Grounding pipe clamp

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11205864-B2
Application number	US-202016991271-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 12, 2020
Priority date	Aug 15, 2019
Publication date	Dec 21, 2021
Grant date	Dec 21, 2021

Abstract

A grounding pipe clamp secures a pipe and accommodates various attachment configurations to secure a range of conductor sizes. The grounding pipe clamp includes a bolt, a main body, and clamping pads. The bolt has a first leg and a second leg. The main body has a first end portion, a middle portion, and a second end portion. The first end portion has a slot that receives the first leg of the bolt. The second end portion has a L-shaped cutout that receives the second leg of the bolt to secure a pipe between the main body and the bolt. The clamping pads are secured to the first leg of the bolt and the second leg of the bolt. The clamping pads secure the conductors positioned on the main body.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A grounding pipe clamp for accommodating various attachment configurations for a range of conductor sizes, the grounding pipe clamp comprising:
a bolt having a first leg and a second leg;
a main body having a first end portion, a middle portion, and a second end portion, the first end portion has a slot, the slot receives the first leg of the bolt, the second end portion has a L-shaped cutout, the L-shaped cutout receives the second leg of the bolt to secure a pipe between the main body and the bolt, wherein the first end portion of the main body and the second end portion of the main body have base pads with two grooves positioned at right angles with respect to each other, wherein each groove has a pattern of ribs for supporting conductors positioned on the main body; and
clamping pads secured to the first leg of the bolt and the second leg of the bolt, the clamping pads secure conductors positioned on the main body.

2. The grounding pipe clamp of claim 1 , wherein the base pads further comprising angular bearing surfaces positioned on a side opposite of the grooves.

3. The grounding pipe clamp of claim 1 , the middle portion of the main body includes two reinforcing ribs that form a slot in the middle portion.

4. The grounding pipe clamp of claim 1 , further comprising hex nuts positioned on the first leg and the second leg of the bolt for securing the clamping pads to the bolt.

5. The grounding pipe clamp of claim 1 , wherein the clamping pads are positioned over the first end portion and the second end portion of the main body to allow the conductors to be parallel to the pipe.

6. The grounding pipe clamp of claim 1 , wherein the clamping pads are positioned over the first end portion and the second end portion of the main body to allow the conductors to be perpendicular to the pipe.

7. The grounding pipe clamp of claim 1 , wherein the clamping pads are positioned over the first end portion and the second end portion of the main body to allow one conductor to be parallel to the pipe and one conductor to be perpendicular to the pipe.

8. The grounding pipe clamp of claim 1 , wherein the clamping pads have a middle portion, a first end, and a second end, the middle portion includes a slot for receiving one of the first and second legs of the bolt.

9. The grounding pipe clamp of claim 8 , wherein the second end of the clamping pad has a long flange with an angular end and an inner bearing surface, the long flange slides along an angled surface of a base pad of the main body.

10. A grounding pipe clamp for accommodating a range of conductor sizes, the grounding pipe clamp comprising:
a bolt with a first leg and a second leg;
a main body with a first end portion having a hole for receiving the first leg of the bolt, a middle portion with reinforcing ribs, and a second end portion having a hole for receiving the second leg of the bolt, wherein the first end portion of the main body further comprising grooves with ribs and an angular bearing surface;
a clamping pad secured to the first leg of the bolt and positioned over the first end portion of the main body for securing conductors positioned on the main body; and
hex nuts secured to the first leg and the second leg of the bolt,
whereby a pipe is positioned between the bolt and the main body and is secured thereto by the clamping pad and the hex nuts.

11. The grounding pipe clamp of claim 10 , wherein the reinforcing ribs of the middle portion form a slot with an end that receives a tip at an end of the clamping pad.

12. The grounding pipe clamp of claim 10 , wherein the middle portion further comprising an underside with a center segment having a cylindrical surface and multiple pairs of cylindrical surface segments for enabling the main body to receive a range of pipe diameters.

13. The grounding pipe clamp of claim 10 , wherein the second end portion of the main body further comprising a circular pattern of cones with round tops, wherein the cones prevent the hex nut from loosening.

14. The grounding pipe clamp of claim 10 , wherein the clamping pad is positioned over the first end portion of the main body to allow the conductor to be parallel to the pipe.

15. The grounding pipe clamp of claim 10 , wherein the clamping pad is positioned over the first end portion the main body to allow the conductor to be perpendicular to the pipe.

16. A grounding pipe clamp for accommodating various attachment configurations for a range of conductor sizes, the grounding pipe clamp comprising:
a bolt having a first leg and a second leg;
a main body having a first end portion, a middle portion, and a second end portion, the first end portion has a slot, the slot receives the first leg of the bolt, the second end portion has a L-shaped cutout, the L-shaped cutout receives the second leg of the bolt to secure a pipe between the main body and the bolt;
clamping pads secured to the first leg of the bolt and the second leg of the bolt, the clamping pads secure conductors positioned on the main body;
wherein the clamping pads have a middle portion, a first end, and a second end, the middle portion includes a slot for receiving one of the first and second legs of the bolt; and
wherein the first end of the clamping pad is curved with a short flange having a tip at a distal end and an inner side having a plurality of ribs, the short flange pushes the conductor into grooves on a base pad of the main body.

17. A grounding pipe clamp for accommodating a range of conductor sizes, the grounding pipe clamp comprising:
a bolt with a first leg and a second leg;
a main body with a first end portion having a hole for receiving the first leg of the bolt, a middle portion with reinforcing ribs, and a second end portion having a hole for receiving the second leg of the bolt;
a clamping pad secured to the first leg of the bolt and positioned over the first end portion of the main body for securing conductors positioned on the main body, wherein the clamping pad includes a curved end portion, a middle portion with a slot, and an angular end portion; wherein the curved end portion includes a short flange with a tip and an inner surface with ribs, and the angular end portion includes a long flange and an inner bearing surface; and
hex nuts secured to the first leg and the second leg of the bolt,
whereby a pipe is positioned between the bolt and the main body and is secured thereto by the clamping pad and the hex nuts.

Assignees

• Panduit Corp

Inventors

• Kossak Robert W

Classifications

• F16L55/00

  Devices or appurtenances for use in, or in connection with, pipes or pipe systems (F16L1/00 - F16L53/00, F16L57/00, F16L59/00 take precedence; repairing or joining pipes on or under water F16L1/26; cleaning of pipes B08B9/02, e.g. removal of blockages B08B9/027; devices for preventing bursting of water pipes by freezing E03B7/10) · CPC title

• H01R4/42 Primary

  Clamping area to one side of screw only · CPC title

• F16L3/227

  each pipe being supported by a separate element fastened to the base · CPC title

• F16L3/1091

  with two members, the two members being fixed to each other with fastening members on each side · CPC title

• H01R4/643

  for rigid cylindrical bodies · CPC title