JP2006322541A - Hose clamp - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED To secure a seal between a hose and a pipe.
A hose clamp HC includes a metal clamp ring 1 capable of tightening a connection portion between a hose H and a pipe P, a resin supporter 2 capable of accommodating the clamp ring 1, and a support piece 17 of the supporter 2. The holder 3 can move the clamp ring 1 from the expanded diameter state to the reduced diameter state. The supporter 2 has a stopper portion 9 where the inner ring portion 6 and the outer ring portion 7 made of an elastomer interposed between the pipe P and the hose H are connected, and the end surface of the hose H and the bulge portion B Can be positioned together by bringing them into contact with each other.
[Selection] FIG.

Description

  The present invention relates to a hose clamp.

Conventionally, a member called a metal hose clamp has been used as means for tightening a connecting portion between a pipe and a hose. Such a hose clamp is preliminarily held in an expanded state so that it can be easily fitted into the hose. Thereafter, when the expanded diameter state is released, the hose can be tightened by its own elastic restoring force. It has become. The material of the hose has a great influence on the sealability between the hose and the pipe, but conventionally, for example, a radiator hose for automobiles is strongly required to have pressure resistance and heat resistance, so by including a predetermined additive in the EPDM material, Usually, a material having poor elasticity and high hardness is used. For this reason, in order to improve the sealing performance at the joint between the hose and the pipe, a technique has been proposed in which a seal rubber having a high sealing performance is interposed between the hose and the pipe (Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-294799

  However, in the above publication, the sealing rubber is vulcanized and bonded to the inner periphery of the end of the hose, which makes it difficult to process the hose, and the hose is dedicated to increase the cost. Therefore, it is conceivable to separate the seal rubber from the hose. However, when the seal rubber and the hose clamp are assembled separately, an appropriate compressive force can be applied to the seal rubber due to the positional shift in the axial direction. There is a problem that it cannot be done.

  The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a hose clamp capable of ensuring a sealing property at a connection portion between a hose and a pipe. .

  As means for achieving the above object, the invention of claim 1 is a hose clamp capable of tightening a hose fitted to an outer periphery of an end of a pipe, and having a diameter that can be loosely fitted to the hose. A tightening portion that can be deformed between the state and a reduced diameter state that allows tightening of the outer peripheral surface of the hose along the entire circumference, and is integrated with the tightening portion and inserted from the end side of the hose along the axial direction. And a seal portion that is in close contact with both the hose and the pipe and seals between the two, and the seal portion is erected radially outward from an end portion of the seal portion that is located outside the hose. Is provided with a positioning part capable of coming into contact with the end face of the hose when inserted into the hose to a normal depth.

  A second aspect of the present invention is the clamp according to the first aspect, wherein the clamping portion is a clamp that is deformable between the expanded diameter state and the contracted diameter state by turning a metal belt-like plate material into a ring shape. An inner ring part having a cylindrical shape that can be fitted between the pipe and the hose; and an inner ring part having the seal part. The positioning portion that is formed to stand radially outward from one end edge in the axial direction of the inner ring portion and that allows the end surface of the hose to contact the inner surface of the standing portion, and the outer peripheral edge of the positioning portion And an outer ring portion that is formed in a cylindrical shape that is substantially coaxial with the seal portion and that has an accommodating portion for accommodating the clamp ring between the inner ring portion and the inner ring portion. It is intended to.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the outer surface side of the positioning portion is formed to protrude at a position spaced apart from the end portion of the pipe by a predetermined distance in the axial direction on the outer peripheral surface of the pipe. It is characterized by being able to contact the bulge part.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, a pair of operation pieces are formed on both ends of the clamp ring so as to stand radially outward, and the two operation pieces are approached / separated. As a result, the clamp ring can be displaced between a diameter-expanded state and a diameter-reduced state, and when the clamp ring is accommodated in the accommodating portion, the two operation pieces are disposed on the outer ring portion. An escape recess that protrudes outward from the ring portion is formed as an opening, and a support piece is provided along the axial direction on the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring portion, and a holder is provided along the support piece on the support piece. The holder is movably mounted, and the holder is engaged with both the operation pieces to hold them in an approaching state so that the clamp ring is in an enlarged state, and the diameter-enlarged holding part and the shaft. Arranged adjacent to the direction The holder is provided with a release portion that releases the engagement with the operation pieces when the holder moves along the support piece and shifts the clamp ring to a reduced diameter state. .

