axially inwards from one side of the clamp half, constructed and arranged so that the pair of said first flanged ends can be inter¬ locked in superimposed relationship and form a limited pivotal connection so that the clamp halves may be moved 15. apart to allow same to locate around the pipe to be clamped and subsequently closed therearound, and mechanical fastening means for releasably securing together the pair of second flanged ends in opposed approximately face-to-face relationship to in turn secure 20. the halves about the pipe. 2. An improved clamping bracket assembly according to claim 1 wherein each said clamp half is provided with a said axially extending slot, each slot having an axial length which approximates to half of the axial width 5. of said first flanged ends, whereby, when the clamping bracket is assembled, the margins of said first flanged ends are flush with one another. 3. An improved clamping bracket assembly according to either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said clamp halves are identical. 4. An improved clamping bracket assembly according to any preceding claim wherein said mechanical fastening means comprises a securing bolt and associated nut. 5. An improved clamping bracket assembly according to any preceding claim wherein said flanged ends project approximately radially outwards. 6. An improved clamping bracket assembly according to any preceding claim wherein one of said first flanged ends is longer than the other and is provided with means for enabling said longer flange to be attached to a 5. support member. 7. An improved clamping bracket assembly according to any preceding claim wherein said clamp halves are formed of strip metal. 8. An improved clamping bracket assembly comprising two essentially identical semi-circular clamp halves, each clamp half having a pair of approximately radially out-turned flanged ends, one of said flanged ends being 5. adapted for interlocking engagement with the corresponding flanged end of the other clamp half to in turn provide a hinge connection therebetween, said flanged end adapted for hinge connection comprising a U-shaped slot at its radially inner end, said slot extending axially inwards ]0. from one side of the clamp half, the arrangement being such that the slot of one said flanged end can interengage with the slot of the other said flanged end with the flanged ends in interlocking superimposed relationship, and mechanical fastener means for releasably fastening 15. together said other pair of flanged ends. 9. A clamp bracket half of a clamping bracket assembly, said clamp half comprising a semi-circular body portion terminating in first and second approximately radially out-turned flanged ends, there being an axially 5. extending slot extending inwardly from one side of the clamp half between the semi-circular body portion and the first flanged end, wherein two of said clamp halves can co-operate together to form a clamping bracket having an approximately circular shape for encircling a pipe 10. to be clamped by axially sliding the slot of one clamp half into the slot of another clamp half so as to interlockingly engage the first flanged ends in superimposed relationship and to form a limited pivotal connection therebetween, and wherein the second flanged 15. ends of each clamp half are adapted to be mechanically fastened together for securing the clamp halves about the pipe.

Inventors: MATTHEWS GRAHAM HAROLD, MATTHEWS IAN KENT, MATTHEWS, GRAHAM, HAROLD, MATTHEWS, IAN, KENT
Applicants: KENT MATTHEWS IAN, MATTHEWS GRAHAM HAROLD, MATTHEWS, GRAHAM, HAROLD, MATTHEWS, IAN, KENT
Application year: 1988
Main classification: F16L3
IPC codes: F16L3