Clamping ear

Abstract

The clamp (10) comprises a belt (12) having a geometric winding axis (A) and carrying two clamping lugs (20A, 20B) that can be moved relative to each other by means of a clamping member (14) to tighten the belt. At least one of the clamping lugs, referred to as the "triangular lug," having, viewed along the winding axis (A), a triangular shape with a base (21A, 21B) extending substantially along the circumference of the belt and an external apex located radially outside the belt. The external apex is connected to the base by a front wall (22A, 22B) and a rear wall (23A, 23B), these walls forming, together with the base, the three sides of the triangle. [Fig. 2]

Description

Title of the invention: Clamping ear collar technical field

[0001] The present description relates to a clamp for securing objects, for example, for joining tubular objects together, or for fixing an object to a support. In the latter case, for example, the clamp is itself fixed to the support and clamps the object so as to secure it to the support. This support may, for example, be a part of a vehicle, such as the chassis of a motor vehicle, and the object may be a part of a tank, such as a hydrogen tank.

[0002] In particular, the hose clamp comprises a belt wound around a winding axis and carrying two clamping lugs that can be moved relative to each other by means of a clamping member to tighten the belt. The lugs are upright portions relative to the belt, providing gripping surfaces for the clamping member. For example, the lugs may be drilled, and the clamping member may include a clamping screw that passes through the drilled holes in the lugs and is held behind them. Previous technique

[0003] Clamping collars of this type are known, for example, from documents WO2006 / 109001, WO2010 / 004233 or EP3825594. The clamping lugs are subjected to high clamping forces, in particular tensile forces, which they must be able to resist in order to ensure the required clamping quality.

[0004] Conventionally, the clamping bands are formed from relatively thick metal strips, and the lugs are formed in one piece with the band, by being radially straightened and work-hardened.

[0005] However, there is an increasing desire to save material, and in particular to use thin metal strips to form the belt. Indeed, the clamping forces are exerted in the belt, in the circumferential direction, and can be withstood by thin strips. However, the clamping forces are exerted on the lugs in the direction of application of the clamping force by the clamping element, which is generally inclined relative to the lugs. The lugs are therefore more sensitive to clamping forces than the belt. Thus, conventional clamping lugs, such as those just described, may not withstand the clamping forces when the belt is thin.

[0006] To address this problem, it was considered to make the ears from thick strip sections attached to the belt, as in US2003 / 0015872 or US2014 / 0306449. This solution is satisfactory but still requires a relatively large quantity of material to form the thick strip sections and, in some cases, complicates the manufacturing process.

[0007] Trunnion collars are also known, for example from document WO2008024310, in which the clamping lugs are formed by transversely open loops in which rigid trunnions are arranged. For example, one of the trunnions can form the head of the screw while the other forms a nut for the threaded portion of the screw. This system is satisfactory in terms of mechanical strength, but it requires additional parts and uses a significant amount of material. Description of the invention

[0008] The invention aims to remedy at least substantially the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0009] Thus, the invention relates to a clamping collar comprising a belt having a geometric winding axis and carrying two clamping lugs capable of being moved relative to each other by means of a clamping member to tighten the belt, at least one of the clamping lugs, called a "triangular lug", having, viewed along the winding axis, a triangular shape having a base which extends substantially along the circumference of the belt and an external apex located radially outside the belt, the external apex being connected to the base by a front wall and a rear wall, these walls forming with the base the three sides of the triangle.

[0010] The triangular clamping lug can be made of an inherently weak material, for example a thin metal strip, but the inventors have found that its triangular shape provides the desired mechanical strength. In particular, due to their inclination and the support they provide each other, the front and rear walls are able to withstand significant clamping forces, especially when they are connected at the base of the triangle.

[0011] The triangular ear can be formed in one piece with the belt, or it can be an attached ear. It should be noted that, in this case, the attached ear can be formed with a significantly smaller quantity of material than that required with the aforementioned thick strip sections, or it can be made of a different material. The triangular ear has a simple shape, which makes its manufacture particularly easy, for example, as a continuation of the belt manufacturing process.

[0012] Optionally, the triangle has two circumferential vertices, located substantially in the circumference of the belt.

[0013] Optionally, the base extends against an outer face of the belt.

[0014] Optionally, the front wall and the rear wall have a perforated area configured to allow the passage of the clamping member through the front wall and the rear wall.

