Clamp for clamping pipes

Abstract: A clamp for pipes, especially but not exclusively for combustion engine supply pipes, comprises a body (1) with at least two housing seats (2) which are adjacent and provided with two sidepieces (102,202) which encompass a pipe (3) laterally. A coupling notch (4) for a catch-type distance piece (5) is provided between the adjacent sidepieces (102,202) of two a djacent housing seats (2), the catch-type distance piece being borne by a clamping bracket (6) which can be clamped against the body (1) itself. According to the invention the catch-type distance pieces (5) and at least one of the associated external surfaces of at least one sidepiece (102,202) have respectively at least a complementary tooth (105,302) or respectively a tooth and a complementary reciprocal clamping notch. The catch-type distance pieces (5) and at least one of the two adjacent sidepieces (202) are advantageously provided with cooperative toothed portions (105,302) which are matching or complementary and in the manner of the teeth of a saw, whilst the toothed portion (105) of the catch-type distance pieces is directed with the less steep sides in the coupling direction and the toothed portion (302) of the sidepiece (202) is directed in the opposite direction.

Description: This invention relates to a clamp for clamping pipes, especially for supply pipes of combustion engines, comprising a body with at least two housing seats which are adjacent and provided with two sidepieces which encompass a pipe laterally and with the pipe itself being inserted flexibly between these sidepieces with a coupling notch for a distance piece being provided between the adjacent sidepieces of two adjacent housing seats the distance piece being borne on the opposite internal side of a clamping bracket which is hinged to the body and can be clamped in the clamping condition of the pipes against the body itself. Clamps of this type are known from DE-A-3539678 and are widely used and particularly for the supply pipes of combustion engine injectors. The clamps are subjected to severe stresses due to significant vibrations of the engines which are transmitted through the supply pipes which are generally rigid. An object of the invention is to produce a clamp for clamping pipes of the type described in the introduction which by means of the relatively simple and inexpensive arrangements makes it possible to obtain a greater clamping strength of the pipes without however complicating the operations for clamping pipes in the clamp but rather making them easier. This is achieved according to the invention with a clamp for clamping pipes of the type described in the introduction in which it is provided that the or each said distance piece is a catch-type distance piece, and in that at least one of the associated external surfaces of at least one sidepiece is provided with complementary catch means, and in which it is further provided that the or each catch-type distance piece is provided at its end which is nearest the clamping bracket with a transverse shoulder, and in that the free end of at least one of the two sidepieces is provided with a complementary transverse shoulder which contacts the transverse shoulder of a catch-type distance piece when the clamping bracket is clamped to the body. According to a development the or each catch-type distance piece is provided, at least over a partial section of its length and at least on one of its sides which abuts against the external side of one of the two adjacent sidepieces, with a toothed portion which cooperates with a matching or complementary toothed portion on the opposite external side of the said sidepiece. The two complementary toothed portions are advantageously provided with teeth of the sawtooth type. The teeth of the catch-type distance piece are directed with their less steep sides in the coupling direction in the coupling notch and with their steeper sides in the direction of release of the latter. The sawteeth of the toothed portion on the external side of the sidepiece are directed in the opposite and complementary direction to those of the catch-type distance piece. By means of this arrangement, in addition to guaranteeing a reciprocal restraining function of the sidepieces of the housing seats against their flexible spreading apart because of lateral pressures applied by the pipes themselves, the catch-type distance pieces make a contribution by applying by means of the cooperating toothed portions a local clamping action with the closing bracket itself in the closing condition. The clamping bracket of the clamp for clamping pipes described in the introduction is provided therefore with a plurality of intermediate clamping points at the body of the clamp distributed along its extension. These clamping points are provided advantageously so that they correspond to the intermediate zones between the pipes themselves guaranteeing the absorption of the pressure forces applied by the pipes against the closing bracket in