When you need to attach a hose onto a barb or nipple fitting you need to use a hose clamp (sometimes called a hose clip). Hose clamps come in a several varieties. The different types of hose clamps include worm gear clamps, spring clamps, wire clamps and ear clamps.
The first step in finding the right hose clamp for your project is understanding the different types of hose clamps. Each has different qualities that makes it good for some projects and less than ideal for others.
The worm gear or screw band clamp:
These have a stainless steel or galvanized band with a screw threat pattern etched, cut or pressed into it. The band has a captive screw is attached to one end of the screw. You place the clamp around the base of the tube or hose. The screw acts like a worm drive which tightens around the the hose. These hose clamps are used most often in hoses that are at least one half inch around and is not recommended for hoses that are smaller than that.
Often, people use pairs of worm gear clamps to form a no-hub band and are useful for attaching domestic wastewater piping sections. They are also good at linking pieces of piping to be used as a flexible coupler and in emergency repair situations. They can be used to prevent pipes from breaking when the piping is expected to be able to move.
Spring clamps:
These are most often made from a spring steel strip that has been cut in a way that there is a narrow protrusion on one end. On the other end you will find a set of narrow protrusions, whose ends are bent outwards. When the strip is rolled into a ring shape, the protrusions are intertwined. Pliers can be used to press the exposed tabs together, this increases the ring’s diameter allowing the hose to be inserted into the ring. After the clamp is expanded a second time, it is slid into the proper position.
These clamps are used primarily for automotive cooling systems and not for large hoses or those that require high pressures. It would take too much steel and would be too difficult to get into the right position. These types of hose clamps work really well in awkward or tight spaces.
A second kind of spring clams is more simple. It just includes a steel spring, basically a wire that has been bent into the shape of a loop. The ends are then curved into handle shapes. Because these are pinched by hand, they do not provide much in the way of clamping force and they are most often used in vacuum hoses.
Wire clamps:
These are basically heavy wires that are then bent into a U shape. The U is usually a tight U that can be further bent into a ring. The two ends that were the U shape overlap each other. After they are bent into the ring shape, the ends are cut. A screw and nut are attached to each end. As the screw gets tightened, the overlapping wire ends are pushed away from each other, which tightens the wire around the hose.
Ear Clamps:
A stainless steel band with closing elements formed onto it. These “closing elements” are referred to commonly as ears.The clamp is put on the end of the hose that is going to be attached to another part. A pincher tool is used to close the clamp and deform it to tighten the band around the hose. When you use this kind of clamp, you should pick the size that allows all of the ears on the clamp to be totally closed when the installation is finished.andnbsp;
This is one of the types of hose clamps that works best for narrow bands. If you need a really concentrated compression that is resistant to tampering, this may be one of the best types os hose clamps for your job.
When you are looking at hose clamps, you need to decide if you need adjustable hose clamps or large hose clamps. Deciding what you need your hose clamp to do will help determine the best clamp for the job.
