Ferrule clamp device

Abstract

To provide a ferrule clamp device which can maintain required fastening strength while enabling easy attachment / detachment.SOLUTION: A ferrule clamp device 1 includes: a clamp band 2; and a fastening member 3 which fastens the clamp band 2 in a direction that a space between both ends is closed to hold a ferrule F with the clamp band 2. The clamp band 2 includes a first sandwiching part 21 at one end side and a second sandwiching part 22 at the other end side. The first and second sandwiching parts 21, 22 include attachment planes 21a, 22a along a direction in which a space between the sandwiching parts 21, 22 is closed when the clamp band 2 is fitted in the ferrule F. The fastening member 3 is formed by a catch clip comprising: a body 31 fastened to the attachment plane 21a or 22a of one of the first and second sandwiching parts 21, 22; and a hook body 32 which is fastened to the other attachment plane 21a or 22a and may be removably engaged with the body 31.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a ferrule clamp device for fixing and connecting a sanitary ferrule fitting. [Background technology]

[0002] Cleanliness is essential in food and pharmaceutical manufacturing process lines. Stainless steel sanitary pipes are used in these areas, and to ensure their cleanliness, the pipes are fixed and connected using sanitary ferrule fittings that allow for easy disassembly and cleaning. A ferrule fitting consists of a gasket placed between two annular ferrules formed at the ends of the pipes, and a ferrule clamp device that fastens the joined ferrules from the outside. A known example of a ferrule clamp device is disclosed in Patent Document 1. This device is composed of a clamp band consisting of two roughly semicircular clamp members that are pivotally connected to one another at one end and whose other ends can be opened and closed, and a thumbscrew that tightens the other ends of the two clamp members. A clamp band composed of three roughly arc-shaped clamp members that are pivotally connected to one another is also known. Meanwhile, a latch device known as a snap lock used for equipment storage boxes and the like is known as described in Patent Document 2. This device is equipped with a means for locking the operating lever to the base plate, and has the function of preventing the operating lever from being lifted up and rotated around the pivot by an unexpected external force, causing the latch lock to be accidentally released. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-226345 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-232157 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-described conventional ferrule clamp device, the clamp member is fastened by a thumbscrew, which causes a problem that it takes time to attach and detach the clamp member. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a ferrule clamp device that is easy to attach and detach while maintaining a required clamping strength. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In the following description, reference will be made to the reference numerals in the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto. To solve the above problems, the ferrule clamp device 1 of the present invention comprises a clamp band 2 and a tightening member 3 that tightens both ends of the clamp band 2 in a direction that closes the clamp band 2 to grip a ferrule F. The clamp band 2 has a first clamping portion 21 at one end and a second clamping portion 22 at the other end. The first and second clamping portions 21, 22 have mounting planes 21a, 22a that extend in the direction that closes the clamping portions 21, 22 when the clamp band 2 is fitted to the ferrule F. The tightening member 3 is composed of a snap lock that includes a main body 31 that is fixed to the mounting planes 21a, 22a of either the first or second clamping portion 21, 22, and a hook body 32 that is fixed to the other mounting plane 21a, 22a and can be engaged with or disengaged from the main body 31. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a ferrule clamp device that can be easily attached to and detached from a ferrule simply by rotating an operating lever, and that can maintain a required clamping strength. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a front view of the ferrule clamp device of the present invention attached to a ferrule. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the ferrule clamp device of FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the ferrule clamp device of FIG. 1 in a released state. [Figure 4]2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the ferrule clamp device of FIG. 1 in a clamped state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The ferrule clamp device 1 includes a clamp band 2 and a clamping member 3 that clamps the ferrule F of the sanitary pipe P with the clamp band 2 by tightening both ends of the clamp band 2 in a direction to close the clamp band.

[0009] The clamp band 2 has a first clamping portion 21 at one end and a second clamping portion 22 at the other end. The first and second clamping portions 21, 22 have mounting planes 21a, 22a that face in a direction that closes the gap between the clamping portions 21, 22 when the clamp band 2 is fitted to the ferrule F.

[0010] In the illustrated embodiment, the clamp band 2 is made up of three, first to third, clamp members 23, 24, 25, each of which has a generally arcuate shape and is pivotally connected to one another.

[0011] The fastening member 3 is composed of a snap lock with a locking function, which includes a main body 31 and a hook body 32 that can be freely engaged and disengaged from the main body 31. The main body 31 is fixed to the mounting flat surface 21a, 22a of either the first or second clamping portion 21, 22, and the hook body 32 is fixed to the mounting flat surface 21a, 22a of the other clamping portion.

