Patent Description:
Pipe clamps are mechanical devices that are used to grip and to hold the outside diameter of a pipe and to ensure its positioning. A common design present on the market comprises two clamping parts, which, when closed together, form a more or less full circle that encloses the pipe. One or more of the clamping parts can be provided with flanges for mutual locking of the clamping parts.

<CIT> discloses pipe clamps having a quick lock mechanism. This quick lock mechanism comprises a toothed rack provided on the first clamping part and a pawl flap provided on a locking flange of the second clamping, wherein the pawl flap catches teeth of the toothed rack when the toothed rack is inserted into said flange.

It is an object of the invention to provide a pipe clamp that can be installed in a particularly easy manner, and which has particularly good performance, in particular load bearing characteristics, at particular low expenditure.

This object is achieved by a device according to claim <NUM>.

The invention provides a pipe clamp comprising.

The load axis is the direction of gravity and usually the primary load direction when the pipe clamp is installed as intended. The invention proposes to arrange the locking flange of the second clamping part in a non-perpendicular relationship with respect to said load axis (namely at an acute angle with respect to said load axis) when the pipe is closed, wherein the acute angle opens towards the connector rod receiver bore, i.e. towards the contact area between the pipe clamp and the connector rod. This results in a modified load distribution when the interface between the first clamping part and the second clamping part is loaded as intended, i.e. loaded parallel to the load axis: In contrast to a conventional perpendicular arrangement of said locking flange, in which said locking flange (and the pawl flap) is loaded orthogonally to the flange plane, the acute arrangement allows that a portion of the load is transferred within the locking flange, i.e. parallel thereto (in particular, said load portion can be received by the pawl flap and transferred to the locking flange via the hinge). As a consequence, stress within the material and deformation can be reduced, which can provide for particularly high performance, and in particular, the following advantages can be achieved:.

The pipe clamp is intended for clamping a pipe which is arranged between the first clamping part and the second clamping part. The first clamping part and/or the second clamping part are preferably metal parts, in particular steel parts. They might have coatings and/or inlays, e.g. thermally and/or acoustically insulating inserts. The first bow and/or the second bow are each curved, so as to clasp around a pipe; in particular, they are generally circular segments. Preferably, the locking pin, the first bow and, if applicable, also a first screw flange, are monolithic. Preferably, the locking flange, the second bow and, if applicable, also a second screw flange, are monolithic. The pawl flap can also be preferably a metal part, in particular a steel part.

The connector rod receiver bore allows that a connector rod is arranged therein, for connecting, preferably screw-connecting, the first clamping part and thus the pipe clamp to the connector rod. The connector rod receiver bore is preferably provided in a nut that is attached to the first bow, in particular if the connector rod receiver bore is internally threaded. However, the connector rod receiver bore could also be provided within the first bow, in particular if the connector rod receiver bore is unthreaded. The longitudinal axis of the connector rod receiver bore is the load axis of the pipe clamp. If the connector rod receiver bore is internally threaded, the thread axis is the load axis of the pipe clamp.

The flange-load intersection angle is an acute angle when the pipe clamp is closed, i.e. in a state in which the first bow and the second bow are connected with each other at their respective second ends, and in which the first bow and the second bow are also connected with each other at their respective first ends, namely by means of the pawl flap engaging the locking tooth.

The pawl flap is arranged to pivot away from the locking flange and/or from the second bow as the locking pin is inserted into the pin receiver opening. In particular in regions of the pawl flap that are spaced from the hinge, the pawl flap is arranged on an underside of the connector flange that faces away from the first bow. The pawl flap and the locking pin form a ratchet mechanism, which allows insertion of the locking pin into the connector hole, but prevents withdrawal thereof. The hinge is arranged at an end region of the locking flange that is spaced from the first bow, and the pawl flap extends from the hinge towards the second bow. The pin receiver opening might be located within the locking flange only, or it may also additionally extend into the second bow to facilitate passage of the locking pin.

The flange-load intersection angle α opens towards the connector rod receiver bore. Thus, the flange-load intersection angle α is defined as that angle which is open towards the connector rod receiver bore and which faces the connector rod receiver bore (and not its opposite angle, which would be obtuse). In particular, the flange-load intersection angle α can be that angle that spans from the locking flange or/and from the flange plane to the connector rod receiver bore.

The flange-load intersection angle (α) ranges from <NUM>° to <NUM>°, i.e. it is greater than or equal to <NUM>° and smaller than or equal to <NUM>°. More preferably, it ranges from <NUM>° to <NUM>°. In particular, the flange-load intersection angle can be <NUM>° ± <NUM>°. These angle ranges can provide particularly advantageous force distribution whilst effectively preventing geometric conflicts, in particular of the closure mechanism.

