Abstract:
A clamp tool that has stop edges and ear edges is disclosed. In one embodiment, stop edges close against each other while the ear edges, being cut deeper than the stop edges, do not touch each other and provide a space between which an ear of a clamp is position and closed by the clamp tool without cutting or nicking unnecessarily into the ear of the clamp. The width of the stop edges is predetermined to provide an alignment for proper alignment of the clamp on a hose that obscures features of a fitting that is positioned beneath the hose.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No 12/634,882, filed Dec. 1, 2009, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a method for connecting a hose to a fitting. More particularly, it refers to a method of connecting a hose to a fitting using one or more clamps. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Air conditioning hose assembly connection systems are known. The simplest is to fit an end of a flexible, compressible hose over a metal fitting or stem and attaching clamps on the hose over the fitting to hold the hose to the fitting and to prevent leaks in various applications such as with high pressure refrigerants. Often, this is not sufficient for such high pressure connections because the hose tends to slip off the fitting. To improve this type of connection, the fitting is made with one or more ridges or beads that help hold the hose to the fitting. Still, in high-pressure applications, it is still possible for the hose to come free from the fitting. 
         [0004]    To further improve the connection, guides have been deployed to guide the installation of the clamps such that the clamps situate themselves between the ridges/beads, making it even more difficult for the hose to slip off of the fitting. 
         [0005]    What is needed is a tool that aligns the clamps between the ridges/beads without the need for guides and the tool needs to provide force to tighten the clamp. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    A clamp tool has stop edges and ear edges. The stop edges close against each other while the ear edges, being cut deeper than the stop edges, do not touch each other and provide a space between which an ear of a clamp is position and later closed by the clamp tool without cutting or nicking unnecessarily into the ear of the clamp. In some embodiments, the width of the stop edges is made to provide an alignment tool for proper alignment of the clamp on a hose over features of a fitting. 
         [0007]    The invention includes a clamp tool that has a first head member and a second head member. The first head member movably coupled to the second head member (e.g., by a lever, a ratchet, threads, hydraulics, motors, solenoids, etc.). The first head member has two stop edges and an ear edge positioned between the stop edges. The second head has an edge such that, as the first head member and the second head member move from an open position in which the stop edges of the first head member are distal from the edge of the second head member to a closed position in which the stop edges of the first head member abuts the edge of the second head member, there is a gap between the ear edge of the first member and the edge of the second head member. A width of at least one of the two stop edges provides an index for placement of a clamp. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, a method of joining a flexible hose to a rigid, hollow shaft is disclosed. The rigid, hollow shaft has at least one bead and a stop whereby clamp placement needs to not overlap any of the at least one bead. The method steps include (a) providing the clamp tool as previously described and (b) providing an end of the hose cut at 90 degrees. The method continues with (c) placing at least one hose clamp loosely over the hose and (d) pushing the end of the hose over the rigid, hollow shaft, the end of the hose abutting the stop then (e) opening the clamp tool (if not already open) and (f) positioning an ear of a first hose clamp of the at least one hose clamp between the ear edge and the stop edge of the second head member. Next, an edge of the first head member is aligned with a reference point, thereby positioning the first hose clamp properly between the reference point and a first bead of the at least one bead at which time (h) the first head member is closed towards the second head member, thereby compressing the ear of the first hose clamp between the ear edge and the stop edge of the second head member and thereby compressing the hose over the first bead. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, a clamp tool is disclosed having a mechanism for opening and for closing between an edge of a first head member and an edge of a second head member (for example lever, wedge, screw, hydraulic, electrical, magnetic, etc.), at least one of the edge of the first head member and the edge of the second head member has an ear edge. At least one of the first head member and the second head member has a way to index the ear edge at a predetermined distance from a reference, thereby allowing placement of a clamp over a fitting, such that, when aligned with the reference, the clamp is correctly placed with respect to the fitting. Once the tool is aligned with the reference point and an ear of the clamp is engaged with the at least one ear edge, the clamp is situated correctly on the hose with respect to features of the fitting, thereby, upon closing the means for opening and closing, the clamp is compressed at a desired location over the fitting. