The invention relates to a clamping ring for mutually attaching two cylinder parts by means of clamping, which, in use, are arranged coaxially relative to each other, which clamping ring can assume at least a first and a second position, the clamping ring being provided with at least one substantially ring-shaped part which is virtually closed in itself.

The invention also relates to a method for mutually attaching two cylinder parts by means of clamping which, in use, are arranged coaxially relative to each other.

The invention further relates to a system comprising a flexible tube, a rigid tube and a clamping ring for attaching the flexible tube coaxially around the rigid tube by means of clamping, which clamping ring can assume at least a first and a second position, the clamping ring being provided with at least one substantially ring-shaped part which is virtually closed in itself.

Such a clamping ring is known from practice. When forming, for instance, a drain or a feed, it can be desired to mutually couple two cylinder parts in a coaxial manner. The first cylinder part can for instance comprise a flexible tube and the second cylinder part can for instance comprise a rigid tube.

US patent 6,062, 611 describes such a clamping ring. Here, a clamping ring is described comprising a radially extending split. The clamping ring has two ends located adjacent the split and through an auxiliary means, the ends can be pulled together, or compressed and crossed. Thus, the size of the clamping ring is reduced.

A drawback of this known clamping ring is that reducing the size of the clamping ring requires the use of an additional auxiliary means. This renders application of the clamping ring laborious and time consuming.

The object of the invention is to provide a clamping ring which can be provided in a cylinder part in a simple manner without the aid of auxiliary means, by temporarily reducing the size of the clamping ring.

The object mentioned is achieved with the clamping ring according to the invention, which is characterized in that the clamping ring is further provided with a segment, movable relative to the ring-shaped part, which is connected to ends of the ring-shaped part, while in the first position, the clamping ring has substantially the shape of a ring and, in the second position, the segment is located inward relative to the ring-shaped part such that each diameter of the clamping ring in the second position is smaller than each diameter of the clamping ring in the first position, the movability of the segment between the first and the second position being based on at least a local increase of the flexibility of the clamping ring relative to the flexibility of the rest of the clamping ring.

As each diameter of the clamping ring is smaller in the second position than each diameter of the clamping ring in the first position, it is possible to provide the clamping ring in the second position in one of the cylinder parts, and then have the clamping ring assume the first position so that then, the clamping ring is clampingly received in the respective cylinder part. In the first position, the clamping ring cannot, or only with great difficulty, be clampingly received in the respective cylinder part. Reduction of the diameter when the clamping ring is being brought from the first position to the second position comprises moving the segment inwardly. As the segment is a part of the clamping ring, no auxiliary means are required for bringing the clamping ring from the first to the second position or from the second position to the first position, which considerably simplifies placing the clamping ring according to the invention with regard to placing the known clamping ring.

One embodiment of the clamping ring according to the invention is characterized in that the clamping ring is provided with at least one hinge for bringing the clamping ring from the first position into the second position. The

advantage hereof is that the segment can easily be moved relative to the ring- shaped part.

One embodiment of the clamping ring according to the latter embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the clamping ring is provided with at least two hinges for bringing the clamping ring from the first position into the second position. This offers the advantage that in a simple manner, the segment can be placed inward relative to the ring-shaped part because, by means of at least two hinges, the clamping ring has at least two hinge points, which simplifies moving the segment to a position inward relative to the ring-shaped part.

A further elaboration of the clamping ring according to the invention is characterized in that the clamping ring is provided with at least three hinges for bringing the clamping ring from the first position into the second position. In such an embodiment, it may hold that the segment comprises at least two substantially similar segment parts located in one row. This further simplifies moving the segment inward relative to the ring-shaped part.

A further elaboration of the latter embodiment is characterized in that the clamping ring is provided with at least four hinges for bringing the clamping ring from the first position into the second position. As a result, the segment can comprise an additional segment part serving to enhance the user- friendliness by orienting it such that it can serve as a push-in part or a pull part to the user when bringing the clamping ring from the first position to the second position or from the second position to the first position.

A further elaboration of the latter embodiment is characterized in that a segment part located in the middle of the row is basically smaller than one of the segment parts located at one of the ends. This offers the advantage that in the second position, the segment can lie further within the circumference of the ring formed in the first position than when a segment part located in the middle of the row is substantially greater than one of the segment parts located at an end.

One embodiment of the invention is characterized in that at least one hinge comprises a recess provided in the ring, extending substantially in axial direction of the clamping ring. The recess can be located on the outside or the inside of the clamping ring. The recess allows a simple and inexpensive manufacture of the clamping ring as in this manner, the hinges need not comprise additional parts. The operation of such a hinge will be further elucidated in the description of the drawings.

Also, the clamping ring is preferably characterized in that at the outside, the clamping ring is provided with at least one radially extending outside rib. With the aid of this outside rib, clamping the outside of the clamping ring against the inside of one of the cylinder parts is simplified.

A further elaboration of the invention according to the latter elaboration is characterized in that the outside rib extends substantially in circumferential direction. Thus, clamping is improved at all positions along the circumference of the outside. Moreover, it can hold that at each position of the inside circumference of the outside rib, the outside rib is connected to the outside of the clamping ring. This offers the advantage that the clamping ring can provide a good sealing which can be beneficial when the clamped cylinder parts are, for instance, flowed through by a fluid which must not leak from the clamped cylinder parts at the location of the clamping. The clamping ring can be provided with a plurality of such outside ribs which are offset relative to each other in axial direction. In this manner, the outside rib also promotes the sealing capacity of the clamping ring when the clamping ring is placed by the outside against an inside of a cylinder part.

Further, the latter elaboration of the invention according to the latter embodiment can be characterized in that at the inside, the clamping ring is provided with at least one radially extending inside rib. With the aid of this inside rib, the attachment of the inside of the clamping ring against the outside of one of the cylinder parts is improved.

The latter elaboration of the invention can also be characterized in that the inside rib extends substantially in circumferential direction. Thus, the clamping is improved at each position along the circumference of the inside.

Moreover, it may hold that, at each position of the outer circumference of the inside rib, the inside rib is connected to the inside of the clamping ring. This offers the advantage that the clamping ring can provide a good sealing which can, for instance, be beneficial when the clamped cylinder parts are flowed through by a fluid that must not leak from the clamped cylinder parts at the location of the clamping. The clamping ring can be provided with a plurality of such inside ribs, offset relative to each other in axial direction. In this manner, on the inside of the clamping ring, the sealing capacity is enhanced when the clamping ring is placed by the inside against an outside of a cylinder part.

These and other aspects of the invention will presently be further elucidated with reference to the drawings. In the drawings: Fig. la shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the clamping ring according to the invention in a first position; Fig. 1b schematically shows an axial view of the clamping ring shown in Fig. la; Fig. 2 schematically shows an axial view of the clamping ring shown in Figs. la and 1b in a second position; Fig. 3 shows, schematically and in part, a radial view of an embodiment of the clamping ring and, in part, an axial cross section of an embodiment of the clamping ring according to the invention ; Fig. 4a shows a cross section of a ring-shaped part of an embodiment of the clamping ring according to the invention; and Fig. 4b shows a lower end of the cross section in Fig. 4a with also cross sections of two ends of the cylinder parts between which an embodiment of the clamping ring according to the invention has been clamped.

Figs. la, lb, 2 and 3 each show a clamping ring according to one embodiment of the invention, designed in this example as one piece. The

clamping ring 10 comprises a ring-shaped part 11 extending from A via B to C, as indicated in Fig. lb, and a segment 12 extending from A via D to C, as also indicated in Fig. lb. The ring-shaped part comprises ends 19. The segment 12 comprises segment parts 13 which, in this embodiment, are substantially the same, and a segment part 14 located in the middle, that can serve as a push-in part or as a pull part. In this embodiment of the clamping ring 10 according to the invention, the segment part 14 located in the middle is smaller than one of the segment parts 13 located at an end 19. The segment parts 13 and 14 are in one row.

As can be seen in Figs. la, lb and 2, between the segment parts 13 and the push-in part 14 on the one side, and between the segment parts 13 and the ring-shaped part 11 on the other side, the flexibility of the clamping ring has been locally adjusted. In this embodiment, hinges 15 extending substantially in axial direction are included. The hinges 15 can be provided by means of recesses, as for instance in this embodiment. In this embodiment, the recesses are provided at an outside 17 of a wall 20 of the clamping ring 10, but, in a different embodiment, can also be provided at an inside of the wall 20.

However, the clamping ring 10 according to the invention can also be provided in a different manner with hinges 15, for instance through the provision of axes.

In this embodiment according to the invention, three segment parts 13 and 14 are chosen and four hinges 15, but naturally, a different number of segment parts 13 and 14 and hinges 15 are possible too in other embodiments of the clamping ring 10 according to the invention.

Fig. 3 shows the embodiment of the clamping ring 10 in radial view.

On the left hand side of a broken line XX', a plurality of radially extending outside ribs 30 are shown on the outside 17 of the clamping ring 10. In this embodiment, the outside ribs 30 extend substantially in a circumferential direction.

Although in the embodiment shown of the clamping ring 10 according to the invention it is elected to provide four outside ribs 30 offset relative to each other in axial direction, in a different embodiment of the clamping ring 10 according to the invention, it can be elected to provide a different plurality of outside ribs 30 offset relative to each other in axial direction. It is also possible to provide a clamping ring with one single outside rib 30. In Fig. 3, the outside ribs 30 are shown interrupted by the broken line XX', but according to this embodiment of the clamping ring according to the invention, each of the outside ribs 30 will be connected to the outside 17 of the clamping ring 10 at each position of the inside circumference of the outside rib 30.

