Clamp for joining two metal pipes

Claim 1

Clamp for tightly joining two metal pipes, such as the pipes constituting the exhaust system of a vehicle engine, the ends in facing relationship of the two pipes to be joined having complementary bearing surfaces of conical shape which project with respect to the outer cylindrical face of the pipes, and said clamp being provided with an open ring of inverted V-shaped cross-section, said ring comprising two ends which are so shaped to constitute bearing elements in the form of lugs that extend radially to the interal periphery of the ring, and means for tightening and holding the ring in a closed position comprising a nut and bolt system, the head of the bolt having on its periphery a V-cut groove that corresponds to the cross-section of the ring, so as to rest against a first lug at least in the zone in which said first lug is joined with the ring, whereas an abutment is provided between the nut and a second lug, said abutment being of similar shape to that of the bolt head, being slidably mounted on the bolt, and being adapted to rest against said second lug, at least in the zone in which said second lug is joined with the ring.