Bks Company, LLC

Breeze Torca Products, LLC

Norma U.S. Holding LLC

Scott T Cassel

Michael E Amedure

Brian T Ignaczak

Thomas R Cassel

Michael R Potts

Michael R Slavin

A pipe clamp that enables two pipes to be loosely connected together in a desired axially-aligned and rotationally-aligned configuration prior to tightening of the clamp. The pipe clamp includes a band having a first end and a second end, and a tightening mechanism connected to the band for drawing the ends of the band together. The pipe clamp further includes a latch having a base portion attached to the band and a clip portion that snaps over a button welded to the pipe to temporarily hold the clamp in place on the pipe.

Pipe clamp with integral latch

A pipe clamp for connecting pipe ends together to form a gas tight seal. The clamp includes an open band, tightening mechanism, split sealing sleeve, and inner gasket. The band extends circumferentially from a first end to a second end and has a pair of axial ends. The band includes a radially protruding rib located inwardly of the axial ends, and this rib extends at least part way between the first and second ends. The split sleeve is disposed within the band and is located at least within the rib. The gasket is disposed radially within the sleeve such that it is located at least partially within the rib. Each of the pipe ends can have a protruding bead and the clamp can be placed over the two pipe ends during assembly such that the beads engage the gasket within the center rib region of the band.

Pipe clamp with gasketed center rib

A band clamp comprising a sleeve and a tightening mechanism that includes at least one fastener, such as a nut and bolt, as well as a reaction member which is constructed of a single piece of sheet metal. The reaction member is disposed between the end flanges of the clamp sleeve and can be shaped such that it is forcibly pressed into engagement with the underlying pipe when the clamp is tightened. The reaction member can be a separate component retained between the flanges by engagement of end portions of the reaction member with retainer ears on the flanges. Alternatively, the end flanges and reaction member can all be unitary portions of the clamp sleeve such that the complete band clamp, except for the bolt and nut, is comprised of a unitary piece of sheet metal.

Band clamp with reaction member

A pipe lap joint is disclosed with an improved sealing zone structure in the overlap region of the pipes. The sealing zone comprises a slot extending from the end of the outer pipe to an inner end wall of the slot. The joint comprises a band clamp with a clamping band which covers the sealing zone including the inner end of the slot. The slot has a bridge extending between the sidewalls and dividing the slot into an outboard slot segment and an inboard slot segment. The bridge has an axial dimension which is substantially smaller than the axial length of either of the slot segments. When the band clamp is tightened, the sealing zone is collapsed by collapse of the slot and consequent deformation of the bridge such that it obstructs fluid flow between the slot segments.

Pipe lap joint with bridged slot

A pipe lap joint is disclosed with an improved sealing zone structure in the overlap region of the pipes. The sealing zone comprises a serpentine slot extending from the end of the outer pipe to an inner end-wall of the slot. The joint comprises a band clamp with a clamping band which covers the sealing zone including the inner end of the slot. One sidewall of the slot defines an inwardly protruding tooth and the other sidewall defines another inwardly protruding tooth with a narrow passage between the teeth which is provided by rounded corners on the teeth. The slot also includes a bulbous end-wall which facilitates uniform collapse of the sealing zone. When the band clamp is tightened, the sealing zone is collapsed such that the two teeth engage each other and seal the serpentine slot against leakage.

Pipe lap joint with improved collapsible slot

A coupling is provided between a flex hose and a rigid pipe by a lap joint with an end of the rigid pipe inserted into an end of the flex hose to form an overlap region. The flex hose has at least one slot through its wall extending axially of the flex hose and spanning the helical strip in a convolution which is in the overlap region. The slot is spaced inwardly from the end of the flex hose. A clamp disposed around the flex hose covers the slot and clamps the flex hose and pipe together collapsing the overlap region of the flex hose by circumferential slippage of adjacent convolutions of the helical strip to cause close engagement of the flex hose with the pipe and with the band clamp.

