GB2189177A

GB2189177A - Pipe clamp

Info

Publication number: GB2189177A
Application number: GB08706970A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Henderson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-04-17
Filing date: 1987-03-24
Publication date: 1987-10-21
Anticipated expiration: 2007-03-24
Also published as: GB8706970D0; GB2189177B; GB8609373D0

Abstract

A pipe clamp has apertures to permit tack-welds (50) to be made around the join (16) while the pipe ends are clamped so that there is minimum movement of the pipe ends and a complete weld can be rapidly and efficiently effected. The pipe clamp (10) is generally tubular and is hinged (26) parallel to an elongate axis of the tube and has a flared top portion (44) for clamping a socket (18) to a pipe. The pipe clamp (10) has apertures (46) spaced along its length to expose the portions of pipe which are butted together and also has apertures (48) at the flared portion (44) to permit a socket (18) to be tack-welded to the pipe. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pipe clamp The present invention relates to a pipe clamp, particularly, but not exclusively, for clamping butt ends and socket joins in pipes so that tack-welds can be made without affecting the join.

When butt welding two pipes it is standard practice to tack-weld one side of the pipes and then tack-weld the opposite side, i.e. East and West, then North and South and them commence the welding run around the join.

However, when tack-welding pipes which have been butted together the first tack usually causes the opposite side of the join to open so that there is clearance between the ends of the pipes and thus it is difficult to complete the weld. Thus the tack-weld has to be re-broken or sawn in two and the procedure repeated until a satisfactory tack-weld is obtained. This is extremely time consuming and does not guarantee consistently good welds even with experienced operators. A similar problem is present when attempting to weld a socket to an end of a pipe. The tackweld also causes the socket to skew with the result that it is difficult to complete the weld around the socket and pipe exterior. Again this problem has to be overcome by re-breaking the weld and re-tacking the join until it is satisfactory.

An object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate disadvantages associated with the aforedescribed technique of joining pipes.

This is achieved by providing a pipe clamp to hold both parts of the pipe securely and in alignment, the pipe clamp having apertures to permit tack-welds to be made around the join while the pipe ends are clamped so that there is minimum movement of the pipe ends and a complete weld can be rapidly and efficiently effected.

In one arrangement the pipe clamp is generally tubular and is hinged along an elongate axis of the tube and has a flared top portion for clamping a socket to a pipe. The pipe clamp has apertures spaced along its length to expose the portions of pipe which are butted together and also has apertures at the flared portion to permit a socket to be tack-welded to the pipe.

Accordingly, in one aspect of the present invention there is provided a pipe clamp comprising a pair of elongate arcuate sections pivotably coupled along a common axis, each section being proportioned to be secured around a tubular pipe and having means for securing the pipe clamp around the pipe to retain butt ends of pipe portions or pipe socket joins therein, at least one of said elongate arcuate sections defining an aperture therein for exposing a butt end or socket join to be tack-welded whereby, in use, said butt ends and socket joins can be tack-welded with portions of the pipe clamped in place.

Preferably, each elongate element includes an aperture for exposing a portion of the butt weld or socket join opposite from the first aperture. Conveniently, said pipe clamp includes a tubular portion and a flared portion for permitting a butt join or a socket join to be tack-welded and said flared portion includes at least one aperture disposed therein for permitting said socket join to be tackwelded.

Preferably also, said pivot is hinged at spaced portions along said tubular length.

Conveniently, said fastening means is provided by a pair of flanges, one flange being located on the respective tubular section and one flange having an integral nut therein for receiving a bolt associated with said other flange.

Preferably said pipe clamp and components are made of steel or any other suitable material.

These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in combination with the accompanying drawing which is a perspective partly broken away view of a pipe clamp in accordance with an embodiment of the invention shown coupling butt-ends of pipe portions and a socket join to a pipe portion.

Reference is now made to the drawing which illustrates a pipe clamp, generally indicated by reference numeral 10 shown clamping two tubular pipe sections 12 and 14 which are butted together at butt join 16 and also clamping socket 18 to pipe portion 14 around socket join generally indicated by reference numeral 20.

