GB2329880A

GB2329880A - Self locking wedge clamping device for repairing flexible materials

Info

Publication number: GB2329880A
Application number: GB9720957A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael John Cato Godfrey; Stephen Barron
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-10-03
Filing date: 1997-10-03
Publication date: 1999-04-07
Also published as: GB9720957D0

Abstract

A clamping device enables repairs to be made to flexible materials without adhesives by compressing the damaged area between a first clamp portion 2 and a second clamp portion 3 by means of a self locking wedge 4. At commencement of a repair a combination tool 10 is clipped into a hinged stud 5 attached to the second clamp portion 3 and is used during installation and automatically ejected as the wedge is pushed home.

Description

A SELF LOCKING WEDGE CLAMPING DEVICE FOR REPAIRING FLEXIBLE MATERIALS.

This invention relates to a self locking wedge clamping device for effecting repairs to flexible materials.

The traditional method of repairing holes and tears in flexible materials is by applying soft patches of a compatible material with adhesives. Another method is by vulcanising.

The traditional methods, to be effective require the patch and the material for repair to be clean and dry thus requiring optimum conditions throughout the process. A device has been developed as shown in GB 2 201 130 B which is a mechanical and reusable patch. Problems with this device are that the size of repair is limited to relatively small holes, particularly on curved surfaces which are a feature of most inflatable or liquid containing objects; it is relatively expensive and it uses flexible seals which will in time deteriorate either in use or in storage. A further limitation of GB 2201130 B is that it does not contain liquids with integrity.

According to the present invention there is provided a self locking wedge device for repairing holes in flexible materials comprising an elliptical first clamp portion with a sealing spigot, an elliptical second clamp portion with a sealing groove to correspond with the sealing spigot on the first clamp portion and a means of compressing the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion either side of a tear or aperture in a material to effect an air watertight repair, and also comprising a means for enlarging the aperture to a measured size and to control the device during installation.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the visible parts of the device in situ with the combination tool ejected, for example, on a section of an inflatable object.

Figure 2 shows a section through the length of the device after insertion into a tear in some material and prior to the clamping process.

Figure 3 shows a section through the length of the device after the self locking wedge has clamped the two halves together.

Figure 4 shows how the second clamp portion is inserted into the tear at the commencement of the repair.

Figure 5 shows a front view of the combination assembly tool with the hole enlarger at one end.

Figure 6 shows the side view of the combination tool.

Figure 7 shows a plan view of the top of the clamp and stud.

Figure 8 shows a plan view of the self locking wedge.

Referring to the drawings the device comprises an elliptical first clamp portion 2, an elliptical second clamp portion 3, hinged stud 5 self locking wedge 4, and combination tool 10.

The first clamp portion 2 has a sealing spigot 16 running round the sealing edge and the second clamp portion 3 has a groove 17 running round the sealing edge and a hinged stud 5 attached to a pad eye 6 by a stud hinge pin 7 and is situated in the centre of the inside of the second clamp portion 3. The self locking wedge 4 has a spigot 8. The self locking wedge 4 may be temporarily secured to the first clamp portion 2 by a flexible releasable means, such as a plastic strip, not shown. The first clamp portion 2 has a number of spigot retaining grooves 9.

The combination tool 10 has attachment claws 11 at one end and a hole enlarger 12 at the other end which is the exact size to enable the second clamp portion 3 to enter the tear. The hole piercer has a point protector 13 for safety.