[0012] In the figure, the main body 31 of the tightening member 3 comprises a base member 4 fixed to the mounting plane 22a, an operating lever 5 pivotally supported at its base end on the base member 4, a latch body 6 that engages with and disengages from the hook body 32, and a locking mechanism 7 that restrains the operating lever 5 to the base member 4.

[0013] The base member 4 is provided with a pair of first and second bearing plates 41, 42 that stand on both side edges of the end on the hook body 32 side and the opposite end. The first bearing plate 41 supports a first pivot 41a that is parallel to the axis of the sanitary pipe P, and the second bearing plate 42 supports a lock pin 42a.

[0014] The operating lever 5 comprises an upper plate portion 51 and a pair of side plate portions 52 that bend at a right angle along both side edges in the extension direction of the upper plate portion 51 and extend downward. The base end of the operating lever 5 is pivoted on the side plate portion 52 by a first pivot 41a of the base member 4, and can be rotated up and down about the pivot 41a between an upright release position (Fig. 3) and a reclined tightening position (Figs. 1 and 4). The upper plate portion 51 comprises a semi-cylindrical spring bearing portion 51a that protrudes upward. A second pivot 52a is supported in the middle portion of the side plate portion 52.

[0015] The latch body 6 has a pair of arms 61 and an engagement shaft 62 supported between the tip ends of the arms 61. The arms 61 are pivotally supported on both ends of the second pivot shaft 52a at the base end outside the side plate portion 52. The latch body 6 engages and disengages the engagement shaft 62 with the hook body 32 depending on the rotational angle position of the operating lever 5.

[0016] The arm 61 is elastically extendable and retractable due to a toggle spring 61c interposed between a first member 61a on the distal end side and a second member 61b on the proximal end side. As shown in Fig. 3, when the operating lever 5 is in a released state in which it is upright relative to the base member 4, the engagement shaft 62 is hooked onto the hook body 32, and the operating lever 5 is lowered to the fastening position as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the arm 61 extends the toggle spring 61c and pulls the hook body 32 toward the main body 31, thereby fastening the first and second clamping portions 21, 22 of the clamp band 2. As the operating lever 5 is being lowered, the pivot shaft 52a of the arm 61 passes beyond the extension dead point on a line L passing through the engagement shaft 62 and the pivot shaft 41a, and the spring force holds the operating lever 5 in the fastening position.

[0017] The locking mechanism 7 restrains the operating lever 5 at the tightening position to the base member 4. The locking mechanism 7 includes a slide latch 8 that is operable to move along the operating lever 5 between a locked position and an unlocked position, and a biasing spring 9 that biases the slide latch 8 to the locked position.

[0018] The slide latch 8 comprises a sliding plate portion 81 that fits along the underside of the upper plate portion 51 of the operating lever 5, a pair of support plate portions 82 that extend downward from both side edges of the sliding plate portion 81 and bend at a right angle, a latch portion 83 formed at the tip end of the sliding plate portion 81, and a release operation portion 84 formed by bending the tip end of the sliding plate portion 81 downward at a right angle.

[0019] The sliding plate portion 81 is provided with a semi-cylindrical spring bearing portion 81a that protrudes downward and faces the spring bearing portion 51a of the operating lever 5. A biasing spring 9 is interposed between the two spring bearing portions 51a, 81a.

[0020] The support plate portion 82 has an elongated hole 82a through which the first pivot 41a passes and an elongated hole 82b through which the second pivot 52 passes, and supports the slide latch 8 so that it can move freely between the locked position and the unlocked position along the operating lever 5.

[0021] The biasing spring 9 biases the slide latch 8 to the locked position. When the operating lever 5 is in the lowered tightening position, the slide latch 8 is in the locked position, and the latch portion 83 is engaged with the lock pin 42a.

[0022] When the operating lever 5 rotates to the fastening position, the latch portion 28 slides over the lock pin 42a, momentarily pushing the slide latch 8 to the unlocked position, and then returns to the locked position and automatically engages with the lock pin. To unlock the slide latch 8, press the release operating portion 84 while placing your finger on the tip of the operating lever 5, and push the slide latch 8 to the unlocked position.

[0023] Therefore, the attachment of the ferrule clamp device 1 to the ferrule F can be completed simply by hooking the latch body 6 onto the hook body 32 and lowering the operating lever 5. Moreover, the ferrule clamp device 1 can be removed simply by pressing the release operating part 84 and lifting the operating lever 5 to the release position. [Explanation of symbols]

[0024] 1 Ferrule clamp device 2 clamp bands 21 First clamping part 21a Mounting plane 22 Second clamping part 22a Mounting plane 23 first clamp member 24 second clamping member 25 Third clamping member 3 Fastening member 31 Main Unit 32 Hook body 4 Base material 41 First bearing plate portion 41a First Axis 41b Second Axis 42 Second bearing plate portion 42a Lock pin 5 Control lever 51 Upper plate 51a Spring bearing part 52 Side plate part 52a Second Axis 6. Latch body 61 Arm 61a First member 61b Second member 61c toggle spring 62 Engagement shaft 7 Locking mechanism 8 Slide Latch 81 Sliding plate 81a Spring holder 82 Support plate part 82a long hole 82b long hole 83 Latch section 84 Release operation section 9. Biasing spring L straight line F Ferrule P Sanitary pipe

Claims

1. a clamp band having one end and the other end that can be opened and closed relative to each other, the clamp band being fitted onto the outer periphery of an annular ferrule formed at the butted ends of the two pipes to be connected; a clamping member that clamps the clamp band in a direction that closes the gap between both ends of the clamp band to grip the ferrule with the clamp band, The clamp band has a first clamping portion on one end side and a second clamping portion on the other end side, the first and second clamping portions have mounting planes in a direction that closes the gap between the clamping portions when the clamping portions are fitted to the ferrule; a ferrule clamp device characterized in that the fastening member is a snap lock having a main body fixed to the mounting plane of either the first or second clamping portion, and a hook body fixed to the other mounting plane and capable of freely engaging and disengaging with the main body.

2. the fastening member comprises a main body fixed to the mounting plane of one of the first and second clamping portions, and a hook body fixed to the mounting plane of the other clamping portion and capable of being engaged with and disengaged from the main body; The main body includes a base member fixed to the mounting surface, an operating lever whose base end is pivotally supported on the base member and which can be rotated up and down between an upright release position and a laid-down tightening position, a latch body whose base end is pivotally supported on the operating lever and which has an engagement shaft on its tip end that engages with and disengages from the hook body depending on the rotation angle position of the operating lever, and a locking mechanism that restrains the operating lever to the base member when in the tightening position, the base member has a pair of first and second bearing plate portions standing on both side edges of an end portion on the hook body side and an end portion on the opposite side, the first bearing plate portion supporting a first pivot parallel to the axis of the pipe, and the second bearing plate portion supporting a lock pin parallel to the first pivot shaft; The operating lever includes an upper plate portion extending from a base end to a tip end, and a pair of side plate portions extending along both side edges of the upper plate portion in an extension direction, and being bent at a right angle, and the side plate portions are pivotally supported at their base ends by a first pivot shaft of the base member, and a second pivot shaft parallel to the first pivot shaft is supported at an intermediate portion of the side plate portions, the latch body includes two arms that are expandable and contractible by an intervening toggle spring and pivotally supported at their base ends on both ends of the second pivot shaft, and an engagement shaft that is supported between the tip ends of the arms and parallel to the second pivot shaft; When the lever is lowered to a clamping position by hooking the engagement shaft onto the hook body with the operating lever standing upright relative to the base member, the arm extends the toggle spring and draws the hook body toward the main body, thereby clamping the first and second clamping portions of the clamp band, and the toggle spring exceeds its extension dead point while the lever is lowered to hold the lever in the clamping position, the locking mechanism includes a slide latch that is operable to move along the operating lever between a locked position and an unlocked position, and a biasing spring that biases the slide latch toward the locked position; 2. The ferrule clamp device according to claim 1, wherein the slide latch comprises: a sliding plate portion that follows the underside of the upper plate portion of the operating lever; a pair of support plate portions that extend downward from both side edges of the sliding plate portion, bending at a right angle, and have elongated holes through which the first pivot shaft and the second pivot shaft pass; a latch portion that is provided on the tip side of the support plate portion and slides over the lock pin to push the slide latch to the unlock position when the operating lever is rotated to the tightening position, and then returns to the locked position to automatically engage with the lock pin; and a release operation portion for operating to push the slide latch to the unlock position.

3. 3. A ferrule clamp device according to claim 1, wherein the clamp band is made up of three clamp members, first to third, each of which has a generally arcuate shape and is pivotally connected to one another.

4. 3. A ferrule clamp device according to claim 1, wherein the clamp band is made up of first and second clamp members, each of which has a generally semicircular arc shape and is pivotally connected to one another.

5. 3. The ferrule clamp device according to claim 2, wherein the biasing spring is interposed between a sliding plate portion of the slide latch and an upper plate portion of the operating lever.

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