<Invention of Claim 1>
According to the first aspect of the present invention, after the connection between the hose and the pipe, or prior to this connection, the outer periphery of the hose is loosely fitted while the tightening portion is maintained in the expanded diameter state. On the other hand, when the seal part is inserted between the hose and the pipe, the seal part comes into close contact with the hose and the pipe along the entire circumference. At this time, the positioning part comes into contact with the end surface of the hose. Positioned with respect to direction. Thus, if the tightening portion is shifted to the reduced diameter state, the tightening portion can tighten the hose at a preset position with respect to the axial direction, and the seal portion can be securely positioned between the hose and the pipe at the normal position. Can be sealed.

<Invention of Claim 2>
According to the invention of claim 2, since a supporter having a seal portion is provided separately from the clamp ring, and the clamp ring is incorporated and integrated therein, a sealing function is added using the existing clamp ring. be able to.

<Invention of Claim 3>
According to the invention of claim 3, when the pipe is inserted into the hose to a predetermined depth, the bulge portion comes into contact with the outer surface side of the positioning portion, and further insertion is restricted. Therefore, since the positional relationship between the hose and the hose clamp is determined, and the depth of insertion of the pipe into the hose is also defined, the positional relationship of the three parties is determined, so that the seal can be realized in a normal state.

<Invention of Claim 4>
According to invention of Claim 4, when connecting a hose and piping, both the operation pieces of a clamp ring are latched by the diameter expansion holding part of a holder, and a clamp ring is hold | maintained in the diameter expansion state. When the connection between the hose and the pipe is completed, the holder is moved along the support piece. Then, as the holder moves, the release parts correspond to the two operation pieces, so that the lock on the holder side with respect to the two operation pieces is released, so that the clamp ring is reduced in diameter by its own spring force. Thus, the connection portion between the hose and the pipe is tightened.

<Embodiment 1>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, a hose clamp HC applied to a connection portion between a radiator hose (hereinafter simply referred to as a hose H) and a pipe P of an automobile will be described as an example. Note that a bulge portion B is formed to protrude along the entire circumference at a position near the end on the outer peripheral surface of the pipe P.

  The hose clamp HC of the present embodiment includes a metal clamp ring 1 for tightening a connecting portion between the hose H and the pipe P, a supporter 2 made of synthetic resin for mounting the clamp ring 1, and a clamp ring. It consists of a synthetic resin holder 3 for keeping 1 in an expanded state.

  First, the clamp ring 1 (corresponding to the tightening portion of the present invention) will be described. The clamp ring 1 is formed by turning a strip-shaped plate material made of a spring steel material into a ring shape. Both end portions intersect each other on the peripheral surface, and both are raised radially outward to form a pair of operation pieces 4 and 5. One of the operation pieces 4 has a bifurcated bridge shape with an opening in the center in the width direction, and the other operation piece 5 has a narrow shape with both side portions in the width direction being rolled. And when both the operation pieces 4 and 5 are in the approached state, the clamp ring 1 is in a diameter-expanded state that can be loosely fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the pipe P while accumulating the spring force. When in a separated state, the clamp ring 1 is in a reduced diameter state in which the spring force is released and the outer peripheral surface of the pipe P (the connection portion between the pipe P and the hose H) can be tightened.

  Next, the supporter 2 will be described. The supporter 2 is made of a synthetic resin material (for example, made of nylon containing glass), and is integrally formed by an inner ring portion 6 (seal portion) and an outer ring portion 7.

  The inner ring portion 6 is formed in a cylindrical shape having both ends opened, and can be fitted into a gap between the hose H and the pipe P. One end side (the right end side in FIG. 2) of the inner ring portion 6 is connected to the outer ring portion 7. In this embodiment, the inner ring portion 6 is connected only to the outer ring portion 7. And the same material, but the tip side is a seal portion 8 in which a soft seal material (elastomer) having appropriate adhesiveness is made continuous by insert molding (molding the inner ring portion 6). In this case, the full length part may be formed of the same material as the outer ring part 7, and the seal part 8 may be laminated on the surface layer side using this as a core). Thus, in a state where the pipe P and the hose H are connected, the seal portion 8 is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the pipe P and the inner peripheral surface of the hose H along the entire circumference and over a predetermined range in the front-rear direction. In addition, the space between them can be maintained in a sealed state.