the direction of opening of this bracket. The pipes are therefore clamped in a more stable manner and in a manner which is more resistant to stresses. With the sawtooth configuration of the cooperating toothed portions and their complementary orientation an easy coupling of the catch-type distance pieces in the coupling notches is nevertheless achieved without requiring excessive manual forces and makes it possible to achieve the final clamping by means of consecutive compressive actions of the bracket against the body whilst maintaining the conditions obtained with each individual action. The subject matter of the invention also includes other characteristics which result in a further improvement to the clamp for clamping pipes described above and which are the subject of the subordinate claims. The particular characteristics of the invention and the advantages which are derived from them will be seen in greater detail from the description of some preferred embodiments which are illustrated by way of example in a non-restrictive manner in the attached drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a side view in the direction of the axis of the housing seats of the pipes of a first embodiment of a clamp for clamping pipes according to the invention in the open condition. Fig. 2 shows a similar view to Fig. 1 of the clamp for clamping pipes in the closed condition and with a pipe clamped in it. Fig. 3 shows an enlarged detail of a catch-type distance piece according to the previous figures. Figs. 4 to 6 show, in a similar manner to Figs. 1 and 2, a second embodiment of the clamp for clamping pipes according to the invention respectively with the clamping bracket in various positions. Fig. 7 shows a side view in the direction of the axis of the housing seats of the pipes of a clamp for clamping pipes according to a further development of the invention, for two pipes and in the open condition. Fig. 8 shows a similar view to Fig. 7 with the clamp for clamping pipes in the closed condition and with a pipe clamped in it. Fig. 9 shows an enlarged detail of a catch-type distance piece according to the preceding figures. Fig. 10 shows a detail of a similar view to Figs. 7 and 8 relating to the reciprocal clamping means of the clamping bracket and the body on the free end of the clamping bracket. For the sake of simplicity in the following description and in the claims, the open side of the body 1 is also defined as the upper side, whilst its base side is defined as the lower side. With reference to Figs. 1 to 3 a clamp for clamping pipes, especially but not exclusively supply pipes on combustion engines or the like, comprises a body 1, in which are formed two or more housing seats 2, each for a pipe 3 and which are disposed adjacent to each other. Each housing seat 2 is produced with a cross section which corresponds substantially to the section of the pipe 3 and is delimited laterally by two opposite sidepieces 102, 202 which encompass the pipe 3 laterally in particular through an angle of more than 180°. The free ends of the sidepieces 102, 202 are spaced between each other correspondingly and form a coupling opening through which the pipe 3 is held flexibly between the sidepieces 102, 202 themselves. So that the sidepieces 102, 202 can be spread flexibly, between the adjacent sidepieces 202, 102 of two adjacent housing seats 2 a coupling notch 4 is provided with which a catch-type distance piece 5 projecting from the internal side of a clamping bracket 6 cooperates. The catch-type distance piece 5 is provided with a toothed portion, the teeth 105 of which are formed in the manner of the teeth of a saw, on one of the sides cooperating with the external side of one of the two sidepieces 202 which delimit the coupling notch 4. The teeth 105 are disposed with their less steep sides directed in the coupling direction and with their steeper sides directed in the release direction in and from the coupling notch 4. The opposite external side of the corresponding sidepiece 202 is provided in its turn with a toothed portion 302 which matches with and which is complementary to the toothed portion 105 of the catch- type distance piece 5 and the teeth of which in the manner of the teeth of a saw are directed in the opposite direction to the teeth 105 of the catch-type distance piece 5 itself. The free end of the sidepiece 202 on the side of the coupling notch 4 is provided with an inclined shoulder surface 402 which is designed to cooperate with a parallel catch surface 205 provided in the connection zone of the catch-type distance piece 5 to the clamping bracket 6. The said reciprocal shoulder surfaces 402, 205 are formed by a widening flaring of the coupling opening 4 and are inclined in particular substantially so that they correspond to the less steep sides of the respective toothed portion 105, 302. The coupling notch 4 and the catch-type distance piece 5 are provided with a complementary cuneiform cross section in the example shown in Figs. 1 to 3. The clamping