WO2018208162A1

WO2018208162A1 - Temporary pipe support assemblies

Info

Publication number: WO2018208162A1
Application number: PCT/NL2018/050314
Authority: WO
Inventors: Idsart Martinus VAN ASSEMA; Daan Gerardus Antonius NEUTKENS; Martijn Cornelis BAIJENS; Ward Johannus Petrus Cornelis COX
Original assignee: Dhatec B.V.
Priority date: 2017-05-12
Filing date: 2018-05-11
Publication date: 2018-11-15
Also published as: WO2018208162A8

Abstract

A method for construction of a pipeline section of end-to-end joined pipes (1), which pipeline section is to be buried in the ground, wherein the method comprises temporarily supporting pipes (1) that are to be joined end-to-end on temporary support stack assemblies (10), wherein assembling a temporary support stack assembly (10) comprises arranging substantially identical individual beams (20) in multiple stacked horizontal layers. The individual beams (20) each have a top face (21) and a bottom face (22) that is provided with multiple recesses (31, 32, 33, 41, 42, 43) which are spaced apart from another in longitudinal direction corresponding to a spacing distance, wherein the multiple recesses in the top face are vertically aligned with the multiple recesses in the bottom face. The stacking of the beams of a higher layer onto the beams in a lower layer is done so that each of said beams of said higher layer is placed with the recesses in the bottom face thereof into recesses in the top faces of the beams in the lower layer.

Description

TEMPORARY PIPE SUPPORT ASSEMBLIES. The present invention relates to the field of providing temporary support for pipes, e.g. during joining of pipes and related activities, such as welding coated steel pipes end-to-end.

The present invention is primarily envisaged for the land based construction of a pipeline section of end-to-end joined pipes, e.g. coated steel pipes that are joined by welding, which pipeline section is to be buried in the ground, e.g. into a trench that is dug alongside the construction location of the pipeline section. For example the pipeline to be installed may serve as main gas transportation pipeline, e.g. the coated steel pipes having a diameter of at least 12 inches, for example in the range between 30 and 60 inches, e.g. 56 inches. As for example elucidated in US7278613 it is common practice to support such large diameter and heavy coated steel pipes, so individual lengths of pipe, on stacks formed by wooden beams which are often called skids in this field. For example substantially identical wooden beams are used of a rectangular or square, e.g. 4 inches by 6 inches or 6 inches by 6 inches, cross-section. A common length of these wooden beams is 4 ft. It is known to assemble stacks of these wooden beams by arranging the individual beams in multiple stacked horizontal layers, wherein each layer has multiple beams that are arranged in parallel and at a horizontal spacing distance from one another. The beams in a higher layer are then stacked perpendicular onto the beams in a lower layer. As explained in US7278613 various issues relate to this common practice of using wooden beams to assemble the stacks that support the heavy pipes. In US7278613 a plastic product is disclosed having a tubular pedestal and a yoke including a cradle to support the pipes.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved or at least an alternative solution for temporary supporting pipes, e.g. during construction of a pipeline section by joining pipes end-to-end, e.g. in view of one or more of the reliability of the assembled temporary support, the ease of assembly, handling the components of the assembly, versatility of the components of the assembly, time and effort in handling the temporary support, etc. According to a first aspect thereof, the invention achieves one or more of these objectives by providing a method for temporarily supporting a pipe according to the preamble of claim 1. The method comprises the step of assembling a temporary support stack assembly wherein individual beams are arranged in multiple stacked horizontal layers, with each layer having multiple beams that are arranged in parallel and at a horizontal spacing distance from one another, and wherein the beams in a higher layer are stacked perpendicular onto the beams in a lower layer.

Each individual beam has an elongated body having a length in longitudinal direction and a top face, a bottom face, opposed side faces, and axial end faces. The individual beams each have a top face and a bottom face which each define multiple recesses that are spaced apart from another in longitudinal direction corresponding to said horizontal spacing distance by an intermediate face portion. The multiple recesses of the top face are vertically aligned with the multiple recesses of the bottom face with a vertical load transmitting portion of the body between each pair of vertically aligned recesses of the beam.

