Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02229469 2005-02-25
APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING PIPES
Background of the Invention
The invention relates to an apparatus for supporting pipes during their
storage and transport in a specified arrangement next to and on top of one
another in
layers at a distance from one another, with pipe holders, which, in the
operating
position, are disposed vertically above one another above and below each layer
of
pipes and which have on their upper side and underside a number of
diametrically
opposite,- spaced-apart recesses for accommodating pipes and can be clamped
together
by clamping means into a unit.
Different versions of apparatuses of the aforementioned type are known
(DE 39 28 320 C2, EP 0 415 265 B1, US brochure "SIGMA-PAK"Tof SIGMA
TM
Chemie (U.S.A.) Inc., P.O. Box 90398, Houston, TX 77090). For all the known
embodiments, the recesses have a partially cylindrical cross sectional shape,
the
diameter of the partially cylindrical recess corresponding to the diameter of
the pipes,
which are to be stored and transported. Special apparatuses must therefore be
kept for
each pipe diameter.
The invention is concerned with the problem of providing a supporting
device, which can be manufactured price-effectively, is of light construction,
can be
manufactured cost-effectively and used universally.
The inventive apparatus can be used for pipes of a broad spectrum of
diameters, since pipes, the diameters of which lie within a range of diameters
than can
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be determined by the trapezoidal shape, can be supported securely within the
trapezoidal recesses. Moreover, the pipe carriers can be manufactured easily
and
reasonably priced and clamped together entirely stably and securely by simple
means
as a unit.
Accordingly, in one aspect, the invention provides a pipe supporting apparatus
comprising pipe holders having an operating position in which the pipe holders
are
disposed in superimposed spaced relationship, the pipe holders being adapted
to support
pipes in the space between the superimposed pipe holders when the pipe holders
are in
the operating position, the pipe holders having an upper side and a lower
side, the upper
and lower sides having spaced apart recesses for accommodating the pipes, the
recesses
having a generally flat base, the pipe holders having spaced central parts
between the
recesses, reinforcing means in the central parts, the reinforcing means
comprising an I
beam having a middle leg, the middle leg being disposed parallel to the flat
base of the
recess, the middle leg being disposed centrally between the flat bases of the
recesses, and
clamping means clamping the pipe holders and the pipes into a clamped unit.
In another aspect, the invention provides a pipe supporting apparatus
comprising
pipe holders having an operating position in which the pipe holders are
disposed in
superimposed spaced relationship, the pipe holders being adapted to support
pipes in the
space between the superimposed pipe holders when the pipe holders are in the
operating
position, the pipe holders having an upper side and a lower side, the upper
and lower
sides having spaced apart recesses for accommodating the pipes, the pipe
holders having
spaced central parts between the recesses, reinforcing means in the central
parts,
clamping means clamping the pipe holders and the pipes into a clamped unit,
the pipe
holders being elongate pipe holders having longitudinal axes, the pipe holders
having
longitudinal end portions, grooves in the longitudinal end portions, the
grooves having
groove axes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the respective pipe
holder, the
groove axes extending vertically when the pipe holders are in the operating
position, the
longitudinal end portions of the pipe holders having an upper side section and
a lower
side section, the grooves extending between the respective upper and lower
side sections,
the longitudinal end portions of the pipe holders including a hole having a
hole axis
which extends horizontally when the pipe holders are in the operating
position, the holes
being disposed substantially mid-way between the upper side section and the
lower side
section, the clamped unit including an upper pipe holder and a lower pipe
holder, a
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transverse connector in the holes of the upper pipe holder and the lower pipe
holder, the
transverse connector traversing the grooves, the pipe holders having generally
flat ends
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the grooves having internal side
walls, an inner
channel in the side walls, the inner channels having longitudinal axes
extending
perpendicular to the flat ends of the pipe holders, the channels having a
width greater
than the diameter of the holes.