[0015] Optionally, at least one of the front and rear walls, in particular the front wall, has an oblong perforated area so as to allow movement of the clamping member through the front and rear walls.

[0016] Optionally, the rear wall has, on its rear face, a boss projecting backwards around at least part of the pierced area present in the rear wall, the boss being optionally located between slots in the rear wall.

[0017] Optionally, at least one of the front and rear walls, in particular the rear wall, has at least one stiffening relief, in particular a rib and / or raised or lowered edges.

[0018] Optionally, the rear wall is straightened relative to the portion of the belt that supports it by forming with this portion of the belt an external angle to the triangle of 80° to 120°, optionally of 100° to 110°.

[0019] Optionally, the front wall forms with the base an internal angle to the triangle of 40° to 70°, optionally of 50° to 60°.

[0020] Optionally, at least one of the elements comprising the base, the front wall and the rear wall is fixed, optionally by welding or clinching, to a portion of the belt, called the fixing support, by at least one fixing zone integral with said at least one element, which is disposed against the fixing support.

[0021] Optionally, the fixing area is located in the base, the fixing support optionally forming part of the base.

[0022] Optionally, the attachment area is located in an extension of the rear wall, the front wall or the base, which extends substantially along the circumference of the belt, said extension being optionally located on the external side of the belt.

[0023] Optionally, the belt is formed, at least in part, from a band and the triangular ear is formed from one piece with the band, in a terminal portion of the band which is folded to define the triangular shape.

[0024] Optionally, the terminal portion of the strip is folded against itself to present a double thickness, at least in a part of the triangle.

[0025] Optionally, the two clamping lugs are triangular lugs.

[0026] Optionally, the clamping member includes a clamping screw held relative to the clamping lugs by retaining members, at least one of the retaining members comprising a nut.

[0027] Optionally, the clamping screw has a retaining head and the drilled area communicates with a passage opening configured to allow the retaining head to be positioned at the rear of the back wall by a rocking movement of the clamping screw in a plane substantially perpendicular to the geometric winding axis.

[0028] Optionally, the passage opening is configured to be traversed by the retaining head and is optionally located in the region of the junction between the base and the rear wall, in particular in an extension of the base which extends to the rear of the rear wall. Brief description of the drawings

[0029] Other features and advantages of the subject matter of this presentation will become apparent from the following description of embodiments, given by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the attached figures.

[0030] [Fig.1A] is a perspective view of a hose clamp according to the invention.

[0031] [Fig. IB] is an enlarged view of area IA of [Fig. 1 A].

[0032] [Fig.2] is a view analogous to [Fig.1B], showing a variant.

[0033] [Fig.3] is a view analogous to [Fig.1B], showing a variant.

[0034] [Fig.4] is a view analogous to [Fig.1B], showing a variant.

[0035] [Fig.5] is a view analogous to [Fig.1B], showing a variant.

[0036] [Fig.6A] is a view analogous to [Fig.1B], showing a variant.

[0037] [Fig.6B] shows in perspective seen from behind, a triangular ear of the variant of [Fig.6A].

[0038] [Fig.6C] shows in perspective, viewed from the inside, the triangular ear of the variant of [Fig.6B],

[0039] [Fig.7] is a perspective view of a collar according to the invention, for an application providing a spring effect.

[0040] [Fig.6B] shows in perspective seen from behind, a triangular ear of the variant of [Fig.6A].

[0041] [Fig.8] is a perspective view of a triangular ear according to one variant, taken from the rear.

[0042] [Fig.9] is a perspective view of a triangular ear according to one variant, taken from the rear.

[0043] [Fig. 10] is a perspective view of a triangular ear according to a variant, taken from the rear. Detailed description

[0044] Figure 1A shows a hose clamp 10 comprising a belt 12 wound around a geometric winding axis A. Here, the belt is made in one piece, covering the entire circumference of the hose clamp. The belt may, however, be formed of belt segments, joined together or to a support. The axis A is defined as that of the cylinder defined by the cylindrical contour of the belt or on which the cylindrical contour segments of the belt are substantially inscribed.

[0045] The ends 12A and 12B of the belt 12 have clamping lugs, respectively 20A and 20B.

[0046] For the purposes of this explanation, the inward direction is the direction toward axis A. Thus, the inner face of the belt 12 is the one facing axis A. The outward direction is, of course, the opposite direction. In the case of an ear, the forward direction is the direction in which it moves when the belt is tightened. Thus, in the example shown, the front wall of one ear is the one facing the front wall of the other ear. Conversely, the rear wall of one ear is the one opposite its front wall and, therefore, opposite the other ear. The axial direction is that defined by axis A.