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates a clamp guide of the prior art. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a clamp tool. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3A  illustrates a top plan view of an embodiment of the clamp tool in a closed position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3B  illustrates a top plan view of an embodiment of the clamp tool in an open position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a side plan view of an embodiment of the clamp tool ready to tighten a clamp in the open position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4B  illustrates a side plan view of an embodiment of the clamp tool after compression of the clamp, in the closed position. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5A  illustrates a front plan view of an embodiment in use, tightening a first clamp on a hose. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5B  illustrates a front plan view of an embodiment in use, tightening a second clamp on a hose. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of one typical fitting. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of a hose held on a typical fitting using two clamps. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of a clamp tool. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of a clamp guide  110  of the prior art is shown. The prior art for connecting a flexible hose to a rigid, hollow shaft  101 / 105  includes a clamp guide  110  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The clamp guide  110  has registration areas  121  between ridges  112  that align with beads  109  on a typical hose-connection end  101  of the rigid, hollow shaft  101 / 105 . In this example, the clamp guide  110  has a semi-circular portion  111  that fits inside a groove  103  in the rigid hollow shaft  101 / 105  so that the clamp guide arms  115  are on opposite sides of the flexible hose (not shown) when the flexible hose is positioned over the receiving end  101  of the rigid, hollow shaft  101 / 105 . The rigid, hollow shaft  101 / 105  is anticipated to be a component of a variety of connectors and fittings, one example is shown having a threaded fitting  107  at an end  105  distal from where a flexible hose is attached using the clamp guide  110  and clamps (not shown). 
         [0024]    When installing the clamps (not shown) on the hose (also not shown), it is important that the clamps align with the gaps between the beads  109  to provide maximum burst force. Otherwise, the clamp will be aligned over one of the beads  109  and will not hold the hose correctly to the hollow shaft  101  and, under pressure, the hose will pull away from the hollow shaft  101 . The guides  110  help align the clamps for maximum operating pressure. In this method, the installer is required to maintain an inventory of different guides, for different fittings making it is possible for an installer to use the wrong guide, creating a weak joint between the hose and the fitting. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 A and  3 B, perspective views of an embodiment of a clamp tool  10  are shown. The clamp tool  10  has two members  13 / 15  with handles  12 / 14  at one end for holding and for exerting pressure by a user. The members  13 / 15  provide force to opposing head members  19 / 21  at the other end of the members  13 / 15 , being fulcrums coupled by a pivot  16  such as a typical wire cutter or other pliers. Although the mechanism for moving the head members  19 / 21  to/from a closed position is a lever (including handles  12 / 14 , member  13 / 15 , and pivot  16 ), any mechanism that moves two objects to/from a closed (e.g. touching) position is anticipated, including, but not limited to, levers, ratchets, worm gears, gearing systems, solenoids, hydraulic systems, motor systems, etc. 
         [0026]    The mating edges  18 / 20 / 22 / 24  of the opposing heads  19 / 21  are formed for a given hose clamp  40 / 42  (see FIGS.  4 A/ 4 B also referred to as Pinch-clamps, Click-clamps, O-Clips, O-Clamps, Ear-Clamps or Ear-Clips, etc) and fitting (see FIGS.  6 / 7 ). In that, the ear interface edges  20 / 24  that mate with the hose clamp ear  42  are recessed. Since the ear interface edges  20 / 24  are recessed inward of the stop edges  18 / 22 , the ear interface edges  20 / 24  don&#39;t cut into the hose clamp ear  42  when the clamp tool  10  is closed. This is shown in  FIG. 3A , in which the opposing head members  19 / 21  of the clamp tool  10  are in a closed position having a gap between the ear interface surfaces  20 / 24 .  FIG. 3B  shows the clamp tool  10  in an open position ready to accept the ears  42  of a hose clamp  40 / 42 . As will be shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the width, d, of the stop edges  18 / 22  provide a reference or fixed/predetermined distance between the sides  25  of the clamp tool  10  and the ear interface surfaces  20 / 24 . This width, d, corresponds to the correct placement of the clamp  40 / 42  with respect to an edge  79  of the hose  78 , an index/reference line (not shown) or bead  60  of the fitting  62 . This enables correct alignment of the hose clamp  40 / 42  with, for example, the fitting  62  elements. Many clamp tool  10  sizes are anticipated for different fitting  62  sizes and different clamp  40 / 42  sizes. Such alignment is desired because the various elements of the fitting  62  are not visible once the hose  78  is positioned over the fitting  62 . 
