CA1131568A - Conduit spacer - Google Patents
Conduit spacerInfo
- Publication number
- CA1131568A CA1131568A CA359,365A CA359365A CA1131568A CA 1131568 A CA1131568 A CA 1131568A CA 359365 A CA359365 A CA 359365A CA 1131568 A CA1131568 A CA 1131568A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- conduit
- spacer
- side walls
- end portions
- walls
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L3/00—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets
- F16L3/22—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets specially adapted for supporting a number of parallel pipes at intervals
- F16L3/223—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets specially adapted for supporting a number of parallel pipes at intervals each support having one transverse base for supporting the pipes
- F16L3/227—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets specially adapted for supporting a number of parallel pipes at intervals each support having one transverse base for supporting the pipes each pipe being supported by a separate element fastened to the base
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Laying Of Electric Cables Or Lines Outside (AREA)
- Supports For Pipes And Cables (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
The disclosure herein describes a conduit spacer which comprises a modular element of generally rectangular shape with vertical side walls and identically-shaped top and bottom walls of uniform thickness; each of the top and bottom walls displays two opposite flat seating end portions and an intermediate arcuate conduit engaging portion; a supporting frame enclosed within the walls includes struts which extend from the arcuate portions to the end portions of the opposite wall; interlocking means are provided on the side walls to engage a similar element in adjacent position.
The disclosure herein describes a conduit spacer which comprises a modular element of generally rectangular shape with vertical side walls and identically-shaped top and bottom walls of uniform thickness; each of the top and bottom walls displays two opposite flat seating end portions and an intermediate arcuate conduit engaging portion; a supporting frame enclosed within the walls includes struts which extend from the arcuate portions to the end portions of the opposite wall; interlocking means are provided on the side walls to engage a similar element in adjacent position.
Description
-` 11315f~8 FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to conduit spacers commonly used in spacing underground conduits or pipes for power conducting lines or the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Such spacers must have strength to resist the loads resulting from the workers walking on the conduits during conduit installation and from the weight exerted by the material, such as sand, gravel, concrete, which is poured into an underground cavity once the installation is completed. If the construction of the spacers does not warrant it, often these spacers will break. Furthermore, it has been observed that, frequently, during the instal-lation operation, one or more spacers will pivot and fall on its side thereby leaving weak points in the conduit tiering installation.
Still, present conduit installing systems require spacers of various shapes and constructions whether the spacers are used to rest on the underground cavity floor, on top of the stack or between conduits.
OBJECTS AND STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a conduit spacer which is so structured as to resist heavy loads subjected during installation and which is so stable as to prevent it from being easily pivoted during instal-lation or material pouring.
It is also an object of this invention to provide a single unitary modular conduit spacer for all locations of a conduit tiering operation.
The present invention therefore pertains to a conduit spacer which comprises a modular element of generally rectangular configuration having (a~ a pair of vertical side walls and identically shaped top and bottom walls of uniform thickn~ss, each of the top and bottom walls displaying two opposite flat seating end portions and an intermediate arcuate conduit engaging portion to ` 1131568 engage an outer face of a conduit; (b) a supporting frame extending within the top, bottom and side walls for supporting-the top and bottom walls, the frame including strut means extending from each arcuate portion to each end portions opposite thereof whereby a major portion of the load exerted on each arcuate portion by a conduit is transferred to the end portions opposite thereof; and (c) interlocking means on the side walls adapted to engage with a similar element in adjacent position.
In one form of the invention, the width of the top and bottom walls is at least twice that of the structural frame so that stable positioning may be provided on the conduits.
Yet, another embodiment of the present invention is that the shape of the conduit spacer is symmetrical with respect to an horizontal plane extending through the mid-section of spacer thus enabling quick installation as it is not required to check for the top or the bottom wall of the spacer during installation.
The scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter; it should be understood, however, that this description, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, is given by way of illustration only since various changes and modifi-cations within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art.
