Clamping device for axial securing of a socket pipe connection and socket pipe connection together with a corresponding clamping device

Description

[0001] In the prior art, socket pipe connections for connecting two adjacent or contiguous pipelines are known in various application areas, for example, but by no means exclusively in exhaust gas technology. In this type of connection, a pipeline has a socket section at its end, in which sealing materials are preferably contained and / or arranged internally.

[0002] A second pipe or pipeline has an end insertion section which is shaped, particularly with regard to its diameter, such that it allows insertion or immersion into the socket section of the first pipe or pipeline. The socket pipe connection is generally held axially by clamping forces, which preferably act on the outer surface of the insertion section of the second pipe or pipeline via the sealing element of the socket pipe section.

[0003] In some cases, a permanent fixing or securing of the socket pipe connection is not desired, as thermal expansion in the axial direction can be compensated for to a certain extent via an unfixed socket pipe connection. In other cases, however, or due to relevant legal regulations, it may be necessary to additionally secure a socket pipe connection in the axial direction. This means that the pipes connected or transitioning into each other via the socket pipe connection are secured axially against each other, thus preventing the unintentional or accidental removal of the immersion section of the second pipe from the socket pipe section of the first pipe.

[0004] To secure such a socket pipe connection in the axial direction, various solutions are already known from the prior art, but these are disadvantageous in several respects.

[0005] US 4,465,330 A discloses a multi-part pipe connection device comprising two pipe ends that abut each other and are sealed together.

[0006] DE 692 09 765 T2 discloses a locking device which is intended in particular for locking a pipeline after it has been laid, whereby an alternative to producing a welded connection is to be offered.

[0007] KR 101 775 642 B1 discloses a pipe connection device for joining two pipe ends, wherein the end of a first pipe can be inserted into the end of a second pipe. The pipe connection device comprises the connection point and prevents displacement against the insertion direction.

[0008] The AT 8 709 U1 teaches a two-part connecting ring for securing coaxially inserted conduit pipes.

[0009] Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to propose a clamping device for axially securing a socket pipe connection and to propose a socket pipe connection including a clamping device that overcomes the disadvantages in the prior art and in particular enables axial securing of a socket pipe connection that provides particularly good security in the assembled state and at the same time enables simple assembly and simple manufacture of the clamping device.

[0010] This problem is solved with regard to the clamping device with the features of independent claim 1.

[0011] With regard to the socket pipe connection, this problem is solved by a socket pipe connection having the features of claim 9. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the following description, the figures and the figure description, as well as the dependent claims.

[0012] In principle, features disclosed by means of the device should also be considered disclosed and claimable by means of the process, and vice versa.

[0013] The clamping device according to the invention for axially clamping a socket pipe connection of two pipelines, in particular exhaust pipes, comprises two half-rings which have mutually complementary locking elements at their respective ends in the circumferential direction and which have on an inner side in the axial direction a circumferentially extending socket groove designed for gripping a socket section of a pipe socket and a clamping groove also extending circumferentially, wherein a deformation element is partially accommodated in the clamping groove in such a way that, in the unassembled state of the half-rings, it projects radially inwards beyond the groove walls which laterally limit the clamping groove in the axial direction.

[0014] The invention is based on the basic idea that an adhesive compression caused by the deformation element, in particular its deformation in the assembled state of the half-rings of the clamping device, enables a securing of an outer surface of a pipeline, possibly even a smooth one, so that in conjunction with the socket groove encompassing the socket section of the adjacent pipe or pipeline, an axial securing or an additional axial securing between the adjacent and / or nested pipelines of the socket pipe connection is achieved.

