Barb clamp with smooth bore

[0001] The present invention relates to a mounting device for a tubular body.

Background of the Invention [0002] Fluid conduction through flexible tubing is widely used in a variety of environments. Finally, the flexible tubing is connected to a source of a gaseous or liquid fluid, a fluid delivery site, or a flexible tubing. At the ends of a flexible pipeline it is necessary to provide strong and leak-proof connections. However, these requirements are necessary in all environments where flexible tubing is used, this is critical in the fields of medicine, pharmacy, food and drink. In the field of medicine and pharmacy, flexible tubing and associated connections are used for Luer fittings, quick connections or sanitary fittings, as used in blood pumps, oxygen concentrators, equipment used for sleep apnea, medical transport containers, intravenous bags, etc. In some environments, especially in the medical field, it is imperative to absolutely prevent any liquids from entering between the tube and the connector at the connection point. Any gap or abrupt change at the junction point will suck in the fluid, e.g., biological fluid, blood, drugs, food, etc. Such suction can cause the growth of harmful bacteria. Document US 3 528 689 relates to a tube connection or connection comprising a pipe coupling or a relatively rigid material having an annular groove, wherein its grooved portion is coupled in the open end portion of the tube, the inner sleeve or the outer sleeve. Document WO 85/00646 A1 relates to a coupling device for permanently connecting tubes, where the end part of the tube is compressed in the tubular seat by gradually cold compaction by means of an axially movable compression ring so as to form a blocked sealing engagement. The document US 2003/0193190 A1 relates to a catch clip used to connect a flexible tube and a hook fastener. JP 2001 141155 A relates to a pipe fitting comprising a connector body having a cylindrical insertion portion to be inserted into the end of the pipe connection. The document US 2003/0193190 A1 relates to a catch clip used to connect a flexible tube and a hook fastener. JP 2001 141155 A relates to a pipe fitting comprising a connector body having a cylindrical insertion portion to be inserted into the end of the pipe connection. The document US 2003/0193190 A1 relates to a catch clip used to connect a flexible tube and a hook fastener. JP 2001 141155 A relates to a pipe fitting comprising a connector body having a cylindrical insertion portion to be inserted into the end of the pipe connection.

Summary of the Invention [0003] The present invention overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks. The present invention provides an improved gripping clamp used to connect a flexible tube to a coupling fitting or connector, or a straight wire without a latch. More specifically, the combination of a flexible tube with a specially designed attachment fixture, ensuring minimal or even no difference in the transition between the inner diameter of the tubular conduit and the internal diameter of the fastening hook.

[0004] In one aspect of the invention, the hook fastening tapers to the end point such that there is no transition between the inner diameter of the tube and the internal diameter of the hook fastening to prevent differential pressure in the tube between the tube part in the improved latching clamp and the tube part outside the catch clamp.

[0005] Other applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following description of the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention, with reference to the figures in the accompanying drawing.

Brief Description of the Drawings [0006] In the description given in this document, reference is made to the figures of the attached drawing, where like numerals refer to similar parts in several views, and where:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the subject hook clamp;

Fig. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of an alternative concept to the present hook-up terminal;

Fig. 3 is a vertical view of the collet holder for the present gripping clamp;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the sleeve for the relevant hook-off terminal;

Fig. 5 is a view of an improved gripping clamp according to the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of an improved gripping clamp;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of an improved collet holder and sleeve;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 7 having a cutaway portion to illustrate specific figures;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the collet chuck and the collet of the gripping clamp shown in Fig. 7 in an unlocked position;

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the collet holder of the sleeve shown in Fig. 7 in the locked position; and

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the catch clamp shown in Fig. 10 locked on the tube.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment [0007] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the objective fastener 10 is shown for engaging the hook-type fastener 12 and the flexible tube 14, as will be discussed further in this document. Attachment fastener 12 is generally made of a non-metallic material that allows it to be welded to a medical or pharmaceutical grade propylene or ethylene pouch. The same and similar materials may be used for connections using connectors for biotechnological, pharmaceutical, medical and food applications as well as branch line applications. The fastening can also be made of other plastics and stainless steel when needed. As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the attachment fastener 12 can include various configurations,

PZ / 3832 / AG EP 2 250 422 B1

Drug Administration) of polypropylene, silicone, TPE, TPR, etc. The attachment attachment 12 may include a flange portion 17 that defines a stop element for the gripping clamp 10.

