Sanitary clamp

Cross-reference to related applications This application claims the priority of US Patent Application No. 12 / 432,370, filed April 29, 2009, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates to a disposable sanitary clamp that holds a pair of sanitary connections together.

Flexible tubes made of plastic and rubber are widely used in medical, pharmaceutical, biopharmacy, food and beverage, and other research fields. For some assemblies, such as medical device to patient connections, stainless steel connectors and clamps are used to connect the ends of the flexible tubes. Stainless steel connectors and clamps are reusable due to their advantages of being sterilizable. However, stainless steel connectors are expensive to manufacture and cannot completely prevent secondary contamination.

It would be beneficial to provide connectors and clamps that are manufactured from materials that are resistant to solvents, acids, bases and heat and that can be used in applications that require material purity. It would also be beneficial to provide clamps that eliminate the possibility of secondary contamination by providing excellent sealing and / or connectivity for flexible tubes, while making them disposable for one-time use.

The examples of sanitary clamps described herein address the above issues and relate to clamps for connecting parts of flexible tubes having funnel-shaped barb connectors at their ends.

In one embodiment, sanitary clamps are provided for the connection of barb connector pairs, each having a funnel-shaped end. This sanitary clamp is composed of a polymeric thermoplastic polymer to provide a cost-effective disposable clamp. The sanitary clamp includes first and second semicircular members that can be connected and locked to form a circular opening that houses the funnel-shaped ends of the connector pair. The first and second members also have a second end that provides a locking device that selectively locks the first and second members after the arrangement of the barb connector pair. In this embodiment, the locking device comprises a ratchet with external teeth. This ratchet is connected to the first member. The locking device also includes a housing extending from the second end of the second member. This housing is configured to house the ratchet. The housing also comprises a side wall that is formed internally and has a rocker lock that defines a movement path for locking and unlocking the ratchet teeth within the housing.

Other embodiments of the locking device can include another mechanism that engages the ratchet with the housing. For example, pliers can be used to engage the ratchet with the housing. In another embodiment, the handle may include a cam portion that engages the ratchet with the housing by pulling the ratchet after inserting the ratchet into the housing. In the reference example, the handle is rotatable and pulls in the ratchet to engage with the housing.

In another embodiment of a sanitary clamp without a ratchet, the sanitary clamp comprises first and second semicircular members that can be connected and locked to form a circular opening, the first and second. The member also comprises a second end that provides a locking device that selectively locks the first and second members after the barb connector is disposed therein. A pin is rotatably connected to the second end of the second member, and the pin can be rotated and inserted between the arms defined by the second end of the first member. Pressure can be applied to the first member by rotating the threaded handle that is fastened to the pin. As a result, pressure exists between the first and second members, and the movement of the first member with respect to the second member can be prevented.

Here, the description will be given with reference to the attached drawings, and the same reference numerals indicate the same parts throughout the plurality of drawings.

<figref num="1A">FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a sanitary assembly in which a funnel-shaped end of a barb connector is disposed and an example of a sanitary clamp having first and second members is mounted.</figref>

<figref num="1B">FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a sanitary assembly in which an O-ring and a pair of funnel-shaped ends of a barb connector are arranged in the sanitary clamp of FIG. 1A to mount an example of the sanitary clamp.</figref>

<figref num="1C">It is an elevation view of the sanitary assembly of FIG. 1B locked to the sanitary clamp.</figref>

<figref num="2A">It is an exploded view of the sanitary clamp of FIG.</figref>

<figref num="2B">It is a perspective view of the sanitary clamp of FIG. 2A connected by a hinge.</figref>

<figref num="2C">Is a front perspective view of the sanitary clamp of FIG. 2B which is partially in the closed position.</figref>

<figref num="3A">It is a side view of the sanitary clamp of FIG. 1 in which the locking device is placed in the locking position by the parallel closing pliers.</figref>

<figref num="3B">It is sectional drawing of the locking device of FIG. 3A at the locking position.</figref>

<figref num="4">It is a top view of the 2nd Example of a sanitary clamp.</figref>

<figref num="5A">FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a locking knob having a handle of a sanitary clamp and an acme screw according to a second embodiment.</figref>