bracket 6 is provided on its internal side so as to coincide with each opening of the housing seats 2, with two webs for clamping pipes 106 which when the bracket 6 itself is in the closed position adhere to the free side of the pipe 3. The said webs 106 for clamping pipes are disposed symmetrically in relation to the middle of the opening between the sidepieces 102, 202 of the corresponding housing seat 2 and engage the surface of the pipe 3 at correspondingly symmetrical points in relation to a median axial plane of the pipe whilst clamping it in the corresponding seat 2 (Fig. 2). The webs 106 are provided with a cuneiform cross section with rounded apexes and are disposed with the opposite sides which diverge between themselves towards the pipe (3) in particular according to a secant of the pipe. The clamping bracket 6 is formed in the shape of a "U" and is composed of a crosspiece with two wings at its opposite ends parallel to the axes of the pipes 3. One of the two wings 406 is shorter than the corresponding side of the body 1 and is hinged to the body in an oscillating manner about an axis which is parallel to the axes of the pipes 3 by means of a film hinge 7. In addition the wing 406 is provided on its internal side with a notch 506 into which a lateral tooth 101 on the upper end of the opposite side of the body 1 itself is designed to engage automatically at the moment of oscillation against the body 1. The wing 206 on the opposite end of the clamping bracket 6 is longer and at its free end is provided with a tooth 306 projecting towards the body 1, with which the said wing engages from below at the base side of the body 1 in the clamping condition of the bracket 6 against the body. In this condition the opposite sides of the body 1 and of the wing 206 also adhere completely to each other one against the other. Figs. 4 to 6 show a second embodiment of the invention which differs in the first instance from the first embodiment by the fact that the coupling notches 4 and the catch-type distance pieces 5 have a complementary cross section and a thickness which is substantially constant over their complete extension. A further difference relates to the formation of the clamping wing of the clamping bracket 6 on its free end. In the first place the clamping wing is provided with a provisional clamping projection 110 in the intermediate position which engages in a complementary notch 301 on the corresponding side of the body 1. The projection 110 consists of a small bulge which protrudes slightly from the internal side of the wing whilst the notch 301 is formed from a slight depression or by a notch on the opposite side of the body 1 itself. The small bulge 110 and the depression 301 are advantageously formed so that they are completely rounded. The clamping wing of the bracket 6 is further distinguished substantially from that of the preceding example in that it is formed in two parts 10, 11 which are articulated between themselves by means of a film hinge or a material staple 12. The upper part 10 is connected rigidly to the bracket 6 whilst the lower part 11 is free to oscillate from and towards the side of the body 1. The upper part 10 of the clamping wing is provided on its articulation end with the provisional clamping intermediate bulge 110 of the bracket 6. The lower oscillating part 11 is on the other hand formed in the manner of a hook and cooperates with a check tooth 401 which has been formed in the lower zone of the opposite side of the body 1. The check tooth 401 and the lower part 11 are provided with cooperating hook heads which snap into engagement with each other with a reciprocal flexible deflection action (Fig. 4). The hook heads are provided with reciprocal check surfaces either in the direction which is perpendicular to the base side of the body 1 and in particular slightly inclined towards the middle of the body 1 in relation to the perpendicular direction or in parallel to the said base side. According to a further characteristic the oscillating lower part 11 is provided, in the zone of its articulated end at the rigid upper part 10, with a spur 211 which protrudes towards the opposite side of the body 1 and which cooperates with a complementary notch 601 of the said side. The spur 211 and the notch 601 are provided with an upper side inclined upwards in the direction of the middle of the body 1 and a front side inclined towards the middle of the body 1 itself in the direction of the upper side of the body 1 itself and form an acute angle between them. Unlike the embodiment according to Figs. 1 and 2, in which the upper front side of the tooth 101 cooperating with the wing 406 hinged at the body 1, is inclined inside towards the middle of the body 1 in the direction of the upper side of the body whilst the other opposite side of the body 1 is inclined in a manner convergent with the said front side of the tooth 101, in the embodiment shown in Figs. 4 to 6, the front side of the tooth 101 is substantially perpendicular to