[0047] Even though, according to the invention, at least one of the clamping lugs is triangular, both lugs 20A and 20B are triangular here. It can be seen that these lugs are drilled and are traversed by a clamping member 14 which, in this case, comprises a clamping rod 14A, in particular a clamping screw which, by tightening, brings the lugs closer together, so as to tighten the collar strap. Here, the clamping screw 14A is held behind the lugs, respectively by its screw head 14B held behind lug 20A, and a nut held behind lug 20B. The clamping screw is oriented substantially tangentially to the strap 12.

[0048] The clamping ear 20A has a triangular shape, with a base 21A which extends along the circumference of the belt 12, an external apex 20'A located radially outside the belt and, in this case, defining the greatest radial height of the ear, a front wall 22A and a rear wall 23A.

[0049] Similarly, the clamping ear 20B has a triangular shape, with a base 21B which extends along the circumference of the belt 12, an external apex 20'B located radially outside the belt and, in this case, defining the greatest radial height of the ear, a front wall 22B and a rear wall 23B.

[0050] Considering that the base 21A, respectively 21B, has a slight curvature, it is assimilated to a plane shape and this base forms, with the front and rear walls 22A and 23A, respectively 22B and 23B, the three sides of a triangle.

[0051] It can be seen that the triangle formed by the ear 20A has two circumferential vertices, 20” A and 20’” A. The vertex 20” A is at the junction between the front wall 22A and the base 21 A, while the vertex 20’ ’ ’ A is at the junction between the rear wall 23A and the base 21 A.

[0052] The same applies to the ear 20B, with the circumferential vertices, 20”B and 20”’B of its triangle.

[0053] The base 21A thus extends from one circumferential vertex to the other and the forces which it undergoes are oriented along the circumferential direction.

[0054] Here we see that the ears are formed directly from the belt, in one piece with it, by successive folds of its ends.

[0055] Thus, the base 21A of the ear 20A forms a terminal portion of the belt, locally defining its circumference. It should be noted here that the belt is formed from a flat strip, that is, its cross-section in a radial plane parallel to axis A is flat. The invention also applies to collars whose belt has a recess delimited by flanks, as in document EP3825594. In this case, the circumference of the belt is considered to be defined by the apex of the recess, that is, for example, the portion of a cylinder of revolution from which the flanks extend towards the geometric axis of winding.

[0056] In particular, the belt is formed by winding a strip, especially a metal strip. The portion of the strip in which the ear 20A is formed is folded outwards to form the circumferential peak 20”A and straightened to form the front wall 22A, then folded inwards to form the peak 20'A and folded down to form the rear wall 23A, until it reaches the circumference of the belt and is then folded to form the peak 20”A and then brought back against the outer face of the belt to form a flap 24A, 24'A. In this case, this flap is brought back against the outer face of the belt, behind the rear wall 23A. It could just as easily be brought back against this outer face at the front of the rear wall, that is to say, against the outer face of the base.

[0057] The bib here forms a fixed area integral with the rear wall (immediately supported by the rear wall) which is attached to a support portion 12'A of the belt, for example by welding or clinching. As shown, this support portion is located here behind the ear, but it could alternatively be formed by all or part of the base of the triangle formed by the ear.

[0058] In this case, the bib has a portion 24A located immediately following the apex 20'” A, and then a portion 24'A, which extends from portion 24A to the free end of the bib. It can be seen that these two portions are flat or have a slight curvature, less than that of the belt, and are slightly inclined with respect to the circumference of the belt, forming at their junction a very slightly raised relative to the belt. Viewed along axis A, these two portions form the arms of a V, the apex of which points outwards and the angle between the arms is obtuse, for example, greater than 150°. For example, the two portions 24A and 24'A can be attached to the support portion 12'A in two separate areas. This allows the shape of the bib and its attachment to the belt to be adapted to the curvature of the belt, without needing the bib to have the same curvature as the belt.

[0059] The preceding description applies to the ear 20B, with its bib 24B, 24'B fixed to the support portion 12'B.

[0060] The front and rear walls of each of the ears 20A and 20B have a drilled area allowing the passage of the tightening screw 14A. In this case, for each ear, the front and rear walls each have a drilled hole. Figure 1B shows the drilled hole 25B in the front wall 22B of ear 20B, the drilled hole 25'B in its rear wall 23B, and the drilled hole 25A in the front wall 22A of ear 20A. These drilled holes are aligned.

