DE10100403A1 - Connector for cylindrical tubes esp. handrails consists of two long clamp bodies locked in tube ends via screws passing through tube walls into bores in bodies - Google Patents

Abstract

The connector has two long clamp bodies (10,12) for fitting into the ends of the tubes to be connected. The first clamp body has one or more threaded bores (16,18). The fitted bodies are clamped and secured in the tube ends via screws (48,50), which pass through the tube walls into the threaded bores. Each clamp body has at least one surface area, which engages mainly flat with the internal tube surfaces. The clamp body surfaces have an least partial structure or coating to increase friction.

Description

The present invention relates to connectors for connecting two zy Lindrian tubes, especially handrail sections.

Handrails such as B. find use on stairs or railings, are often made from cylindrical tubes. To do this Handrail sections made from such tubes that are straight or also bent can be connected to handrails, often by welding he follows. This has the disadvantage that weld connections are very difficult are complex since the weld seams should generally not be visible len, and secondly, such railings can no longer be easily dismantled if this is necessary due to renovation work.

The object of the invention is a simple, detachable connection of two create cylindrical tubes, especially handrail sections.

The task is solved by a connector with the features according to Claim 1.

A connector according to the invention is used to connect two cylinders pipes, which are basically made of any pipe material, ins special z. B. plastic, fiber-reinforced plastic or metal best can hen. The connector is particularly suitable for connecting  cylindrical tubes that are part of handrails, but it can also can be used for any other pipe connections.

For this purpose, the connector has two elongate clamping bodies, which consist of one any, sufficiently rigid material is manufactured; in this connection it can in particular be plastic, fiber-reinforced plastics or Act metals, especially steel or aluminum. The sprags, which can be designed differently in principle, have a such a shape that they are adjacent to each other with one of their long sides other arranged with their in the longitudinal direction facing away from each other Ends can be inserted into the ends of the two pipes to be connected.

To spread apart the clamping body with a screw, the first clamping body has a through hole with a thread. The Ge winch can be cut into the through hole in the clamp body be. But it can also be formed by a mother who is on the side of the first clamping body facing the second clamping body pers behind the corresponding through hole with the first clamp body, e.g. B. is connected by a welded or soldered connection.

The clamp bodies are designed so that the in the tubes inserted the clamp body into the thread by means of a screwed screw expandable against each other and in the pipe ends can be pinched. To do this, at least one of the pipe walls must have at least one at least one recess can be provided through which the screw into the Through hole with the thread is insertable. Under "pinchable" it is understood here that the connector after being pinched in none of the Tube ends can be moved, in particular tilted.  

The screws can basically be any type of Act screws, but they must be long enough to fit to allow sufficient spreading. This is preferably through hole and the screw designed so that the screw does not follow protrudes outside. This can be done using a screw with a head an ent in the through hole on the side facing the tube speaking extension for countersinking the screw head in the Clamping body may be provided. However, grub screws are preferred Hexagon socket used as this is only a simple through hole require with a thread, but on the other hand also securely with high Forces that occur when spreading and clamping are turned in can.

The clamping bodies according to the invention are elongated, i. that is, their length is preferably larger than the inner diameter of the cylindrical raw re. As a result, the forces on a larger area of the pipe ends distributed, which makes the connector even for thin pipes or such made of a less rigid material.

The connectors according to the invention allow a very simple, only with a screwdriver, wrench or an Allen key to connect cylindrical tubes, which is just as easy is detachable again. In addition, the connector is of suitable design Formation and arrangement of the screws, preferably during assembly screwed in from below, not visible from above or from the side bar.  

Preferred developments of the invention are in the description, the Drawings and the subclaims described.

On the one hand to achieve the high rei necessary for a good clamping effect to achieve exercise forces between the clamping body and tube walls, and on the other hand, distribute the forces evenly over the pipe walls, white sen the clamping body preferably on surfaces that are at least partially can be brought flat to the system with the inner pipe walls and their Have normal components in the direction of expansion. It is preferred that the sprags each have at least one surface that with the pipe inner surfaces in an angular range of at least 45 ° in the we considerable area can be brought to the plant. A is particularly preferred Angular range of approximately 180 °. This will place the connector in the pipe ends held particularly stable, so that the pipe ends are stable to each other are positioned differently.