the lower side of the body 1 or slightly inclined outwards in the direction of its upper end whilst the opposite side of the body 1 or the part of the body which cooperates with the stationary part 10 of the clamping wing is substantially perpendicular to the lower side of the body 1. The particular way of producing the second embodiment considerably facilitates the final clamping and locking of the bracket 6 as the provisional clamping bulge 110 of the bracket 6 makes it possible to release at least partially and temporarily the end part 11 in the manner of a hook whilst considerably facilitating the engagement and disengagement operations. Figs. 7 to 10 show further developments of the clamp according to the invention. The parts which are the same as or which have the same functions as the parts of the preceding embodiments have been given the same reference numbers in these figures. With reference to Figs. 7 and 8 according to an initial development, as with the film hinge 7 it is not possible to define a stable oscillation axis of the clamping bracket 6 permitting slight offsets in the position of the bracket in relation to the body 1 and consequently offsets of the complementary parts of the clamping bracket 6 and of the body 1 which engage reciprocally in the closing condition of the clamp the clamping bracket 6 and the body 1 are provided with angular cooperating guide means which guarantee their oscillation about a predetermined axis according to the correct disposition in relation to the cooperating parts of the reciprocal engagement of the bracket 6 and of the body 1 themselves. The said angular complementary guide means advantageously come to cooperate amongst themselves preferably only in the end part of the oscillation in the clamping direction of the clamping bracket 6, before the said reciprocal engagement complementary parts and in particular the catch-type distance pieces 5 and the coupling notches 4 have also come to cooperate between themselves. In the example shown (Figs. 7 and 8) these angular guide means are made up of a guide fin 606 protruding from the internal side of the clamping bracket 6 and of a complementary guide notch 13 which are provided in the area of the hinging side of the clamping bracket 6. The guide notch 13 is formed in the body 1 in the intermediate position between the adjacent tube clamping sidepiece 102 and the head wall of the body 1 itself and at the same time also carries out a certain catch-type distance piece function whilst making it possible to form the head wall of the body 1 with a thickness which is capable of providing a certain strength and the tube clamping sidepiece 102 with a smaller thickness so as to give it the flexibility for inserting the pipe 3 into the corresponding housing seat 2. The guide fin 606 and the guide notch 13 are formed with an arched configuration in a manner corresponding to the radius of curvature relating to a predetermined hinging axis in accordance with the correct disposition of the complementary means of reciprocal engagement 4, 5, 11, 401, 110, 301, 211, 601 of the clamping bracket 6 and of the body 1 either on the side directed towards the hinging end of the clamping bracket 6 or on the opposite side. The arched guide fin 606 has a length such that when its free end corresponds to the mouth of the guide notch 13, the further means of reciprocal engagement of the clamping bracket 6 and of the body 1 are not yet joined to cooperate between themselves. On the side opposite to the hinging side of the clamping bracket 6, the guide fin 606 is tapered towards its free end whilst the initial section 213 of the associated side of the guide notch is inclined or extends radially towards the outside forming a matching widening of the guide notch itself. On the other hand the opposite side which is radially internal of the guide fin 606 and of the guide notch 13 retain their curvature for their entire extension. By means of this arrangement the guide fin 606 comes to cooperate with the guide notch 13 or with the associated surface curved according to the predetermined radius, initially only with its radially internal surface whilst the radially external surfaces of the guide fin 606 and of the guide notch 13 come to cooperate between themselves only in a second period when the clamping bracket 6 and the body 1 have been forced in a flexible manner into the position corresponding to the predetermined hinging axis so that the guide fin 606 almost automatically penetrates the guide notch 13. As can be seen from Figs. 7 and 8 it is advantageous when the guide fin 606 can be provided with an engagement notch 706 and the guide notch 13 can be provided with a complementary joint tooth 113 with the tooth 113 being formed in the manner of the teeth of a saw, in particular with a cut-off point which is directed with its less steep side towards the opening of the guide notch 13 itself. A further characteristic of the embodiment according to Figs. 7 to 10 consists of the fact that to prevent