The locking pin can have only a single tooth, i.e. the locking tooth. In this case, the locking pin can e.g. be a headed bolt, wherein the head provides the locking tooth. It is, however, particularly preferred that the locking pin is a toothed rack comprising, in addition to the locking tooth, at least one auxiliary tooth. The at least one auxiliary tooth can also be caught by the pawl flap for closure at a different position. This can provide particularly good versatility. The locking tooth is a selected tooth of the toothed rack, which provides the discussed flange-load intersection angle. The discussed flange-load intersection angle can also be provided when the at least one auxiliary tooth is engaged by the pawl flap, or the flange-load intersection angle might different when the at least one auxiliary tooth is engaged by the pawl flap.

As already hinted at above, it is particularly preferred if the connector rod receiver bore is internally threaded for connecting the pipe clamp to a threaded connector rod. The internal thread can then define the load axis. Accordingly, a screw connection is provided between the connector rod and the pipe clamp, which can be particularly easy to establish and yet reliable. In particular, the internally threaded rod receiver bore can be provided on a separate nut, which is attached to the first bow.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the first clamping part comprises a first screw flange that is connected to the first bow at the second end of the first bow, the second clamping part comprises a second screw flange that is connected to the second bow at the second end of the second bow, and the first bow and the second bow are connected with each other at their respective second ends by means of a tightening screw which passes through the first screw flange and through the second screw flange. This can provide a particularly easy to establish and yet reliable connection.

The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to preferred exemplary embodiments, which are depicted schematically in the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> show an example of a pipe clamp. The pipe clamp comprises a first clamping part <NUM> and a second clamping part <NUM>, between which a pipe (not shown) is intended to be arranged.

The first clamping part <NUM> comprises a first bow <NUM> intended to encompass the pipe, wherein the first bow <NUM> has a first end, and at the opposite end of the first bow <NUM>, a second end. The first clamping part <NUM> furthermore comprises a locking pin <NUM>, which projects from the first bow <NUM> at the first end thereof. The first clamping part <NUM> furthermore comprises a first screw flange <NUM>, which projects from the first bow <NUM> at the second end thereof. The locking pin <NUM>, the first bow <NUM> and the first screw flange <NUM> form a monolithic part.

The first clamping part <NUM> furthermore comprises a - by way of example internally threaded - rod receiver bore <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the internally threaded rod receiver bore <NUM> is, by way of example, provided within a nut <NUM> which is arranged on and connected to the first bow <NUM>. The rod receiver bore <NUM> is intended for receiving, in particular screwingly receiving, a connector rod, in particular a threaded connector rod, for connecting the pipe clamp to a building. The rod receiver bore <NUM> defines a load axis <NUM> of the pipe clamp - this load axis <NUM> of the pipe clamp is the thread axis of the internally threaded rod receiver bore <NUM>. In alternative embodiments, the rod receiver bore <NUM> might be unthreaded and/or be provided within the first bow <NUM>.

The locking pin <NUM> comprises a locking tooth <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the locking tooth <NUM> is formed as a notch provided in the limbs of the generally U-shaped locking pin <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the locking pin <NUM> is a toothed rack, comprising, in addition to the locking tooth <NUM>, at least one auxiliary tooth <NUM> (two auxiliary teeth <NUM> in the present example).

The second clamping part <NUM> comprises a second bow <NUM> intended to encompass the pipe, wherein the second bow <NUM> has a first end, and at the opposite end of the second bow <NUM>, a second end. The second clamping part <NUM> further comprises a locking flange <NUM>, which projects from the second bow <NUM> at the first end thereof. The second clamping part <NUM> furthermore comprises a second screw flange <NUM>, which projects from the second bow <NUM> at the second end thereof. The locking flange <NUM>, the second bow <NUM> and the second screw flange <NUM> form a monolithic part.

The locking flange <NUM> has a pin receiver opening <NUM>, which passes through the locking flange <NUM>. The second clamping part <NUM> furthermore comprises a pawl flap <NUM>, which is arranged adjacent to the locking flange <NUM>, and which is pivotably connected to the locking flange <NUM> via a hinge <NUM>. The pawl flap <NUM> is arranged on an underside of the locking flange <NUM> that is located adjacent to the second bow <NUM>, and that faces away from the first bow <NUM>. In other words, the pawl flap <NUM> is arranged adjacent to the second bow <NUM>. The pawl flap <NUM> points from the hinge <NUM> towards the second bow <NUM>. Thus, the pawl flap <NUM> extends between the second bow <NUM> and the hinge <NUM>. The second clamping part <NUM> further comprises a spring <NUM> that urges the pawl flap <NUM> into a closed position, i.e. into a position adjoining the locking flange <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the spring <NUM> is an elastic band that encompasses the locking flange <NUM> and the pawl flap <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the hinge <NUM> comprises, by way of example, a hinge tab provided on the pawl flap <NUM>, which hinge flap passes through a hinge opening within the locking flange <NUM>, and a L-structure provided at the end of the locking flange <NUM>.