In a preferred development of the connector according to the invention the surfaces of the clamping bodies at least partially have a rei Exercise-increasing structure or layer, preferably in the contact area the pipe wall, which means that even with lower spreading forces good power transmission between clamping elements and inner pipe surfaces he follows. The friction-increasing layers can be particularly difficult are double-sided adhesive strips or rubber layers. Be roughening of the Surfaces or particularly preferably corrugations are used. Especially It is advantageous if the corrugation is slightly above the actual one The circumference of the surface protrudes, preferably by 1/10 to 3/10 mm. egg ne such corrugation can be made using a knurling machine  because the knurling machine not only presses in the material, but also "squeezed outwards". The areas that the more friction have a high structure or layer, do not necessarily have to symmetrical or the same size at both ends of the connector be educated.

In a further preferred embodiment, the first Clamping body at least two, spaced apart in the longitudinal direction through holes with a thread each for spreading the clamp body provided. This will result in a very even spreading of the Clamping body enables, in particular a tilting of a clamp body safely avoided along the longitudinal axis. In addition, if the through holes are sufficiently long in the longitudinal direction which are spaced so as not to exert as large of the screws the clamping forces necessary so that the dimensions of the screws re reduced and the requirements for the strength of the material in particular re also the thread in the first clamping body are reduced.

The through holes in the longitudinal direction are particularly preferred axis arranged. While connecting straight pipe sections the Through holes prefer equal distances to the ends of the first Have clamp body, it can be used to connect a curved and a straight tube be advantageous that the distance of a hole from the end closest to it at the end that goes into the curved Tube is inserted is less than the corresponding distance of the Holes at the other end. As a result, the Holes or screws from the pipe ends connect near one  Bending allows, then a shorter part of the connector in the bent pipe end and a longer part sits in the straight pipe end.

Furthermore, at least one through hole is preferably arranged such that that it runs radially to the tube axes in the clamped state. here through the rotational symmetry of the pipes is used to prevent tipping to avoid the sprags. In particular, there is a special one even force distribution.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention is in the second clamping body at least one recess or at least one Hole for receiving at least the tip of one through the thread of the first clamping body screw provided screw. This will on the one hand, a secure positioning of the second clamping body against over the first clamp body already in the not fully spread state allows so that the second body slides out on the first closed is. Even in the jammed state, the situation of the two Clamping bodies additionally stabilized to one another, in particular it can not to slip or tilt the sprags men.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, one is the clamp body is trough-shaped, the convex surface comes to rest in the spread state on the inner tube wall. A sol cher clamping body is particularly material-saving and light, requires but if the screw causes it to spread, either one large wall thickness to accommodate the thread or one on the concave  Side of the sprag with this tightly connected nut to the To be able to absorb spreading forces.

In another preferred embodiment, at least one of the However, the clamping body is designed as a full body. This allows the Clamping body has very high bending forces along its longitudinal direction to take. In addition, a first clamping body, the full body is formed, a long thread that has high spreading forces can take.

In a particularly preferred development, at least one of the Clamping body formed from a half cylinder. The half cylinder can very simply by cutting a bar with a circular profile its axis can be obtained. The radius of the half-cylinder is preferred cross-section of the underlying circle as large as the inner radius of the pipes or just a little smaller, so that the largest possible contact area between the clamping body and the inner tube wall. This Clamping bodies are very easy to manufacture and yet allow one very stable and secure connection.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the Clamping body at least on the edges between the surfaces that can be brought into contact with the inner pipe walls, and the end faces the clamping body beveled, what the insertion of the clamping body in the Tube ends much easier.

In a further preferred embodiment, the clamping bodies have Elements by means of which they are relative to one another in the non-spread state  are positionable so that they can be inserted into the Do not slide pipe ends against each other. This can be about yourself corresponding recesses and projections on the when inserted neighboring longitudinal sides of the two clamping elements act, one Prevent displacement against each other. However, the sprags can also z. B. are held together by an adhesive tape.

The clamping bodies particularly preferably have grooves through which the Insert the connector into the pipe ends of the rubber rings that run hold the sprags together. When spreading the sprags who the rubber rings from the inner tube walls in the grooves pressed and do not hinder the clamping. This will make a very simple and stable positioning of the sprags achieved. If the rubber rings protrude beyond the surface, it is possible to Unspread connector due to rubbing of rubber ge in the pipe ends so that it does not move by itself moves, but still with little effort in the pipe ends is rotatable, which makes adjustment easier during assembly.

