Hose Clamp

Abstract

A heavy-duty clamp for a hose includes a loop, for disposing around the hose, which has two axially spaced apart looped ends. The clamp has a force generator which is connected to the two looped ends. The force generator has a bolt with a plurality of disc springs mounted thereon to allow substantially high and constant predetermined axial clamping force from the force generator under expansion and contraction of the hose over temperature operational condition of the clamp. A spacer member is mounted on the force generator between the disc spring and one of the looped ends for axially transferring the clamping force from the force generator to the looped ends. The clamping force axially draws together the looped ends so as to clamp the hose. The arrangement of the disc springs allows adjustment of the maximal allowable axial clamping force rating of the clamp.

1 . A method of clamping a hose carrying fluid pressures above 40 psi under conditions of thermal expansion of the hose, the method comprising:
 selecting a size of a loop of a hose clamp to fit over the hose, said loop being an essentially flat flexible sheet material with outwardly curved edges;   selecting a number, size and thickness of conical disc springs made out of steel alloy material, and an arrangement of 8 or more of said disc springs in a stack of series and/or parallel to control an amount of displacement between ends of said loop for a substantially constant clamping torque over the amount of circumferential variation and to determine the maximum available clamping torque of the hose clamp; and   using a bolt and nut force generator to engage said stack of disc springs and pull ends of said hose clamp loop to achieve a desired clamping force with said stack allowing for said clamping force to remain within a maximum clamping force within said circumferential variation.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the hose is connected to an automobile engine. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the hose is connected to an automobile engine exhaust. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said hose is subjected to carrying pressures up to 100 psi.