[0061] It can be seen that the holes 25A and 25B in the respective front walls 22A and 22B of the lugs 20A and 20B are oblong. When the belt is tightened, the lugs tend to move closer to the belt axis A, and the tightening screw can move relative to the lugs. The oblong shape is elongated in the radial direction and prevents this movement from being impeded. The holes in the rear walls can also be slightly oblong.

[0062] It can be seen here that the rear wall 23A of the ear 20A is angled relative to the portion of the belt on which it is mounted, forming with this portion of the belt an angle α external to the triangle formed by the ear 20A. This angle is therefore measured between the rear face of the rear wall and the outer face of the belt, at the rear of the rear wall. This angle α is from 80° to 120°, optionally from 100° to 110°. The rear wall of the ear is thus significantly angled relative to the circumference of the belt and offers the fastening element (here: the head of the screw 14A) a large and well-oriented gripping surface, allowing optimal contact between the rear wall of the ear and the head of the screw or nut, whose surfaces facing the rear wall of the ear are then practically parallel to the face opposite this rear wall.

[0063] The same angle a is observed between the rear wall 23B of the ear 20B and the portion of the belt which carries it.

[0064] It can be seen that the front wall 22A of the ear 20A forms an internal angle [3] with the base 21A to the triangle formed by the ear. This angle is from 40° to 70°, optionally from 50° to 60°. This angle of inclination allows the front wall to effectively resist the tendency of the ear to fold inwards under the effect of clamping forces. The front wall forms, in a way, a buttress that supports the rear wall with respect to These efforts, without being too bulky, by minimizing the space between the two ears and by avoiding that the length of the base which is somewhat cantilevered forward from the rear wall on which the clamping force is exerted, is not too great, which could impair the intensity of the radial support force of the base on the object clamped by the belt.

[0065] We now describe [Fig.2], on which the elements analogous to those of figures IA and IB are designated by the same references, increased by 50.

[0066] The two ears 70A and 70B are also triangular and are also formed in one piece with the belt 62, by successive foldings of the band in which the belt is formed.

[0067] In this case, these folds are such that the thickness of the band is doubled in the ear area. It is understood that ear 70A is formed partly like ear 20A, with an outward fold at the top 70”A, then an inward fold at the top 70'A, and a rearward fold at the top 70”'A. A fold 76A is thus formed at the rear of ear 70A, over a short distance, and this fold is folded back on itself at its rear end. The band is then brought against the inner face of the rear wall 73A, the inner face of the front wall 72A, and the outer face of the base 71A until a bib 76'A is formed, which is attached to the area 62'A, forming a belt attachment support. The fold 76A is itself attached to the bib 76'A. Otherwise, the ear's conformation corresponds to that previously described. Here, base 71A extends against the outer face of girdle 62.

[0068] Ear 70B is analogous to ear 70A and also has double the thickness.

[0069] We now describe [Fig.3], on which the elements analogous to those of figures IA and IB are designated by the same references, increased by 100.

[0070] The two ears 120A and 120B are also triangular, but they are formed by separate parts, attached to the belt 112.

[0071] In this case, the front wall 122A of the ear 120A has an end that is folded backwards, within the triangle, to form a bib 122'A which forms a fastening zone, attached to the belt 112 in the area 112'A of this belt which forms a fastening support. Similarly, the rear wall 123A has an end folded backwards to form a bib 124A, 124'A analogous to the bib 24A, 24'A previously described. This bib 124A, 124'A extends against the outer face of the belt, in this case behind the ear, although it could also extend forwards, under the ear. The 124A, 124'A mud flap is attached to the 112 belt in the 112' 'A zone of this belt which forms a fixing support.

[0072] As previously indicated in relation to the mud flaps 24A and 24'A of [Fig. 1B], the V-shaped conformation of the mud flap 124A, 124'A allows it to be adapted to the The curvature of the belt and the two portions, 124A and 124'A respectively, of the bib can each be attached to the belt in two separate areas. Thus, the same 120A or 122A tab can be attached to belts of different diameters, which is particularly advantageous when the tab forms a separate part of the belt, as in this case, because it is then not necessary to have a tab reference for each belt reference.