In a further preferred embodiment is in the first clamp body another hole for receiving a support for the pipes see. The support can be the arm of a wall bracket or also act the strut of a railing. In any case, the prop still have fasteners for fastening them in the hole. The hole can be designed as a through hole or as a blind hole his. For assembly, at least one of the pipe ends must have at least one Have recess through which the support in the hole in the first Clamping body is insertable. This embodiment makes it possible to  simplest means the tubes, in particular handrail sections Railing at its most convenient point, namely the connection point to support and at the same time connect what the assembly effort for such handrails significantly reduced.

In a preferred development, the hole is for receiving the support essentially only along the longitudinal axis of the first clamping body offset from the through hole so that it becomes possible that both the support and the screws for spreading the clamping bodies be on the same, preferably the lower side of the connected pipes find and are therefore not visible from above or from the side. Are two Through holes for receiving screws to spread the Provided clamp body, the hole for receiving the support is preferred arranged between them.

In a further preferred development, the hole has a receptacle the support is threaded so that the support is when it is an outside has thread, can be screwed directly into the thread. This will a particularly secure fixation of the tubes on the support, in particular also in the vertical direction. If the support has an internal thread de on, the connection can also be made by means of a grub screw after screwing into the thread of the hole to receive the support the pipe wall protrudes. Furthermore, in the second clamping body a recess may be provided in which a screw is inserted into the hole is screwed to accommodate a support, engages and so a better Fixing the support against tilting movements enables. in principle can of course also use one of the through holes for spreading  such a protruding stud also serve to allow connection with a support.

In a further preferred embodiment, at least one of the Clamping body made of aluminum, which on the one hand reduces the weight adorns and on the other hand enables easier processing.

In a further preferred embodiment is a cylindrical man cuff for receiving a longitudinal section with one of each Longer sides adjacent to each other arranged sprag hen. The inside diameter of this sleeve is essentially the same that of the pipes to be connected and in it are one or more through refractions provided, which are arranged and designed such that through them and at least one through hole in the first clamp body can be rotated into the corresponding thread by means of a screw. hereby it is possible to pipe without corresponding recesses or Lö cher ver in the pipe walls with the connector according to the invention tie, because the screws to spread the clamp body in the area the cuff. The cuff preferably corresponds in its To connect the wall thickness and its surface quality the pipes, in particular they can consist of a section of such Rohrs be made. The use of a is particularly advantageous Connector with sleeve in the area of a support, otherwise the recess for the support in the tube walls with the support being as even as possible tongue through a semicircular recess on each of the tubes which would have to be formed, what an exact processing just long or would also require bent pipes. In the cuff is therefore preferably a breakthrough is provided for receiving the support.  

Furthermore, this connector can also be used at the end of a handrail Support can be used when the sprags are on one side are accordingly short. The cuff is then preferred closed at one end by a plate.

Another object of the present invention is a handrail system stem with at least two cylindrical tubes with a connector are connectable according to one of the described embodiments and at least one connector according to one of the described designs to form. Especially in the case that not only connectors with Cuffs are used to manufacture the cylindrical tubes sided with the recesses through which the screws for spreading can be screwed in, as this is a simple and very convenient enables precise installation.

The recesses in the tubes are particularly preferred ordered that they can be connected without a cuff by means of a connector are that their ends touch, so that no disturbing gap in the Surface of a handrail formed with the handrail system results.

When using connectors with a sleeve, the pipes are included the connector preferably connectable so that the ends of the verbun which pipes lie directly at the ends of the sleeve, so that again there is no annoying gap in the surface of the handrail.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be given by way of example described with reference to the drawings. Show it:  

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a connector according to a preferred embodiment.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the connector in Figure 1 with removed cuff.

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the connector of Figure 2 along the line AA..;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through two pipe ends which are connected to the United binder in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 shows a cross section through the connector in Fig. 4 along the plane BB.