a deflection of the pipe 3 with a permanent deformation over a period due to the clamping pressure the pipe-clamping webs 106 are formed so that they are relatively flexibly yielding in the direction of spreading apart. In the example shown, in order to guarantee this type of flexible deflection a groove 806, one of the lateral walls of which consists of the end section for connection to the clamping bracket 6 of the external side of the said pipe-clamping webs 106, is provided along the external connection edge of at least one and preferably both pipe-clamping webs 106. With reference to Figs. 7, 8 and 10 this embodiment is also provided with preventive clamping means. The upper part 10 of the clamping wing is provided with a provisional clamping tooth 110 which is much more pronounced that the bulge illustrated in the previous examples with the cooperating notch 301 on the body 1 also being significantly deeper. In particular the notch 301 is delimited above and below by two teeth 501 and 701, the surfaces of which directed towards the clamping bracket 6 are inclined in the clamping direction of the bracket towards the head side and are arched in a convex manner. The inclination of the said surfaces and their arching has been chosen so that in the case of the first tooth the upper surface constitutes a matching surface cooperating with the provisional clamping tooth 110 by means of which this tooth can be forced with a light pressure beyond the tooth 501 into the notch 301 whilst in the case of the second lower tooth 701 the upper surface of the tooth acts in the direction of engagement of the provisional clamping tooth 110 in the complementary notch 301. The tooth 110 and consequently the notch 301 are produced with a cuneiform shape with an opening angle of the order of 90° preferably slightly lower and are disposed with their bisector substantially parallel to the base side of the body 1. The oscillating lower part 11 of the wing is on the other hand formed in a substantially similar manner to that of the preceding examples. A further development in relation to the preceding examples consists of the fact that the teeth of the matching toothed portions 105 and 302 of the catch-type distance pieces 5 and of the coupling notches 4 are formed so that they are rounded. In addition the free end of the sidepiece 202 on the side of the coupling notch 4 is provided with an inclined shoulder surface 402 which is designed to cooperate either with a parallel inclined matching surface 305 provided in the form of a taper at the free end of the catch-type distance piece 5 or with the parallel catch surface 205 provided in the zone of connection of the catch-type distance piece 5 to the clamping bracket 6 in a similar manner to the preceding examples. The said surfaces 402, 205, 305 are made up respectively of a widening flaring of the coupling opening 4 of a widening of the base of the catch-type distance piece 5 and of a chamfer of the free end of the distance piece and are inclined in particular substantially in a manner corresponding to the less steep sides of the respective toothed portion 105, 302. The inclined shoulder and matching surfaces 205 and 305 and the toothed portion 105 are provided on the side of the catch-type distance piece 5 directed towards the hinging end of the clamping bracket 6 at the body 1 of the clamp. The coupling notch 4 and the catch-type distance piece 5 can be provided with complementary cross sections in a wedge configuration or with a thickness which is substantially constant over their entire length. In the case of all embodiments the clamp for clamping pipes is preferably made of plastic material and advantageously as a piece. Naturally the invention is not restricted to the embodiments which have just been described and illustrated but can be the subject of wide variations and modifications above all of a constructional type. Thus for example with reference to both the embodiments, instead of the toothed portions or single teeth and complementary notches the catch-type distance pieces 5 and the associated coupling notches 4 can also be provided with different reciprocal clamping means. In particular the catch-type distance pieces and the coupling notches can also be omitted with the bracket 6 and the body 1 being provided with reciprocal clamping means in intermediate positions in relation to them and preferably distributed in the intermediate zones in relation to the pipes 3. When on the other hand the clamp is formed with a single housing seat for clamping a single pipe 3 the clamping bracket 6 can be provided with clamping wings 406, 10, 11 which are formed in a similar manner to the example shown in Figs. 4 to 6. In addition on all embodiments the bracket 6 can be free from the body 1 whilst clamping wings 206 or 10, 11 in accordance with the two illustrated embodiments are provided on both its ends. This can all be achieved without abandoning the guiding principle which has been explained above and which is claimed below.