<figref num="5B">It is the top view of the locking knob which shows the upper surface of the handle.</figref>

<figref num="5C">It is a bottom view of the locking knob.</figref>

<figref num="6A">It is a partial cross-sectional view of the locking knob installed in the ratchet and the first member of the sanitary clamp at the unlocking position.</figref>

<figref num="6B">It is a partial cross-sectional view of the locking knob at the locking position.</figref>

<figref num="7">It is an exploded perspective view of the reference example of a sanitary clamp.</figref>

<figref num="8">It is a side view of the 4th Example of a sanitary clamp.</figref>

<figref num="9">It is a side view of the pin of the 4th embodiment of a sanitary clamp having a handle shown by a virtual line.</figref>

<figref num="10">It is a rear end view of the handle of FIG.</figref>

<figref num="11">It is a side view of the pin of the 5th Example of a sanitary clamp.</figref>

<figref num="12">It is a perspective view of the pin of the 5th Example of a sanitary clamp.</figref>

1A to 3B will be described. A first embodiment of the sanitary clamp 10 is configured to connect two sanitary connections 12 having funnel-shaped ends. Each sanitary connection 12 comprises a tubular member 13 provided at one end and having a barb connection 14 that connects to a tube (not shown). Each sanitary connection 12 comprises a contralateral end of a barb pipe 14 having a funnel-like structure 16 having an expanded circular opening at its end 18.

The sanitary clamp 10 capable of fluidly and hermetically connecting 12 pairs of sanitary connections is a PVDF (polyvinylidene difluoride) polymer sold under the product name of Kynar, which is a registered trademark of Elf Atchem North America. It can be composed of a high molecular weight thermoplastic polymer. Kynar is usually suitable for use in applications that require high purity, high strength, and resistance to solvents, acids, bases, and heat. As an alternative, PSU (polysulfone) can also be used to construct the sanitary clamp 10.

The sanitary clamp 10 is formed by the first and second semicircular members 20, 40, each of which is connected by a hinge 60. The first member 20 includes an arched semicircular portion 22 having an interior groove 24 formed between the parallel side wall pair 25 and the inner surface of the circular portion 22. The inner groove 24 is configured to have a structure and a size capable of accommodating the semicircular portion of the terminal portion 18 of the funnel-shaped structure 16 of the sanitary connection pair 12 having the O-ring seal 27 between them. One end 34 of the first member 20 adjacent to the semicircular portion 22 is an extending tab 26 forming a male portion of the hinge 60. Located on the opposite end 20 of the first member 20 and attached to the semicircular portion 22 is a ledge that extends substantially vertically from the end 29 of the semicircular portion 22. ) 28. The inner surface of the ledge 28 carries the ratchet 30 along the opposite side of the ratchet 30 by the outer teeth 32.

The second member 40 of the sanitary clamp 10 has a central semicircular portion 42 that forms an inner groove 44 between its inner surface 41 and the pair of parallel side walls 43. The inner groove 44 is configured to accommodate an O-ring 27 disposed between the termination pairs 18 of the sanitary connection 12. The second member 40 has one bifurcated end 45 that forms the female portion of the hinge 60. The first and second members 20, 40 are connected together at their ends 34, 45 to form a hinge 60. The hinge 60 is formed so as to connect the extension tab 26 of the first member 20 to the branch end portion 45 of the second member 40, and the clamp 10 can be rotated at a predetermined position in the same manner as a conventional metal clamp. it can. The hinge 60 is configured to be located on the outer surface of the first and second members 20, 40 so as not to interfere with the arrangement of the sanitary connector 12 in the clamp 10.