To repair a hole narrower than the width of the second clamp portion 3, the hole enlarger 12 can be inserted into the hole and pushed completely through the material making the hole large enough to accommodate the second clamp portion. The combination tool attachment claws 11 are located into the combination tool location holes 14. and the two clamp portions separated as shown in Fig 4. The second clamp portion 3 is inserted into the tear 19 as shown in Fig 4. Using the combination tool 10 the second clamp portion 3 is pulled up under the tear 19 and centralised. The first clamp portion 2 is located over the hinged stud 5 and the edge of the self locking wedge 4 is located under the angled rebate 20 on the hinged stud pin 7 and then pushed in the direction of arrow 23 until complete resistance is met. As the self locking wedge 4 is pushed under the rebate 20 of the hinged stud 5, the hinged stud and the second clamp portion 3 to which it is attached by the stud hinge pin 7 are drawn up under the material to compress the material between the sealing spigot 16 on the first clamping portion 2 and the groove 17 on the second clamping portion 3 at the same time the spigot 8 on the self locking wedge 4 engages in turn with one of a number of self locking wedge spigot grooves 9 until the required compression is achieved. The self locking spigot grooves 9 are designed to permit the wedge lock spigot 8 to pass easily in the locking direction - arrow 23 - but preclude the self locking wedge 4 from returning involuntarily. As the self locking wedge 4 is pushed in the direction of arrow 23 and the clamping process has started the combination tool 10 is no longer required and is automatically ejected by pressure from the edges of the tapered wedge tongue 24 against the combination tool claw tips 11 which are manuictured from a suitably tensile material. To remove the patch, if required, a screw driver or similar tool can be inserted under the self locking wedge thumb pressure area 21 and the wedge gently lifted until the spigot 8 is lifted out of the wedge lock spigot groove 9 and eased back.

This process is repeated until the self locking wedge is clear of the stud hinge pin 7. The first clamp portion is then lifted up and and the installation reversed.

Claims

CLAIMS 1 A self locking wedge clamping device comprising a first clamp portion, a second clamp portion and a means of compressing the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion on either side of a tear or aperture in a material to effect an air and watertight seal, and also comprising a means of enlarging the aperture to a measured size to allow the second clamp portion to enter the aperture.
2 A self locking wedge clamping device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the means of compression is by a self locking wedge.
3 A self locking wedge clamping device as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2 wherein the self locking wedge has a spigot positioned at one end of the surface which makes contact with the first clamp portion.
4 A self locking wedge clamping device as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the self locking wedge is formed into two prongs from the thin end over a portion of the length.
S A self locking wedge clamping device as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the thick end ofthe self locking wedge is suitably angled for a thumb pressure point.
6 A self locking wedge clamping device as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the two prongs are spaced to pass either side of the hinged stud.
7 A self locking wedge clamping device as claimed in any of the previous Claims wherein the outer edges of each of the two prongs are angled toward the thin edge of the prongs in order to expel the claws of the combination tool.
8 A self locking wedge clamping device as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the hinged stud has an angled rebate each side under which the self locking wedge slides.
9 A self locking wedge clamping device as claimed in any of the previous Claims comprising a first clamping portion, a second clamp portion and a means for compressing the first and second clamp portions together in the form of a self locking wedge, the inside face of the second clamp portion having attached to it a hinged stud with a sloping rebate on either side and under which the tongues of the wedge slide to create an upward motion of the second clamp portion to compress with the first clamp portiorL
10 A self locking wedge clamping device as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the first clamp portion has a spigot around the sealing edge.
11 A self locking wedge clamping device as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the second clamp portion has a groove on the sealing edge.
12 A self locking wedge clamping device as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the first clamp portion has a number of grooves on the uppermost part upon which slides the self locking wedge.
13 A self locking wedge clamping device as claimed in any ofthe previous Claims wherein the means for enlarging the aperture to a measured size is incorporated into a combination tool for installing the device.
14 A self locking wedge clamping device as claimed in any ofthe preceding Claims wherein the means to enlarge the aperture to a measured size is by a pointed spear situated at one end of the combination tool.
15 A self locking wedge clamping device as claimed in any of the preceding clairns wherein the combination tool has attachment claws at one end.
16 A self locking wedge clamping device as claimed in any of the preceding Claims wherein the two prongs of the wedge are received under the angled rebates on the hinged stud, being such that when the wedge is in use, the distance between the underside of the wedge and the hinged stud retaining pin is such that the second clamp portion sealing groove receives the spigot sealing edge of the first clamp portion to make an air and watertight seal.