Claims: Clamp for clamping pipes, especially for supply pipes of combustion engines, comprising a body (1) with at least two housing seats (2) which are adjacent and provided with two sidepieces (102, 202) which encompass a pipe (3) laterally and with the pipe (3) itself being inserted flexibly between these sidepieces (102, 202) with a coupling notch (4) for a distance piece (5) being provided between the adjacent sidepieces (202, 102) of two adjacent housing seats (2) the distance piece being borne on the opposite internal side of a clamping bracket (6) which is hinged to the body (1) and can be clamped in the clamping condition of the pipes (3) against the body (1) itself, characterized in that the or each said distance piece (5) is a catch-type distance piece (5), and in that at least one of the associated external surfaces of at least one sidepiece (102, 202) is provided with complementary catch means (302), and further characterized in that the or each catch-type distance piece (5) is provided at its end which is nearest the clamping bracket (6) with a transverse shoulder (205), and in that the free end of at least one (202) of the two sidepieces (102,202) is provided with a complementary transverse shoulder (402) which contacts the transverse shoulder (205) of a catch-type distance piece (5) when the clamping bracket (6) is clamped to the body (1). Clamp according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the or each catch-type distance piece (5) is provided at least over a partial section of its length and at least on one of its sides which abuts against the external side of one of the two adjacent sidepieces (202) with a toothed portion (105) which cooperates with a matching or complementary toothed portion (302) on the opposite external side of the said sidepiece (202). Clamp according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the two complementary toothed portions (105, 302) are provided with teeth in the manner of the teeth of a saw with the teeth of the catch-type distance piece (5) being directed with their less steep sides in the coupling direction in the coupling notch (4) and with the steeper sides directed in the uncoupling direction of the coupling notch whilst the sawteeth of the toothed portion (302) on the external side of the sidepiece (202) are directed in the opposite and complementary direction to those (105) of the catch-type distance piece (5). Clamp according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by the fact that the teeth of the matching toothed portions (105, 302) of the catch-type distance piece or distance pieces (5) and the coupling notch or coupling notches (4) are provided with a rounded profile. Clamp according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the free end of the catch-type distance piece or catch-type distance pieces (5) is tapered to a point with at least one inclined side (305) directed towards the hinging head end of the clamping bracket (6) at the body (1) and opposite the inclined mouth section (402) of the coupling notch or coupling notches (4) preferably with an inclination which is substantially complementary to the latter. Clamp according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that corresponding to each opening of the housing seats (2) the closing bracket (6) is provided, on its internal side, with two pipe-clamping projections (106) for clamping the pipes (3) in the respective housing seats (2) with these pipe-clamping projections (106) engaging the side of the pipe (3) corresponding to the opening between the sidepieces (102, 202) and at points which are spaced symmetrically between themselves in relation to the middle of the opening between the two sidepieces (102, 202) of the corresponding housing seat (2). Clamp according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that the pipe-clamping projections (106) consist of small webs directed parallel to the axis of the pipe (3) and that they are provided with a cuneiform cross section preferably with rounded apexes with the small webs being disposed with the opposite sides diverging between themselves in the direction of the pipe (3) and being directed according to a secant of the pipe. Clamp according to claims 6 or 7, characterized by the fact that the tube-clamping webs (106) yield flexibly in the direction of spreading apart. Clamp according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that a groove (806) is provided along the side for connecting at least one of the two pipe-clamping webs (106) to the clamping bracket (6) preferably of both the pipe-clamping webs (106) with this groove extending parallel to the said connection side or in the axial direction of the housing seat (2) and with the lateral wall of which on the side of the pipe-clamping web (106) consisting of an extension of the external side of the pipe-clamping web (106) itself. Clamp according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the means of coupling the clamping bracket (6) on the opposite side to the hinging side to the body (1) are made up of separate preventive coupling means (10, 110) and of stable and final means of coupling (11) of the clamping bracket (6) to the body (1). Clamp