[0015] Preferably, the half-rings can be designed as identical parts. In this case, only one additional part needs to be manufactured to produce the clamping device, in addition to the deformation elements. For example, the half-rings can be made of plastic, preferably injection-molded plastic. This allows for the efficient production of a correspondingly large number of half-rings. Furthermore, designing them as identical parts offers the advantage that, when the half-rings are arranged in a mirror image to form a segmented full ring, the grooves, in particular the socket groove and the clamping groove, connect to each other or merge seamlessly in the circumferential direction.Furthermore, in the case of a design as identical parts and a mirror-image arrangement of the semi-rings designed as identical parts, the locking elements designed complementarily at the opposite ends interlock particularly advantageously to form an interrupted full ring.

[0016] According to an advantageous embodiment of the clamping device, the socket groove can have a groove bottom interrupted by recesses in the circumferential direction. The interruption of the groove bottom by recesses allows for material-saving construction of the semicircular sections. Furthermore, this reduces or minimizes the cross-section or diameter of the clamping device, which is advantageous from a fluid dynamics perspective when the clamping device is used in a concentric piping system in the area of ​​an internal socket pipe connection, such as in exhaust systems. This is because a correspondingly small or minimized cross-section can minimize the flow resistance or additional flow resistance caused by the clamping device. Beyond the recesses, it can be particularly advantageous to connect the groove walls of the socket groove to each other via webs.Preferably, two recesses can be provided per half-ring, which are particularly preferably limited by three webs in the circumferential direction.

[0017] In a further advantageous embodiment, the locking elements can be designed as hook elements; particularly advantageously, one radially outward and one radially inward oriented hook element can be provided at each of the opposite ends of the semi-rings. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the hook elements can also have a plurality of radially extending locking teeth.

[0018] In In an additional, particularly advantageous embodiment, lateral guide aids may be provided for a first locking element. These lateral guide aids may, for example, be designed as radially outwardly projecting, circumferentially extending ribs and may facilitate or simplify the insertion and locking of a complementary locking element.

[0019] In a particularly desirable embodiment of the clamping device, at least one, preferably two, spacer wings projecting radially outwards from the half-ring can also be provided. These spacer wings can be used to guide, and in particular center, the pipelines secured or axially secured by the clamping device within an installation. For example, the spacer wings can be used to facilitate or enable the centering of pipelines with socket pipe connections centrally or concentrically within other pipes or pipelines, or within a shaft. The spacer wings can preferably be formed monolithically with the half-rings. Overall, it can be provided that all components of the half-rings, with the exception of the deformation elements, are formed in one piece or monolithically.Accordingly, the clamping device can advantageously consist of four individual parts, which can include two identical half-rings and two identical deformation means.

[0020] The spacer wings can preferably be designed such that plastic and / or elastic deformability is given in a radially outer end region, so that the spacer wings enable spacing, in particular centering, in different situations, especially centrally in pipelines with different diameters.

[0021] According to a further, particularly advantageous embodiment, the spacer wing(s) can be arranged in the area of ​​the socket groove and have a wing surface that runs parallel to the axial direction. This allows sufficient stability as well as the desired or intended deformability of the spacer wing, especially in a radially outer end region.

[0022] Furthermore, in an advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that the spacer wings are / are arranged on the outside of the half-ring in the area of ​​the socket groove and have / have a wing surface that runs parallel to the axial direction.

[0023] By arranging the spacer wings in the area of ​​the socket groove, a sufficiently stable connection or transition between the half-ring and its spacer wings can be created. Aligning the wing surface parallel to the axial direction can improve the installation of the clamping device and the adaptation or deformation of the spacer wings to the specific installation situation.

[0024] In a further, particularly advantageous embodiment, the wing surface can be provided with a chamfer on one side, preferably facing axially towards one end of the semi-ring to which the socket groove is assigned. The chamfer of the wing surface can be designed such that the wing surface is reduced or narrowed at a radial distance from the semi-ring, thereby advantageously making the radially outer end section of the spacer wings more flexible or easier to deform. This also has a beneficial effect on the deformation of the spacer wings for adapting to the installation situation and achieving a stable connection with the semi-ring.