In Fig. 1, a connector according to the invention has a first and a second, each substantially semi-cylindrical clamping body 10 and 12 and a sleeve 14 into which the clamping bodies 10 and 12, which are arranged adjacent to one another with their flat surfaces, are introduced in the longitudinal direction. The clamping bodies 10 and 12 made of aluminum are produced by cutting a cylindrical aluminum rod along its longitudinal axis. To increase the friction, they have on their surface two corrugated strips 15 for increasing the friction, which are produced with a knurling machine.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, the clamping bodies are shown in the non-spread state more accurately. The first clamping body 10 has through holes 16 and 18 , into each of which a thread is cut. The second clamping body 12 contains recesses 20 and 22 at corresponding locations through which screws inserted into the through holes 16 and 18 can engage. These holes are each located at different distances from the ends of the connector, so that a straight and a curved tube can be connected. As shown in Fig. 3, he extend the through holes and the recesses in ra dialer direction from the longitudinal axis of the half cylinder.

Between the two through holes 16 and 18 there is a through hole 24 with a cut thread, opposite which a recess 26 is provided in the clamping body 12 for receiving a tip of a screw screwed through the through hole 24 . This through hole 24 is aligned radially to the cylinder axis and arranged in the Ebe ne formed by the two through holes 16 and 18 .

The clamp body 10 and 12 are on the curved edges of their end faces, as shown in Fig. 2, chamfered to facilitate the insertion of the clamp body in the pipe ends.

In order to be able to hold and position the clamping bodies 10 and 12 relative to one another in the non-spread state, the clamping bodies 10 and 12 have grooves 28 , 30 and 32 , 34 running on their cylindrical surfaces. Inserted into these grooves are rubber rings 36 and 38 , the diameter of which is so large that they protrude slightly beyond the upper surface of the cylinder. The size of the rubber rings is chosen so that the two clamping bodies are held together loosely. Since the rubber rings inserted into the grooves are also guided through the side surfaces of the grooves, a displacement of the clamping bodies relative to one another along their longitudinal axis is also prevented.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show two pipe ends 40 and 42 which are connected to the in Figs. 1 to 3 shown connector. The clamping bodies 10 and 12 are clamped in the two pipe ends 40 and 42 and the sleeve 14 arranged between the raw ends.

The sleeve 14 is made of the same tube material as the tube ends 40 and 42 . Openings 44 and 46 are provided in it, through which screws can be inserted into the threaded holes 16 and 18 .

The clamping body 10 and 12 are by studs 48 and 50 with hexagon socket, which are screwed into the del through holes 44 and 46 in the threaded holes 16 and 18 and press into the recesses 20 and 22 in the clamping body 12 , spread apart and in the Roh ren 40 and 42 and the sleeve 14 jammed. The rubber rings 36 and 38 in the grooves 28 and 32 or 30 and 34 are pressed together by the expansion against the inner wall of the sleeve 14 .

As shown in FIG. 5, the surface of the half-cylinder lies against the inner surface of the sleeve 14 in an angular segment of approximately 70 °. Since the sleeve 14 is made of the same tube material as the tubes 40 and 42 , the clamping bodies are also in contact with the tube inner walls. Characterized in that the surface and the clamping body not only in the direction of expansion, but also in inclined directions ge has contact with the inner tube walls, the pipe connection can absorb forces in any direction and thus guarantees a stable connection of the pipes.

A support 52 with an internal thread 54 is connected to the clamping bodies 10 and 12 by a stud screw 56 with an internal hexagon, which is screwed through the threaded hole 24 with its tip into the recess 26 and protrudes from the sleeve. For this purpose, the sleeve 14 has an opening 58 into which not only the stud 56 but also the support 54 can be inserted, which results in a connection which, seen from the side, shows no joint.

To establish the connection, the clamping elements 10 and 12 with adjacent flat surfaces, which are held together by the rubber rings 36 and 38 , are first inserted into the sleeve 14 . Through the openings 44 and 46 in the cuff, if not already done, the studs 48 and 50 can be screwed with hexagon socket into the threaded holes 16 and 18 without spreading the elements Lich Lich apart. By the rubber rings 36 and 38 , the sprags are already loosely held in the cuff 14 at this stage. Next, the ends of the connector are inserted into the tube ends 40 and 42 so that the ends of the tubes 40 and 42 abut the sleeve 14 . Now the clamping bodies 10 and 12 are spread apart and clamped in by screwing in the screws 48 and 50 . The screw 56 for holding the support 52 can then be screwed through the opening 58 into the threaded hole 24 until its tip engages in the recess 26 . The support 52 is then screwed onto this stud screw with a hexagon socket.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

