Clamp for bundling, servicing and supporting cables, wire lines and other control lines

Abstract

A body is molded from elastomer, preferably polyurethane, and has a hinge at one end of the body between the two arms which make up the body. A pair of metal inserts are embedded within the arms of the body, respectively, and are positioned such that three bolts can be turned to bring the two arms closer together to clamp whatever control lines are positioned between the two arms. The two arms are molded such that there is a slight separation of the two arms until the three bolts are torqued up to cause the elastomer arms to distort and firmly clamp the control lines being clamped. The two inserts, as well as the three bolts, are preferably fabricated from stainless steel but may also be fabricated from other metals, or from very hard plastic.

1 . A clamp for bundling a plurality of control lines, comprising: 
 a unitary elastomer body having first and second arms, each of said arms having first and second ends, and an elastomer hinge, which is integral to said first and second arms and which is integrally formed between a first end of said first arm and the first end of said second arm;    a first insert embedded within said first arm and a second insert embedded within said second arm;    plurality of partially threaded fasteners located within said elastomer body which, when tightened, pulls said first and second arms together to thereby clamp a plurality of control lines between said first and second arms.    
   
   
       2 . The clamp according to  claim 1  wherein said elastomer body is molded polyurethane and said first and second inserts are fabricated from a material which is harder than said elastomer body.  
   
   
       3 . The clamp according to  claim 1  wherein said elastomer body is molded polyurethane and said inserts are fabricated from metal.  
   
   
       4 . The clamp according to  claim 1  wherein said elastomer body is molded polyurethane and said inserts are fabricated from stainless steel.  
   
   
       5 . The clamp according to  claim 1  wherein said fasteners are metal bolts, each having a threaded first end and which are fabricated from stainless steel.  
   
   
       6 . The clamp according to  claim 5  wherein said plurality of threaded fasteners comprises three stainless steel bolts.  
   
   
       7 . The clamp according to  claim 1  wherein said first arm, said second arm and said hinge are molded as a single piece.  
   
   
       8 . The clamp according to  claim 1  wherein said first arm, said second arm and said hinge are molded as a single piece of polyurethane having a given hardness and said inserts are manufactured from a hard plastic having a greater hardness than said given hardness.  
   
   
       9 . The clamp according to  claim 8  wherein said fasteners are fabricated from a material which is harder than the hardness of said polyurethane body  
   
   
       10 - 12 . (canceled)  
   
   
       13 . A clamp for bundling a plurality of control lines, comprising: 
 a unitary elastomer body having first and second arms, each of said arms having first and second ends, and an elastomer hinge, which is integral to said first and second arms and which is integrally formed between a first end of said first arm and the first end of said second arm;    a first thru-port in said elastomer body having a configuration defined by said first and second arms, wherein said configuration is distorted by causing said first and second arms to come together, and which is distorted even more by forcing said arms one against the other.    
   
   
       14 . The clamp according to  claim 13 , wherein said first thru-port configuration is circular prior to being distorted, but which becomes oval shaped as a result of the distortion.  
   
   
       15 . The clamp according to  claim 14  wherein a second thru-port in said elastomer body has a configuration defined by said first and second arms, wherein said configuration is distorted by causing first and second arms to come together and which is distorted even more by forcing said arms one against the other.  
   
   
       16 . The clamp according to  claim 15  wherein said second thru-port has one or more control lines bundled therein.