[0025] In a further, particularly preferred embodiment of the clamping device, the locking element(s) can be formed on the outer surface of the socket groove in the end regions of the half-rings in the circumferential direction. This has the advantage that the locking elements, particularly due to the corresponding width of the socket groove in the axial direction, provide sufficient support for the locking elements and a stable connection or transition between the half-rings and the locking elements or the remaining elements of the half-rings. As already explained above, it is advantageous for the remaining elements to also be formed monolithically with the other components of the half-ring, with the exception of the deformation element. However, it can also be provided that the locking elements extend over the

[0026] In a further, particularly advantageous embodiment of the clamping device, the deformation element can be made of a soft elastomeric material. This not only allows the deformation element to be easily inserted into the clamping groove, but also results in a particularly good adhesive clamping force on the outer surface of a pipe whose end section is immersed or inserted into an adjacent socket pipe section.

[0027] The deformation element can be particularly advantageously designed with a round cross-section. Consequently, the deformation element can be shaped like a half-O-ring. The deformation element can be either solid or hollow.

[0028] The semi-circular ring can have a stepped outer diameter in the axial direction, with a maximum diameter assigned to the socket groove and a minimum outer diameter assigned to the clamping groove.

[0029] The aforementioned problem is also solved by a socket pipe connection for connecting two pipelines, in particular exhaust pipes, in which an end immersion section of a first pipeline is inserted into an end socket pipe section of an adjacent pipeline, sealingly in particular via sealing means associated with the socket section, wherein, according to the invention, a clamping device is arranged that rests against both pipelines and in particular encompasses the socket section, as described in a preceding embodiment. The socket section of the second pipe or pipeline is accordingly encompassed by the socket groove, whereas the first pipeline experiences adhesive clamping by pressing the deformation element against the surface or outer surface of the pipeline.

[0030] Accordingly, it can be particularly advantageous to provide that for the socket pipe connection the half-rings, in particular the locking elements, are adapted to the pipelines, in particular the diameters of the pipelines, in such a way that when the locking elements are engaged, a pressure of the deformation elements against the pipeline, in particular the outer surface of the pipeline, adjacent to the socket section is generated.

[0031] In an advantageous embodiment, it can also be provided that, in a locked state, the semi-rings of the clamping device press the deformation elements so adhesively against the first pipeline that, in conjunction with the axial gripping of the socket section by the socket groove, axial securing of the pipelines is achieved.

[0032] In particular, the socket pipe connection according to the invention has the advantage that it can be easily manufactured, that the first pipe or the first pipeline does not need to have any additional features on the outer surface, such as structures, protrusions or other anchoring means, in order to achieve axial securing, and that nevertheless a particularly good axial securing of the two pipelines to each other or against each other is achieved or effected.

[0033] Details or specific aspects of the present invention are explained below by way of example with reference to schematic drawings showing only advantageous embodiments.

[0034] It shows: Figs. 1a to d: A schematic representation of a semi-ring for forming a clamping device according to the invention in a first embodiment in different views; Figs. 2a to c: different views and a detailed representation of a clamping device according to the invention in a first embodiment; Figs. 3a to e: different sectional views and detailed representations of a semi-ring according to the embodiment of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 4a to c: a socket pipe connection according to a first embodiment according to the invention; Fig. 5: a perspective view of a semi-ring for forming a clamping device according to the invention in a second embodiment; Fig. 6a to b: a socket pipe connection according to a second embodiment according to the invention.

[0035] The Fig. 1a Figure 1 shows a half-ring 01 for forming a clamping device according to the invention. Since the half-rings 01 for forming the clamping device can preferably be designed as identical parts, in particular made of plastic, especially preferably as injection-molded plastic identical parts, the details of one half-ring 01 are described below. These details are then found identically in both half-rings 01 when identical half-rings 01 are used to form the clamping device. The half-ring 01 has two grooves arranged next to each other in the axial direction A on an inner surface 02. These are, on the one hand, a sleeve groove 03 and, on the other hand, a clamping groove 04. The clamping groove 04 partially accommodates a deformation element 05. In other words, this means that in the Fig. 1 In the depicted unassembled or unassembled state of the half-rings, the deformation element 05 is so partially received by the clamping groove 04 that a part of the deformation element 05 protrudes radially inwards beyond the groove walls 06 which laterally limit the clamping groove 05 in the axial direction A.