[0073] The mud flaps 122'A and 124A, 124'A are attached to the belt by any suitable means, in particular by welding or clinching. It should be noted that they do not necessarily have significant lengths. For example, the length of the mud flap 122'A, measured along the circumference of the belt, can be on the order of 0.1 to 0.5 times the width of the belt, measured along the geometric winding axis A. The length of the mud flap 124A, 124'A, measured along the circumference of the belt, can be on the order of 0.5 to 1.2 times the width of the belt, measured along the geometric winding axis A.

[0074] The base 121A of the triangle formed by the ear 120A is formed by the portion of the belt which is located radially under the front and rear walls 122A and 123A. The triangle formed by the ear is a stable geometric entity, the length of its base being fixed by the fixings of the front and rear walls according to the aforementioned mud flaps.

[0075] The ear 120B is here formed like the ear 120A and its front and rear walls 122B and 123B, its base 121B, the front wall fixing flap 122'B and the rear wall fixing flap 124B, 124'B are recognizable.

[0076] We now describe [Fig.4], on which the elements analogous to those of figures IA and IB are designated by the same references, augmented by 150.

[0077] This variant is similar to that of Figures IA and IB. It differs only in that the lugs 170A and 170B have stiffening ribs. These ribs extend parallel to the length of the belt 162. Thus, the lug 170A has two ribs 177A and 177'A that extend along the front wall 172A and the rear wall 173A. In this case, these ribs even extend onto the flap 174A, 174'A, which is attached to the belt in its area 162'A, forming a fastening support. Here, the ribs are not interrupted in the areas of peaks 170'A and 170"A, but one could instead choose for them to be interrupted at these peaks. Here, from the front, ribs 177A and 177'A begin just above peak 170"A, that is, radially outside of this peak but close to it.It could be predicted that, towards the rear, the ribs stop just before the 170'”A summit, that is, radially outside of this summit.

[0078] In this case, two parallel ribs 177A and 177'A are provided. They are configured here so that the axial distance between them (measured along the direction of The geometric axis of winding corresponds to an axial width of the head 164A of the screw 164A of the clamping member 164, this width being measured, for example, between two flats on the edges of this head. Thus, in addition to their stiffening effect on the ear, the ribs 177A and 177'A produce a rotational locking effect on the screw head.

[0079] The ear 170B is analogous to the ear 170A and also has ribs, 177B and 177'B which, in this case, also extend over the front wall 172B, the rear wall 173B and the flap 174B, 174'B. Here, a washer 164B can be interposed between the rear wall of the ear 170B and the nut (not shown) of the clamping member so that the ribs 177B and 177'B do not hinder the rotation of this nut.

[0080] Two stiffening ribs are shown here for each ear, and these ribs project outwards. Of course, there could be a different number of ribs, for example, a single rib, and the rib(s) could project inwards and thus be recessed on the outer faces of the ear walls. While the ribs are continuous here, they could be interrupted. They could also extend only on one of the front and rear walls, in particular on the rear wall. Other types of stiffening reliefs could be provided, for example, bosses or localized work-hardening zones.

[0081] Fig. 5 also shows other types of stiffening reliefs.

[0082] In this figure, the same references as in [Fig.4] increased by 50 or the same references as in [Fig.1B] increased by 200 are used to designate analogous elements.

[0083] Here, the ear stiffening reliefs 220A are formed by raised edges 228A, 228'A which extend over its front and rear walls 222A and 223A, and over its bib 224A, 224'A. Like ribs 177A and 177'A, the upturned edges also extend into vertices 220'A and 220'A, but they may be interrupted at these vertices. They may also be continuous, as shown, or not. At the base of upturned edges 228A and 228'A near the belt, on the anterior wall 222A, the edges of the latter have incisions such as incision 229'A referenced in [Fig. 5], to facilitate the shaping of the upturned edge. Ear 220B has similar upturned edges, 228B and 228'B.

[0084] The raised edges are formed on the edges of the ear, spaced apart along the axial direction. They are deformed to be raised radially. Alternatively, they could be deformed by lowering them towards axis A, even if this means interrupting them in the regions of the vertices of the triangle formed by the ear.

[0085] Although Figures 4 and 5 show the stiffening reliefs on single-thickness lugs, i.e., lugs with a single strip thickness, it is of course possible to produce such reliefs on double-thickness lugs thickness like that of [Fig.2]. Moreover, although figures 4 and 5 show these reliefs on ears made in one piece with the belt, they can be made on ears forming separate pieces, like those of [Fig.3].