according to claim 10, characterized by the fact that at least on one of its ends, the clamping bracket (6) is provided with a transverse clamping wing (10, 11) in the clamping position against the body (1) of the clamp with this clamping wing (10, 11) having final means of engagement (206, 11, 401) to the lower zone of the corresponding side of the body (1) and provisional clamping means (110, 301) in the clamping condition of the bracket (6) provided in an intermediate zone of the clamping wing (10, 11) and of the associated side of the body (1). Clamp according to claim 11, characterized by the fact that the provisional means of clamping consist of a slight rounded bulge (110) in an intermediate position of the wing (10, 11) and of a complementary slight rounded depression (301) in the opposite side of the body (1). Clamp according to claim 11, characterized by the fact that the preventive means of clamping consist of a provisional clamping tooth (110) projecting from the clamping wing towards the corresponding head side of the body (1) in which is provided a complementary engagement notch (301). Clamp according to claim 13, characterized by the fact that the engaging notch (301) of the provisional clamping tooth (110) is delimited upstream and downstream with reference to the closing oscillation of the clamping bracket (6) by two teeth (501, 701) of the corresponding head side of the body (1) with the surfaces of which being directed towards the clamping bracket (6) being of arched construction in the direction of the apexes of the said teeth (501, 701) and downwards with a curvature such as to constitute for the upper tooth (501) a matching surface for the exceeding with a click of the tooth (501) on the part of the provisional engagement tooth (110) by means of flexible flexion in the spreading apart direction of the first part (10) and for the lower tooth (701) a matching surface of the provisional clamping tooth (110) in the engagement direction in the notch (301). Clamp according to one or more of the preceding claims 11 to 14, characterized by the fact that the clamping wing of the clamping bracket (6) is formed in two parts (10, 11), the upper part (10) of which is connected rigidly to the clamping bracket (6) whilst the other lower part (11) is articulated at the free end of the first part (10) in an oscillating manner from and towards the corresponding side of the body (1) with the preventive clamping means (110) being provided at the articulation end of the upper part (10) of the wing whilst the oscillating lower part (11) is formed in the manner of a hook and cooperates with a check tooth (401) formed at the lower zone of the opposite side of the body (1) itself. Clamp according to claim 15, characterized by the fact that the two parts (10, 11) of the clamping wing are articulated between themselves by means of a material staple (12) or a film hinge. Clamp according to claim 14 or 15, characterized by the fact that the oscillating part (11) in the manner of a hook and the associated check tooth (401) are provided with cooperating hook heads which have a snap engagement with each other by means of mutual flexible flexion and which are provided with reciprocal check surfaces in the transverse direction to the lower side of the body (1) and with reciprocal check surfaces in the parallel direction to the said lower side. Clamp according to one or more of the preceding claims 15 to 17, characterized by the fact that on its articulation end, the oscillating part (11) in the manner of a hook is provided with a spur (211) protruding towards the corresponding side of the body (1) which cooperates with a complementary notch (601) provided in the said side of the body (1) itself. Clamp according to claim 18, characterized by the fact that the spur (211) and the notch (601) are formed in such a way as to be engaged and disengaged automatically with the oscillation of the oscillating part (11) in the coupling and disengagement position by the check tooth (401) and are provided with an upper side inclined upwards with its internal end at the body (1) and a front side inclined towards the middle of the body (1) in the direction of the end for connecting it to the upper side whilst the said sides form an acute angle between them. Clamp according to one or more of claims 11 to 19, characterized by the fact that on the side opposite the clamping wing (206, 10, 11) the clamping bracket (6) is provided with a further wing (406) with which it can be articulated (7) at the opposite side of the body (1) and which is provided with an engagement notch of a tooth (101) projecting from the said side with the front upper side of the said tooth (101) being directed at least perpendicularly in relation to the lower side of the body (1) or also in a slightly divergent manner towards the outside in the direction of its upper end whilst the opposite side of the body (1) is directed substantially perpendicular to the lower side of the body (1) itself in a corresponding manner to the internal side of the stationary part (10) of the clamping wing. Clamp according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the clamping bracket (6) and the body (1) are