The pawl flap <NUM> provides a catch for catching the locking tooth <NUM>. In particular, when the locking pin <NUM> is inserted into the pin receiver opening <NUM> of the locking flange <NUM>, the pawl flap <NUM> pivots into an open position (as schematically shown in <FIG>), and is then, by means of the spring <NUM>, forced back into a closed position, in which the pawl flap <NUM> is generally parallel with respect to the locking flange <NUM>, in which it partly obstructs the pin receiver opening <NUM> and engages the locking tooth <NUM> or the auxiliary tooth <NUM>, respectively.

<FIG> and <FIG> show the pipe clamp in a closed state. In this state, the pawl flap <NUM> engages into the locking tooth <NUM>. This provides a first connection between the first clamping part <NUM> and the second clamping part <NUM> (or a first connection between the first bow <NUM> and the second bow <NUM>, respectively).

The first screw flange <NUM>, which is arranged on the first bow <NUM>, has an internally threaded through bore. The second screw flange <NUM>, which is arranged on the second bow <NUM>, has a through bore. A headed tightening screw <NUM> passes through the through bore that is provided within the first screw flange <NUM> into the internally threaded through bore that is provided in the second screw flange <NUM>, thereby providing a second connection between the first clamping part <NUM> and the second clamping part <NUM> (or a second connection between the first bow <NUM> and the second bow <NUM>, respectively).

The locking flange <NUM> of the second clamping part <NUM> lies on a flange plane <NUM>. When the pipe clamp is in the illustrated closed state in which the pawl flap <NUM> engages the locking tooth <NUM>, the flange plane <NUM> intersects the load axis <NUM>, thereby defining a flange-load intersection angle α, which opens towards the connector rod receiver bore <NUM> (and towards the first bow <NUM>). This flange-load intersection angle α is an acute angle of about <NUM>°.

Claim 1:
Pipe clamp comprising
- a first clamping part (<NUM>), wherein the first clamping part (<NUM>) comprises a first bow (<NUM>) having a first end and an opposite second end, wherein the first clamping part (<NUM>) further comprises a connector rod receiver bore (<NUM>) that is provided at the first bow (<NUM>) for receiving a connector rod so as to connect the pipe clamp to the connector rod, wherein the connector rod receiver bore (<NUM>) defines a load axis (<NUM>) of the pipe clamp, and wherein the first clamping part (<NUM>) further comprises a locking pin (<NUM>) having a locking tooth (<NUM>), which locking pin (<NUM>) protrudes from the first bow (<NUM>) at the first end of the first bow (<NUM>), and
- a second clamping part (<NUM>), wherein the second clamping part (<NUM>) comprises a second bow (<NUM>) having a first end and an opposite second end, wherein the second clamping part (<NUM>) further comprises a locking flange (<NUM>) that is connected to the second bow (<NUM>) at the first end of the second bow (<NUM>), wherein a pin receiver opening (<NUM>) for receiving the locking pin (<NUM>) is provided in the locking flange (<NUM>), wherein the second clamping part (<NUM>) further comprises a pawl flap (<NUM>) and a hinge (<NUM>), which pivotably connects the pawl flap (<NUM>) to the locking flange (<NUM>), wherein the pawl flap (<NUM>) projects from the hinge (<NUM>) towards the second bow (<NUM>), and wherein the pawl flap (<NUM>) allows insertion of the locking pin (<NUM>) into the pin receiver opening (<NUM>) and prevents withdrawal of the locking pin (<NUM>) from the pin receiver opening (<NUM>) by catching the locking tooth (<NUM>) of the locking pin (<NUM>),
- wherein the first bow (<NUM>) and the second bow (<NUM>) are connected with each other at their respective second ends,
- wherein the locking flange (<NUM>) of the second clamping part (<NUM>) lies on a flange plane (<NUM>), and
- wherein, when the locking pin (<NUM>) is arranged in the pin receiver opening (<NUM>) and the pawl flap (<NUM>) engages the locking tooth (<NUM>), the flange plane (<NUM>) intersects the load axis (<NUM>), thereby defining a flange-load intersection angle (α), which opens towards the connector rod receiver bore (<NUM>),
characterized in that
- the flange-load intersection angle (α) is an acute angle, which ranges from <NUM>° to <NUM>°.