First clamp body

12

Second clamp body

14

cuff

15

knurl

16

Through hole with thread

18

Through hole with thread

20

recess

22

recess

24

Through hole with thread

26

recess

28

groove

30

groove

32

groove

34

groove

36

rubber ring

38

rubber ring

40

pipe end

42

pipe end

44

perforation

46

perforation

48

stud

50

stud

52

support

54

inner thread

56

Hexagon socket stud

58

perforation

Claims (21)

1. Connector for connecting two cylindrical tubes ( 40 , 42 ), in particular handrail sections, with two elongate clamping bodies ( 10 , 12 ), which are arranged adjacent to one another with one of their longitudinal sides and with their ends facing away from each other in the ends of the two pipes to be connected can be inserted, and of which the first has at least one through hole ( 16 , 18 ) with egg nem thread, the clamping bodies being designed such that the inserted clamping bodies into the pipes by means of at least one recess in at least one of the Pipe walls screwed into the thread ( 48 , 50 ) can be spread apart and clamped in the pipe ends. 2. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping body ( 10 , 12 ) each have at least one surface which can be brought into contact with the inner surface of the pipe in an angular range of at least 45 °, preferably of approximately 180 °, essentially flat is. 3. Connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the surfaces at least partially have a friction-increasing structure ( 15 ) or layer. 4. Connector according to claim 3, characterized, that the surfaces are at least partially corrugated. 5. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two longitudinally spaced through holes ( 16 , 18 ) are provided, each with a thread for expanding the clamping body. 6. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one through hole ( 16 , 18 ) is arranged so that it extends radially to the pipe axes in the clamped state. 7. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the second clamping body at least one recess ( 20 , 22 ) or at least one hole for receiving the tip of a screw ( 48 , 50 ) screwed through the thread of the first clamping body ( 10 ) is provided. 8. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the clamping bodies ( 10 , 12 ) is trough-shaped. 9. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the clamping bodies ( 10 , 12 ) is a solid body. 10. Connector according to claim 9, characterized in that the clamping body ( 10 , 12 ) is a half cylinder. 11. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the edges between the surfaces of the clamping body ( 10 , 12 ), which can be brought into contact with the inner tube walls, and the end faces of the clamping body ( 10 , 12 ) are chamfered. 12. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping elements ( 28 , 30 , 32 , 34 ) have elements by means of which they can be positio relative to each other in the non-spread state. 13. A connector according to claim 12, characterized in that the clamping bodies have grooves ( 28 , 30 , 32 , 34 ) and are held together by rubber rings ( 36 , 38 ) extending in the grooves. 14. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first clamping body ( 10 ) has a further hole ( 24 ) for receiving a support ( 52 ) for the tubes. 15. Connector according to claim 14, characterized in that the hole ( 24 ) for receiving a support is substantially offset only along the longitudinal axis of the first clamping body with respect to the through hole ( 16 , 18 ). 16. A connector according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the hole ( 24 ) for receiving a support has a thread ( 54 ). 17. Connector according to one of the preceding claims; characterized in that at least one of the clamping bodies ( 10 , 12 ) is made of aluminum. 18. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a cylindrical sleeve ( 14 ) for receiving a Längenab section of each with one of its longitudinal sides arranged adjacent to each other clamping body ( 10 , 12 ) is provided, the inner diameter of which is substantially equal to that of connecting raw re, and which has one or more openings ( 44 , 46 ) which are arranged and designed so that through them in at least one through hole ( 16 , 18 ) in the first Klemmkör by ( 10 ) a screw in corresponding thread is rotatable. 19. Handrail system with at least two cylindrical tubes ( 40 , 42 ) which are ver bindable with a connector according to one of claims 1 to 18, and at least one connector according to one of claims 1 to 18. 20. Handrail system according to claim 19, characterized in that at least two pipes ( 40 , 42 ) with a connector according to egg NEM of claims 1 to 16 are connectable so that the ends of the pipes so connected touch. 21. Handrail according to claim 19, characterized in that at least two pipes ( 40 , 42 ) with a connector according to claim 17 can be connected so that the ends of the pipes connected so lie directly against the ends of the sleeve.