[0086] Figures 6A to 6C are now described, in which the same references as in [Fig.1B] are used, increased by 250.

[0087] This variant differs from those just described in that the clamping screw 264A is disengageable. Indeed, the screw shank can be separated from the lug 27OA without being extracted by a translational movement along its length and without being separated from the lug 270B. More precisely, the head 264B of this screw can be disengaged from the lug 270A without removing the screw from the drilled areas of the lugs by a translational movement along the axis of the screw.

[0088] On the contrary, it is possible here for the tightening screw 264A to remain engaged in the drilled area 275B, 275'B of the lug 270B while being extracted from the drilled area 275A, 275'A of the lug 270A. For this purpose, the drilled area 275'A of the lug 270A communicates with a passage opening 279A through which the head 264B of the screw can pass. The axial (along the winding axis) and longitudinal (along the length of the belt 262) dimensions are obviously chosen to be compatible with those of the screw head.

[0089] Here, the pierced area of ​​the ear 270A comprises not only a bore 275A formed in the front wall 272A and a bore 275'A formed in the rear wall 273A as in the preceding figures, but also a bore 275'"A formed in the base 271A, these three bores communicating with each other to form a continuous slot that extends inwards from a portion of the front wall 272A near the apex 270'A, continues into the base 271A along its entire length, and continues into the rear wall 223A to a portion near the apex 270'A. At the rear of the rear wall 273A of the ear 270A, this slot also continues to form the passage opening 279A, which is formed here in the fold 276A and the flap 276'A, the fold and the The bibs are overlapping at this point.It is understood that this continuous slot allows, by a rocking movement of the screw 264A in the direction of arrow F, in a plane perpendicular to the winding axis, while the part of the screw furthest from its head 264B remains in place in the holes 275B and 275B' of the lug 270B, the head of the screw to pass through the opening 279A. The screw is extracted from the lug 270A by rotating around the lug 270B in the plane perpendicular to the winding axis.

[0090] Thus, when the collar is not yet around the object that it is going to tighten, or when the collar is around this object but not tightened and leaving sufficient space between the belt and this object, the screw can thus be released from the ear 270A or on the contrary be engaged in it.

[0091] The lug 270B is in this case identical to the lug 70B of [Fig. 2]. The base 27IB, the front wall 272B, the rear wall 273B, and the holes 275B and 275B' have been identified. The oblong shape of the hole 275B is chosen to allow the screw to pivot over a sufficient range of motion for its engagement or disengagement with respect to the lug 270A.

[0092] It should be emphasized that, although the passage opening 279A is shown here for a double-thickness ear, the same opening can obviously be made for ears of the type shown in the variants of figures IA to 5, whether it is a single-thickness ear coming from a piece with the belt, or an added ear, fixed to the belt.

[0093] It should be noted that a passage opening of the type shown in opening 279A can be made behind a conventional clamping lug, not necessarily triangular, for example, a clamping lug of the type shown in documents WO2006 / 109001 and WO2010 / 004233. Thus, a clamping collar can be provided comprising a belt having a geometric axis of winding and clamping tabs that are upright relative to the belt and can be moved relative to each other by means of a clamping screw to tighten the belt. For this purpose, one of the clamping tabs has a hole through which the shank of the screw passes, and the screw has a head that rests behind this clamping tab. To allow the screw to be removed by a rocking motion, the hole in this tab communicates with a passage opening made in the belt behind the lug, this opening being configured so that the head of the screw can pass through it.The hole in the tab and the opening create a continuous slot that allows the screw to be released without having to be pulled out by sliding it along its length, while still allowing its shank to remain engaged relative to the other clamping tab. This design allows the screw to be separated from the clamping tab or, conversely, to be repositioned by placing its head behind the tab, either when the collar is not yet around the object it will clamp, or when the collar is around the object but not yet tightened, leaving sufficient space between the belt and the object.

[0094] We now describe [Fig.7] which uses the same references as in figures IA and IB augmented by 300 to designate analogous elements.

[0095] In this figure, the collar's belt 312 is formed from belt segments 313A and 313B, which carry the ears 320A and 320B, respectively, and a belt segment 313C formed on a support 313D. In this case, the belt segments 313A and 313B are hinged at the ends of the belt segment 313C. The ears 320A and 320B can be analogous to the ears according to the various variants just described. In this case, they are attached ears, fixed to the belt by flaps, such as the flaps 322A and 324A visible to the ear 320A. In this case, the collar 310 can be used to secure an object that may undergo significant expansion to its support. For example, this object could be a hydrogen tank mounted on a vehicle.

