Pipe Clamps

Pipe Clamps

When the piping to be connected is hefty and for heavy-duty use, or where clamps are to be used in demanding applications, hose clamps should be left to one side, and pipe clamps should be called upon instead.

Pipe clamps consist of a sturdy metal band of significant width. Welded onto this band are fixed clamping elements (threaded pawls) upon which mobile elements (nuts and bolts) operate.

The range of diameters on which the clamp can operate effectively is inevitably restricted to the sturdiness of the material and the metal band it is made from. Therefore, there is a good series of pipe clamps with very similar measurements so as to cover the broadest range of pipe diameters to be clamped.

Even when working pressures are not low and firm and safe clamping must be guaranteed, or when aggressive or potentially hazardous materials must be transported, pipe clamps are a good option. They are agile connecting and fixing systems that are not permanent.

They are used mainly in industrial settings for: sandblasting and shot peening machines; transportation of chemicals; the oil and marine industry; civil and industrial sewage and sludge; the transfer of synthetic granular materials; and the grain, flour and food industries.

In summary: hose clamps are used where tightening torques do not need to be particularly high and where a lightweight system with an agile and extensive size range may be beneficial.

On the other hand, pipe clamps have a reduced size range, but they are useful and necessary in the case of heavy-duty applications with much tighter clamping.

Some illustrations of different types of pipe clamps on the market

1: standard heavy-duty clamp, the most common for the uses described above.
2: split pipe clamp to anchor the pipe to a structure.
3: wide-band clamp to join two flexible parts on an internal stub pipe.
4: bolted clamp for tight assembly on a heavy-duty fitting (Spannloc).

Construction materials of hose and pipe clamps

Hose and pipe clamps are usually made from ferrous metal (some types also come in plastic). Depending on where they will be used and their costs, which cannot be ignored, different types of raw materials may be preferred.

Hose and pipe clamps in galvanised steel are used and preferred where there are no particular risks of physico-chemical aggressions or contact with products where their use is not recommended. They are essentially inexpensive provided that they are used in contexts and environments that are not hostile.

Galvanised steel is a ferrous material that is appropriately treated to make it less susceptible to oxidation and deterioration. However, it is not flawless like stainless steel, which means that it is affordable and suitable for generic applications.

Hose and pipe clamps in stainless steel lend themselves instead to all those environments where guaranteeing long-term durability is essential in the presence of physical and chemical aggressors. They are also fundamental where it is necessary to ensure that the products with which the hose and pipe clamps come into contact are not contaminated or compromised in their physico-chemical properties. This cannot be fully guaranteed with galvanised materials only.

These clamps are therefore used in the food industry, in hydraulics and in petrochemical plants or brackish water, and, in general, where the weather may act as an aggressor.

Stainless steel is a ferrous alloy, with the addition of other elements such as chrome and nickel. It is particularly resistant to corrosion and rust. When it comes into contact with water, or in a climate with high humidity, stainless steel may oxidise, but it won’t rust or wear out.

It is a valuable raw material and therefore has a significant cost. As a result, it is only used where it is considered indispensable.

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