[0008] The latching clamp 10 comprises a collet 18 and a sleeve 20. This collet 18 and sleeve 20 are shown in Figs. 1-6 and are similar to the collet and sleeves discussed in US Patent Application 10/100 519 filed March 18. 2002, and currently US 6 796 586 issued on September 28, 2004.

[0009] Clamping holder 18 is a substantially annular member having a through hole 19 for receiving inside the end of the tube 14. The sleeve 20 is also an annular member with a through hole 21 for receiving the end of the tube 14 as having a diameter also for receiving inside the collet 18.

[0010] When viewed in Fig. 3, the collet holder 18 has an outer surface 22 providing elastic means for radially clamping around the tube 14. The collet holder 18 has a first end 23 forming a discontinuous annular rim. Along the outer surface 22 and in the vicinity of the first end 23, there is an annular groove 26. Moving towards the second end 24 and also beyond the annular groove 26, the clamping device forms eight elastic grips 28. These grips 28 radially flared or widen slightly at the second. the end 24 of the clamping device 18. The grips 28 are about to open approximately in the center 27 of each shank 28. The grippers 28 are formed by narrow through-openings 25 extending from the second end 24 and terminating at the annular groove 26.

[0011] The small inclined plate protrusion 30 protrudes above each end 25a of the narrow through-openings 25. These small longitudinal projections 30 provide additional strength to the collet and also provide resistance to the sleeve 20 as will be discussed later in this document. There is a recessed plane portion 30a extending between each small ledge 30 to the interior of the annular groove 26. The grip 28 forms a resilient seal that allows the grips to come into contact around the tubular member 14. There is a passage 29 between each following grip 28 which runs from the first end 23 to the center line 27 of the respective nip 28. The through-holes 29 may also have rounded ends 29a, as shown in Fig. 3 and 5 or pointed ends (not shown). The through-holes 29 provide resilience to the first end 23 of the collet 18 without compromising strength. The inner surface 31 of the collet 18 is substantially smooth except for the shelf 32 equally located on each grip 28 at the centerline 27, for reasons that will be discussed further.

[0012] When viewed in Fig. 4, the sleeve 20 has a smooth outer annular surface 34. The sleeve 20 has a first or bottom end 36 forming an arcuate base for facilitating mounting to the collet 18. The inner surface 40 forms a slight stenosis towards the outside at second or upper end 38 of the sleeve 20. The inner surface 40 is substantially smooth over the entire length of the sleeve 20, with the exception of the annular projection 42 which extends from the inner surface. The annular projection 42 is dimensioned and located on the sleeve 20 to be positioned inside the annular groove 26 of the collet 18 to form a lock when the grip clamp 10 is engaged4

PZ / 3832 / AG. Therefore, the annular projection 42 is located near the second or upper end 38 of the sleeve 20.

The small longitudinal projections 30 on the outer surface 34 of the collet 18 provide a stop element and a lock to prevent the annular lip 42 from slipping out of the annular groove 26. The latch 10 "clicks" when the collet 18 and sleeve 20 are locked together. The catch clamp 10 can then only be removed with the aid of a tool such that disconnection and leakage are prevented.