  An opening edge of the inner ring part 6 on the side connected to the outer ring part 7 stands radially outward to form a stopper part 9 (corresponding to the positioning part of the present invention). That is, on the outer surface side of the stopper portion 9, a short tube portion 10 into which the bulge portion B of the pipe P can be fitted protrudes in the middle in the height direction, and the pipe P is connected to the short tube. By inserting the bulge part B against the outer surface of the stopper part 9 when fitted into the part 10, the insertion depth of the pipe P with respect to the hose clamp HC is regulated. On the other hand, when the hose clamp HC is inserted into the hose H side, the inner surface side of the stopper portion 9 comes into contact with the end surface of the hose H, whereby the hose clamp HC can be positioned in the axial direction of the hose H (see FIG. 14).

  The outer ring portion 7 is continuous with the outer end of the stopper portion 9 and is formed in a cylindrical shape having a larger diameter coaxial with the inner ring portion 6. A small-diameter portion 11 is formed in the front half of the outer ring portion 7 (portion continuous with the short tube portion 10), and a large-diameter portion 12 is formed in the latter half of the outer-ring portion 7. An accommodating portion 13 for accommodating the above-described clamp ring 1 is formed. The inner diameter of the large-diameter portion 12 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the clamp ring 1 in the expanded state, and one end edge of the clamp ring 1 with the large-diameter portion 12 and the small diameter in the state in which the clamp ring 1 is accommodated. It is possible to contact a step 14 formed between the portion 11 and the portion 11. Further, latching portions 15 for preventing the clamp ring 1 in the accommodated state from coming off are arranged at equiangular intervals in the illustrated shape at the opening edge on the opposite side of the step 14 in the large diameter portion 12. Each latching portion 15 is formed so as to project radially inward from the opening edge of the large-diameter portion 12, bends and deforms when the clamp ring 1 is accommodated, and returns to deform after being accommodated to engage with the end edge of the clamp ring 1. And stop it.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 5, a pair of relief recesses 16 are provided on both sides of the top portion 12A of the large diameter portion 12 in order to avoid interference with the operation pieces 4 and 5 of the clamp ring 1. Are respectively cut out over the entire length range from the rear edge of the large diameter portion 12 to the small diameter portion 11. Further, both relief recesses 16 are formed over a range larger than the angular range in which both operation pieces 4 and 5 move while the clamp ring 1 is in the expanded diameter state to the contracted diameter state.

  In the present embodiment, the inner ring portion 6 is formed with a length that slightly protrudes rearward from the outer ring portion 7.

  Furthermore, a support piece 17 for attaching the holder 3 protrudes outward in the radial direction at the top portion 12A of the large diameter portion, and is formed to have a length that covers almost the entire length of the outer ring portion 7. That is, the rear half of the support piece 17 is connected to the top 12A of the large diameter portion 12 along the length direction, but the front half extends so as to be spaced above the small diameter portion 11. The support piece 17 has a flat plate shape on the lower side and a round bar shape on the upper side to form a mounting portion 17A.

  Next, the holder 3 will be described. The holder 3 is also integrally formed of a synthetic resin material (the same material as the supporter 2). One end side of the holder 3 is a pressing operation portion 18 having a flat plate shape, and the other end side is a diameter expansion holding portion 20 for holding both operation pieces 4 and 5 of the clamp ring 1 in an approaching state via a release portion 19. It has become.

  A mounting groove 21 having a groove shape that can be fitted and fitted to the support piece 17 of the supporter 2 is formed in the center of the enlarged diameter holding portion 20. As shown in FIG. 12, the mounting groove 21 opens toward the front end side so that the holder 3 can be fitted into the support piece 17 while sliding along the S direction in the figure. The holder 3 is formed over substantially the entire length range including the release portion 19 as well as the holding portion 20. In addition, a pair of lock grooves 22 into which both the operation pieces 4 and 5 can be fitted when the clamp ring 1 is in a diameter-expanded state are formed on both sides of the diameter-enlargement holding portion 20 with the mounting groove 21 sandwiched in the width direction. And a recess having a predetermined opening angle. Thus, when the operation pieces 4 and 5 are fitted into the lock grooves 22, the clamp ring 1 is held in an expanded state. However, when the holder 3 is moved from the position shown in FIG. 14 to the position shown in FIG. 15, since the release portion 19 is not provided with the lock groove 22, both the operation pieces 4, 5 have the lock groove 22. And the clamp ring 1 can shift to a reduced diameter state.