provided with angular guide complementary means (606, 13) of oscillation about a predetermined stable hinging axis. Clamp according to claim 21, characterized by the fact that the angular guide means of oscillation (606, 13) are formed in such a way that they come to cooperate between themselves at least at an intermediate point of the oscillation of the clamping bracket (6) against the body (1) of the clamp when the bracket (6) itself is still raised from the body (1). Clamp according to claims 21 or 22, characterized by the fact that the clamping bracket (6) and the body (1) are provided with a plurality of complementary means of engagement (4, 5, 11, 401, 110, 301, 211, 601) which are distributed along the clamping bracket (6) and the body (1) and which cooperate amongst themselves in the closing position of the clamping bracket (6) itself against the body (1) with the angular guide means of oscillation (606, 13) being formed in such a way that they come to cooperate between themselves at such an intermediate point of the oscillation stroke of the clamping bracket (6) against the body (1), in which the complementary engagement means (4, 5, 11, 401, 110, 301, 211, 601) are not yet joined to cooperate between themselves. Clamp according to one or more of the preceding claims 21 to 23, characterized by the fact that the clamping bracket (6) and the body (1) are hinged between themselves by means of a film hinge (7) which connects the two associated head ends of the said parts. Clamp according to claim 24, characterized by the fact that the film hinge (7) is of a length such as to permit a certain limited offset between the clamping bracket (6) and the body (1) according to at least one and/or two and/or three directions between their perpendiculars. Clamp according to one or more of the preceding claims 21 to 25, characterized by the fact that the angular guide means of oscillation (606, 13) are provided in the zone of the end on the hinging head side of the clamping bracket (6) and the body (1). Clamp according to one or more of the preceding claims 21 to 26, characterized by the fact that the clamping bracket (6) and the body (1) are provided with reciprocal coupling means (101, 406, 506, 10, 110, 11, 211, 301, 501, 601, 701) on the head side opposite to that of the reciprocal hinging (7) or also on the hinging head side (7). Clamp according to one or more of the preceding claims 21 to 27, characterized by the fact that the angular guide means of oscillation are formed by a guide fin (606) projecting from the internal side of the clamping bracket (6) and by a complementary guide notch (13) provided in the body (1) of the clamp which fin (606) and which notch (13) are arched in a matching manner with a radius of curvature relating to a predetermined stable oscillation axis defined in a corresponding manner to the correct reciprocal disposition of the complementary parts (406, 506, 101; 5, 4, 110, 301; 601, 211, 11, 401) of reciprocal engagement of the clamping bracket (6) and of the body (1) whilst the length of the arched guide fin (606) is such that it penetrates the guide notch (13) in an intermediate oscillating position when the clamping bracket (6) does not yet apply any clamping action to the pipe or pipes (3) and the said parts (406, 506, 101; 5, 4, 110, 301; 601, 211, 11, 401) of reciprocal engagement of the clamping bracket (6) to the body (1) are still disengaged from each other. Clamp according to claim 28, characterized by the fact that the fin and the guide notch (606, 13) are arched in a corresponding manner either on the inner surface side or on the upper surface side whilst the guide fin (606) is tapered with an end section inclined towards the inner surface side at its free end forming an introduction point which is preferably rounded. Clamp according to claims 28 or 29, characterized by the fact that the inner surface sides of the guide fin (606) and of the guide notch (13) have the same radius of curvature for the complete longitudinal extension of these parts whilst the upper surface side of the guide notch (13) has an inclined section (213) or extends itself radially outwards corresponding to the mouth end of the guide notch (13) forming a matching widening. Clamp according to one or more of claims 28 to 30, characterized by the fact that the inner surface sides of the guide fin (606) and of the guide notch (13) are provided respectively with a tooth (113) in the manner of the teeth of a saw with a truncated point and with the less steep side directed in the direction of introduction of the guide fin (606) into the guide notch (13) and a complementary engagement recess (706) for the said tooth (113). Clamp according to one or more of claims 28 to 31, characterized by the fact that the guide notch (13) separates the pipe-clamping sidepiece (102) from the corresponding head side of the body (1) whilst the guide fin (606) also takes on the function of catch-type distance piece.

Inventors: BISIO LUIGI, PICCO PIERLUIGI, ROSSI ROBERTO, BISIO, LUIGI, PICCO, PIERLUIGI, ROSSI, ROBERTO
Applicants: BUNDY INT LTD, BUNDY INTERNATIONAL LTD.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: F16L3
IPC codes: F02M37, F16L3, F16L33, F02M55