Abstract: A band clamp for pipe joints is disclosed comprising a band with confronting sidewalls when wrapped around pipes to be coupled. The clamping mechanism includes a pair of force bars outboard of the sidewalls and a spline with concave surfaces on opposite sides, the spline being disposed between the end flanges. A bolt extends through bolt holes and draws the flanges against the spline to stretch the band around the pipes when the bolt is tightened against the force bars. The sidewalls have lateral flanges which overhang the spline to arrest movement of the sidewalls relative to the spline to obtain alignment of the bolt holes when the clamp is tightened. In some embodiments, the band is folded back on itself to form a double thickness which extends from the upper end of each sidewall to a point beyond the lower end of the sidewall and provides an inverted flap sandwiched between the clamp band and the pipe. The inverted flap may be secured to the band by mechanical interlock between the layers.

Abstract: A band clamp used to connect tubular bodies such as vehicle exhaust system components. The band clamp has a band extending from a first end to a second end and includes a pair of spaced ribs extending at least part way between the first and second ends. A tightening mechanism is connected to the band and includes two clamp members movable toward and away from each other for tightening and loosening of the band. The band clamp further includes a gasket located on an inner surface of the band between the ribs and extending between the first and second ends. The use of the ribs with the interposed gasket provides a mechanical interlock of the band clamp with the tubular bodies while providing a hermetic seal at the junction between the two bodies.

Abstract: A band clamp is provided making a joint in each of two pairs of closely spaced pipes wherein the pipes in each pair are aligned with each other. The clamp has a single closed loop clamp band for connecting adjoining ends of the first pair to make a sealed joint and connecting the adjoining ends of the second pair of pipes to make a sealed joint. The clamp band encircles both pairs of pipes and overlaps a portion of the adjoining ends of both pairs of pipes. The closed loop of the clamp band has oppositely disposed concave lobe portions spanning the gap between the pipes and a clamping mechanism is provided for drawing the lobe portions toward each other for tightening the band around the adjoining ends of the pipes to provide a mechanical connection and a sealed joint in each pair of pipes.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.