[0096] In this case, as in the unpublished patent application FR2306425, one of the ears can cooperate with the clamping member 314 via a spring.

[0097] In this case, it is the ear 320B at the rear of which is mounted a connecting piece 326 forming a cage inside which is mounted a helical spring 326'. In this case, this cage has a U-shape, with a rear wall away from the ear 320B and held in relation to the ear by the wings of the U.

[0098] The nut 314C of the clamping member 314 is held behind the rear wall of the connecting piece. The screw passes through the spring and the connecting piece. It is understood that tightening the nut 314C onto the screw 314A compresses the spring. The spring can compress further to accommodate the expansion of the object clamped by the collar or, conversely, expand if the object contracts. This allows the clamping force to be maintained at the desired level.

[0099] Figure 8 shows an alternative embodiment of a triangular clamping ear. Here is shown an ear 370A formed by a separate part of the belt, and intended to be fixed to it by a flap 372' A extending its front wall 372A by being folded against the belt, and a flap 374A, 374'A extending its rear wall 373A and folded against the belt.

[0100] However, this variant can be adopted on the different types of ears described above.

[0101] The distinctive feature of this variant is that the rear wall 373A has, on its rear face, a boss 383A projecting rearward around the hole 375'A in this rear wall. Generally, the boss extends around at least part of the drilled area of ​​the ear. In this case, the drilled area includes the hole 375'A in the rear wall 373A and the hole 375A in the front wall 372A, both of these holes having closed contours, and the boss extends around the hole 375'A. This boss can, in particular, define an external surface in the shape of a portion of a sphere or, in any case, a regular curvature, which facilitates the correct positioning of the clamping element. In particular, if this element includes a screw, the head of the screw can rest against the surface of the boss, which contributes to the correct positioning of the screw in the hole 375'A.

[0102] Fig. 9 shows a variant of Fig. 8, with another boss shape, also compatible with the different variants of figures IA to 7.

[0103] Here, the boss 433A of the rear face of the rear wall 423A of the ear 420A is located between two slots 434A and 434'A of the rear wall. These slots are in this case Oriented along the longitudinal direction of the belt and, due to the inclination of the rear wall, are generally oriented radially.

[0104] In this case, the boss has the shape of a portion of a cylinder of revolution with an axis parallel to the winding axis of the belt. It extends around the hole 425'A and helps to ensure the correct positioning of the screw head relative to this hole.

[0105] We now describe [Fig.10], on which we use the same references as on [Fig.1B], augmented by 450. As in the variant of figures 6A to 6C, the screw is here disengageable, that is to say that the ear 470A is made in such a way that the shank of the screw can be separated from this ear without having to be extracted by a translational movement along its length and without having to be separated from the other ear.

[0106] Thus, as in the variant of figures 6A to 6C, the screw can be separated from the ear by a rocking movement in a plane substantially perpendicular to the geometric winding axis.

[0107] Here, the tilting movement is outward. To achieve this, the hole 475A in the front wall 472A and the hole 475'A in the rear wall 473A meet at the top 470'A of the ear, in a zone 475”A which forms an opening for the screw. The holes 475A, 475'A and the zone 475”A together form a continuous drilled area, open at the top 470'A of the ear and thus allowing the screw to be removed from the top.

[0108] Of course, this variant is compatible with single-thickness or double-thickness ears, in one piece with the belt, or, on the contrary, attached and fixed to the belt.

Claims

Demands

1. Clamping collar (10) comprising a belt (12, 62, 112, 162, 212, 262, 312) having a geometric winding axis (A) and carrying two clamping lugs (20A, 20B, 70A, 70B, 120A, 120B, 170A, 170B, 220A, 220B, 270A, 270B, 320A, 320B, 370A, 420A, 470A) capable of being moved relative to each other by means of a clamping member (14, 64, 164, 264) to tighten the belt, at least one of the clamping lugs, referred to as the "triangular lug", having, viewed along the winding axis (A), a triangular shape having a base (21 A, 21B, 71 A, 271 A, 27IB) which extends substantially along the circumference of the belt and an external vertex (70'A, 270'A) located radially outside the belt, the external vertex being connected to the base by a front wall (22A, 22B, 72A, 272A, 272) and a rear wall (23A, 23B, 73A, 273A, 273B), these walls forming with the base the three sides of the triangle, the belt (62, 262, 312) being formed,at least in part, in a band, and the triangular ear (70A, 70B, 270A, 270B) being formed in one piece with the band, in a terminal portion of the band which is folded to define the triangular shape, characterized in that the terminal portion of the band is folded against itself to present a double thickness, at least in a part of the triangle.

