Hose Clamp
A hose clamp for securing a hose to a component includes a first band of uniform thickness that extends angularly about an axis and includes an engagement surface, and a second band having the uniform thickness and formed in one piece with the first band, extending angularly about the axis, offset axially from the first band, and including a latch surface engageable with the engagement surface, the clamp having an open state in which the first band and the second band are elastically urged angularly about the axis toward contact with the hose, said engagement maintaining an elastically resilient load between the first band and the second band.
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The present invention relates generally to hose clamps, and more particularly to clamps used to interconnect and seal components of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems connected by hoses.
Conventional hose clamps used currently in HVAC systems in the automotive industry require access space around the clamps due to features of the clamp required to close and open the clamp. For this reason, packaging of the components around hose attachments is difficult because of the extra space required for the clamp and for space reserved for handling during assembly and service operations.
Additional space around the clamps is required to provide adequate clearance from components that can be damaged due to contact with the clamp, such as wiring harnesses, hoses, plastic parts, etc. Such components can be adversely affected by extremely aggressive clamping activity and because the clamps are made of spring steel.
Directly related to the complexity of conventional spring-loaded hose clamp designs, the weight and cost of the clamps are high, and the cost of tools for installing and removing them is high.
A need exists in the industry for a hose clamp that requires less space, is easier to manufacture, has fewer parts, requires fewer tools to install and remove, and requires less time to install and remove than a conventional hose clamp.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIONAn embodiment contemplates a hose clamp for securing a hose to a component, the clamp including a first band of uniform thickness that extends angularly about an axis and includes an engagement surface, and a second band having the uniform thickness and formed in one piece with the first band, extending angularly about the axis, offset axially from the first band, and including a latch surface engageable with the engagement surface, the clamp having an open state in which the first band and the second band are elastically urged angularly about the axis toward contact with the hose, said engagement maintaining an elastically resilient load between the first band and the second band.
The elastic energy of the spring material from which the hose clamp is made is employed in the axial direction, i.e., along the hose centerline, producing axially positioned locking features on the clamp, whereas a conventional hose clamp requires radially positioned locking features. The axial locking features are produced within the thickness of the clamp material; therefore, the external profile of the clamp is only slightly greater than the outside diameter of the clamp.
The invention employs the elastic characteristics of the clamp to accomplish the clamping function and to lock the clamp in its opened condition in preparation to be used or in closed condition while being used.
An advantage of an embodiment is reduction of the space occupied by a hose clamp before and after its installation and use. The clamp has lower weight and cost and requires a shorter installation or removal time than a conventional hose clamp.
Referring first to
Clamp 10 includes first and second mutually parallel bands 12, 14 that extend along the circumference of the clamp, each band extending axially across a portion of the width of the clamp 10. A first transition surface 16 leads to band 12 and to its open end 18. A second transition surface 20 leads to band 14 and to its open end 22, which faces and is spaced from surface 16. Similarly, end 18 faces and is spaced from transition surface 20.
Band 12 is formed with recesses 24, 26, 28, which are spaced mutually along the circumference. Band 14 is formed with a projection 30, which can engage each of the recesses 24, 26, 28. Band 14 is formed with, inclined surfaces 32, 34, inclined with respect to the axis 36, and a circumferential surface 38, which connects surface 34 and transition surface 20.
Referring to
Clamp 50 includes first and second partial-width bands 52, 54 that extend mutually parallel along the circumference of the clamp. Band 52 is formed with a hole 56, which extends radially at least partially through its thickness, and an end surface 58 having a corner 60 located near band 54. Band 54 is formed with a hole 62, which extends radially at least partially through its thickness, and is partially surrounded by a lug 64, which transitions to a latch surface 66, substantially parallel to surface 58.
When the clamp 50 is being installed using the pliers, the hose 40 is fitted over a spout and clamp 50, in the open state, is fitted over the hose. The clamp is preferably glued on the internal tangent surface opposed to the locking features. Then, the pliers' extensions 72, 74 are inserted into holes 56, 62, as shown in
After the clamp 80 in the open state is bonded on hose 40 at the internal tangent surface opposite the locking features, the clamp and hose are is fitted over a spout.
