Reusable clamp with latch release arm for connecting conduit sections and associated methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10125906-B2
Application number	US-201514810960-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 28, 2015
Priority date	Aug 21, 2014
Publication date	Nov 13, 2018
Grant date	Nov 13, 2018

Abstract

A reusable clamp for retaining conduit sections or sanitary fittings having circular flanges together includes two gland members movable between open and closed positions. The gland members include two handles projecting outwardly from the gland members and two sets of locking detents formed on a latch finger connected to one gland member and the outer periphery of the other gland member. The locking detents engage to prevent movement of the gland members away from the closed position until a latch release arm coupled to the latch finger is depressed towards one of the handles, which causes the locking detents to disengage from one another and enables re-opening of the clamp when desired. The latch release arm and one or more of the handles also include tie-receiving loops to prevent accidental opening of the clamp unless desired by the end user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for removably connecting two conduit sections having circular flanges together with a clamp, the clamp including first and second gland members, first and second handles projecting from the first and second gland members, a latch finger coupled to the first gland member, and a latch release arm coupled to the latch finger, the first and second gland members each having a first end and a second end, the first ends being pivotally coupled together at a hinge assembly, the hinge assembly having a hinge pin on one of the first and second gland members and an arcuate finger on the other of the first and second gland members, the arcuate finger defining a curved outer surface and a pin-receiving recess, the pin-receiving recess being configured to detachably receive the hinge pin, the method comprising:
opening the clamp by rotating the first and second handles away from one another such that the second ends are spaced apart in an open position and such that the pin-receiving recess of the arcuate finger slides around the hinge pin while the curved outer surface slides along the first end of the one of the first and second gland members that includes the hinge pin;
inserting the circular flanges of the two conduit sections into arcuate internal channels extending between the first and second ends of the first and second gland members; and
closing the clamp by rotating the first and second handles towards one another until the first and second gland members abut at the second ends in a closed position, such that the pin-receiving recess of the arcuate finger slides around the hinge pin while the curved outer surface slides along the first end of the one of the first and second gland members that includes the hinge pin.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the closing of the clamp further includes engaging a first locking detent located on the latch finger with a second locking detent projecting from the second gland member.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein closing the clamp further comprises:
forcing angled front surfaces of the first and second locking detent to engage and ride over one another during rotation of the first and second handles towards one another, thereby causing transverse rear surfaces of the first and second locking detent to engage with each other.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the latch finger is cantilevered over the second locking detent, and depressing the latch release arm to reopen the clamp further comprises:
lifting the first locking detent away from the second locking detent to disengage the corresponding transverse rear surfaces and enable rotation of the clamp back towards the open position.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising reopening the clamp by depressing the latch release arm to disengage the first and second locking detents from one another and then by rotating the first and second handles away from one another until the first and second gland members reach the open position, such that the pin-receiving recess of the arcuate finger slides around the hinge pin while the curved outer surface slides along the first end of the one of the first and second gland members that includes the hinge pin.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein depressing the latch release arm to reopen the clamp further comprises:
squeezing a gripping surface on the latch release arm and a gripping surface on the first handle towards one another until the first and second locking detents disengage from one another.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein depressing the latch release arm to reopen the clamp further comprises:
squeezing the gripping surfaces of the latch release arm and the first handle towards one another until the latch release arm contacts an abutment projection located on the first handle and extending towards the latch release arm.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising separating the first gland member from the second gland member by rotating the first and second handles away from one another such that the pin-receiving recess of the arcuate finger slides around the hinge pin while the curved outer surface slides along the first end of the one of the first and second gland members that includes the hinge pin, and moving the hinge pin through an opening in the pin-receiving recess such that the hinge pin and the pin-receiving recess are no longer in contact.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising assembling the clamp when the first and second gland members are separated from one another by moving the hinge pin into the pin-receiving recess through an opening in the pin-receiving recess until the hinge pin contacts the pin-receiving recess, and rotating the first and second handles toward one another such that the pin-receiving recess of the arcuate finger slides around the hinge pin while the curved outer surface slides along the first end of the one of the first and second gland members that includes the hinge pin.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of securing the clamp such that the clamp cannot be prematurely opened, the securing comprising introducing a retention member that prevents movement of the latch release arm.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising disengaging the retention member such that the latch release arm may be moved.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein closing the clamp further includes contacting a planar stop surface adjacent the outer curved surface of the arcuate finger disposed on the first end of the first or second gland member having the arcuate finger with a stopping surface on the first end of the first or second gland member having the hinge pin.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising placing a gasket between the circular flanges of each of the two conduit sections.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pin-receiving recess includes an open side that faces away from the one of the first and second gland members having the hinge pin.

Assignees

• Nordson Corp

Inventors

• Whitaker Carl T

Classifications

• F16L2201/44

  sterile · CPC title

• A61M39/284

  Lever clamps · CPC title

• F16L37/1225

  using a retaining member the extremities of which, e.g. in the form of a U, engage behind a shoulder of both parts · CPC title

• F16L23/04 Primary

  the flanges being connected by members tensioned in the radial plane (F16L23/12 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16L25/009 Primary

  Combination of a quick-acting type coupling and a conventional one · CPC title