In another aspect, the invention provides a pipe supporting apparatus
comprising
pipe holders having an operating position in which the pipe holders are
disposed in
superimposed spaced relationship, the pipe holders being adapted to support
pipes in the
space between the superimposed pipe holders when the pipe holders are in the
operating
position, the pipe holders having an upper side and a lower side, the upper
and lower
sides having spaced apart recesses for accommodating the pipes, the pipe
holders having
spaced central parts between the recesses, reinforcing means in the central
parts,
clamping means clamping the pipe holders and the pipes into a clamped unit,
the pipe
holders being elongate pipe holders having longitudinal axes, the pipe holders
having
longitudinal end portions, grooves in the longitudinal end portions, the
grooves having
groove axes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the respective pipe
holder, the
groove axes extending vertically when the pipe holders are in the operating
position, the
longitudinal end portions of the pipe holders having an upper side section and
a lower
side section, the grooves extending between the respective upper and lower
side sections,
the longitudinal end portions of the pipe holders including a hole having a
hole axis
which extends horizontally when the pipe holders are in the operating
position, the holes
being disposed substantially mid-way between the upper side section and the
lower side
section, the clamped unit including an upper pipe holder and a lower pipe
holder, a
transverse connector in the holes of the upper pipe holder and the lower pipe
holder, the
transverse connector traversing the grooves, the clamping means comprising
turn buckles
which include a tension rod having end portions, the end portions having
opposite
internal threads, clamp members having external threads threaded to the
internal threads
of the tension rod, the clamp members having clamp hooks engaging the
transverse
connectors on the upper and lower pipe holders.
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In yet another aspect, there is provided a pipe supporting apparatus
comprising
pipe holders having an operating position in which the pipe holders are
disposed in
superimposed spaced relationship, the pipe holders being adapted to support
pipes in the
space between the superimposed pipe holders when the pipe holders are in the
operating
position, the pipe holders having an upper side and a lower side, the upper
and lower
sides having spaced apart recesses for accommodating the pipes, clamping means
clamping the pipe holders and the pipes into a clamped unit, the pipe holders
being
elongate pipe holders having longitudinal axes, the pipe holders having
longitudinal end
portions, grooves in the longitudinal end portions, the longitudinal end
portions including
a hole having a hole axis which extends horizontally when the pipe holders are
in the
operating position, the pipe holders having generally flat ends perpendicular
to the
longitudinal axes, the grooves having internal side walls, an inner channel in
the side
walls, the inner channels having longitudinal axes extending perpendicular to
the flat
ends of the pipe holders, the channels having a width greater than the
diameter of the
holes.
In a further aspect, there is provided a pipe supporting apparatus comprising
pipe
holders having an operating position in which the pipe holders are disposed in
superimposed spaced relationship, the pipe holders being adapted to support
pipes in the
space between the superimposed pipe holders when the pipe holders are in the
operating
position, the pipe holders having an upper side and a lower side, the upper
and lower
sides having spaced apart recesses for accommodating the pipes, clamping means
clamping the pipe holders and the pipes into a clamped unit, the pipe holders
being
elongate pipe holders having longitudinal axes, the pipe holders having
longitudinal end
portions, grooves in the longitudinal end portions, the longitudinal end
portions including
a hole having a hole axis which extends horizontally when the pipe holders are
in the
operating position, the clamped unit including an upper pipe holder and a
lower pipe
holder, a transverse connector in the holes of the upper pipe holder and the
lower pipe
holder, the transverse connector traversing the grooves in the upper pipe
holder and the
lower pipe holder, the clamping means comprising turn buckles which include a
tension
rod having end portions, the end portions having opposite internal threads,
clamp
members having external threads threaded to the internal threads of the
tension rod, the
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clamp members having clamp hooks engaging the transverse connectors on the
upper and
lower pipe holders.