         [0027]    In some embodiments, the ear interface surfaces  20 / 24  are held apart by a mechanism associated with the members  13 / 15 , handles  12 / 14  and the pivot  16 , not requiring the stop edges  18 / 22  to touch. Such mechanisms are known in the industry, for example, a pin in one member  13  and a slot in the second member  15  such that the pin reaches the end of the slot before the stop edges  18 / 22  meet. In some versions of this embodiment, the stop edges  18 / 22  are not included and in alternate embodiments of this, marks are made to indicate a location or center for locating the ear  42  of the clamp  40  during compression. 
         [0028]    In some embodiments, only one stop edge  18  is present and the edge  18 / 22  of the opposing head member  19 / 21  is substantially flat. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , side plan views of an embodiment of the clamp tool  10  are shown. In  FIG. 4   a , the clamp tool  10  is ready to tighten a clamp ear  42  of a clamp  40 . The ear  42  is positioned between the ear interface edges  20 / 24 . In  FIG. 4B , the clamp tool  10  has compressed the clamp ear  42  under force provided by a user pushing together the handles  12 / 14 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , front plan views of the clamp tool  10  in use, tightening a first clamp  40   a  on a hose  78  are shown. The width of the stop edges  18 / 22  (only stop edge  18  is visible) are such that, aligning the side  25  of the clamp tool  10  with the end  79  of the hose  78  or with the stop wall  60  of the fitting  62  as shown in  FIG. 5A  correctly positions the first clamp  40   a  over the fitting  62 . The width, d of the stop edges  18 / 22 , is related to the correct location of the clamp  40   a  on the fitting  62 . Likewise, as shown in  FIG. 5B , aligning the side  25  of the clamp tool  10  with the right edge  41   a  of the first clamp  40   a  correctly positions the second clamp  40   b  on the fitting  62 . The width, d of the stop edges  18 / 22 , is related to the correct location of the clamp  40   b  on the fitting  62  with respect to the clamp  40   a.  In such, the clamp tool  10  provides correct location for one, two, three or any number of clamps  40 / 40   a / 40   b  on fittings made for such clamps  40 / 40   a / 40   b.    