[0036] The semicircular ring 01 also has locking elements 08 at opposite ends in the circumferential direction U. In the perspective view of the Fig. 1a Only one of the locking elements 08 is clearly visible. At the opposite end 07, lateral guide aids 09 are shown, which are associated with a second complementary locking element (not shown in detail). When two half-rings 01 are locked together, these guide aids ensure that the complementary locking element 08 is guided, forming a clamping device.

[0037] In the Fig. 1b A top view of the semi-circular ring 01 is shown, which also includes a corresponding side view of the locking elements 08 and the guide aids 09. Furthermore, the illustration shows the Fig. 1b It can be seen that a groove bottom 10 of the socket groove 03 is interrupted in the circumferential direction by two recesses 11, so that the groove bottom 10 of the socket groove 03 is formed by three webs 12 which on both sides transition in axial direction A into the groove walls 13 of the socket groove or connect the groove walls 13 of the socket groove 03 to each other.

[0038] In the side view representation of the Fig. 1c The recesses 11 and the webs 12 are again visible. The locking element 08, which projects circumferentially U at one end 07 of the semi-ring 01 and is designed as a radially inwardly directed hook element, is also shown. On the opposite side or at the opposite end 07 of the semi-ring 01, the guide aids 09, which provide lateral guidance for the locking element 08, are again shown.

[0039] The side view of the Fig. 1d shows that the locking element 08 extends in an axial direction on an outer surface 30 of the semi-ring 01 both over an area of ​​the sleeve groove 03 as well as over a connection area 31 and an area of ​​the clamping groove 04.

[0040] The presentation of Fig. 2a Figure 1 shows a perspective view of two interlocked half-rings 01 to form a clamping device 14 according to the invention. As already indicated, the two half-rings 01 are designed as identical parts. As already shown in the Fig. 1a As can be seen, an axially outer groove wall 06 of the clamping groove 04 forms the axially extending end of the clamping device 14 and / or the half rings 01.

[0041] The Fig. 2a This also shows the interaction of the locking elements 08, designed as hook elements 15, and the guide aids 09. In the Fig. 2b and the one in Fig. 2c enlarged section Z of the representation shown Fig. 2b The interaction of the locking elements 08 is shown again. It can be seen that each locking element 08, designed as a hook element 15 and directed radially inwards, engages with a locking element 08, also designed as a hook element 15 and directed radially outwards. The hook elements 15 are oriented and designed such that when the semicircles 01 approach each other or when the ends 07 of the semicircles 01 approach each other, the locking elements 08 snap into place by the hook elements 15. This occurs when the outer locking elements 08, which project beyond the end 07, are pushed and locked over the complementary inner hook elements 15, which are slightly recessed from the end 07.

[0042] The Fig. 2c In this context, it shows in detail that the hook elements 15 can in turn have a large number of locking teeth 16 in order to allow the hook elements 15 to lock into place in different positions and to improve the locking overall.

[0043] As already mentioned in the Fig. 1a As can be seen but not yet described in detail there, the clamping groove 04 can have projections 17 in one groove wall 06 or in both groove walls 06, which facilitate the holding or fastening of the deformation element 05.

[0044] The Fig. 3a shows another semi-ring 01 according to the embodiment of the Fig. 1a , in which the deformation element 05 has been removed for better illustration. This makes it easier to see the projections 17, which facilitate the fastening or holding of the deformation element 05 in the clamping groove 04.

[0045] As in the Fig. 3b To make the deformation element 05 even more easily recognizable, it may be advantageously provided that the projections 17 can run essentially perpendicular to the opening or opening surface 32 of the half-ring 01 in order to secure the deformation element 05 against displacement or rolling out even when the clamping device is locked or closed by a relative movement of the half-rings 01 towards each other.

