INTRODUCTION

The present disclosure relates to a profile clamp for connecting two pipe ends, which has a first half shell and a second half shell, which each has a tensioning head at a first end and a connecting geometry at a second end for releasably connecting the second ends, wherein the tensioning heads are connected to a tensioning element and at least one of the two half shells can be tilted relative to the tensioning element, wherein a spring element is arranged in the region of the tensioning heads, which spring element presses the second ends of the half shells apart under pretension. The disclosure furthermore relates to a spring element for such a profile clamp.

Profile clamps generally serve for connecting two pipe ends, wherein they are seated on flanges at the pipe ends. During the tensioning of the profile clamps, not only is a radial retention force then generated, but, owing to the profile of the clamp band and the flange, also an axial force which presses the pipe ends toward one another.

To enable easier assembly of the profile clamp on the pipe ends, it is known to form the clamp band in the form of two half shells which are each connected via a tensioning device at their first ends and via a releasable connecting geometry at their respective second ends. The profile clamp is then seated on the pipe ends or flanges with an opened connecting geometry and a slackened tensioning device and the connecting geometry is subsequently closed. By actuating the tensioning device, the profile clamp can then be tensioned by reducing its diameter.

A profile clamp for arranging on a flange is now known from DE 10 2011 117 753 A1, which profile clamp has a first half shell and a second half shell. The half shells each have a tensioning head at a first end and a connecting geometry at an opposite second end for releasably connecting the second ends. In this case, the tensioning heads are connected to a tensioning element, wherein at least one of the two half shells can be tilted relative to the tensioning element. In this case, a spring element having two legs is provided and is held on the tensioning element such that one leg, under pretension, abuts in each case spring-pretensioned against a respective inner side of the half shells. Easier seating of the profile clamp is thus achieved since the profile clamp is retained in the opened state by the spring element until the connecting geometries are connected to one another.

The tensioning element is relatively fixedly connected e.g. to the tensioning head of the first half shell, for example in that the tensioning element is designed as a screw element and is partially screwed into a thread in the first tensioning head. The tensioning element extends through a through-hole, which is formed in particular as an elongated hole, which is incorporated in the tensioning head of the second half shell. By holding the second half shell on the tensioning element via a through hole or elongated hole, the second half shell is held on the tensioning element such that it is movable relative to the first half shell, whilst the tensioning element is partially screwed in the first tensioning head, for example. The spring element then ensures that the two half shells are retained in an opening position with respect to one another so that the two connecting geometries on the respective second ends of the half shells are opened and as far away from one another as possible. It is thus possible to arrange the profile clamp on the flange in a simple manner without the two half shells having an undefined arrangement with respect to one another. If the tensioning element in the form of a screw is screwed further into the first tensioning head, the profile clamp is braced on the flange after a connection, in particular latching, of the two connecting geometries at the second ends of the half shells.

If the profile clamp is retained, pre-positioned, on the flange by connected geometries at the second ends of the half shells, an assembly operator can subsequently actuate the tensioning element, for example in that, in the case of a screw, this is screwed into the thread in the first tensioning head. In this case, the position of the profile clamp is disadvantageously not positioned in a defined manner on the flange, which means that the profile clamp can rotate freely around the flange, for example.

SUMMARY

One object of the disclosure is to further develop a profile clamp for easier arrangement on pipe ends or flanges. In particular, it should be possible to pre-fix the profile clamp on the pipe ends in a simple manner after the connection of the second ends of the half shells and before the bracing of the tensioning heads by the tensioning element.

In an embodiment, the disclosure provides that the profile clamp, starting from the preamble of claim1, is further developed in such a way that, during the connection of the second ends of the half shells, contact regions of the spring element can come to bear against the pipe ends in a force-locking manner.

An embodiment is therefore a functional expansion of the spring element, which, to fulfill a first function, abuts, spring-pretensioned, against the inner sides of the half shells in order to press the half shells apart in the non-connected state of the second ends. To fulfill a second function, namely a defined pre-positioning of the profile clamp on the pipe ends, contact regions, which are formed in particular on a radial inner side of the spring element, are pressed resiliently against the pipe ends to thereby achieve friction-locking retention. In this case, by connecting the second ends, the contact regions are deformed radially inward and come to bear against the pipe ends, wherein the spring element, with increasing tensioning of the profile clamp, can then come to bear against the pipe ends more and more. The forces required to tension the profile clamp therefore only increase insubstantially.