The second member 40 has a housing 46 extending from the opposite end 47 of the end 45 and away from the hinge 60. The housing 46 is formed with holes 48 in which the ratchet 30 of the first member 20 is housed. The housing 46 of the second member 40 has a side wall 49 on the opposite side. Since the side walls 49 are mirror images of each other, only one side wall 46 will be described. At the center of the side wall 49, in it a rocker lock) 50 is formed. The rocker lock 50 is cut directly into each side wall 49, thereby providing a gap / opening around the rocker lock 50, except for a connecting flange 53 that connects the central portion of the rocker lock to the material of the side wall 49. 51 is left. The rocker lock 50 pivots around the connecting flange 53. Manual pressure on either the lower end 50a or the upper end 50b of the rocker lock 50 causes the opposite end 50b or 50a of the rocker lock 50 to bend outward with respect to the side wall 49, respectively. The gap / opening 51 is sized to accommodate the teeth 32 on the ratchet 30 of the first member 20, and is set at the upper end 50b and the lower end 50a of the rocker lock 50. The upper end 50b of the rocker lock 50 is formed so as to extend outside the button 52, facilitating manually pushing down the upper end 50b of the rocker lock 50 to release the ratchet 30 from the housing 46.

As can be seen from FIG. 2C, a downward pressure is manually applied to the first member 20, so that the teeth 32 on the ratchet 30 slide along the inner surface 57 of the rocker lock 50. Using parallel pliers pair 70, as shown in FIG. 3A, with the top surface 29'of the ledge 28 and the housings 46 of the first and second members 20, 40, as shown by the arrows in FIG. Close completely by pressing down each. Once the teeth 32 are latched in the gap 51 of the rocker lock 50, the teeth 32 cannot be opened unless the button 52 of the rocker lock 50 is pressed down. In order to firmly lock the teeth 32 inside the gap 51, as shown in FIG. 2C, the teeth 32 are bent upward toward the protrusion 28 of the first member 20, and the ratchet 30 can be easily removed from the housing 46. Prevent it from coming off.

As shown in FIGS. 4-6C, another embodiment of a closure and locking mechanism can be provided for the disposable sanitary clamp 110. The sanitary clamp 110 is similar to the sanitary clamp 10, even though the sanitary clamp 110 includes a first member 120 instead of the first member 20 of the sanitary clamp 10. The first member 120 of the sanitary clamp 110 includes a through aperture 129 that penetrates the overhang 128. The opening 129 is surrounded by a ribbed peripheral upper edge 131. The ribs on the upper edge 131 are spaced, for example, at 10 degree intervals. The second member 40 does not change.

The opening 129 is configured to house a locking knob 170 having a handle portion 172 integrally connected to an acme thread 174 extending from the bottom surface 171 of the handle 122. The ratchet 130 of the second embodiment has a central cavity 176 that houses the acme screw 174. The acme screw 174 is configured to be inserted into the central cavity 176 of the ratchet member 130. The ratchet member 130 may connect to the bottom surface of the overhang 128 along its upper edge 133. Alternatively, the ratchet member 130 may be a separate member that is initially separated from the overhang 128 and the first member 120. In another embodiment, the ratchet 130 is inserted into the vertical hole 48 of the housing 46 and then secured in place with a locking knob 170. The locking knob 170 functions to fasten the assembly completely tighter than by hand tightening, as was done with pliers 70 in the first embodiment.

When a ratchet 130 having an acme screw 174 installed therein is placed and manually applied pressure to connect it to the vertical hole 48 of the second member 40, the handle portion 172 can be moved clockwise, thereby allowing the handle portion 172 to move clockwise. , Acme screw 174 pulls the ratchet 130 and its related teeth 132 in the direction of the rocker lock 50, locks the teeth 132 in the gap 51, and can fasten the assembly more than by hand tightening. FIG. 6A shows a closure in the unlocked position. FIG. 6B shows a closure in the locked position. When the closure is in the locking position, the housing 46 of the second member 40 is pulled up to the overhang 128 of the first member 120. The locking position of the handle 172 may be any point that increases by 10 degrees between 0 and 180 degrees from the unlocking position via the rib-shaped upper edge 131 of the opening 129 of the upper member 120. An integrally formed ratchet tooth 180, shown in FIG. 5B, on the bottom surface 171 of the handle 172 of the locking knob 170 that cooperates with the ribbed upper edge 131 of the first member 130, the handle 172 locks on itself. Prevent it from being released.

