Power-actuated pipe coupler

Claim 2

A power-actuated clamp assembly for coupling two flanged conduits together in coaxial fluid-tight relationship, comprising a generally hook-shaped clamp pivotally supported on a bracket on one of the flanged conduits for stepwise movement between an opened position and a closed position in which the flanged conduits are clamped together; a power transmission supported on said bracket for transmitting power to the clamp to move it between said opened and closed positions, said transmission comprising a toggle-type link mechanism having one end fixed and the other end movable with respect to said bracket, said clamp being pivotally connected to said other end, and a rotatable helically-threaded connecting unit interconnecting said bracket and said link mechanism; and means for applying rotary power to said transmission for moving at least said other end of said link mechanism, thereby moving the clamp between said opened and closed positions, said clamp being movable from its closed position only by relative rotation between threadedly interconnected elements in said connecting unit.

Claim 3

A clamp assembly according to claim 1 wherein said connecting unit comprises means for accepting rotary power from said rotary power applying means, and means for conducting the resultant force of said power to said link mechanism.

Claim 4

A clamp assembly according to claim 2 wherein said power-accepting means comprises a rotatable screw shaft and said force-conducting means comprises a non-rotatable shaft, said shafts being threadedly intercOnnected so that upon rotation of said screw shaft said non-rotatable shaft is extended from or retracted into said screw shaft.

Claim 5

A clamp assembly according to claim 3 wherein said non-rotatable shaft is connected to said toggle-type link mechanism, and said link mechanism is pivotally interconnected with said clamp and said bracket.

Claim 6

A clamp assembly according to claim 1 including means for resiliently biasing said clamp towards its closed position.

Claim 7

A clamp assembly according to claim 5 wherein said biasing means comprises spring means extending between said clamp and said transmission.

Claim 8

A clamp assembly according to claim 1 wherein said power transmission includes a rotatable screw shaft pivotably supported on said bracket, a rotary drive unit connected to said screw shaft, and a non-rotatable shaft interconnecting said screw shaft and said toggle-type link mechanism, whereby operation of said rotary drive unit in one direction causes said clamp to close, and operation of said rotary drive unit in the opposite direction causes said clamp to open.

Claim 9

A clamp assembly according to claim 7 wherein said clamp, in closing from a fully opened position, moves first in a generally curved path, and then moves in a generally straight-line path, and in opening from a fully closed position moves first in a generally straight-line path and then in a generally curved path.

Claim 10

A clamp assembly according to claim 8 wherein said clamp cannot be opened from a fully closed position without rotation of said screw shaft.

Claim 11

A clamp assembly according to claim 9 wherein said screw shaft is rotatable manually and mechanically, whereby said clamp can be opened and closed by hand in the event of power failure

Claim 12

A power-actuated pipe coupler for connecting together two flanged pipes in fluid-tight contact, said coupler comprising a plurality of clamp assemblies spaced about and fixed to the outer surface of one pipe with the clamps facing forward from the pipe''s flange, each of said assemblies comprising a generally hook-shaped clamp pivotally supported on a bracket on one of the flanged pipes for step-wise movement between an opened position and a closed position in which the flanged pipes are clamped together; a power transmission supported on said bracket for transmitting power to the clamp to move it between said opened and closed positions, said transmission comprising a toggle-type link mechanism having one end fixed and the other end movable with respect to said bracket, said clamp being pivotally connected to said other end, and a rotatable helically threaded connecting unit interconnecting said bracket and said link mechanism; and means for applying rotary power to said transmission for moving at least said other end of said link mechanism, thereby moving the clamp between said opened and closed positions, said clamp being movable from its closed position only by relative rotation between threadedly interconnected elements in said connecting unit, said coupler thereby holding said two pipes locked together when said clamps of said assemblies are closed so long as rotary power is not applied to said connecting unit.

Claim 13

A power-actuated pipe coupler for connecting together two flanged pipes in fluid-tight contact, said coupler comprising a plurality of clamp assemblies spaced about and fixed to the outer surface of one pipe with the clamps facing forward from the pipe''s flange, each of said assemblies comprising a generally hook-shaped clamp pivotally supported on a bracket on one of the flanged pipes for step-wise movement between an opened position and a closed position in which the flanged pipes are clamped together; a power transmission supported on said bracket for transmitting power to the clamp to move it between said opened and closed positions, said transmission comprising a toggle-type link mechanism having one end fixed and the other end movable with respect to said bracket, said clamp being pivotally connected to said other end, and a rotatable helically threaded connecting unit interconnecting said bracket and said link mechanism; and means for applying rotary power to said transmission for moving at least said other end of said link mechanism, thereby moving the clamp between said opened and closed positions, said clamp being movable from its closed position only by relative rotation between threadedly interconnected elements in said connecting unit, said coupler thereby holding said two pipes locked together when said clamps of said assemblies are closed so long as rotary power is not applied to said connecting unit.

Claim 14

A pipe coupler according to claim 11 wherein each of said connecting units includes a rotatable screw shaft threadedly interconnected with a non-rotatable shaft that is connected to said toggle-type link mechanism.

Claim 15

A pipe coupler according to claim 12 wherein the clamp of each assembly closes in a two-step manner from a fully opened position, the first step comprising a generally curved-path-movement into contact with a surface of the pipe to which the coupler is positioned to couple, and the second step comprising a generally-straight-path movement rearwardly towards the flange of the pipe upon which the coupler is mounted.

Claim 16

A pipe coupler according to claim 13 wherein each of said clamp assemblies is capable of closing and locking against a different flange thickness or diameter whereby said coupler can couple to a pipe flange of non-uniform thickness and to a plurality of pipe flanges of varying diameters without preliminary manual adjustment.