  Next, the effect of this embodiment comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated concretely. First, the clamp ring 1 is directed to the rear end side of the supporter 2 so that both the operation pieces 4 and 5 correspond to the relief recesses 16, and the accommodating portion between the outer ring portion 7 and the inner ring portion 6. Push into 13. At this time, each latching portion 15 is bent and deformed by the passage of the clamp ring 1, and the clamp ring 1 is housed in the housing portion 13 in a retaining state by the return after the passage (state of FIG. 10).

  In this accommodated state, the tip portions of the operating pieces 4 and 5 protrude radially outward from the outer ring portion 7, and the protruding portions are sandwiched by appropriate jigs (not shown) and are brought close to each other. Hold on. On the other hand, the holder 3 is positioned at one end portion of the support piece 17 from the enlarged diameter holding portion 20 side, the support piece 17 is made to correspond to the mounting groove 21, and both the operation pieces 4 and 5 are respectively set to the lock grooves 22. Push in while adapting. And if the whole diameter expansion holding | maintenance part 20 is displaced to the position which latches with the support piece 17 and both the operation pieces 4 and 5, the clamp ring 1 will be hold | maintained in a diameter-expanded state. Further, the holder 3 is mounted in a state in which it does not come out in the radial direction by the engagement between the mounting groove 21 and the mounting portion 17A of the support piece 17 (states in FIGS. 11 and 12). Thus, the supporter 2 and the clamp ring 1 are integrated, and are carried into the connection site of the hose H in this assembled state.

  At the connection site, the end of the hose H is fitted in the gap between the inner ring part 6 and the outer ring part 7 (more precisely, the clamp ring 1), and the end part of the hose H is on the inner surface side of the stopper part 9 It is inserted until it is hit. As a result, the clamp ring 1 is loosely fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the end portion of the hose H. On the other hand, the pipe P is fitted from the opposite side, and is inserted into the inner ring portion 6 until the bulge portion B hits the outer surface side of the stopper portion 9 (state in FIG. 13).

  Thereafter, when the pressing operation portion 18 is pressed to advance the holder 3, the corresponding positions of the support piece 17 and the operation pieces 4 and 5 change from the diameter expansion holding portion 20 to the release portion 19 of the holder 3. Even in the release portion 19, since the support piece 17 remains locked with the mounting groove 21, the holder 3 remains attached to the supporter 2, but the release portion 19 does not have the lock groove 22, so When reaching the portion 19, the locking state between the operation pieces 4, 5 and the lock groove 22 is cut off, and the locking is released. Therefore, the clamp ring 1 shifts to a reduced diameter state by its own spring force. At this time, both the operation pieces 4 and 5 are moved along the circumferential direction in the escape recess 16. Thus, since the tightening force acts on the hose H by the clamp ring 1 in the reduced diameter state, the connection state between the pipe P and the hose H is reliably maintained. In addition, since the seal portion 8 formed of an elastomer, which is a different material from the supporter, is interposed between the pipe P and the hose H, it is possible to reliably seal between the two regardless of the material of the hose H. it can.

  Moreover, since the positional relationship regarding the axial direction of piping P, the hose H, and the hose clamp HC is determined by providing the stopper part 9, it can contribute to ensuring a regular sealing state. Specifically, for example, when the pipe P is more deeply fitted to the hose H, the tightening force of the clamp ring 1 may act on the bulge part B, but as in the present embodiment. However, if these positional relationships are properly defined, there is no such concern.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the hose clamp HC is formed by integrating with the supporter 2 which is separate from the clamp ring 1, an effect that the clamp ring 1 having an existing structure can be used as it is can be obtained.

<Embodiment 2>
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the first embodiment, the clamp ring and the supporter are separate components, but in the second embodiment, these are integrated to form a hose clamp HC.

  That is, the extension piece 30 is integrally extended and formed along the axial direction from three illustrated positions on one side edge of the ring-shaped portion of the clamp ring 1A. Each extension piece 30 is arranged at almost equal angular intervals, and a seal portion 32 is continuous at a tip portion thereof via a stopper portion 31 formed radially inward from the tip end of each extension piece 30. As a means for integrating the clamp ring 1 </ b> A and the seal portion 32, insert locking, application of an adhesive, or physical locking means using concavo-convex portions that can be locked to each other can be considered.

  Although not shown, the holder for holding the clamp ring 1A in the diameter-expanded state is configured such that both the operation pieces 4 and 5 are sandwiched and held in an approaching state, and the clamping state is forcibly released by extraction. Things can be used.

  Further, when the seal portion 32 and the clamp ring 1A are integrated, if the clamp ring 1A is deformed between the expanded diameter state and the reduced diameter state, the seal portion 32 is distorted and the roundness is impaired. However, since the entire seal portion 32 including the stopper portion 31 is formed of an elastomer, the above-described distortion is absorbed by these and does not cause any practical problem.

  Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and thus the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be exhibited.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention, and further, within the scope not departing from the gist of the invention other than the following. Various modifications can be made.

  (1) In Embodiment 1, the holder 3 is used to hold the clamp ring 1 in a diameter-expanded state. However, the holder 3 is not used, and the diameter-expanded state is maintained by a holding means integrally formed with the clamp ring 1. You may make it hold | maintain. As the holding means, for example, a locking claw is formed on one of the operation pieces 4 and 5, and a receiving portion that is detachable from the locking claw is formed on the other side when the diameter of the clamp ring 1 is expanded. Things can be considered.

  (2) In Embodiment 1, the case where the holder is left on the supporter even after the clamp ring is reduced in diameter has been illustrated. However, the holder may be removed after shifting to the reduced diameter state. .

Clamp ring perspective view Front view of supporter Side view of the supporter viewed from the rear A side view as seen from the front Same top view Front view of holder Same top view VIII-VIII sectional view of FIG. IX-IX sectional view of FIG. Cross-sectional side view with the clamp ring in the natural state mounted on the supporter Side sectional view with clamp ring in expanded state attached to supporter Front sectional view with holder mounted Front sectional view showing hose insertion state Front sectional view showing the pipe insertion state Front sectional view showing the tightened state after moving the holder Side sectional view showing the tightened state The side view which looked at the hose clamp in Embodiment 2 from the rear side Similarly, a cross-sectional view of the connection state between the hose and the pipe

Explanation of symbols

1,1A ... Clamp ring (tightening part)
2 ... supporter 3 ... holder 4, 5 ... operation piece 6 ... inner ring part 7 ... outer ring part 8, 32 ... seal part 9, 31 ... stopper part (positioning part)
13 ... Housing part 19 ... Release part 20 ... Expanded diameter holding part H ... Hose P ... Piping HC ... Hose clamp B ... Bulge part

Claims (4)

A hose clamp capable of tightening a hose fitted to the outer periphery of an end of a pipe,
A tightening portion that can be deformed between an expanded diameter state in which the hose can be loosely fitted and a reduced diameter state in which the outer peripheral surface of the hose can be tightened along the entire circumference, and the hose integrated with the tightening portion A seal portion that is inserted along the axial direction from the end portion side of the tube and is in close contact with both the hose and the pipe and seals between the two, and an end portion on the side of the seal portion that is located outside the hose A hose clamp comprising: a positioning portion that stands radially outward from the hose and is capable of contacting the end surface of the hose when the seal portion is inserted into the hose to a normal depth. While the tightening portion is constituted by a clamp ring that is deformed between the expanded diameter state and the reduced diameter state by turning a metal belt-shaped plate material into a ring shape,
A supporter to which the clamp ring can be mounted; and the supporter has a cylindrical shape that can be fitted between the pipe and the hose, and an inner ring part having the seal part, and an axial direction of the inner ring part. The positioning portion formed so as to stand radially outward from one end edge of the hose, the end portion of the hose being able to contact the inner surface side of the standing portion, and the sealing portion continuous with the outer peripheral edge of the positioning portion; 2. The hose clamp according to claim 1, further comprising an outer ring portion having a substantially coaxial cylindrical shape and having an accommodating portion for accommodating the clamp ring between the inner ring portion and the inner ring portion. . The outer surface side of the positioning portion is capable of abutting a bulge portion that protrudes from the end portion of the pipe at a predetermined distance in the axial direction on the outer peripheral surface of the pipe. Hose clamp as described. A pair of operating pieces are erected outward in the radial direction at both ends of the clamp ring, and the clamp ring can be displaced between a diameter-expanded state and a diameter-reduced state by moving both the approaching pieces away from each other. In addition, the outer ring part is formed with an opening recess that allows the two operation pieces to protrude outward from the outer ring part when the clamp ring is housed in the housing part. While the outer peripheral surface of the part is provided with a support piece along the axial direction,
A holder is mounted on the support piece so as to be movable along the support piece, and the holder is engaged with both the operation pieces and held in an approaching state so that the clamp ring has an enlarged diameter. A diameter holding portion and an axially adjacent to the diameter holding portion, and when the holder moves along the support piece, the locking ring is released and the clamp ring is reduced in diameter. The hose clamp according to claim 2, further comprising a release portion that shifts to a state.

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