Lap joint between flex hose and rigid pipe

A pipe lap joint is disclosed with an improved sealing zone and which comprises a pair of end-to-end intersecting slots in the outer pipe which allow the sealing zone to be collapsed against the inner pipe by a band clamp around the outer pipe. The outboard slot extends inwardly from the end of the pipe and the inboard slot is circumferentially offset and extends inwardly from the outboard slot. A frangible bridging segment of the wall of the pipe extends between the adjacent walls of the two slots and is deformed or fractured and maintains isolation between the slots when the pipe is collapsed. To facilitate collapse of the outer pipe, the length of the inboard slot is maximized for increased leverage of the clamping force.

Pipe lap joint with improved collapsible sealing zone

A hanger clamp assembly is provided for supporting a muffler body directly from the undercarriage of a vehicle. A band clamp is adapted to encircle the muffler body and a mounting arm of a hanger bracket is disposed between a support plate on the band clamp and the muffler. The band clamp has a force applying mechanism to tighten the sleeve of the band clamp around the muffler and press the support plate against the surface of the muffler. The support plate is substantially longer in the circumferential direction than the mounting arm of the support bracket and thereby provides an extended moment arm to resist rotative motion of the muffler about its longitudinal axis.

Hanger clamp assembly

A band clamp for pipe joints is disclosed and comprises a band which has confronting end flanges when wrapped around the pipes. A clamping mechanism is provided for pulling the end flanges together and stretching the band around the pipes. The clamping mechanism includes a pair of force bars outboard of the end flanges and a spline with concave surfaces on opposite sides, the spline being disposed between the end flanges. A pair of bolts extend through bolts holes in the force bars, end flanges and spline and nuts thereon are tightened to draw the flanges against the spline and stretch the band around the pipes. Oversize bolt holes in the flanges allow the force bars to move translationally and angularly relative to the flanges. One force bar and the spline are held captive with one end flange by the bolts which extend therethrough into a press fit with the spline.

Band clamp with improved clamping arrangement

A pipe coupling for improved pull-apart strength of pipe lap joints is disclosed. A clamping band is applied to the outside pipe around the overlap region of the pipes. An attachment is applied around the inside pipe and the two bands are connected together by a linkage extending alongside the pipes. Preferably, a sealing structure is provided on the outer pipe in the overlap region such that sealing engagement between the outside and inside pipes is obtained when the clamping band is tightened. When the pipes are subjected to pull-apart forces, the linkage resists slippage or pull-apart motion. If there is slippage, more will occur on the side opposite the linkage and an oblique relationship of the pipes results. This produces a binding action between the pipes with increased frictional resistance to the pull-apart forces.

Pipe lap joint with improved pull-apart strength

A pipe lap joint is disclosed with an improved sealing zone structure in the overlap region of the pipe. The sealing zone comprises a pair of end-to-end intersecting slots which are covered by a clamping band and which allow the sealing zone of the pipe to be collapsed against the inner pipe when the clamping band is tightened. The outboard slot extends inwardly from the end of the pipe and terminates in a transverse end wall within the overlap region. The inboard slot is circumferentially offset from the outboard slot and extends inwardly from an outer end wall thereof. The adjacent sidewalls of the slots are in substantial alignment with each other and the end walls are also in substantial alignment with each other whereby the end walls of the slots are disposed in edge-to-edge engagement with each other when the overlap region of the outer pipe is collapsed into close fitting engagement with the inner pipe.

Pipe lap joint with collapsible sealing zone and band clamp

A band clamp is disclosed for clamping a stabilizer bar to a cross-beam rear axle in a front wheel drive vehicle. A preformed band has a sleeve portion which conforms to the inverted V-shape axle and it has a channel portion with opposed sidewalls extending from contiguous sides of the clamp at one corner. A spline is disposed between the sidewalls and has a concave surface opposite a shaped washer on the outside of one of the sidewalls. A bolt extends through the sidewalls, the spline and the shaped washer and a nut on the bolt is tightened to draw the sidewalls into engagement with the spline to stretch the sleeve portion around the axle.

Growing community of inventors

Bloomfield Hills, MI, United States of America

Scott T Cassel