GB2383109A

GB2383109A - Adjustable pipe support

Info

Publication number: GB2383109A
Application number: GB0129808A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Adams
Original assignee: PIPE FAST Ltd
Current assignee: PIPE FAST Ltd
Priority date: 2001-12-13
Filing date: 2001-12-13
Publication date: 2003-06-18
Also published as: GB0129808D0

Abstract

A support for a pipeline in which a composite telescopic support beam 6 and 8 is adjusted to span the space between floor beams and to which can be fitted support members or cradles 10,11,12 for the retention and spacing of the conduits 3,4 and 5 in such a way that they are prevented from chafing or transmitting noise and arranged in a tidy manner thus aiding maintenance. The support may be used in the construction industry.

Description

ADJUSTABLE PIPE SUPPORT I, John Adams hereby declare an invention for which I wish a patent to be granted to me and which is described in and by the following statements.

The invention relates to a support device for good location of pipes or conduits. In the Building Industry it is frequently a requirement to lay several, water, gas or electrical conduits, along side each other and between support beams, or the like, of a building. It is normal to lay the pipes without specific support means and they can become disorientated and make undesired contact with each other and other components.

The invention relates to an adjustable pipe support device primarily for the use in the Building Trade, but not necessarily restricted to such use.

The invention seeks to provide a simple support and spacing mechanism that is telescopically adjustable to accommodate the normal variations in the spacing of the components to which it is attached.

According to the invention, the members of a two piece sliding support are keyed together, as will be described later, in such a way that it will provide a firm support for a single or plurality of pipes or conduits between structural members such as floor or roof support beams of a house or like building. It will also provide controlled spacing of these pipes. This is desirable to provide neatness and to prevent chafing, or the transmission of noise, between the said tubular members or other structural members. It also allows simple tracing of the"pipe runs". In addition it offers means of reducing assembly time since the support provided makes subsequent work on the pipes to be carried out more easily.

In one configuration, separate support cradles, of the desired sizes, can be easily slid into position after the main support members are fixed into place.

The construction of the device is now described with reference to the attached drawings :- Figure 1 shows the described assembly in place in a building structure.

Figure 2 shows the general construction of the assembly.

Figure 3 shows an alternative assembly arrangement.

Figures 4,5 & 6 show alternative manufacturing features.

Figure 7 shows a means for restraining the support cradles.

Figure 8 shows an alternative design for the support cradle.

Figure 9 shows how the cradle illustrated in Figure 8 is retained.

Figure 10 & 11 show alternative support profiles.

Figure 12 shows how height control is achieved.

Figure 13 shows how individual fixing means can be provided.

Figure 1 shows the general arrangement of the assembly in-situ between the floor support beams (shown in ghost) of a dwelling. Its function and construction is described as follows :- The two beams 1 & 2 represent structural members of the building, between which it is desired to lay the pipes 3,4 & 5. These are not necessarily of the same diameter or section and this will be discussed later. It will also be seen that vacant positions are provided for further"pipes"should they be required later.

Member 6 is firmly fixed to the left-hand beam by means of the screw 7. The cooperating sliding member 8 has been extended to the right-hand beam and similarly fixed to it by means of the screw 9.

The support cradles 10, 11 & 12 have been slid into the locating slots in member 6 and the pipes 3,4 & 5 are located in these support cradles.

It will be seen that good support and location is thereby provided to the pipes and it will be seen that, if found necessary, the whole support can be easily moved axially, with respect to the pipes, if required.

The structure of the support assembly will now be described in more detail by reference to the other drawings.

Figure 2 shows the assembly with the main members 6 & 8 partially telescoped apart.

Section"BB"of Figure 2 shows how the two components 6 & 8 have angled sides to provide a sliding but restraining characteristic. The configuration is shown for example but other similar effective arrangements could be used such as that shown in Figure 3.

It will be seen that in cross section"BB"of Figure 2, the member 6 is of"hollow" construction with comparatively thin walls but it could be of more"solid" construction as shown in Figure 4. Either design can be used dependent upon the need for strength or to provide for convenient manufacturing technique.

Likewise the section"AA"can be"hollow"As shown in Figure 5 or"solid"as shown in Figure 6.

It will be seen from Figure 2 that the upper surface 15 of component 8 is shown lower than the bottom of the support cradles 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14 so that they can be slid in or out of component 6 while the device is attached to the building structural members. There may be instances however when it would be desirable to trap the support cradles to prevent them from moving across component 6. Trapping the

support cradles for this purpose can be achieved by raising the surface 15 above the bottom of the support cradles as shown in Figure7.

As an alternative to sliding the support cradles, as already described, support cradles of the design shown on Figure 8 can be used. These would be assembled in a vertical direction through a"keyhole"18 shown in Figure 9 and partially rotated so that the protrusion 16 is constrained from vertical movement under the lower surface of the modified member 6 designated 6a. A ghost view of 16 in its assembled position is shown, for example, at position 17.

The cradle part of the support cradles is of known art and can be a loose or snug fit on the pipes as shown in Figure 10. Alternatively the width of the opening of the support cradle can be narrower than the pipe it is supporting and employing the natural elasticity of the material, can be snap fitted onto the pipe as shown in Figure 11. This is a normal technique.

It is generally desirable to have the upper surfaces of the supported pipes at the same level irrespective of their diameters and this can be arranged by adjusting the centre line height as shown at"A"in Figure 12.

It is sometimes convenient to fix a pipe or pipes to structural members with individual cradles and the support cradles in the above assembly can be used for this purpose by providing a screw fixing hole as shown in Figure 13.

Claims

CLAIMS What I claim is :- 1. A pipe support comprising two keyed together sliding members which can be moved apart to accommodate the variations in the spacing of the structural members to which they are to be fixed and into which are slid or attached members for supporting pipes or conduits.
2. Members according to claim I which can be moulded in a suitable plastic material.
3. Members according to claim 1 which can be produced by a casting process.
4. A device according to claim 1 in which the pipe clips or cradles are trapped in position in the main support members.

4. A device according to claim 1 in which the attached pipe support members can be slid into position after the main support members are fixed in position in the situation in which they are to be used.

5. A device according to claim 1 in which the pipe support members are trapped in position in the main support members.

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Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows What I claim is :- 1. A pipe support comprising two sliding plastic members keyed together in such a way that relative lateral movement is prevented but which can be moved apart to accommodate variations in the spacing of the structural members to which they are to be fixed, by simple means such as screws or nails, and into which can be located and retained, importantly without additional components, plastic clips or cradles for the location of pipes or conduits, the pipe or conduit being installed after the clips or cradles and sliding members have been assembled and fixed into place.

2. Members according to claim 1 which can be moulded in a suitable plastic material.

3. Members according to claim 1 which can be produced by a casting process.