2. Clamp according to claim 1, wherein the triangle has two circumferential vertices (20”A, 20”'A ; 20”B, 20”'B, 70” A, 70’” A), located substantially in the circumference of the belt (12, 62).

3. Clamp according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the base (71 A, 271 A) extends against an external face of the belt (62, 262).

4. Clamping collar according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the front wall (22A, 22B, 72A, 122A, 172A, 222A, 272A, 372A, 472A) and the rear wall (23A, 73A, 123A, 173A, 223A, 273A, 373A, 473A) have a perforated area (25A, 25B, 25'B, 275A, 275'A, 375'A, 425'A, 475A, 475'A) configured to allow passage of the clamping member (14,14A, 64, 264) through the front wall and the rear wall.

5. Clamp according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the front and rear walls, in particular the front wall (22A, 22B, 72A, 122A, 172A, 222A, 272A, 372A, 472A), has an oblong perforated area (25A, 25B, 275A, 475A), so as to allow movement of the clamping element (14A) through the front and rear walls.

6. Clamp according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the rear wall (373A, 433A) has, on its rear face, a boss (383A, 433A) projecting rearward around at least a portion of the drilled area (375'A, 425'A) present in the rear wall, the boss being optionally located between slots (434A, 434'A) in the rear wall.

7. Clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein at least one of the front and rear walls (172A, 173A, 172B, 173B, 222A, 223A, 222B, 223B), in particular the rear wall, has at least one stiffening relief, in particular a rib (117A, 177'A, 177B, 177'B) and / or raised or lowered edges (228A, 228'A, 228B, 228'B).

8. Clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the rear wall (23A, 23B, 73A, 273A) is straightened with respect to the portion of the belt which carries it by forming with this portion of the belt an angle (a) external to the triangle of 80° to 120°, optionally of 100° to 110°.

9. Clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the front wall (22A, 22B, 72A, 272A) forms with the base (21A, 21B, 71A, 271A) an angle ([3] internal to the triangle of 40° to 70°, optionally of 50° to 60°.

10. Clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein at least one of the elements comprising the base, the front wall and the rear wall is fixed, optionally by welding or clinching, to a portion of the belt, called the fixing support (12'A,12'B, 112'A, 112” A, 62'A, 112'A, 112” A, 162'A) by at least one fixing zone (24A,24'A,24B,24'B) integral with said at least one element, which is disposed against the fixing support.

11. Clamp according to claim 10, wherein the fixing area (122'A) is located in the base (121A), the fixing support (112'A) optionally forming part of the base.

12. Hose clamp according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the fastening area (24A, 24'A, 76A, 76'A, 124A, 124'A, 174A, 174'A, 224A, 224'A, 374A, 374'A, 276A, 276'A; 122'A, 372'A) is located in an extension of the rear wall, the front wall or the base, which extends substantially along the circumference of the belt, said extension being optionally located on the external side of the belt.

13. Hose clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the two clamping lugs (20A, 20B, 70A, 70B, 120A, 120B, 170A, 170B, 220A, 220B, 270A, 270B, 320A, 320B) are triangular lugs.

14. Clamping collar according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the clamping member (14, 64, 164, 264) comprises a clamping screw (14A, 164A, 264A) retained from the clamping lugs (20A, 20B, 70A, 70B, 120A, 120B, 170A, 170B, 220A, 220B, 270A, 270B) by retaining members, at least one of the retaining members comprising a nut (14C).

15. Clamping collar according to claims 4 and 14, wherein the clamping screw (14A, 164A, 264A) has a retaining head (14B, 164B, 264B) and the drilled area (275A, 275'A; 475A, 475'A) communicates with a passage opening (279A; 475'A) configured to allow the positioning of the retaining head at the rear of the rear wall (273A) by a rocking movement in a plane substantially perpendicular to the geometric winding axis (A).

16. Clamp according to claim 15, wherein the passage opening (279A) is configured to be traversed by the retaining head (264B) and is optionally located in the region of the junction between the base and the rear wall, in particular in an extension of the base which extends to the rear of the rear wall.

Images