Patent ID: 8196971

Claim:
A clamp connector for clamping together connecting pieces on pipelines, comprising: first and second clamping ring parts having first and second opposite ends; a ring part pivot joint pivotably connecting said ring parts at said first ends thereof for pivotal movement of said ring parts between spread and clamped positions, said ring parts being situated close to one another in said clamped positions; a clamping device located on said second ends of said ring parts, said clamping device including a clamping screw pivotable at one end thereof to said first clamping ring part by a screw pivot joint between an active position generating a clamping force with said clamping ring parts forcing said clamping ring parts into the clamped positions and a release position pivoted out therefrom releasing said clamping ring parts, said clamping screw having a threaded segment spaced from said screw pivot joint and a collar adjoined to said screw pivot joint, said collar having a larger diameter than a diameter of said threaded segment; a locking device having an active state preventing said clamping screw from pivoting to said release position passing through a predetermined opening angle from the active state into a release state permitting said clamping screw to pivot out; a passage adjacent said second end of said second clamping ring part through said clamping screw extends in the active position thereof; an exit slot in said second end of said second clamping ring allowing said clamping screw to pivot into and out of said passage, said exit slot having a width being smaller than said diameter of said collar and larger than said diameter of said threaded segment at least in a slot area adjacent to said first clamping ring part; and surface area parts on said second clamping ring part overlapping corresponding surface area parts of a clamping nut located on said threaded segment of said clamping screw in the active position thereof such that loosening of said clamping nut spreads said clamping ring parts apart.