Clamp 80 is closed by inserting the blade of a flat ended screwdriver axially between stops 90, 96, rotating the screwdriver to spread the bands 82, 84 axially, disengaging surface 92 from surface 98, thereby unlatch the clamp. Then the clamp springs to the closed position shown in
Clamp 110 includes first and second adjacent, parallel spiral bands 112, 114 that encircle the hose 40. Band 112 is formed with a stop 116, which is bent radially outward from the surface of band 112 and transitions along the circumference of the band into the contour of the band. Band 112 includes a series of ratchet teeth 118 facing band 114. Similarly, band 114 is formed with a stop 120, which is bent radially outward from the surface of band 114 and transition along the circumference of the band into the contour of the band. Band 114 includes a series of ratchet teeth 122 facing and adjacent the ratchet teeth 118 on band 112.
In operation, after the hose 40 is fitted over a spout, clamp 110, is in the open condition shown in
When clamp 80 is in the closed condition shown in
While certain embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention as defined by the following claims.
Claims
1. A hose clamp for securing a hose to a component comprising:
- a first band that extends angularly about an axis, including an engagement surface located within a thickness of the first band; and
- a second band formed in one piece with the first band and radially aligned with the first band, extending angularly about the axis, offset axially from the first band, and including a latch surface engageable with the engagement surface and located within a thickness of the second band, the clamp having an open state in which the first band and the second band are elastically urged angularly about the axis toward contact with the hose, said engagement maintaining an elastically resilient load between the first band and the second band.
2. The hose clamp of claim 1 wherein:
- the engagement surface comprises a recess located along a length of the first band; and
- the latch surface comprises a projection extending from the second band, facing and engageable with the recess when the clamp is in the open state.
3. The hose clamp of claim 1 wherein:
- the engagement surface comprises a series of recesses spaced angularly about the axis and located along a length of the first band; and
- the latch surface comprises a projection extending from the second band, facing and engageable with at least one of the recesses when the clamp is in the open state.
4. The hose clamp of claim 1 wherein:
- the engagement surface is located at an end of the first band; and
- the latch surface comprises a surface that is substantially axially aligned with the engagement surface, and is angularly aligned with and contacting the engagement when the clamp is in the open state.
5. The hose clamp of claim 1 wherein:
- the engagement surface comprises a series of first ratchet teeth distributed along and located at an edge of the first band; and
- the latch surface comprises a series of second ratchet teeth distributed along and located at an edge of the second band, facing and engageable with the first ratchet teeth when the clamp is in the open state.
6. The hose clamp of claim 1 wherein:
- the first band is formed with a first hole that extends at least partially through the thickness of the first band; and
- the second first band is formed with a second hole that extends at least partially through the thickness of the second band, the holes being substantially nonaligned when the clamp is in a closed state, the holes being engageable by a tool that changes the clamp from the open state to the closed state.
7. The hose clamp of claim 1 wherein:
- the engagement surface is located at an end of the first band;
- the latch surface comprises a surface that is substantially axially aligned with the engagement surface, angularly aligned with and contacting the engagement when the clamp is in the open state;
- the first band is further formed with a first stop surface that extends radially from the thickness of the first band; and
- the second band is further formed with a second stop surface that extends radially from the thickness of the second band, the first and second stop surfaces being substantially nonaligned when the clamp is in a closed state, the stop surfaces being engageable by a tool that changes the clamp from the open state to the closed state.
8. The hose clamp of claim 1 wherein: the first band is further formed with a first stop surface that extends radially from the thickness of the first band; and
- the engagement surface comprises a series of first ratchet teeth distributed along and located at an edge of the first band;
- the latch surface comprises a series of second ratchet teeth distributed along and located at an edge of the second band, facing and engageable with the first ratchet teeth when the clamp is in the open state;
- the second band is further formed with a second stop surface that extends radially from the thickness of the second band, the first and second stop surfaces being substantially nonaligned when the clamp is in a closed state, the stop surfaces being engageable by a tool that changes the clamp from the open state to the closed state.
