US2494826A - Coupling for pipes, piles, and like elements - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 17, 1950 R. MULDER 2,494,826

COUPLING FOR PIPES, FILES, AND LIKE ELEMENTS Filed Dec. 4, 1945 FIG. 5

RUDOLF MULDER',

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 17, 1950 UNITED ELEMENTS Rudolf Mulder, Haarlem, Netherlands Application December 4, 1945, Serial No. 632,635

In Germany August 5, 1944 2Claims. (Cl. 287----54) In the building of scaffolds and like constructions it is important that the coupling for pipes, piles or like elements to be interconnected and of which the scaffold is to be built up, consists of as few simple partsaspossible, and that no use is made of parts such as wedges and like elements that are liable to get lost. Theinvention relates to a coupling hi complieswith these requirements.

According H coupling is characterized by at least two straps detachably or rigidly interconnected, or being integral, and thetwo ends of which projecting beyond the pipe or the like to be embraced, are

each provided with an opening, a clamping block being rotatable in each pair of openings, the clamping surface of said block being eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation in such a manner that the clamping force increases if the load increases. Preferably according to the invention each clamping piece is revolvable due to its axial displacement by reason of the fact that at its one end it is provided with a helical or like sliding surface which by sliding over an edge of the opening, that in the direction of axial displacement is the most remote, is revolved in the sense of clamping the clamping piece in a selflocking Way.

Further according to the invention the corresponding edges of the holes of each strap may be located in planes intersecting one another at an acute angle, the one hole being wider than the other and the wider hole serving for the introduction of the clamping block until the helical or like sliding surface thereof will come to bear 1 upon the sliding edge of the other opening, both holes having a circular bent wall portion on which a corresponding part of the clamping piece is turning when the latter is revolved.

This construction is very simple on account of its small number of parts; locking keys are no more necessary. Further the manipulation is easy and the clamping action faultless and selflocking.

Preferably each clamping piece is connected to the corresponding strap in such a manner that it may be removed from the pair of openings concerned. In this case the coupling does not have any loose parts.

The drawing illustrates the invention by an embodiment.

Fig. 1 shows a front elevation of a coupling according to the invention when applied to two pipes.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the left coupling strap of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a clamping block and.

Fig. 4 is a sideor end elevation thereof.

In Fig. 1 the pipes to be coupled are denoted to the mvnu jn to this end the by I and 2; they cross each other perpendicularly. The coupling comprises two U-shaped istraps 3 and 4 the webs of which are interengaging; the webs constitute the strap parts embracing the tubes directly. In the straps arms 5 and B of the right strap 3 which arms laterally project from said webs,and also in the strap arms of the left strap 4, the arm I only of which is visible in the front elevation, holes are provided which for each pair of arms of a strap are located opposite one another. These pairs of holes serve each to: receive aclamping block 8 or 9 respectively that is rotatable and axially slidable therein. 'Each clamping block consists of a rod having the'desired section and having a particular shape at the one end. In Fig. 1, on

the left, the hole in the strap arm 'I is indicated by IIl the lower edge I I of thehole in the drawing makes an acute angle with the lower edge I2 of the hole 2I in the rearmost strap arm 22 non-visible in Fig. 1 but shown in Fig. 2. The two lower edges II and I2 are thus located in planes intersecting one another at an acute angle and being perpendicular to the plane of the drawing.

The front hole I0 is wider than the rear hole 2|. Each rod shaped clamping block. (Figs. 3 and 4) at one end is provided with a helically shaped sliding surface I3 that at the one extremity of the clamping block is bounded by the tangent, passing from the centre of the eccentric edge of that extremity I4 up to the circle of rotation I! (contact point 24) and by two lines, one of which begins at I4 and extends over the clamping surface of the clamping block and the other of which begins at 24 and extends over the flat side of the clamping block, which two lines meet each other at I6. The sliding surface I3 is adapted to co-operate with the lower edge I2 of the-in Fig. 1rear hole 2i in such a manner that when the clamping block is axially displaced from the front to the rear, the lower edge I2 on account of its contact with the helical surface 13, sliding thereon, produces a rotation of the clamping block in the direction of the arrow (Figs. 1 and 2) resulting in a self-locking clamping of the eccentric clamping surface I5 against the pipe 2.

The clamping block is passed through the wide front hole I0 until the helical surface I3 will come to rest with its end upon the lower edge I2 of the rear hole 2I. This hole just as the front hole III is provided with a circularly bent wall portion 23 on which the corresponding part of the clamping block will rotate; further the holes l0, 2| have such a shape that rotation of the clamping block on account of the cooperation of the helical sliding surface I3 with the lower edge l2 of the rearmost hole 2I is not interfered with, as will appear from the drawing. When the clamping block has been placed in the above mentioned .position: with the-helical surface 13 on the. lower. edgexl'2.v of thearearmost hole 2!, then during further driving in, e. g. by some hammer strokes, an automatic revolving of the."

clamping block is produced in the manner described above.

In the embodiment described above and illustrated in the drawing various structural modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention.

For instance the coupling instead of having one pipe supporting surface may have? two. supporting surfaces located in the longitudinal axis of the. pipe.

Furthergthe coupling. according to the inventionbesides for. pipes,..piles arrdthelike may be used; advantageouslyfor...interconnecting other suitably. shaped bodiesorobiects.

.Jlclair'n:v .1. A. pipe supportbomprising, a plurality of .U -.shaped' straps. interengaged; at the closed ends thereof, each free-send-ofjeach said strap having v a n opening.thereinandfdrming pairs of open- -ingsin. each=of said u-shaped straps, a clamping member. extending .throu ghqeach. said. pair of openings. for clamping} a.; pipe .therebetween and .saidQU-s'haped strapa said znember comprising a barhaving aneccentrieblamping surface there- .0.n,,- and a.-liel-ical" shaped sliding surface on an -.nd. thereof wherebyupon. entry of one said member-ins one-said pair}- oilopenings said member will be tilted by coaction of said helical sliding surfaceswith anl-edge oiaoneoi.said openings and provide. a self-locking: clamping. ofv said. pipe.

2. A pipe support as claimed in claim 1, an

edge of one of said openings in each said pair being in aplanedifierent from that of an edge .in-a c'oacting'one of said pair of openings, the

said planes of said edges intersecting at an acute angleaonepf said openings in a pair being larger than the other said opening and serving for the introduption of said clamping member to the 'edge'of the other said opening in a plane different .from-rthat of said larger opening, and said openings having curved. wall portions, whereby said clamping,memberflisrmtated in.said.,curved..wall

portions fdhringit'ilting thereojgbyflsaid helical RU JQIFMULDER. "R FERE C S- I D :followingi references are: of: -reeord;;in the fileiofithisg mtentt UNITED s'rAirEs ATEN- rs

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