The reference example of the sanitary clamp 310 shown in FIG. 7 includes a first semicircular member 320 and a second semicircular member 340. The first and second semicircular members 320, 340 are connected by a hinge 360, and grooves 24, 44 for accommodating the end portion 18 of the funnel-shaped structure 16 of the sanitary connection pair 12 with the O-ring seal 27 between them are provided. Each is specified. One end 322 of the first member 320 on the opposite side of the hinge 360 can typically include arm pairs 324,326 spaced apart to define the U-shaped surface 328. One end 342 of the second member 340 on the opposite side of the hinge 360 can define an opening 344 and a pair of pins 346 and 348 protruding toward each other inside the opening 344. The pair of pins 346 and 348 can extend from the end 342 of the second member 340 in a direction parallel to the rotation shaft 361 defined by the hinge 360. The pin 380 can define an opening 382 sized to accommodate the pins 346 and 348 defined by the second member 340. The pin 380 can also define a threaded portion 384 at one end of the opposite side of the opening 382, and the handle 386 can be fastened onto the threaded portion 384 of the pin 380.

A pin 380 is inserted into the opening 344 of the second member 340 to engage the pins 346 and 348 with the opening 382 defined by the pin 380, allowing the pin 380 to rotate at the end 342 of the second member 340. Can be combined. Therefore, the pin 380 can rotate around a shaft parallel to the rotation shaft 361 defined by the hinge 360. The pin 380 away from the hinge 360 can be rotated to insert the end 18 of the sanitary connection 12 and the O-ring seal 27 into the groove 44 defined by the second member 340. The first and second members 320, 340 can rotate toward each other so that the end 322 of the first member 320 comes into contact with or is close to the end 342 of the second member 340. Then, the pin 380 is rotated to a position between the arms 324 and 326 defined by the first member 320, the handle 386 is rotated, and the bottom end portion 388 of the handle 386 is U-shaped by the first member 320. It can be engaged with the surface 328. The bottom end 388 of the handle 386 can be engaged with the first member 320 to prevent the first member 320 from rotating away from the second member 340, and the sanitary clamp 310 can fluidly couple the sanitary connection 12. ..

A fourth embodiment of the sanitary clamp 410 shown in FIG. 8 includes a first member 420 and a second member 440 that are rotatably coupled to each other by a hinge 460. The first and second members 420, 440 can define grooves 24, 44 for accommodating the end 18 of the sanitary connection 12. The end 422 of the first member 420 on the opposite side of the hinge 460 can define an opening 424 and a curved cam receiving surface 426. The pin 480 shown in FIG. 9 has a first end 482 sized to fit through the opening 484 defined by the first member 420, and the first end 482 of the pin 480 defines the opening 424. it can. The fastener 486 defined by the pin 480 may be separated from the first end 482, which allows the movement of the pin 480 through the opening 424 by contact between the fastener 486 and the first member 420. As limited, it can be larger than at least a portion of the opening 424 defined by the first member 430. The second end 488 of the pin 480 opposite the first end 482 acts as a ratchet, i.e. the opposite side of the second end 488 can define a plurality of teeth 489.

The sanitary clamp 410 can also include a handle 491 having a cam portion 490. As shown in FIG. 10, the cam portion 490 can include parallel side wall pairs 490a, 490b defining the groove 492, and the handle 491 also has a pin pair 494 extending toward each other in the groove 492. , 496 can also be specified. The groove 492 can extend in the circumferential direction with respect to the axis defined by the pin pair 494,496.

After inserting the first end 482 of the pin 480 into the first member 420 through the opening 424, the first end 482 of the pin 480 is inserted into the groove 492 and the pins 494 and 494 of the handle 491 are pin 480. Engage with the opening 484 defined by, which allows the handle 491 and pin 480 to be rotatably coupled.

When the handle 491 is rotatably coupled to the pin 480 and the handle 491 is rotated, the cam portion 490 of the handle 491 can be engaged with the cam receiving surface of the first member 420. As a result of this engagement, the rotation of the handle 491 moves the pins 494,496 away from the cam receiving surface 426, whereby its fasteners 486 and teeth 489, in turn, open as defined by the first member 420. Pin 480 can be moved to move towards 424.

The end 442 of the second member 440 away from the hinge 460 can be provided with a vertical hole 48 having a rocker lock 50 and a gap 51, and the rocker lock 50 can be attached to the vertical hole 48 via a connecting flange 53. it can.