[0014] The improved gripping clamp shown in Figs. 5 and 6 has many of the same features as discussed in connection with Figs. 1-4. Nevertheless, the improved grip clamp 10 further comprises a technically designed latch attachment 112 that is designed to maintain the same cross-sectional area of ​​the passageway or fluid passageway 100a in the latching attachment 110 as the cross-sectional area of ​​the passageway corridor of the fluid passageway 100 in the tube 14 to The fluid passageway 100 outside the catch clamp 110 is defined by the inner passage of the tube 14. The fluid passageway 100a in this improved grip clamp 110 is defined by the inner corridor hole of the latch attachment 112, 212. As can be seen in Fig. 1 and 2, the cross-sectional area of ​​the fluid passageway 100 of the tube 14 is reduced within the gripping clamp 10 as shown in 100a in Fig. 1. The free end 50 of the hook attachment 12 in the prior art has a blunt end 52 with a thickness that makes the transition in the cross-sectional area the transverse fluid passageway 100 when the pipe 14 enters the catch clamp 10 and changes into the flow passage 100a. One of the problems encountered when designing the hook-up connection is that it is generally necessary to provide a smaller cross-sectional area of ​​the corridor opening in the clamping fixture 12 in order to provide a clamping attachment 12 of the tube 14. Nonetheless, the improved clamp 10 provides power 5 as shown in figure 100a in Fig. 1. The free end 50 of the hook attachment 12 in the prior art has a blunt end 52 with a thickness that causes a passage in the cross-sectional area of ​​the fluid passageway 100 when the pipe 14 enters the catch clamp 10 and changes in flow corridor 100a. One of the problems encountered when designing the hook-up connection is that it is generally necessary to provide a smaller cross-sectional area of ​​the corridor opening in the clamping fixture 12 in order to provide a clamping attachment 12 of the tube 14. Nonetheless, the improved clamp 10 provides power 5 as shown in figure 100a in Fig. 1. The free end 50 of the hook attachment 12 in the prior art has a blunt end 52 with a thickness that causes a passage in the cross-sectional area of ​​the fluid passageway 100 when the pipe 14 enters the catch clamp 10 and changes in flow corridor 100a. One of the problems encountered when designing the hook-up connection is that it is generally necessary to provide a smaller cross-sectional area of ​​the corridor opening in the clamping fixture 12 in order to provide a clamping attachment 12 of the tube 14. Nonetheless, the improved clamp 10 provides power 5 that the passage in the cross-sectional area of ​​the fluid passageway 100 when the pipe 14 enters the catch-off clamp 10 and changes into the flow passage 100a. One of the problems encountered when designing the hook-up connection is that it is generally necessary to provide a smaller cross-sectional area of ​​the corridor opening in the clamping fixture 12 in order to provide a clamping attachment 12 of the tube 14. Nonetheless, the improved clamp 10 provides power 5 that the passage in the cross-sectional area of ​​the fluid passageway 100 when the pipe 14 enters the catch-off clamp 10 and changes into the flow passage 100a. One of the problems encountered when designing the hook-up connection is that it is generally necessary to provide a smaller cross-sectional area of ​​the corridor opening in the clamping fixture 12 in order to provide a clamping attachment 12 of the tube 14. Nonetheless, the improved clamp 10 provides power 5

The coupling means 112, 212, which has substantially the same diameter of the passage opening as the tube 14, can also be easily inserted into the tube 14.

[0015] In the improved gripping clamp 110 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the latch attachment 112, 212 has the size of a technically designed corridor opening such that it has the same cross-sectional area as the corridor opening 100 of the tubular conduit 14. When an improved attachment fixture 112, 212 is installed in the tube 14, there is no passage between the inner diameter of the pipeline 14 and the inner clamping diameter 112. As a result, there is no pressure difference in the tubing or in the fluid from outside to inside the catch 110. Maintaining constant pressure or constant fluid velocity throughout the system can be an imperative for some medical applications. In order to do this, the free end 150 of the hitch 112,

[0016] Fig. 6 shows an alternative configuration of a catch clamp 110 that still retains the same inner diameter of the tube corridor 14, regardless of whether the tube 14 is inside the hook clamp or not. It is shown in Fig. 6 that the hook fastener 212 can include a stopper 230 that is attached to the flange 17 and acts as a separate stop for the tube 14, while the flange 17 defines another stop for the collet 18, 218 and sleeve 20 The clamping holder 218 can also be modified to have a tapering end 240 and corresponds to a tapered end 40 of the sleeve. In addition, the annular ledge 232 of the collet chuck 218 can be reconfigured so that it extends further inside the tube 14 to provide a stronger grip.

