Profile clamp

Abstract

The present invention provides a profile clamp (10) having a clamp band (12) extending in a circumferential direction (46) about a longitudinal axis (24) between a first tensioning head (14) and a second tensioning head (16), the clamp band (12) having a clip member (18). The clip member (18) has a fastening portion (20) for fastening the clip member (18) to the clamp band (12) at least in the circumferential direction (46) and a leg portion (22) extending from the clamp band (12) to a free end piece (44). This provides a profile clamp (10) in which rotation in a pre-assembled state can be avoided with little effort and at low cost.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a profile clamp having a clamping band extending circumferentially about a longitudinal axis between a first tensioning head and a second tensioning head, the clamping band having a clip member. [Background technology]

[0002] Profile clamps are used, for example, to connect fluid pipes, which have flanges at their ends. The profile clamp is placed over the flanges of the two fluid pipes to be connected and closed. Here, the clamping band has a cross-sectional shape for receiving the flanges. To close the profile clamp, for example, tensioning heads are used, which are moved relative to each other by means of a screw, so that the clamping band tightens around the flanges.

[0003] To facilitate the installation of the profile clamp, the profile clamp can be pre-attached to the flange. In the pre-attached state, the profile clamp is not yet fully closed, so that it is arranged rotatably around the flange. This can make the final installation difficult, since the profile clamp must first be oriented before the final installation.

[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a profile clamp, in which rotation in the pre-mounted state is avoided with little effort and in a cost-effective manner. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The main features of the invention are set out in the characterizing part of claim 1. Embodiments form the subject matter of claims 2 to 8.

[0006] The present invention provides a profile clamp having a clamp band extending circumferentially about a longitudinal axis between a first tensioning head and a second tensioning head, the clamp band having a clip member, the clip member having a fastening portion for releasably fastening the clip member to the clamp band in a positionally fixed manner at least in the circumferential direction, and a leg portion extending away from the clamp band to a free end piece.

[0007] Thus, a profile clamp is provided with a clip member which can be releasably fixed to the profile clamp by means of a fastening part, at least for the preliminary installation. The fastening part is here designed to releasably fasten the clip member to the profile clamp. The fastening part can here create a releasable latch connection between the clip member and the clamping band of the profile clamp, such that after fastening to the clamping band the clip member can no longer move in the circumferential direction along the clamping band. It is also conceivable that the fastening part engages, for example, from the outside, around the periphery of the clamping band. The clip member is fastened to the clamping band in a circumferentially fixed position by the fastening part. After fastening the clip member to the clamping band, the legs project from the clamping band, preferably in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. Since the legs extend away from the clamping band, it is possible during the preliminary installation to fix the legs, for example manually by the user, until the final installation or to place them circumferentially on a counter part fixed to one of the fluid lines to be connected. Due to the clip member being at least circumferentially fixed in position, a rotation of the profile clamp in the circumferential direction about the longitudinal axis is avoided. This facilitates preliminary and final installation of the profile clamp. Furthermore, the clip member can be produced cost-effectively and with little effort and can be fixed to the profile clamp in a simple manner.

[0008] According to another embodiment, the legs and the fastening parts can be arranged offset from one another around the longitudinal axis in the circumferential direction.

[0009] In this way, the connection between the legs and the fastenings can be constructed stably. Furthermore, complex contours of the clip members can be avoided. Furthermore, the fastenings of the clip members can be arranged in the circumferential direction, offset from the support position of the legs on one of the counter parts of the fluid pipes to be fastened. As a result, the fastenings are not hidden by the legs and can be visually monitored, for example, to detect damage or correct fastening.

[0010] Also, for example, a connecting portion of a clip member may connect the leg portion to the fastener portion. According to this embodiment, the coupling portion may extend in a circumferential direction. This connection makes it possible in a simple manner to arrange the legs circumferentially offset relative to the fastening part.