The first and second members 420 and 440 can be rotated apart from each other to insert the end portion 18 of the sanitary connection 12 and the O-ring seal 27 into the groove 44 of the second member 440. As shown in FIG. 9, the handle 491 is in the inactivated position, the pin 480 is inserted into the vertical hole 48, and the ends 422 and 442 of the first and second members 420 and 440 are in contact with or close to each other, respectively. As such, the first and second members 420,440 can rotate towards each other. By rotating the first and second members 420 and 440 toward each other, the first member 420 can be engaged with the end 18 of the sanitary connection 12 and the O-ring seal 27. As described above, the handle 491 can be rotated to engage the cam portion 490 with the cam receiving surface 426 of the first member 420, thereby pulling the pin 480 outward of the vertical hole 48. The teeth 489 on the pin 480 are engaged with the gap 51 of the vertical hole 48 in response to the pin 480 being pulled outward of the vertical hole 48, thereby limiting the movement of the pin 480 with respect to the vertical hole 48 and sanitary clamp. The first and second members 420 and 440 are locked at the engaging positions where the 410 fluidly couples to the sanitary connection 12, respectively.

Further, the illustrated sanitary clamps 10, 110, 310, and 410 can have a configuration different from that shown without changing their respective functions. For example, the sanitary clamp 210 shown in FIG. 11 functions basically in the same manner as the sanitary clamp 110 shown in FIGS. 4 to 6C. The sanitary clamp 210 includes first and second members 220 and 240 rotatably coupled by a hinge 260, respectively, and defines grooves 22 and 44 for accommodating the end portion 18 of the sanitary connection 12 and the O-ring seal 27. doing. The end 222 of the first member 220 on the opposite side of the hinge 260 defines an opening 224, and a pin 280 is inserted through the opening 224. The pin 280 shown in FIG. 12 comprises a fastener 282 that contacts the first member 220 and limits the movement of the pin 280 through the opening 224 of the first member 220, the pin 280 having a threaded end 284 and a screw. It is provided with a ratchet end 286 opposite the end 284. Two opposite sides of the ratchet end 286 of the pin 280 are each provided with a plurality of teeth 288. Plus-sign The shaped) handle 290 can be fastened onto the threaded portion 284 of the pin 280.

The second member 240 can define a through-bore 242. The opposing side walls 244, which partially define the holes 242, may each include a rocker lock 246 coupled to the side wall 244 by a connecting flange pair 248. The rocker lock 246 may include a button 250 that is urged inward towards the opposing side wall 244 and can move the lower end 252 of the rocker lock 246 outward away from the opposing side wall 244. A gap 254 can be formed between the lower end 252 of the rocker lock 246 and the side wall 244.

The second member 220 and the first member 240 can be rotated apart from each other to insert the end 18 of the sanitary connection 12 into the groove 44 of the second member 240. The pin 280 can be inserted into the vertical hole 242 by rotating the first member 220 toward the second member 240. The handle 290 can be rotated around the threaded portion 284 of the pin 280, thereby in turn pulling the pin 280 outward from the vertical hole 242 towards the handle 290. The engagement between the teeth 289 on the ratchet end 286 of the pin 280 and the gap 242 defined by the vertical hole 242 can prevent the pin 280 from moving outward of the vertical hole 242. By engaging between the teeth 289 and the vertical hole 242, the movement of the first member 220 with respect to the second member 240 is prevented, whereby the sanitary clamp 210 can be fixed in the closed position.

Despite their similar function, the sanitary clamp 210 has some differences as compared to the sanitary clamp 110. The side wall 244 of the sanitary clamp 110 does not widen the top of the rocker lock 246, which allows the button 250 to be larger. Since the pin 280 is an integrated member having both a screw end portion and a ratchet end portion 284 and 286, the number of parts can be reduced. Since the shape of the handle 290 is a plus shape, the handle 290 can be easily grasped.

Although the present invention has been described with respect to what is currently considered to be the most feasible and suitable examples, the present embodiment is not limited to the disclosed examples, but is included in the gist and scope of various modifications and the attached claims. It should be understood that it is intended to cover equivalent configurations as well. It should be noted that this range must be consistent with the broadest interpretation that includes configurations equivalent to all of the above variants that are legally permitted.