[0017] The clamping holder 18 and the sleeve 20 should be made of an FDA approved material if the gripping clamp 10 is in a medical or pharmaceutical environment. The material should be resilient. Preferably, the collet holder 18 is made of acetyl, silicone or polypropylene. The sleeve 20 is preferably made of polycarbonate, silicone or polypropylene. The components of the improved gripping clamp are made of materials such as polypropylene that can be sterilized in an autoclave for medical applications. The microbicide additives can also be added to the plastic material during manufacture of at least one of the coupling fitting, clamping tool and bushing.

[0018] Fig. 7-11 illustrates an alternative configuration of a catch clamp 310 in accordance with the present invention. The latch clamp 310 according to this embodiment is made of the same materials as disclosed in the previous embodiments. When first viewed in Fig. 11, the clip 310 is mounted on the tube 314 to hold the tube 314 in a fixed connection. The hitching or hooking attachment 312 has a tubular configuration. The tap connector 312 has a smooth corridor opening 313 with a constant diameter over its entire length, defining a fluid passage inside. The constant diameter of the inner passageway hole 313 of the catch fitting 312 is equal to the preset inner diameter 315 of the flexible tube 314.

Inner surface 313 and extends radially outward from the inner surface 313 defining a pointed point at the end of the first end 322. As a result, the first end 322 of the tap-off adapter 312 does not have an edge perpendicular to the fluid passage in the coupler. 312, and there is no pressure difference in the fluid passageway in the tube 314 inside or outside the catch terminal 310 after installation. The angular surface 323 extends along the entire radial circumference of the first end 322. The angular surface 323 terminates at the latch point 324 formed along the outer surface. The latch attachment 312 may also include a flange portion 326 offset from the first end 322,

[0019] The latching clamp 310 includes a collet 318 and a sleeve 320. Clamping holder 310 and sleeve 320 are as shown in Figs. 7-11. In the illustrated embodiment, the clamping holder 318 and the sleeve 320 are connected to each other by breakable grips 328, as will be discussed further in this document. Clamping holder 318 is an annular member having a through hole 319 for receiving the end of the tube 314 in its interior. The outer surface 330 of the collet 318 has a two-level configuration where the diameter of the outer surface 330a in the vicinity of the first end 332 is smaller than the diameter of the outer surface 330b adjacent the second end 334. The first and second outer surfaces 330a, 330b are separated and defined by a ledge 336 located in the center of the clamping tool 318.

[0020] The inner surface 319 of the collet holder 318 has a substantially smooth radial face, with the exception of the portion at the first end 332 where the annular ridge 338 is positioned. The annular ridge 338 is defined by an incisional annular surface 340 that deflects inward to a limited spine diameter. 338. The angular guide edge 340 facilitates the insertion and assembly of the latch end 322 of the connector 312 and the tube 314. The other end 334 of the collet holder 318 has a radial surface perpendicular to the fluid passage. A number of brittle tongues 328 are connected and extends from the radial surface 334 of the second end. The opposite ends of the breakable tabs 328 are also connected to the inner surface of the sleeve 320, as will be discussed later in this document.

The longitudinal through-holes 342 start at and open to the first end 332 of the clamping holder 318. A number of slots 342 are spaced uniformly along the circumference of the clamping device 318. The slots 342 have longitudinal side edges 343a 343b that are spaced apart from each other. creating a gap between them. The gaps 342 extend approximately two-thirds of the axial length to the interior of the terminal box body 318 from the first end 332. As a mere example, the slits 342 are located directly in alignment with the breakable tabs 328.

