IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,578,044
Granted Patent B2
US 12,578,044 · App. 17/916,083 · Granted Mar 17, 2026

Clamping system for connecting tubes, comprising a collar and a seal

Inventors: Abdelfettah Zinbi (Romorantin-Lanthenay, FR); Quentin Minet (Villentrois, FR); Eric Mesnard (Tours en Sologne, FR)
Assignee: Caillau
F16L23/22F16L17/04F16L21/065F16L21/08F16L23/08F16L23/18
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,578,044
App. No.
17/916,083
Granted
Mar 17, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The clamping system is used to connect a first and a second tube whose facing ends have bearing surfaces protruding relative to their cylindrical external surface. The clamping system has a clampable collar and a seal. The collar includes a belt able to cooperate with the bearing surfaces of the tubes by this internal periphery delimiting a recess into which the bearing surfaces can be inserted. The seal is supported by the collar in the unclamped state of the latter and has an annular sealing portion which includes a metal washer and a non-metal based washer fixed to the metal washer. The metal washer can carry support lugs to support the washers relative to the collar.

Claims (32)

1 . A clamping system for connecting a first and a second tube whose facing ends have bearing surfaces protruding relative to the cylindrical external surface of said tubes, the system comprising:

a clampable collar and a seal,

the collar including a belt able to cooperate with said bearing surfaces by an internal periphery delimiting a recess into which the bearing surfaces can be inserted,

the seal being supported by the collar in the unclamped state of the latter and comprising an annular sealing portion,

the annular sealing portion comprising a metal washer and a non-metal based washer fixed to the metal washer,

the non-metal based washer being formed from a composite material, and

the metal washer having a stamped frustoconical surface and the non-metal based washer being bonded to the metal washer and being formed in a planar ring, deformed to match the frustoconical shape of the frustoconical surface.

2 . The tube clamping system according to claim 1 , wherein the metal washer carries support lugs by which said metal washer and said non-metal based washer are supported relative to the collar.

3 . The tube clamping system according to claim 2 , wherein one or more of the support lugs are formed in one piece with the metal washer.

4 . The tube clamping system according to claim 1 , wherein the non-metal based washer is formed from a mica-based material.

5 . The tube clamping system according to claim 1 , wherein the non-metal based washer comprises mineral particles and a binder.

6 . The tube clamping system according to claim 5 , wherein the mineral particles comprise one or more of mica graphite.

7 . The tube clamping system according to claim 1 , wherein the non-metal based washer comprises a reinforcement.

8 . The tube clamping system according to claim 1 , wherein the metal washer has an annular bulge on a first face of said metal washer and the non-metal based washer is disposed against said first face.

9 . The tube clamping system according to claim 1 , wherein the annular sealing portion further comprises an additional non-metal based washer fixed to the metal washer, the metal washer being located between the non-metal based washer and the additional non-metal based washer.

10 . The tube clamping system according to claim 1 , wherein the non-metal based washer comprises a metal reinforcement.

11 . A clamping system for connecting a first and a second tube whose facing ends have bearing surfaces protruding relative to the cylindrical external surface of said tubes, the system comprising:

a clampable collar and a seal,

the collar including a belt able to cooperate with said bearing surfaces by an internal periphery delimiting a recess into which the bearing surfaces can be inserted,

the seal being supported by the collar in the unclamped state of the latter and comprising an annular sealing portion, and

the annular sealing portion comprising a metal washer and a non-metal based washer fixed to the metal washer, the non-metal based washer being formed from a composite material, the metal washer having an annular bulge on a first face of said metal washer and the non-metal based washer being disposed against said first face.

12 . The tube clamping system according to claim 11 , wherein the metal washer has a stamped frustoconical surface and the non-metal based washer is formed in a planar ring, deformed to match the frustoconical shape of the frustoconical surface.

13 . The tube clamping system according to claim 11 , wherein the non-metal based washer is bonded to the metal washer.

14 . The tube clamping system according to claim 11 , wherein the non-metal based washer has an annular bulge on a first face of said non-metal based washer and said first faces of the metal washer and of the non-metal based washer are disposed against each other, so that the annular bulges are in contact.

15 . The tube clamping system according to claim 14 , wherein the non-metal based washer also has an annular bulge on a second face.

16 . The tube clamping system according to claim 15 , wherein the annular bulges of the non-metal based washer delimit together an annular space.

17 . A clamping system for connecting a first and a second tube whose facing ends have bearing surfaces protruding relative to the cylindrical external surface of said tubes, the system comprising:

a clampable collar and a seal,

the collar including a belt able to cooperate with said bearing surfaces by an internal periphery delimiting a recess into which the bearing surfaces can be inserted,

the seal being supported by the collar in the unclamped state of the latter and comprising an annular sealing portion,

the annular sealing portion comprising a metal washer and a non-metal based washer fixed to the metal washer, the non-metal based washer being formed from a composite material, and

the annular sealing portion further comprising an additional non-metal based washer fixed to the metal washer, the metal washer being located between the non-metal based washer and the additional non-metal based washer.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 12, 2022
From: ZINBI, ABDELFETTAH; MINET, QUENTIN; MESNARD, ERIC
To: CAILLAU
Reel/Frame 062057/0131 →
Priority Claims (1)
FR 2003382 · Apr 3, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230184356A1 · Jun 15, 2023
References Cited (29)
US 4185858A · Peash · 1980 [cited by applicant]
US 5782499A · Gfrerer · 1998 [cited by examiner]
US 7399005B2 · Rigollet · 2008 [cited by examiner]
US 9016731B2 · Rigollet · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 10228084B2 · Vosgeois · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 10563799B2 · Prevot · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 10612705B2 · Prevot · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 10634270B2 · Rigollet · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20040251634A1 · Shimazu · 2004 [cited by examiner]
US 20040262922A1 · Andersson · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20190093803A1 · Wu · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20190331270A1 · Drivon · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20200141525A1 · Drivon · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20210148498A1 · Jacquelin · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20210310592A1 · Mesnard · 2021 [cited by examiner]
EP 1451498A1 · 2004 [cited by applicant]
EP 2598785A1 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
EP 3232107A1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
FR 2003382A1 · 1969 [cited by applicant]
WO WO03002306A2 · 2003 [cited by applicant]
WO 2007083028A2 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
WO 2019201381A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO 2019201531A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO 2019201543A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO 2020065276A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO 2021198604A1 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
International Search Report of International Application Serial No. PCT/FR2021/050543 dated Aug. 2, 2021, (w/English Translation) 6 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Preliminary Report on Patentability and Written Opinion of International Application No. PCT/FR2021/050543 dated Sep. 29, 2022 (and English Translation), 11 pages. [cited by applicant]
Opposition for European Patent No. 4127541, dated Apr. 24, 2024, 45 pages. [cited by applicant]