In another aspect, the invention also provides a pipe supporting apparatus
comprising pipe holders having a pipe-supporting position in which the pipe
holders are
disposed in superimposed spaced relationship, the pipe holders being adapted
to support
pipes in the space between the superimposed pipe holders when the pipe holders
are in
the pipe-supporting position, the pipe holders having an upper side and a
lower side, the
upper side of a first pipe holder having a plurality of spaced first recesses,
the lower side
of a second pipe holder having a plurality of spaced second recesses, the
plurality of first
recesses of the first pipe holder being in superimposed relationship with the
plurality of
second recesses of the second pipe holder so as to form a plurality of pairs
of
superimposed recesses in which each of the pairs of superimposed recesses
define a pipe
receiving space for receiving a pipe, the side walls of the first recesses and
the side walls
of the second recesses of each pair being in contact with a pipe received in
the pipe
receiving space when the pipe holders are in the pipe-supporting position,
clamping
means clamping the pipe holders in the pipe-supporting position, the upper
side of the
second pipe holder having a plurality of spaced third recesses, the lower side
of a third
piper holder having a plurality of spaced fourth recesses, the plurality of
fourth recesses
of the third pipe holder being in superimposed relationship with the plurality
of third
recesses of the second pipe holder so as to form a plurality of second pairs
of
superimposed recesses in which each of the second pairs of recesses define a
second pipe
receiving space for receiving a pipe, the side walls of the third recesses and
the side walls
of the fourth recesses of each respective second pair being in contact with a
pipe received
in the second receiving space when the pipe holders are in the pipe-supporting
position,
the space between the first and second pipe holders being different from the
spacing
between the second and third pipe holders such that the size of the first the
pipe spaces
differs from the size of the second pipe spaces.
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Further details and advantages arise out of the following description and
the drawing, in which an example of the object of the invention is shown in
greater
detail diagrammatically.
In the Drawings
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an inventive apparatus for accommodating
three layers of three pipes each,
Figure 2 shows a perspective detailed representation of a pipe carrier of
Figure
1,
Figure 3 shows a side view of the pipe Garner of Figure 2 to illustrate the
range
of pipe diameters that can be accommodated,
Figure 4 shows a view of the right end of the lowest pipe carrier in Figure 1,
Figure 5 shows a view of the left end of the top pipe Garner in Figure 1,
Figure 6 shows a section through the pipe carrier along the line A-A in Figure
3,
Figure 7 shows a front view of an inventive apparatus with screw turnbuckles
as
locking means, and
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. Figure 8 shows a truncated view of the one-sided end faces of the pipe
holders
to illustrate a screw turnbuckle.
Description of the Preferred Embodiments
The supporting device, illustrated in the drawing, comprises pipe holders
1 which, in the operating position, are disposed vertically above one another
above and
below each layer of pipes and have on the upper side and underside a number of
diametrically opposite, mutually spaced-apart recesses 2 for accommodating
pipes. In
the case of the example shown, each pipe holder 1 has three recesses 2 on the
upper
side and the underside, so that it is suitable for supporting three pipes
within a layer
of pipes. It is, however, self evident that the number of recesses can be 2, 4
or more
than 4. The number of layers of pipes is also not limited to three; for
example, it may
be 2, 4 or more than 4.
All the recesses 2 have a trapezoidal cross sectional shape, the outwardly
diverging side surfaces 3, between which there is the base surface 4,
enclosing an
angle of 120E to 150E and preferably of 135E. On the outside, the diverging
side
surfaces 3 go over into outer surfaces 5 of the pipe holder l, which are
directed
parallel to the base surfaces 4 and can be used as a base for the top or
bottom pipe
holder 1 of a unit. -
At the ends, the pipe holder 1 have flat surfaces 6, which are vertical
in the operating position and connect in each case outer end edges 7, 8 of the
internally adjacent outer surfaces 5. Moreover, the pipe holders 1 are
provided at their
end surfaces in each case with a groove 9, which is vertical in the operating
position
and continuous from top to bottom and serves for the passage of means to clamp
the
intervening pipe holders 1 into a unit.
All end faces of the pipe holder 1 are provided with a continuous,
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transverse borehole 11, which extends at the level of the horizontal median
plane
and which is intended to accommodate a transverse connector 13, freely passing
through the front groove 9. These transverse connectors 13, visible over split
pins, are
inserted in the transverse boreholes 11 of the top and bottom pipe holder 1 in
a unit.