IN THE DRAWIN~S:
Figure 1 is a sectional view illustrating an installation of a conduit system supported by spacers embodying the present invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a conduit spacer embodying the present invention;
Figure 3 is a front elevational view thereof;
Figure 4 is a side elevational view thereof; and Figure 5 is a top plan view thereof.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a series of conduits 10 shown in stacked layers, the conduits being spaced by a series of vertically spaced interlocked spacers 12. Although not shown, these conduits usually extend in a trench formed in the ground. Each of the individual spacers 12 are of identical constructiOn and, referring to Figs. 2-5, consist of a modular element of generally rectangular configurationi they are advantageously made of a molded plastic material such as for example polyethylene or polystyrene.
- Each modular element 12 comprises two substantially parallel side walls 14, 16 and top and bottom walls 18,20. As it will be evident from the following description the top wall of the spacer may also be wall 20 since both walls are identically shaped.
The top wall 18 has two horizontal end portions 22,24 and an arcuate intermediate portion 26 which is shaped to receive therein part of the outer face of the conduit 10. Similarly, the bottom wall 20 comprises two end portions 28,30 and an intermediate arcuate portion 32, which portions are all identically shaped to corre-sponding portions 22,24,26 of the top wall. The end portions are flat so that they properly rest on the bottom fl~or of a trench or like location. In some cases, where the diameter of the conduits is small, they will serve to rest on similar end portions of superposed spacers of similar construction.
Enclosed within the walls 14,16,18 and 20 is a supporting frame which consists of a series of inclined struts 34,36,38 and 40 and of short centrally located vertically extending strut 42 disposed between the arcuate portions 26 and 32. The particular arrangement of the inclined struts makes it possible to use the conduit spacer upside down, i.e. using top wall 18 as the bottom ---` 11315~i8 wall 20 or vice versa. Indeed, struts 36,40 have their upper extremity integrally mounted to the underside of the arcuate portion 26 and their lower extremity respectively mounted to the top sides of the end portions 28 and 30. Similarly, each strut 34,38 has one extremity integrally mounted to the arcuate portion 32 and their opposite extremity respectively connected to the end portions 22 and 24.
The width of the struts 34,36,38 and 40 is equal to the thickness of the side walls 14,16. However, the width of the top and bottom walls, including the end portions and the arcuate portions, is at least twice that of the side walls and preferably 2 1/2 times. This width allows a proper seating of the spacer on the conduit and prevents it from being easily pivoted on its side when workers are walking on the conduits during conduit installation or when concrete is poured.
To reinforce the supporting frame a web, such as web 44, may extend in the center plane of the supporting frame within the openings defined by the struts and the side walls.
To interlock two adjacent spacers 12, the planar face of side wall 14 is provided witll two vertically spaced circular recesses 54,56 while the planar face of side wall 16 is provided with two vertically spaced circular prongs 50,52 having a circumference sufficient to be slid into engagement in corresponding recesses (such as 54,56) of an adjacently disposed spacer of similar construction. When two spacers 12 are inter-locked, the planar faces of the side walls abut one another.
Prong 50 is in the same horizontal plane as recess 54 while prong 52 is in the same horizontal plane as recess 56. A 180 rotation of the spacer about a horizontal axis extending through mid-section of the spacer will result in a spacer having the exact 11315~8 configuration as the one shown in Fig. 2. Hence, spacer 12 is symmetrical with respect to a horizontal plane extending through the mid-section of the element so that the worker installing the spacer is not required to take note of which side is presented to him as he picks such spacer for positioning on a conduit or for interlocking engagement with another spacer.
The present invention pertains to conduit spacers commonly used in spacing underground conduits or pipes for power conducting lines or the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Such spacers must have strength to resist the loads resulting from the workers walking on the conduits during conduit installation and from the weight exerted by the material, such as sand, gravel, concrete, which is poured into an underground cavity once the installation is completed. If the construction of the spacers does not warrant it, often these spacers will break. Furthermore, it has been observed that, frequently, during the instal-lation operation, one or more spacers will pivot and fall on its side thereby leaving weak points in the conduit tiering installation.
Still, present conduit installing systems require spacers of various shapes and constructions whether the spacers are used to rest on the underground cavity floor, on top of the stack or between conduits.
OBJECTS AND STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a conduit spacer which is so structured as to resist heavy loads subjected during installation and which is so stable as to prevent it from being easily pivoted during instal-lation or material pouring.
It is also an object of this invention to provide a single unitary modular conduit spacer for all locations of a conduit tiering operation.