         [0031]    It is anticipated that some embodiments have two different widths on each side of the clamp tool  10  heads  19 / 21  for locating clamps  40  onto different fittings  62 . For example, one mating side of each head  19 / 21  has a first width, d, and the other mating side of each head  19 / 21  has a second width, d′. The first side is used to align clamps  40  on a first fitting  62  while the second side is used to align clamps  40  on a second fitting  62 . It is also anticipated that multiple clamp tools  10  have different head widths, d, and each tool for a different fitting  62 . 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a perspective view of one typical fitting is shown before assembly ( FIG. 6 ) and after assembly ( FIG. 7 ). The fitting  62  is an exemplary fitting and many other configurations and styles of fittings are known, all of which are anticipated by the present invention and all of which benefit from the correct alignment of the hose clamps  40 / 40   a / 40   b.  The fitting  62  of this example has a connector end  64  and a stop  60 , to which the end of the hose  78  abuts. This fitting  62  has beads  66 / 70  and optional grooves  68 / 72  for accepting optional o-rings  74 / 76 . During installation of the hose  78 , the hose clamps  40   a / 40   b  are loosely placed over the hose  78  and then the edge  79  of the hose  78  is pushed over the fitting  62  until the edge  79  of the hose  78  abuts against the stop  60 . Note, for fittings without a stop  60 , a reference mark (not shown) indicates how far to push the hose  78  onto the fitting  62 , thereby aligning the edge  79  of the hose  78  to the reference mark. The clamps  40   a / 40   b  are then positioned correctly and the ears  42   a / 42   b  of the clamps  40   a / 40   b  are compressed with the clamp tool  10 . For maximum burst protection and minimum leakage, it is important to align the clamps  40   a / 40   b  between the beads  66 / 70  and between the inner-most bead  66  and the stop  60 . In this way, the clamps  40   a / 40   b  compress the hose  78  between the beads  66 / 72  and stops  60 , making it harder for the hose  78  to pull off the fitting  62 . If the clamps  40   a / 40   b  are mis-aligned over, say, one of the beads  66 / 72 , then the clamp  40   a / 40   b  cannot be tightened enough to flatten the hose  78  against the flat surface of the fitting  62  and, if provided, against the o-ring  74 / 76 . To this means, the width of the stop edges  18 / 22  are made such that the widths match the distance between the stop  60  and the first clamp  40   a  when the first clamp ear  42   a  is between the ear interface edges  20 / 24  and/or the width matches the distance between the opposite edge of the first clamp  40   a  and the second clamp  40   b  when the second clamp ear  42   b  is between the ear interface edges  20 / 24 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 7  shows the final connection of the hose  78  to the fitting  62  with the first clamp  40   a / 42   a  in the proper position with respect to the end  79  of the hose  78  or the stop  60  and the second clamp  40   b / 42   b  in the proper position with respect to the first clamp  40   a / 40   b.  The position of the clamps  40   a / 40   b  having been correctly set over the proper features of the fitting  62  using the width, d, of the stop edges  18 / 22 . For example, when O-rings  74 / 76  are provided, it is important to align the clamp  40   a / 40   b  approximately centered over the O-rings  74 / 76 . Conversely, it detracts from the strength of the hose  78  and fitting  62  connection if one or more of the clamps  40   a / 40   b  are positioned over the bumps  66 / 70  (e.g., the clamps  40   a / 40   b  must be positioned between the bumps  66 / 70  for optimal strength of the hose  78  and fitting  62  connection. 
         [0034]    It is anticipated that the stop edges  18 / 22  of the clamp tool  10  have, in some embodiments, flat edges  18 / 22  while in other embodiments, the stop edges  18 / 22  have pointed edges  18 / 22  for cutting such as for cutting wires, clamps (e.g. cutting off old clamps), etc. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , a perspective view of another embodiment of a clamp tool  10   a  is shown. In this embodiment, the first head  19  and the second head  21  are opened/closed by handles and/or other ratcheting devices (not shown). Although not required, it is preferred that the ear edges  20 / 24  are separated by a gap (as shown) when the heads  19 / 21  of the clamp tool  10   a  are closed, thereby reducing stress/cutting into the ear  42  of the clamp  40 . In this clamp tool  10   a , indexing extensions  27 / 29  extend outwardly, providing reference ends  25  which are the proper distance, d, from a reference point  60 / 79 / 41   a  (stop  60 , hose end  79 , previous clamp edge  41   a,  etc) in a fitting installation. In this way, when one of the indexing extensions is aligned with the reference point  60 / 79 / 41   a  and the clamp  40  is between the ear edges  20 / 24  and the clamp tool  10   a  is closed, the clamp  40  is tightened over the correct location/features of the underlying fitting  62 , thereby providing an optimal strength connection between the fitting  62  and the hose  78 . 
         [0036]    Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result. 
         [0037]    It is believed that the system and method of the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.