[0011] According to another embodiment, the clamp band may have two half shells, the clip member being arranged in one of the two half shells. The half shells of the clamping band can be connected to one another via bridges which, in the mounted state of the profile clamp, are arranged diametrically opposite the tensioning head. Alternatively, the half shells can be connected to one another via releasably articulated connections. The half shells have a cross-sectional shape designed to receive the two flanges arranged on one another.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the clamping band can have at least one receiver for a fastener, the fastener being arranged in the receiver. The receiving portion can be, for example, a recess arranged at an edge portion of the clamping band. The recess can be bounded by an edge extending substantially radially relative to the longitudinal axis. When the fastening portion engages in the recess to fasten the clip member to the clamping band, the edge creates a shape fit in the circumferential direction. As a result, the recess has the effect of achieving an improved position-locking fastening of the clip member in the circumferential direction.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the legs may be arranged to be offset circumferentially from one of the pulling heads about the longitudinal axis by 70° to 110°, preferably 80° to 100°, more preferably 90°. Thus, there is a distance between the pulling head and the foot, so that the foot can avoid obstructing the handling of the pulling head and the foot.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the fastener can extend between a first retaining member and a second retaining member disposed opposite the first retaining member, the retaining member fastening the clip member to the clamp band. The fasteners may be in the form of strips between the retaining members, and the retaining members may define end regions of the fasteners that lie opposite each other along the fastener. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] Further features, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the claims and the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. [Figure 1a] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a profile clamp. [Figure 1b] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a profile clamp. [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a clip member. [Figure 3a] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a piping connection using a profile clamp. [Figure 3b] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a piping connection using a profile clamp. [Figure 4a] 11A-11C are schematic diagrams illustrating further exemplary embodiments of clip members; [Figure 4b] 11A-11C are schematic diagrams illustrating further exemplary embodiments of clip members; [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the clip member of FIG. 4 placed on a profile clamp. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] The profile clamp is designated in its entirety below with the reference numeral 10. As shown in Fig. 1a, the profile clamp 10 has a clamping band 12 extending in a circumferential direction 46 about the longitudinal axis 24. In this example, the clamping band 12 has two half shells 38, 40. The half shells 38, 40 are connected to each other at one end. This connection may be releasable, so that one of the half shells 38, 40 can be hooked by a hook 52 into an opening in the other half shell 38, 40.

[0017] Alternatively, the two half shells 38, 40 may be connected to each other by a joint or bridge (not shown).

[0018] The first half shell 38 has a first tensioning head 14 at its end opposite the connection between the half shells 38, 40. Similarly, the second half shell 40 has a second tensioning head 16 at its end opposite the connection between the half shells 38, 40. Via the tensioning heads 14, 16, the profile clamp 10 is adapted to be tensioned by a tensioning member 42, in this example a screw.

[0019] A receiver 50 may be arranged in the clamping band 12, which may be in the form of a recess in one of the half shells 38, 40. The clip member 18 is secured to the receiver 50. To this end, the clip member 18 has a fastening portion 20 by which the clip member 18 can be releasably latched to the receiver 50 or to the clamping band 12.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 1b, which shows a cross section along line AA in Fig. 1a, the fastening portions 20 engage the periphery of the clamping band 12 from the outside. The fastening portions 20 here extend from the first retaining member 26 to the second retaining member 28, which engage in respective receivers 50 on the clamping band 12. When the clip member 18 is secured to the profile clamp 10, the fastening portions 20 are oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 24.

[0021] The fastener 20 fastens the clip member 18 to the clamp band 12 such that the clip member cannot move in the circumferential direction 46. A non-movable fastener can also be referred to as a fixed fastener on the clamp band 12.

[0022] In the illustrated embodiment, the engagement of the retaining members 26, 28 of the fastening part 20 in the receiver 50 has the effect that the radially oriented edges of the receiver 50 form a form-fit with the retaining members 26, 28 in the circumferential direction 46. The width of the retaining members 26, 28 in the circumferential direction 46 here corresponds to the width of the receiver 50 in the circumferential direction 46, so that the edges of the receiver 50 support the retaining members 26, 28 or the fastening part 20 in the circumferential direction 46.

[0023] In Fig. 2, the clip member 18 is shown in a state before being fixed to the profile clamp 10. The connecting portion 48 extends away from the fastening portion 20. The connecting portion 48 can extend in the circumferential direction 46 when the clip member 18 is fixed to the profile clamp 10.

[0024] At the end of the connecting portion 48 opposite the fastening portion 20, the clip member 18 has a leg 22. The leg 22 extends from the connecting portion 48 to the free end piece 44. When the clip member 18 is fixed to the profile clamp 10, the leg 22 can extend parallel to the longitudinal axis 24.

[0025] Via the connection 48, the fastening portion 20 and the leg 22 are arranged to be offset from one another in the circumferential direction 46 when the clip member 18 is fixed to the profile clamp 10. That is to say, the fastening portion 20 and the leg 22 are arranged at different angular positions on the profile clamp 10 in the circumferential direction 46. This avoids a situation where the leg 22 extends directly away from the fastening portion 20, thus providing a stable connection of the leg 22 to the clip member 18.

[0026] When the clip member 18 is secured to the profile clamp 10, the legs 22 can be positioned at different angular positions from the pulling heads 14, 16 in the circumferential direction 46. The legs 22 can be positioned to be offset from one of the pulling heads 14, 16 about the longitudinal axis 24 in the circumferential direction 46 by 70° to 110°, preferably 80° to 100°, and more preferably 90°.

[0027] This prevents the legs 22 from interfering with the handling of the pulling heads 14, 16 when tensioning the profile clamp 10. The clip member 18 may be one piece and constructed from a plastic material or metal.