The present invention therefore pertains to a conduit spacer which comprises a modular element of generally rectangular configuration having (a~ a pair of vertical side walls and identically shaped top and bottom walls of uniform thickn~ss, each of the top and bottom walls displaying two opposite flat seating end portions and an intermediate arcuate conduit engaging portion to ` 1131568 engage an outer face of a conduit; (b) a supporting frame extending within the top, bottom and side walls for supporting-the top and bottom walls, the frame including strut means extending from each arcuate portion to each end portions opposite thereof whereby a major portion of the load exerted on each arcuate portion by a conduit is transferred to the end portions opposite thereof; and (c) interlocking means on the side walls adapted to engage with a similar element in adjacent position.
In one form of the invention, the width of the top and bottom walls is at least twice that of the structural frame so that stable positioning may be provided on the conduits.
Yet, another embodiment of the present invention is that the shape of the conduit spacer is symmetrical with respect to an horizontal plane extending through the mid-section of spacer thus enabling quick installation as it is not required to check for the top or the bottom wall of the spacer during installation.
The scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter; it should be understood, however, that this description, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, is given by way of illustration only since various changes and modifi-cations within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art.
IN THE DRAWIN~S:
Figure 1 is a sectional view illustrating an installation of a conduit system supported by spacers embodying the present invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a conduit spacer embodying the present invention;
Figure 3 is a front elevational view thereof;
Figure 4 is a side elevational view thereof; and Figure 5 is a top plan view thereof.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a series of conduits 10 shown in stacked layers, the conduits being spaced by a series of vertically spaced interlocked spacers 12. Although not shown, these conduits usually extend in a trench formed in the ground. Each of the individual spacers 12 are of identical constructiOn and, referring to Figs. 2-5, consist of a modular element of generally rectangular configurationi they are advantageously made of a molded plastic material such as for example polyethylene or polystyrene.
- Each modular element 12 comprises two substantially parallel side walls 14, 16 and top and bottom walls 18,20. As it will be evident from the following description the top wall of the spacer may also be wall 20 since both walls are identically shaped.
The top wall 18 has two horizontal end portions 22,24 and an arcuate intermediate portion 26 which is shaped to receive therein part of the outer face of the conduit 10. Similarly, the bottom wall 20 comprises two end portions 28,30 and an intermediate arcuate portion 32, which portions are all identically shaped to corre-sponding portions 22,24,26 of the top wall. The end portions are flat so that they properly rest on the bottom fl~or of a trench or like location. In some cases, where the diameter of the conduits is small, they will serve to rest on similar end portions of superposed spacers of similar construction.
Enclosed within the walls 14,16,18 and 20 is a supporting frame which consists of a series of inclined struts 34,36,38 and 40 and of short centrally located vertically extending strut 42 disposed between the arcuate portions 26 and 32. The particular arrangement of the inclined struts makes it possible to use the conduit spacer upside down, i.e. using top wall 18 as the bottom ---` 11315~i8 wall 20 or vice versa. Indeed, struts 36,40 have their upper extremity integrally mounted to the underside of the arcuate portion 26 and their lower extremity respectively mounted to the top sides of the end portions 28 and 30. Similarly, each strut 34,38 has one extremity integrally mounted to the arcuate portion 32 and their opposite extremity respectively connected to the end portions 22 and 24.
The width of the struts 34,36,38 and 40 is equal to the thickness of the side walls 14,16. However, the width of the top and bottom walls, including the end portions and the arcuate portions, is at least twice that of the side walls and preferably 2 1/2 times. This width allows a proper seating of the spacer on the conduit and prevents it from being easily pivoted on its side when workers are walking on the conduits during conduit installation or when concrete is poured.
To reinforce the supporting frame a web, such as web 44, may extend in the center plane of the supporting frame within the openings defined by the struts and the side walls.
To interlock two adjacent spacers 12, the planar face of side wall 14 is provided witll two vertically spaced circular recesses 54,56 while the planar face of side wall 16 is provided with two vertically spaced circular prongs 50,52 having a circumference sufficient to be slid into engagement in corresponding recesses (such as 54,56) of an adjacently disposed spacer of similar construction. When two spacers 12 are inter-locked, the planar faces of the side walls abut one another.