[0046] The Fig. 3c Figure 1 shows a detailed representation of a first locking element 08 as a radially inwardly directed hook element 15 and the locking teeth 16. The complementary locking element 08, which is designed as a radially outwardly directed hook element 15 with locking teeth 16, is shown in the Fig. 3d depicted.

[0047] In the Fig. 3e The cross-section of the clamping groove 04 is shown in the circumferential direction. It can be seen that the groove base 18 of the clamping groove 04 includes a kink 19. This improves the axial securing of a pipe or pipeline pressed against the deformation element 05.

[0048] The Fig. 4a shows a socket pipe connection 20 according to the invention with a first pipe 21 and a second pipe 22 as well as a clamping device 14, preferably according to the illustrations of the Fig. 1 bis 3 The pipeline 21 has a socket section 23 at its end. A [missing information - likely a specific element or component] enters this socket section 23, as shown in the illustration. Fig. 4a The immersion section of the second pipeline 22 (not shown) is included. The clamping device 14 engages the socket section 23 of the first pipeline 21 with its socket groove 03, thus fixing the clamping device 14 axially relative to the first pipeline 21, which is achieved essentially by the groove walls 13 of the socket groove 03. As with reference to the Fig. 4b und 4c As will be described in detail later, the clamping device 14 also secures the second pipe or the second pipeline 22 in axial direction A.

[0049] This is achieved by the deformation element 05, which is partially incorporated in the clamping groove 04, as for example in the Fig. 4b The clamping device 14 is designed, and in particular dimensioned, with regard to the locking elements 08 and the half-rings 01, such that the locking of the locking elements 08, and thus the locking of the half-rings 01, causes the deformation element 05 to be pressed against an outer surface 24 of the second pipe 22. This results in an adhesive axial compression due to the soft material of the deformation element 05, for example, made of elastomer material. This compression, together with the axial securing of the clamping device 14 against the socket section 23 of the pipe 21, provides overall axial securing of the pipes 21 and 22 relative to each other.The clamping device 14 can thus supplement a partial securing or inhibition of movement in axial direction A by means of the sealing element 25 received in the socket section 23, in particular supplement in such a way that an axial securing is provided in such a way that movement of the pipelines 21, 22 towards each other or against each other in axial direction A is prevented.

[0050] The Fig. 5 Figure 1 shows a second embodiment of half-rings 01 for forming a clamping device 14 according to the invention. The essential difference between the embodiment of the half-rings 01 according to Figure 1 is that... Fig. 1 bis 4 consists of the spacer wings 26. Advantageously, two spacer wings 26 are provided per half-ring 01.

[0051] The spacer wings 26 are preferably arranged in the area of ​​the socket groove or have the transition to the other semi-ring 01 in the area of ​​the socket groove 03, particularly in the area of ​​lateral webs 12 of the groove base 10. Fig. 5a also shows that the spacer wings 26 have one wing surface 27 or two substantially parallel wing surfaces 27, which run substantially parallel to the axial direction A. As can be seen in the illustration of Fig. 5b, the spacer wings 26 are slightly tapered with increasing distance from the semi-ring 01. The spacer wings 26 can also include a chamfer 28, which also causes a decreasing width or a decreasing depth of the wing surface 27 in the axial direction with increasing distance from the semi-ring 01.

[0052] Both the decreasing thickness and the reduced width of the spacer wings 26 and their wing surfaces 27 caused by the chamfer 28 lead to increased flexibility of the spacer wings 26, particularly with increasing distance from the semicircle 01. This can be used to enable the clamping device to be installed in different installation situations, such as within the framework of the Fig. 6 illustrated. At the same time, a safe and stable transition of the spacer wings to the other components of the, apart from the deformation element 05, advantageously monolithic semi-ring 01 is enabled.

[0053] The Fig. 6aFigure 1 shows a socket pipe connection for a concentric arrangement of pipes. In addition to a first pipe 21 and a second pipe 22, a third pipe 28 is arranged concentrically around the pipes 21 and 22. Such an arrangement is used, for example, in exhaust systems, particularly in heating systems. For example, the outer pipe 28 can be made of stainless steel. The inner pipes 21 and 22, as well as the clamping device 14, can preferably be made of plastic. It can be seen that the spacer wings 26 have undergone deformation and, in their deformed position, enable the pipes 21 and 22 to be centered within the pipe 28. Reference sign

[0054] 01 Half ring 02 Inner surface 03 Socket groove 04 Clamping groove 05 Deformation element 06 Groove wall 07 End 08 Locking element 09 Guide aid 10 Groove bottom 11 Recess 12 Web 13 Groove wall 14 Clamping device 15 Hook element 16 Locking tooth 17 Projection 18 Groove bottom 19 Bend 20 Socket pipe connection 21 First pipeline 22 Second pipeline 23 Socket section 24 Outer surface 25 Sealing element 26 Spacer wing 27 Wing surface 28 Chamfer 29 Pipeline 30 Outer surface 31 Connection area 32 Opening area Axial direction Circumferential direction

Claims

1. A clamping device (14) for axially securing a bell-end pipe coupling (20) of two pipes (21, 22), in particular exhaust pipes, the clamping device (14) comprising two half rings (01), which have mutually complementary interlocking elements (08) on the respective ends (07) in the circumferential direction (U) and which have a bell-end groove (03) on an inner side at one end in the axial direction (A), the bell-end groove (03) being configured to engage a bell-end portion (23) of a pipe bell end and extending in the circumferential direction (U), and a clamping groove (04) at the other end, the clamping groove (04) also extending in the circumferential direction (U), wherein a deformable element (05) is at least partially received in the clamping groove (04) in such a manner that, in the uninstalled state, it protrudes radially inward beyond groove walls (06, 13) laterally defining the clamping groove (04) in the axial direction.

2. The clamping device (14) according to claim 1, characterized in that in the circumferential direction (U), the bell-end groove (03) has a groove bottom (10) interrupted by recesses (11).

3. The clamping device (14) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the interlocking elements (08) are hook elements.

4. The clamping device (14) according to claim 3, characterized in that lateral guides (09) for a first interlocking element (08) are formed.

5. The clamping device (14) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the interlocking elements (08) are disposed in the area of the bell-end groove (03).

6. The clamping device (14) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one spacer tab (26), preferably two spacer tabs, projecting radially outward from the half ring (01).

7. The clamping device (14) according to claim 6, characterized in that the spacer tab (26) is disposed in the area of the bell-end groove (03) and has a tab surface (27) extending parallel to the axial direction (A).

8. The clamping device (14) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the deformable element (05) is made of a soft elastomer material.

9. A bell-end pipe coupling (20) for connecting two pipes (21, 22), in particular exhaust pipes, in which a male portion at the end of a first pipe (21) is inserted into a bell-end pipe portion at the end of an adjacent pipe (22), in particular in a sealing manner via sealing means (25) associated with the bell-end pipe portion, characterized by a clamping device (14) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the clamping device (14) being in contact with both pipes (21, 22) and in particular engaging the bell-end pipe portion.

10. The bell-end pipe coupling (20) according to claim 9, characterized in that the half rings (01), in particular the interlocking elements (08), are adapted to the pipes (21, 22), in particular the diameters of the pipes (21, 22), in such a manner that when the interlocking elements (08) interlock, the deformable elements (05) are pressed against the first pipe (21) adjacent to the bell-end pipe portion.

11. The bell-end pipe coupling (20) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that in an interlocked state of the half rings (01) of the clamping device (14), the deformable elements (05) are adhesively pressed against the first pipe (21) in such a manner that, in interaction with the bell-end groove's (03) axial engaging of the bell-end pipe portion, the pipes (21, 22) are axially secured.