The spring element preferably has two legs and is fastened to the tensioning element such that one leg, under pretension, abuts in each case spring-pretensioned against a respective inner side of the half shells, wherein at least one of the contact regions is formed on each leg, by means of which contact regions a friction-locking retention of the profile clamp on the pipe ends can be realized during the connection of the second ends of the half shells. This achieves a simple construction of the spring element with a reliable pre-positioning of the profile clamp on the pipe ends. In this case, the contact regions on the legs of the spring element form an operative connection with the flange in such a way that friction-locking or force-locking retention is achieved. In particular, as a result of the operative connection, it is achieved that the profile clamp on the flange can no longer readily twist when the second ends of the half shells are connected to one another via the connecting geometries, even if the tensioning heads of the half shells are not yet braced together by the tensioning element. The assembly of the profile clamp is therefore facilitated considerably, especially in poorly accessible regions.

According to an embodiment of the spring element, the contact regions are formed at angled end regions of the legs. For example, the end regions extend at an angle of 90° to 180° and preferably of 100° with respect to the legs. The angled end regions form integrally molded portions in the manner of small end arms, wherein, as a result of the angled direction of extent of the end regions, these can act as a brace between the inner side of the half shells and the outer circumference of the pipe ends under elastic deformation.

In an embodiment, a further improvement is achieved if the contact regions are formed at a bent portion of the end regions. The contact regions thus press against the pipe ends with an approximately linear contact. As a result of the bent portions, for example in the form of an end tongue, a defined contact point and a relatively high contact force are therefore produced. In particular, contact via a bordering punching burr or the like is prevented.

According to an embodiment of the profile clamp, at least the contact regions have a coating on the surface with which the friction between the contact regions and the pipe ends can be increased. In particular, the spring element can be fully surface-coated, wherein a coating in the region of the contact regions at the end of the legs is for influencing the friction between the spring element and the pipe ends.

The spring element is produced, for example, from a spring steel sheet by means of a punching and bending process. The spring element has, for example, a sheet thickness of 0.2 mm to 1 mm and preferably of 0.4 mm. In particular, the spring element preferably has a thickness of 0.3 mm to 0.6 mm. The spring element is designed such that deformations of the legs of the spring element take place predominantly in the elastic region, wherein a plastic deformation of the contact regions, in particular, after a final tightening of the profile clamp on the pipe ends can be tolerated. Repeated assembly of the profile clamp with a pre-positioning action of the spring element can be maintained in spite of the possible occurrence of a slight plastic deformation of the spring element.

For guiding the tensioning element through, the spring element has a V-shaped molded portion between the legs, in which mutually flush openings are formed through which the tensioning element extends. In this case, the spring element can be designed, in particular, such that the legs and the integrally molded end portions are symmetrical with respect to the V-shaped molded portion.

The disclosure is furthermore based on a spring element for a profile clamp for connecting two pipe ends, which has a first half shell and a second half shell, which each has a tensioning head at a first end and a connecting geometry at a second end for releasably connecting the second ends, wherein the tensioning heads are connected to a tensioning element and at least one of the two half shells can be tilted relative to the tensioning element, wherein a spring element is arranged in the region of the tensioning heads, which spring element presses the second ends of the half shells apart under pretension, wherein the spring element has contact regions according to an embodiment, which can come to bear against the pipe ends in a friction-locking manner during the connection of the second ends.

Therefore, the spring element serves not only for retaining the profile clamp or pressing the half shells apart, but, after the arrangement and closing of the profile clamp, also for securing the position on the pipe ends before the profile clamp is tensioned via the tensioning element and therefore fastened completely. It is therefore possible to dispense with an additional retainer as a pre-positioning device or anti-twist device. This reduces the complexity involved in producing the profile clamp, which can therefore be produced more economically overall.

According to an embodiment, the spring element has two legs, in the end regions of which one of the contact regions is formed in each case, by means of which contact regions a friction-locking retention of the profile clamp on the pipe ends can be realized. It is thus possible to achieve reliable pre-positioning of the profile clamp on the flange with relative little effort. In particular, the contact regions in this case are provided with a coating on the surface, with which the friction between the integrally molded portions and the flange can be increased. Reliable retention can then also be achieved with low spring forces.