9. A hose clamp for securing a hose to a component comprising:
- a first band of uniform thickness that extends angularly about an axis and includes an engagement surface; and
- a second band having the uniform thickness and formed in one piece with the first band, extending angularly about the axis, offset axially from the first band, and including a latch surface engageable with the engagement surface, the clamp having an open state in which the first band and the second band are elastically urged angularly about the axis toward contact with the hose, said engagement maintaining an elastically resilient load between the first band and the second band.
10. The hose clamp of claim 9 wherein:
- the engagement surface comprises a recess located along a length of the first band; and
- the latch surface comprises a projection extending from the second band, facing and engageable with the recess when the clamp is in the open state.
11. The hose clamp of claim 9 wherein:
- the engagement surface comprises a series of recesses spaced angularly about the axis and located along a length of the first band; and
- the latch surface comprises a projection extending from the second band, facing and engageable with at least one of the recesses when the clamp is in the open state.
12. The hose clamp of claim 9 wherein:
- the engagement surface is located at an end of the first band; and
- the latch surface comprises a surface that is substantially axially aligned with the engagement surface, and is angularly aligned with and contacting the engagement when the clamp is in the open state.
13. The hose clamp of claim 9 wherein:
- the engagement surface comprises a series of first ratchet teeth distributed along and located at an edge of the first band; and
- the latch surface comprises a series of second ratchet teeth distributed along and located at an edge of the second band, facing and engageable with the first ratchet teeth when the clamp is in the open state.
14. The hose clamp of claim 9 wherein:
- the first band is formed with a first hole that extends at least partially through the thickness of the first band; and
- the second first band is formed with a second hole that extends at least partially through the thickness of the second band, the holes being substantially nonaligned when the clamp is in a closed state, the holes being engageable by a tool that changes the clamp from the open state to the closed state.
15. The hose clamp of claim 9 wherein:
- the engagement surface is located at an end of the first band;
- the latch surface comprises a surface that is substantially axially aligned with the engagement surface, angularly aligned with and contacting the engagement when the clamp is in the open state;
- the first band is further formed with a first stop surface that extends radially from the thickness of the first band; and
- the second band is further formed with a second stop surface that extends radially from the thickness of the second band, the first and second stop surfaces being substantially nonaligned when the clamp is in a closed state, the stop surfaces being engageable by a tool that changes the clamp from the open state to the closed state.
16. The hose clamp of claim 9 wherein: the first band is further formed with a first stop surface that extends radially from the thickness of the first band; and
- the engagement surface comprises a series of first ratchet teeth distributed along and located at an edge of the first band;
- the latch surface comprises a series of second ratchet teeth distributed along and located at an edge of the second band, facing and engageable with the first ratchet teeth when the clamp is in the open state;
- the second band is further formed with a second stop surface that extends radially from the thickness of the second band, the first and second stop surfaces being substantially nonaligned when the clamp is in a closed state, the stop surfaces being engageable by a tool that changes the clamp from the open state to the closed state.
17. A method of securing a hose to a component using a hose clamp, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a clamp that includes a first band that extends angularly about an axis and an engagement surface, and a second band formed in one piece with the first band, radially aligned with the first band, and including a latch surface;
- (b) opening the clamp and producing an elastic preload on the first and second bands, the preload elastically urging angular displacement of the first band relative to the second band about the axis toward contact with the hose;
- (c) maintaining the elastic preload on the clamp in the open state;
- (d) locating the clamp over the hose;
- (e) releasing the elastic preload; and
- (f) allowing the clamp to elastically engage the hose.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein step (b) further comprises the steps of:
- engaging the first band and the second band with pliers;
- opening the pliers to angularly displace the first band away from the second band; and
- step (c) further comprises the step of rotating the pliers to engage the latch surface with the engagement surface.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein:
- step (c) further comprises the step of engaging the latch surface with the engagement surface; and
- step (e) further comprises the step of using the blade of a flat ended screwdriver to axially displace the engagement surface from engagement with the latch surface.
20. The method of claim 17 wherein step (c) further comprises the step of using pliers to angularly displace the first band toward the second band and to engage the engagement surface with the latch surface.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 30, 2008
Publication Date: Jul 30, 2009
Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC. (Detroit, MI)
Inventors: Liviu Serbu (Woodbridge), Rick H. Rajaie (Markham)
Application Number: 12/022,306
International Classification: B65D 63/04 (20060101);