Fig. 3 also shows an inside rib 31. The inside rib 31 also extends in radial direction. On the right hand side of an interrupted line XX', a radially extending inside rib 31 is shown on the inside 18 of the clamping ring 10. In this embodiment, the inside rib 31 extends substantially in circumferential direction.

Although in the embodiment shown of the clamping ring according to the invention, one inside rib 31 is chosen, in a different embodiment of the clamping ring 10 according to the invention, it can be elected to provide a plurality of inside ribs 31 offset relative to each other in axial direction. In Fig.

3, the inside ribs 31 are shown interrupted by the broken line XX', but according to this embodiment of the clamping ring according to the invention, at each position of the outside circumference of the inside rib 31, the inside rib 31 will be connected to the inside 18 of the clamping ring 10.

The clamping ring 10 can comprise rubber or a different elastic material to improve the sealing capacity. This can for instance be done by providing the inside or outside ribs 31 or 30 with rubber or a different elastic material. The clamping ring 10 can comprise a plastic or a metal, depending on a choice between cost savings and durability. Also, the clamping ring 10 can be manufactured entirely from a rubber or a different elastic material, which has

as an advantage that the clamping ring can be produced in a simple manner, for instance with the aid of a mold.

Fig. 4a shows a part of a cross section of the embodiment of the clamping ring, as shown on the right hand side in Fig. 3. Here, again, the inside ribs 31 and the outside ribs 30 are shown. Fig. 4b shows how the inside ribs 31 and the outside ribs 30 contact a first cylinder part 41 and a second cylinder part 40.

The operation of the embodiment of the clamping ring according to the invention is as follows: In a first position (Figs. la and lb) a user pushes or pulls the push- in part 18 inward relative to the ring-shaped part 11. As a consequence of the application of this force and the enhanced flexibility of the clamping ring at the location of the hinges 15, the segment 12 is moved inward relative to the ring- shaped part 11. As the segment is moved inwards, the ends 19 of the ring- shaped part 11 have moved inwards relative to a circumference 16 of the first position.

During the inward movement of the segment 12, the segment parts 13 and 14 are hinged about the hinges 15. In this embodiment, it is elected to provide the clamping ring 10 with hinges 15 by means of recesses. Due to the recesses, at the location of the recesses, the wall 20 of the clamping ring 10 is thin and hence easily deformable. As a result, the wall 20 will deform more at the location of the recesses than at other positions in the wall, and the recesses will serve as hinges 15.

With the segment 12 moved inward, the clamping ring is in a second position. The clamping ring according to this embodiment of the invention in the second position is shown in Fig. 2. Here, the broken line indicates the circumference 16 of the clamping ring in the first position. With reference to Fig. 2, it can be seen that each diameter of the clamping ring in the second position is smaller than each diameter of the clamping ring in the first position.

As the clamping ring 10 according to this embodiment of the invention has a smaller size in the second position than in the first position, in the second position, the clamping ring 10 can be easily provided on the inside of the first cylinder part 41. By, then, pushing the segment part 14 located in the middle outwards, the segment 12 is placed between the ends 19 of the ring- shaped part 11 and the clamping ring 10 adopts the first position again. Then, the clamping ring 10 is in the first position again. As a result, the clamping ring is clamped against the cylinder part 41, with the outside ribs 30 ensuring a good sealing. Further, as shown in Fig. 4b, the second cylinder part 40 can be provided on the inside 18 of the clamping ring 10. As is the case in this embodiment, the inside rib 31 can comprise elastic material, so that the diameter of the second cylinder part needs not exactly match the diameter of the clamping ring 10 in the first position. In Fig. 4b it is shown that in this embodiment, the inside rib 31 can give away when providing the second cylinder part 40. As a result, the inside rib 31 ensures a good sealing.

The use of the invention is not limited in any manner to the configuration of Fig. 4b. It is, for instance, also possible that the second cylinder part 40 comprises a flexible material. The clamping ring 10 can be provided in the second cylinder part 40 in the second position. Then, the cylinder part 40 and the clamping ring 10 together can be provided on the inside of the first cylinder part 41. By, further, bringing the clamping ring 10 from the second position into the first position, the second cylinder part 40 is clamped against the first cylinder part. Therefore, in this configuration, not shown in one of the Figures, both the first and the second cylinder part are provided on the outside 17 of the clamping ring 10.

Further, the use of the invention is not limited in any manner to discharge of air or water in dwellings, offices or other buildings. Other uses are present in swimming pools, aquariums and sewers. The invention can also be used in chemical reactors in laboratories or in refineries. Also, uses in mechanics or precision mechanics are possible. It is even conceivable that such

a clamping ring 10 is suitable to be introduced into a body during a so-called key-hole operation, the diameter of the key-hole being smaller than each diameter of the clamping ring 10 in the first position, while each diameter of the clamping ring in the second position is smaller than each diameter of the key-hole.