Pipe Attachment Clamp

Abstract

A flange pipe terminus is attached to a mirror image terminus by a pair of pivoting C-shaped collars. The collars are locked after installation by a lever coupled to one collar that engage a radial abutment at the non-hinged end of the other collar. The lever is terminated with a swinging loop that engages a notch in the abutment. Additional security from accidental opening is provided by a secondary lock that blocks the movement of the loop or lever.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A pipe attachment clamp comprising:
 a) a pair of collars having an inner annular channel for receiving a pair of opposing flanges of pipes to be coupled,   b) a hinge coupling at a distal end of each collar to the distal end of the other collar, in which the collars are disposed primarily in a first plane,   c) an adjustable coupling for connecting a proximal end of each collar, the adjustable coupling being formed by;
 i) a first radial abutment from a proximal end of a first collar of the pair of collars, the first radial abutment being shaped to provide a latch receiving means, 
 ii) a second radial abutment from a proximal end of a second collar of the pair of the collars including;
 (1) a hinge, 
 (2) an armature having a proximal end and an opposing distal end and that is connected to the hinge at the proximal end to rotate in the first plane via the hinge, 
 
 iii) a lever connected at a proximal end to the distal end of the armature and having a distal end opposing the proximal end, 
 iv) a latch having a proximal end for extending over the first radial abutment and engaging the latch receiving means, wherein the latch is connected in rotary engagement to the lever to secure the first and second radial abutments in a closed position when the distal end of the lever is pivoted toward the second collar to a latched position to secure each collar to the other at the proximal ends thereof, 
 v) a pair of eyelets capable of overlapping in which a first eyelet is disposed on the collar having the hinged lever and the second eyelet is disposed on the lever to overlap with the first eyelet for receiving a locking pin for securing the latched position of the lever, 
 vi) a locking pin for insertion in the overlapping first eyelet second eyelet. 
   
     
     
         2 . The pipe attachment clamp of  claim 1  wherein the locking pin is attached with a flexible leash to the clamp. 
     
     
         3 . The pipe attachment clamp of  claim 1  wherein the locking pin is coupled to a ring for grasping and removal. 
     
     
         4 . The pipe attachment clamp of  claim 1  wherein the locking pin is attached with a flexible leash to the clamp at the ring. 
     
     
         5 . A pipe attachment clamp comprising:
 a) a pair of collars having an inner annular channel for receiving a pair of opposing flanges of pipes to be coupled,   b) a hinge coupling a distal end of each collar to the distal end of the other collar, in which the collars are disposed primarily in a first plane,   c) an adjustable coupling for connecting a proximal end of each collar, the adjustable coupling being formed by;
 i) a first radial abutment from a proximal end of a first collar of the pair of collars, the first radial abutment being shaped to provide a latch receiving means, 
 ii) a second radial abutment from a proximal end of a second collar of the pair of the collars including;
 (1) a hinge, 
 (2) an armature having a proximal end and an opposing distal end and that is connected to the hinge at the proximal end to rotate in the first plane via the hinge, 
 
 iii) a lever connected at a proximal end to the distal end of the armature and having a distal end opposing the proximal end, 
 iv) a latch for engaging the latch receiving means to secure the first and second radial abutments in a closed position to secure each collar to the other at the proximal ends thereof, 
 v) a pair of eyelets capable of overlapping in which a first eyelet is disposed on the collar having the hinged lever and the second eyelet is disposed on the lever to overlap with the first eyelet for receiving a locking pin for securing the latched position of the lever. 
   
     
     
         6 . The pipe attachment clamp of  claim 5  wherein each of the first and second radial abutments has a distal end opposite a connection with the first and second collar, in which the latch comprises an elongated member coupled to pivot about the distal end of one radial abutment so that a central portion of the elongated member extends into a channel in the distal end of the other radial abutment and the elongated member is adapted to be clamped in the channel in which the elongated member is coupled proximal to the distal end of the radial abutment. 
     
     
         7 . The pipe attachment clamp of  claim 6  in which the elongated member is a rod having a threaded end for attaching a nut, in which the threaded portion extents past of on e radial abutments. 
     
     
         8 . The pipe attachment clamp of  claim 5  in which the latch comprises a rigid wire loop. 
     
     
         9 . The pipe attachment clamp of  claim 5  further comprising a locking pin that is attached with a flexible leash to the clamp. 
     
     
         10 . The pipe attachment clamp of  claim 5  further comprising a locking pin that is coupled to a ring for grasping and removal. 
     
     
         11 . The pipe attachment clamp of  claim 10  wherein the locking pin is attached with a flexible leash to the clamp at the ring. 
     
     
         12 . The pipe attachment clamp of  claim 5  wherein the latch receiving means is a receiving notch in a side of the first radial abutment that is opposite from the second radial abutment. 
     
     
         13 . The pipe attachment clamp of  claim 8  wherein the latch receiving means is a receiving notch in a side of the first radial abutment that is opposite from the second radial abutment and a distal end of the rigid wire loop engages the receiving notch to secure the first and second radial abutments in a closed position.