The pipe clamp 10 consists of two elongate circular tubular portions 22 and 24 which are pivotably coupled by an elongate hinge 26 disposed along the tubular axis. The hinge 26 is provided by coupling a rigid elongate steel rod between overlapping flange portions that are generally indicated by reference numerals 30 and 32 associated with portion 22, and 34, 36 associated with tubular portion 24.

Diametrically disposed on the pipe clamp 10 are pipe fastensing means generally indicated by reference numeral 38. Each pipe fastening means is provided a pair of flanges, one flange being mounted on each of tubular portions 22 and 24. One of the flanges has a captive nut 40 and the other flange has a recess for receiving a threaded bolt 42 for engaging with the captive nut. At the top of the pipe-clamp is a flared portion generally in dicated by reference numeral 44 for accom modating the extra width of the socket join and it will be appreciated that this flared por tion can be proportioned and dimensioned to fit an entire range of different diameter socket joins.

It will also be seen in tubular portion 22 there is an aperture 46 for exposing a portion of the butt join 16 and another aperture 48 for exposing a portion of socket join 20. Similarly disposed apertures are present in tubular portion 24 but are not shown in the interest of clarity.

In operation, the pipe clamp is fitted around butt join 16 and/or socket join 20 as shown, and bolts 42 are passed through captive nut 40 to secure the clamp around the pipes and socket. Then a tack-weld generally indicated by reference numeral 50 can be made to socket joins 16 and 20 through the respective apertures 46 and 48. This can then be repeated at the other side of the joins and the pipe clamp then removed. The joins remain in register and the weld can be completed around the butt join and/or socket join.

It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made to the pipe clamp as hereinbefore described without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, although the pipe clamp shows a tubular portion with a flared portion a pipe clamp have only a tubular portion may be used for joining butt ends only or a pipe clamp having a flared portion only for joining pipes to sockets may be used. The present pipe clamp provides the advantage of being able to clamp butt ends as well as socket joins for tack-welding.In addition, only one aperture may be provided in the respective tubular portion or a pair of apertures as shown in the drawing and after one tack-weld has been effected the clamp may be rotated to another portion on the butt join to effect a second tack-weld, however, it will be appreciated that if this was to occur then, at the portion of the pipe around the butt join clearance, should be provided so that the pipe join does not snag on the tack-weld.

All parts of the pipe clamp are made of steel although this may be any other suitable material. In addition, the fastening means can be replaced by any other suitable fastening means such as a latch.

Advantages of the invention are that the device is readily fabricated and requires minimal experience to use effectively. It permits butt joins and socket joins of pipes to be clamped in a secure position for tack-welding so that effective welds are consistently obtained.

There is no need for re-breaking the tack-weld because consistent joins are obtained each time the pipe clamp is used.

Claims

1. A pipe clamp comprising a pair of elongate arcuate sections pivotably coupled along a common axis, each section being proportioned to be secured around a tubular pipe and having means for securing the pipe clamp around the pipe to retain butt ends of pipe portions or pipe socket joins therein, at least one of said elongate arcuate sections defining an aperture therein for exposing a butt end or socket join to be tack-welded whereby, in use, said butt ends and socket joins can be tack-welded with portions of the pipe clamped in place.

2. A pipe clamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein each elongate element includes an aperture for exposing a portion of the butt weld or socket join opposite from the first aperture.

3. A pipe clamp as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said pipe clamp includes a tubular portion and a flared portion for permitting a butt join or a socket join to be tack-welded and said flared portion includes at least one aperture disposed therein for permitting said socket join to be tack-welded.

4. A pipe clamp as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said pivot is hinged at spaced portions along said tubular length.

5. A pipe clamp as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said fastening means is provided by a pair of flanges, one flange being located on the respective tubular section and one flange having an integral nut therein for receiving a bolt associated with said other flange.

6. A pipe clamp as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said fastening means is provided by a pair of flanges, one flange having a slot being Icoated on the respective tubular section and the other flange having a swing bolt and knurled nut for fastening said flanges together.

7. A pipe clamp as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said pipe clamp and components are made of steel or any other suitable material.

8. A pipe clamp substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.