They serve to support the clamping means, which can be constructed as flat
belts 10,
which can be passed around the transverse connectors 13 and can be clamped by
means of a ratchet turnbuckle 14.
For mounting such a ratchet turnbuckle 14, for example, on the
transverse connectors 13 of the top pipe holder in a unit, the inner side
walls of the
groove 9 are provided at the level of the transverse boreholes 11 with an
internal
groove 15, which is aligned perpendicularly to the end surface 6 of the pipe
holder 1
and the width of which is greater than the diameter of the transverse
boreholes 11 or
of the diameters of the transverse connectors 13, which can be accommodated in
these
boreholes 11, so that a shoulder of the ratchet turnbuckle 14 can extend into
the inner
grooves 1 S. Accordingly, the inner groove 15 can be omitted, if different
clamping
means are used.
In their_ central part 16 between the recesses 2 on either side, the pipe
holders 1 are provided with a reinforcing insert 17, if they are produced, as
is
preferred, from a polymeric material. The reinforcing insert 17 preferably
consists of
a metallic material, such as steel, and is cast or injected into the pipe
holder 1.
Advantageously, the reinforcing layer 17 consists of an I beam, the center leg
18 of
which is disposed parallel to the base surface 4 of the recesses 2 centrally
between
these, as shown in Figure 6. T'he reinforcing insert 17 extends essentially
over the
whole length of the pipe holder 1; at the ends, however, it is also covered by
the
material of the pipe holder 1. It occupies a predominant part of the width and
height
of the central part 16 of the pipe holder 1, as is also shown in Figure 6. The
middle
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leg 18 of the reinforcing layer 17 is recessed in the regions of the grooves 9
to such
an extent, that its end faces are still covered in the region of the grooves 9
by the
material of the pipe holder 1.
As polymeric material, a plastic, such as polyethylene, is preferably used
which, while having adequate strength, nevertheless offers a certain
flexibility and has
a Shore hardness D of, for example, 43 to 48, so that, when the pipe holder 1
is
clamped, the pipes, accommodated in the recesses 2, make strip-shaped contact
and
not linear contact with the surfaces 3 or 3 and 4 of the recesses 2.
As can be seen in Figure 3, the recesses 2 can accommodate and support
securely pipes, the diameter of which cari differ over a considerable range,
it being
understood that only pipes of one and the same diameter can be supported in a
layer
of pipes. The range of diameters, which can be accommodated in each case,
depends
on the geometry of the trapezoidal recesses, that is, on the slope of the side
surfaces
3 and on the mutual distance between the side surfaces 3 at the level of the
base
surfaces 4. For pipes with a diameter in the intended range, the shape of the
recesses
2 ensures everywhere that the pipes lie at least against the side surfaces 3
or the side
surfaces 3 and the base surface 4 of each recess 2.
Instead of the flat belt 10 and the ratchet turnbuckle 14, a screw
turnbuckle 20, which may consist, for example, of a hollow tension rod 21,
which is
hexagonal in outer cross section, and two cocking levers 22, may also be
provided as
clamping means for heavy use cases. The tension rod 21 is provided at its ends
with
opposite internal threads 21', into which clamping bolts 23 of the cocking
levers 22,
which are provided with external threads 23', can be screwed. Both cocking
levers
22 carry a clamping- hook 24, which in each case can be placed upon a
transverse
connector' 13. At least one clamping hook 24 can also be replaced by a lug.
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In the operating position shown in Figures 7 and 8, clamping is
accomplished by turning the tension rod 21 with the help of a wrench applied
to the
tension rod 21 or with the help of a clamping lever if, for example, the
tension rod 21
is provided with an insertion or lead-through opening in the region between
the
cocking levers 22. In the case of such a construction, the tension rod can
have any
external cross section, including, for example, also a circular cross section.
All suitable and known means can be used to secure the clamped
position of the parts of the screw turnbuckle 20. A particularly simple
construction
provides that a locking nut 26, which can be screwed in counter-engagement
against
the adjacent front end of the tension rod 21, is provided on at least one
clamping bolt
23.
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