Prong 50 is in the same horizontal plane as recess 54 while prong 52 is in the same horizontal plane as recess 56. A 180 rotation of the spacer about a horizontal axis extending through mid-section of the spacer will result in a spacer having the exact 11315~8 configuration as the one shown in Fig. 2. Hence, spacer 12 is symmetrical with respect to a horizontal plane extending through the mid-section of the element so that the worker installing the spacer is not required to take note of which side is presented to him as he picks such spacer for positioning on a conduit or for interlocking engagement with another spacer.
Claims (7)
1. A conduit spacer comprising: a modular element of generally rectangular configuration having a) a pair of vertical side walls and identically shaped top and bottom walls of uniform thickness, each of said top and bottom walls displaying two opposite flat seating end portions and an intermediate arcuate conduit engaging portion to engage an outer face of a conduit;
b) a supporting frame extending within said top, bottom and side walls for supporting said top and bottom walls, said frame including strut means extending from each said arcuate portion to each said end portions opposite thereof whereby a major portion of the load exerted on each said arcuate portion by a conduit is transferred to the end portions opposite thereof; and c) interlocking means on said side walls adapted to engage with a similar element in adjacent position.
b) a supporting frame extending within said top, bottom and side walls for supporting said top and bottom walls, said frame including strut means extending from each said arcuate portion to each said end portions opposite thereof whereby a major portion of the load exerted on each said arcuate portion by a conduit is transferred to the end portions opposite thereof; and c) interlocking means on said side walls adapted to engage with a similar element in adjacent position.
2. A conduit spacer as defined in Claim 1, wherein the width of said top and bottom walls is at least twice that of said supporting frame.
3. A conduit spacer as defined in Claim 2, wherein the width of said supporting frame is substantially equal to that of said side walls.
4. A conduit spacer as defined in Claim 1, wherein said interlocking means consist of a pair of vertically spaced prongs on one of said side walls and a pair of vertically spaced recesses in the other side wall and horizontally aligned with said pair of prongs, said prongs and recesses being complementary shaped to provide a sliding engagement with recesses and prongs on said similar element
5. A conduit spacer as defined in Claim 1, wherein said frame further consists of a central strut means extending between said arcuate portions.
6. A conduit spacer as defined in Claim 1, wherein said modular element is symmetrically construct-ed with respect to an horizontal plane passing through mid-section of said element.
7. A conduit spacer as defined in Claim 1, wherein said element is a unitary module made of a plastic material including polyethylene and polysterene.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA359,365A CA1131568A (en) | 1980-08-29 | 1980-08-29 | Conduit spacer |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA359,365A CA1131568A (en) | 1980-08-29 | 1980-08-29 | Conduit spacer |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1131568A true CA1131568A (en) | 1982-09-14 |
Family
ID=4117780
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA359,365A Expired CA1131568A (en) | 1980-08-29 | 1980-08-29 | Conduit spacer |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1131568A (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AU2008255271B2 (en) * | 2007-12-20 | 2013-10-31 | Spacers Pty Ltd | A conduit support assembly |
| CN109160052A (en) * | 2018-09-12 | 2019-01-08 | 许继（厦门）智能电力设备股份有限公司 | A kind of GIS bus duct transport frock structure |
| CN112443708A (en) * | 2020-11-10 | 2021-03-05 | 上海建工七建集团有限公司 | Modularized arc-shaped electromechanical comprehensive pipeline and construction method |
-
1980
- 1980-08-29 CA CA359,365A patent/CA1131568A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AU2008255271B2 (en) * | 2007-12-20 | 2013-10-31 | Spacers Pty Ltd | A conduit support assembly |
| CN109160052A (en) * | 2018-09-12 | 2019-01-08 | 许继（厦门）智能电力设备股份有限公司 | A kind of GIS bus duct transport frock structure |
| CN109160052B (en) * | 2018-09-12 | 2024-06-07 | 许继（厦门）智能电力设备股份有限公司 | GIS bus duct transportation tool structure |
| CN112443708A (en) * | 2020-11-10 | 2021-03-05 | 上海建工七建集团有限公司 | Modularized arc-shaped electromechanical comprehensive pipeline and construction method |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |