Hose Repair Clamp
A hose clamp for repairing high pressure hydraulic hoses comprises a first clamp portion mated to a second clamp portion around a hose. The first and second clamp portions each comprise a semi-cylindrical channel extending longitudinally along an inner surface of the clamp. The hose is received within the channel and a plurality of fasteners releasably affix the clamp portions together. A plurality of barbs extending circumferentially around the channel compress the hose to minimize leakage from the hose.
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This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/095,579, titled “HOSE REPAIR CLAMP,” filed on Apr. 27, 2011, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONHigh pressure hydraulic hoses failing in use in the “field” cost time and money. Typically, a user must replace a leaky hydraulic hose before work can resume, as there are few, if any, known field repairs available for high pressure hydraulic hoses.
The device according to the present disclosure comprises two clamp portions which “sandwich” a hose at the point of leakage. A semi-cylindrical channel extending along the inner surface of the clamp portions receives the hose and a plurality of fasteners fixes the two clamp portions together. Barbs extending into the channel protrude into the hose and seal against the outside rubber layer of the hose. Because the outside rubber layer of the hose is resilient, the barbs further cause the outside rubber layer to press against the inner hose layers. The compression of the barbs into the hose minimizes leakage longitudinally along the hose. Gasket seals extending along sealing surfaces of the clamp portions minimize leakage from the joint where the clamp portions join together.
For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.
The disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Furthermore, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
The hose 13 is shown disposed within the hose repair clamp 10, which clamp 10 is installed to temporarily stop or slow leaks (not shown) in the hose. In this regard, the hose 13 is sandwiched between an upper clamp portion 18 and a lower clamp portion 19. The upper clamp portion 18 and the lower clamp portion 19 are joined together via a plurality of fasteners 12 to form a generally cylindrical chamber 88 through which the hose 13 extends.
The upper clamp portion 18 and the lower clamp portion 19 of the clamp 10 may be formed from aluminum or other suitably strong and rigid material. In one embodiment, the upper clamp portion 18 and the lower clamp portion 19 are formed from cast aluminum. The fasteners may be any of a number of standard threaded fasteners.
In the illustrated embodiment, the upper clamp portion 18 is substantially symmetrical around a central transverse axis 33. The plurality of barbs 22 comprise central barbs 23a and 23b that extend inwardly in a radial direction. Subsequent barbs 22, such as those labeled 24a, 24b, 25a, and 25b, extend inwardly radially, and also extend toward the central transverse axis 33. In other words, barbs 24a and 24b are angled to extend toward each other, for example.
In operation of one embodiment of the clamp 10 (
A gasket 21 extends generally parallel to and spaced apart from the channel 31. The gasket 21 is disposed within a groove (not shown) received by and partially recessed within a clamp surface 26. The clamp surface 26 is generally flat and generally smooth and extends along a side 44 of the upper clamp portion 18. The gasket 21 has a generally circular cross section in the illustrated embodiment, and is formed from a resilient material such as silicone or Viton®. The gasket 21 is removable and replaceable when worn or damaged.
A sealing surface 27 extends along an opposed side 45 of the upper clamp portion 18. The sealing surface 27 is generally flat and generally smooth and is generally aligned with, i.e., in the same plane as, the clamp surface 26.
Note that free ends 35a and 35b of the gasket 21 terminate between the last two barbs 22 on each end of the clamp portion 18. Specifically, the free end 35a of the gasket 21 terminates between barb 47a and 48a, and the free end 35b terminates between barb 47b and 48b. In this embodiment, the last barb on each end (barbs 48a and 48b) compressing the outermost layer 15 (
The upper clamp portion 18 further comprises a plurality of openings 20 spaced apart from one another along opposed sides 44 and 45 of the upper clamp portion 18. The openings 20 extend through the upper clamp portion 18 and receive fasteners 12 (
The upper clamp portion 18 is further generally symmetrical about a longitudinal axis 34, except that the side 45 of the upper clamp portion 18 comprises the groove (not shown) and gasket 21, as discussed above. The illustrated embodiment shows an upper clamp portion 18 with eighteen (18) barbs 22. Other embodiments may use more or fewer barbs 22.
The lower clamp portion 19 comprises a clamp surface 29 and a gasket 41 that is received by and partially recessed within a groove (not shown). The clamp surface 29 is generally flat and generally smooth and extends along a side 47 of the lower clamp portion 19. The gasket 41 has a generally circular cross section in the illustrated embodiment, and is formed from a resilient material such as silicone or Viton®. A sealing surface 28 extends along an opposed side 48 of the lower clamp portion 19. The sealing surface 28 is generally flat and generally smooth and is generally aligned with, i.e., in the same plane as, the clamp surface 29.
In operation of the clamp 10, the clamp 10 is installed on the hose 13 such that the the hose 13 is positioned in a channel 42 of the lower clamp portion 19 with the leak 30 positioned at or near the center of the clamp 10. The clamp 10 may be positioned such that the leaking area of the hose will be adjacent to the center of the lower clamp portion 19. The upper clamp portion 18 is then installed over the hose 13 such that the gasket 21 (
Tightening the fasteners 12 causes the upper clamp portion 18 and the lower clamp portion 19 to draw together, and causes the protrusions 22 (
The openings 20 of the upper clamp portion 18 are standard countersunk holes in this embodiment. The openings 43 of the lower clamp portion 19 are standard threaded holes in this embodiment. Other embodiments use different openings for different fastening configurations.
The channels 31 and 42 of the upper clamp portion 18 and lower clamp portion 19, respectively, are each generally semi-circular in cross section for receiving a generally cylindrical hose 13. The hose 13 comprises multiple layers, and in this embodiment comprises an outermost rubber layer 15, a first metal layer 51, a first inner rubber layer 52, a second metal layer 53, and an innermost rubber layer 54. Other embodiments have differently-configured hoses 13.
In operation of the clamp 10, the barb 23b contacts and compresses the outermost rubber layer 15. Thus the barb 23b (and all of the barbs 22 (
The gasket 21 is received by and retained within a groove 55. The gasket 41 is received by and retained within a groove 57. The grooves 55 and 57 are generally rectangular in cross-section in the illustrated embodiment, with a generally flat and smooth bottom surface. The gasket 21 of the upper clamp portion 18 seals against the sealing surface 28 of the lower clamp portion 19. The gasket 21 helps to prevent leakage from the hose at a first side joint 58 between the upper clamp portion 18 and the lower clamp portion 19.
Similarly, the gasket 41 of the lower clamp portion 19 seals against the sealing surface 27 of the upper clamp portion 19, The gasket 41 helps to prevent leakage from the hose at a second side joint 59 between the upper clamp portion 18 and the lower clamp portion 19. Note that the scaling surface 27 and the clamp surface 26 are in substantially the same plane, and the sealing surface 28 and the clamp surface 29 are in substantially the same plane, enabling the surfaces to mate against each other in close contact and further enabling a tight seal by the gaskets 21 and 41.
The lower clamp portion 60 is designed to seal against an upper clamp portion (not shown) that has a smooth sealing surface (not shown) without any gaskets or grooves. in other words, while the embodiment pictured in
The groove 89 extends longitudinally along the clamp portion 18 adjacent to and generally parallel to the channel 31. At its opposed ends 86 and 87, the groove 89 extends toward the channel 31 and terminates in the channel 31 at the floor 85 between the outermost barbs 47a and 48a (on one end of the clamp portion 18) and 47b and 48b (on the other end of the clamp portion 18).
A right side 69 of the clamp portion 18 is generally straight and generally parallel to a left side 68 of the clamp portion 18, which is also generally straight. Opposed sides 44 and 45 of the clamp portion 18 are generally parallel to one another and generally perpendicular to the sides 68 and 69. The channel 31 is generally parallel to the sides 44 and 45 and in the illustrated embodiment is generally centered therebetween.
The distance between the floor 85 and the groove 89, Dg, is generally 0.125 in one embodiment. The width of the groove, Wg, is generally 0.125 in one embodiment.
The barb 24b has a straight side 133 that extends inwardly generally perpendicularly to the floor 85. The barb 24b further has an angled side 97 that extends inwardly at an angle of θ with respect to the floor 85. In one embodiment, the angle θ is 30 degrees.
The insert 90 is a unitary cylindrical two-sided hollow nipple with opposed sides 91 and 92 which are insertable into the hose 13. A cylindrical opening 94 extends through the insert 90. Ends 95 and 96 are chamfered or tapered to allow for ease in inserting the inset 90 into the hose 13. A centrally-disposed ledge 93 extends circumferentially around the insert and prevents the insert 90 from entering the hose too deeply. An outer diameter “Wn” of the insert 90 is sized such that the insert 90 is insertable into the hose 13.
Claims
1. A hose repair clamp comprising:
- a first clamp portion, the first clamp portion comprising a first channel, the first clamp portion further comprising a plurality of spaced apart barbs extending into the first channel, the first clamp portion comprising a first groove that receives a first gasket, the first gasket comprising a substantially circular cross section, the first groove recessed into a first side surface substantially parallel to and alongside the first channel, and a first sealing surface disposed on an opposed side of the first clamp portion, the first sealing surface in the same plane as the first side surface;
- a second clamp portion, the second clamp portion comprising a second channel, the second clamp portion further comprising a plurality of spaced apart barbs extending into the second channel, the second clamp portion comprising a second groove that receives a second gasket, the second gasket comprising a substantially circular cross section, and a second sealing surface disposed on an opposed side of the second clamp portion, wherein the second sealing surface is in the same plane as the second side surface;
- the first and second clamp portions being mateable onto a high pressure hose such that the hose is disposed within the first and second channels and the protrusions protrude into the hose; and
- wherein the first gasket seals against the second sealing surface and the second gasket seals against the first sealing surface.
2. The hose repair claim of claim 1, wherein the first groove and the second groove each have opposed straight side walls and a substantially flat and smooth bottom surface that define a generally rectangular cross section.
3. The hose repair clamp of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second channels is semi cylindrical in shape and the barbs extend circumferentially around an inner surface of the first channel and the second channel.
4. The hose repair claim of claim 1, wherein opposed terminal ends of the first and second grooves extend into the first channel adjacent to and inside of outermost barbs of the first and second clamp portions, respectively.
5. The hose repair clamp of claim 3, wherein the barbs are formed unitarily with either the first or second clamp portions.
6. The hose repair clamp of claim 3, wherein at least two of the plurality of barbs angle towards a center of the clamp.
7. The hose repair clamp of claim 1, further comprising at least one fastener releasably affixing the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion together.
8. A hose repair clamp comprising:
- two substantially similar clamp halves releasably affixed together, each clamp half comprising a plurality of semi-circular barbs extending into a channel, each clamp half further comprising a groove that receives a gasket, the gasket comprising a substantially circular cross section, the groove recessed into a first side surface extending alongside the first channel, each clamp half further comprising a sealing surface disposed on an opposed side of the clamp half;
- at least one fastener releasably affixing the two clamp halves together, such that when the clamp halves are joined together, the gasket of a first clamp half seals against the sealing surface of a second clamp half and the gasket of the second clamp half seals against the sealing surface of the first clamp half; and
- a hose received by the channel such that the barbs protrude into the hose and compress the hose.
9. The hose repair clamp of claim 8, the groove having opposed straight side walls and a substantially flat and smooth bottom surface that define a generally rectangular cross section, the groove curving at its terminal ends and terminating at the first channel adjacent to and inside of outermost barbs of the clamp half.
10. The hose repair clamp of claim 8, wherein the groove extends substantially parallel to the channel.
11. The hose repair clamp of claim 8, wherein the first side surface and the sealing surface are in the same plane.
12. A hose repair clamp, comprising:
- a first clamp portion comprising a first channel, the first channel comprising a plurality of semi-circular protrusions, a first gasket groove extending alongside and disposed outwardly from the first channel, the first gasket groove configured to receive a first gasket, the first gasket comprising a substantially circular cross section;
- a second clamp portion comprising a second channel, the second channel comprising a plurality of semi-circular protrusions, a second gasket groove extending alongside and disposed outwardly from the second channel, the second gasket groove configured to receive a second gasket, the second gasket comprising a substantially circular cross section;
- a plurality of fasteners releasably coupling the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion together such that when the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion are coupled together, the first gasket seals against a sealing surface of the second clamp portion and the second gasket seals against a sealing surface of the first clamp portion and the first and second channels form a chamber through which a hose can be inserted, and the plurality of protrusions extend into the hose and apply pressure to the hose.
13. The hose repair clamp of claim 12, the chamber having an outer diameter that is smaller than the outer diameter of the hose.
14. The hose repair clamp of claim 12, the first and second gasket grooves each having opposed straight side walls and a substantially flat and smooth bottom surface that define a. generally rectangular cross section.
15. The hose repair clamp of claim 12, the first and second gasket grooves each comprising terminal ends that extend into the channel inside of outermost protrusions of the first clamp portion.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 25, 2014
Publication Date: Nov 13, 2014
Applicant: Hosebee, LLC (Thomaston, AL)
Inventor: Travis T. Wilkinson (Thomaston, AL)
Application Number: 14/341,179