[0022] The other end 334 of the collet chuck 318 also includes a number of through-gaps

344. Slots 344 are configured in the same way as slots 342. Slots 344 also include laterally spaced edges 345a, 345b. The slits 344 extend and open to the second end 334 of the clamping holder 318 and extend over two thirds of the axial length to the interior 7

The gaps 344 are spaced at equal intervals between adjacent gaps 342. Therefore, there is a central portion of the collet holder 318 into which the two sets of slots run 342, 344 The gaps 342,344 provide a resilient seal around the tube 314 when the latch clamp 310 is in the locked position. [0023] The sleeve 320 has a smooth outer surface 350. The inner surface 331 of the sleeve has a radial lip 352 formed at the first end 354 of the sleeve. The inner surface 351 has an enlarged radial section 358 adjacent the lip 352. The expanded section 358 has an enlarged radial diameter to be housed within the second section 330b of the outer portion of the collet 318, when the catch clip is in the locked position. The expanded section 358 terminates at a ledge 360 ​​defined by a portion 362 of reduced diameter. Axially, the reduced diameter portion 362 extends into an inclined portion 364 that is inclined outwardly to the extended end portion 366. The extended end portion 366 is adjacent the second end 356 of the sleeve 320. Opposed end portions of the frangible tabs 328 are positioned and connected to the wall of the inner expanded portion. the final 366 sleeve. The combination of the breakable tabs 328 with the collet 318 and the sleeve 320 forms a gap 329 between the second end 356 of the sleeve 320 and the other end 334 of the collet 318 such that the breakable tabs 328 are the only connection between the collet and the collet when the latch is in the unlocked position .

[0024] For installation, a clamping clip 318 and sleeve 320 are inserted at the end of the tube 314 with the end of the sleeve 320 first positioned on the tube 314. The latch attachment or latch 312 is inserted into the end of the tube 314 guided by the pointed latch 322. When the striker 312 is tightly fitted inside the end of the tube 314, the clamping holder 318 is slipped back to this end of the tube 314 closing both the end of the tube 314 and the striker 312. A locking device can be used to break the breakable tabs 328 to disengage the sleeve 320 from the collet holder 318 and displacement of the sleeve 320 to the collet holder 318. However, the tabs 328 are broken off from the collet 318,the tab portions 328 on the inner surface 366 of the sleeve remain intact and connected to the sleeve 320.

[0025] When the sleeve 320 travels over the collet 318, the other end 334 of the collet holder 318 breaks portions of frangible tongues attached to the inner surface 362 of the sleeve 320. When the sleeve 320 continues to move axially over the collet chuck 318, the other end 334 of the collet, moves on a slope of 364; and the slits 344 are compressed together to eliminate the gap between the side edges 345 a, 345 b to provide a resilient seal around the tube 314. The sleeve 32 b continues to move over the collet 318 until the other end 334 of the collet 318 is blocked and resists below radial lip 352 in the sleeve. The radial lip 352 stops further axial displacement of the sleeve 320 relative to the collet holder 318. In the locked position as shown in Fig.362 with reduced diameter of the sleeve 320 compresses

The first section 330a of the collet holder 318 and removes the gap between the lateral edges 343a and 343b of the slot 342. The reduced section 362 is positioned so as to affect the compression of each of the slits 342 and 344. The tongue portions 328, which remain connected to the sleeve 320 grips the outer surface 330a of the collet holder 318 adjacent the first end 332. When the sleeve 320 is locked on the collet holder 318, the attachment attachment 312 and the tube 314, there is a 360 ° radial clamp connection of the tube 314.

[0027] Although the present invention has been described in connection with what is now considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to include various modifications and equivalent systems within the scope of the idea and scope of the attached patent claims.

PZ / 3832 / AG EP 2 250 422 B1