[0028] The fastening portion 20 allows the clip member 18 to be fastened to the clamp band 12 with less force. Figures 3a and 3b show different views of the profile clamp 10 in the installed state.

[0029] The profile clamp 10 connects a first fluid pipe 30 to a second fluid pipe 32. For this purpose, the profile clamp 10 is placed on two flanges 36, each of the interconnected ends of the fluid pipes 30, 32 having a flange 36.

[0030] At least one of the fluid pipes 30, 32 is provided with a mating member 34 for the leg 22. The mating member 34 is fixedly connected to the corresponding fluid pipe 30, 32 and is capable of receiving and fixing the leg 22 in the circumferential direction 46.

[0031] The legs 22 can already be received in the counter part 34 in the pre-installed state of the profile clamp 10. In the pre-installed state, the profile clamp 10 is already placed around the flanges of the fluid pipes 30, 32, although the pulling heads 14, 16 have not yet been tightened.

[0032] The mating member 34 can be positioned away from the flanges of the corresponding fluid pipes 30, 32. Here, the length of the leg 22 between the connecting portion 48 and the free end piece 44 matches the distance between the mating member 34 and the flanges.

[0033] Figures 4a and 4b show a further exemplary embodiment of the clip member 18. Figure 4a is a schematic perspective view of the clip member 18. Figure 4b is a side view of the clip member 18.

[0034] 1-3, the clip member 18 of this exemplary embodiment has a bead 54. The bead 54 extends along the fastener 20 between the retaining members 26, 28. Furthermore, the bead 54 extends in the direction of the area where the clamp band 12 can be tightened.

[0035] This is shown in more detail in the cross-sectional view of figure 5. The bead 54 is here arranged between the clamping band 12 and the fastening part 20. Thanks to the bead 54, the clip member 18 only contacts the outer contour of the clamping band 12 tangentially. This makes it possible to increase the pretension of the clip member 18, which results in a more secure fastening for the preattachment of the clip member 18 to the clamping band 12.

[0036] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible. Instead of the counter part 34, the legs 22 can also be held in place by a user (not shown), who must then hold the legs 22 in place until the pulling heads 14, 16 have secured the profile clamp 10 so tightly that it cannot rotate about the longitudinal axis 24.

[0037] Furthermore, when the counter member 34 is positionally fixed relative to the fluid pipes 30, 32, it can also be fixed to a component other than the fluid pipes 30, 32. All of the features and advantages disclosed by the claims, the specification and the drawings, including details of structural design, spatial arrangements and method steps, may be essential to the invention either alone or in the most diverse combinations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 10 Profile clamp 12 Clamp band 14 Tensile Head 16 Tensile Head 18 Clip member 20 Fastening Part 22 Legs 24 Longitudinal axis 26 First holding member 28 Second holding member 30 Fluid Piping 32 Fluid Piping 34 Counterpart parts 36 Flange 38 Half Shell 40 Half Shell 42 Tensile members 44 Free end piece 46 Circumferential direction 48 Connecting part 50 Receptor 52 Hook 54 Bead

Claims

1. A profile clamp having a clamp band (12) extending circumferentially (46) about a longitudinal axis (24) between a first pulling head (14) and a second pulling head (16), The clamp band (12) includes a clip member (18), The profile clamp has a clip member (18) having a fastening portion (20) that releasably fastens the clip member (18) to the clamp band (12) in a positionally fixed manner at least in the circumferential direction (46), and legs (22) that extend away from the clamp band (12) to a free end piece (44).

2. 2. The profile clamp of claim 1, wherein the legs (22) and the fastening portion (20) are offset from one another about the longitudinal axis (24) in the circumferential direction (46).

3. 3. A profile clamp according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a connecting portion (48) of the clip member (18) connects the leg portion (22) to the fastening portion (20).

4. A profile clamp according to claim 3, wherein said connecting portion (48) extends in said circumferential direction (46).

5. 5. A profile clamp according to claim 1, wherein the clamp band (12) has two half shells (38, 40) and the clip member (18) is arranged on one of the two half shells (38, 40).

6. 6. A profile clamp according to claim 1, wherein the clamping band (12) has at least one receiving portion (50) for the fastening portion (20), the fastening portion (20) being arranged in the receiving portion (50).

7. 7. A profile clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the legs (22) are arranged to be offset about the longitudinal axis (24) in the circumferential direction (46) from one of the pulling heads (14, 16) by 70° to 110°, preferably 80° to 100°, and more preferably 90°.

8. 8. A profile clamp as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the fastening portion (20) extends between a first retaining member (26) and a second retaining member (28) arranged opposite the first retaining member (26), the retaining members (26, 28) fastening the clip member (18) to the clamp band (12).

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