The stacking of the beams of a higher layer onto the beams in a lower layer is done so that each of said beams of said higher layer is placed with the recesses of the bottom face thereof into recesses of the top faces of the beams in the lower layer. The recesses of the individual beams are such that in the temporary support stack assembly the intermediate face portions of individual beams that are located in a vertical plane above one are vertically spaced from one another so that a load exerted by a pipe supported by the temporary support stack assembly is transferred primarily via vertical columns formed by the stacked vertical load transmitting portions of the stacked individual beams.

Preferably the stack has at least three layers of beams stacked layer onto layer, wherein each layer preferably has at least three individual beams. In a practical embodiment each layer has exactly three beams with the individual beams having a top face and a bottom face each define exactly three recesses that are spaced apart from another in longitudinal direction corresponding to said horizontal spacing distance by an intermediate face portion.

Other practical embodiments may be configured to provide a stack with layers of four or five beams in each layer. The horizontal spacing between the beams in a at least three beam layer may be uniform, for example in a three beam layer the left hand beam having the same spacing with respect to the central beam as the right hand beam. In an embodiment of a stack with layers having each at least four beams, e.g. exactly four beams, the pair of central beams are arranged closer to another in horizontal spacing than the horizontal spacing between the left hand beam and the pair of central beams and closer than the horizontal spacing between the right hand beam and the pair of central beams. The central beams could, in an embodiment, contact one another.

In a preferred embodiment the temporary support stack assembly is further complemented with a pipe saddle member that is arranged on top of the stacked layers of individual beams, e.g. on said stack of at least three of so-called three-beam layers, which pipe saddle member has a pipe saddle member body forming a saddle with a support face configured to receive thereon a pipe.

In an embodiment the pipe saddle member is embodied with a bottom face that is configured to rest directly on one or more of the intermediate face portions of at least one individual beam of a layer of the temporary support stack assembly. For example, as preferred, the pipe saddle member is embodied with a bottom face that is configured to rest directly on a central individual beam of a so-called three-beam layer below. In a preferred embodiment the temporary support stack assembly is assembled with a stack of at least three three-beam layers with three beams each and is complemented by arranging two individual beams on said stack, each in aligned outer recesses of the individual beams of the three-beam layer below, and is further complemented by arranging a pipe saddle member on said stack, which pipe saddle member has a pipe saddle member body forming a saddle with a support face to receive thereon a pipe and which pipe saddle member rests on said two individual beams, and preferably also on at least one of the individual beams of the three-beam layer below, as preferred only or just on a central individual beam of a so-called three-beam layer below. In embodiment the saddle member provides a support face for the pipe only in a centre plane of the stack, so away from a front and a rear plane of the stack seen in longitudinal direction of the pipe supported on the saddle member.

In an embodiment the pipe saddle member has a main body portion in between said two individual beams, which main body portion rests directly onto at least one, e.g. just one, e.g. just a central one, individual beam in said three-beam layer below. In an embodiment the pipe saddle member further has a hook portion at each axial end of the main portion, wherein each of the hook portions hooks from above over the respective one of said two individual beams and is, preferably, partly received in a recess, e.g. a central recess, in the top face of said respective individual beam.

Preferably the pipe saddle member has a monolithic body, e.g. molded of plastic material.

In an embodiment the pipe saddle member has a saddle with a substantially semi-circular or v-shaped support face to receive a pipe therein.

In a preferred embodiment the support face of the pipe saddle member is convex seen in a cross-section along the longitudinal direction of the pipe to be supported or supported by the pipe saddle member. Having a convex cross-section support face instead of a planar support face, for example, allows to concentrate the actual load exerted by the pipe onto the support face close to the peak of the convex surface, for example also in situation wherein the stack is not perfectly perpendicular to the pipe supported on the saddle member, for example in situations where the ground is uneven. In case the support face of the pipe saddle member would be planar, such misalignment would cause the load to be primarily be supported near a side edge of the support face which is less preferred in terms of load distribution with the saddle member and/or the stack underneath. The peak of the convex cross-section of the support face is preferably located in a midplane of the pipe saddle.

In an embodiment the temporary support assembly is further complemented by arranging chock members on top of the pipe saddle member, which chock members are configured to be located or are located on each side of a pipe resting on the pipe saddle member, between the pipe and the pipe saddle member.

Preferably the chock member has a monolithic body, e.g. molded of plastic material. In an embodiment a chock member of the assembly is embodied as a wedge chock member having a non-parallel support face for the pipe and a bottom face configured to rest on the pipe saddle member.

In combination with a convex cross-section of the support face of the pipe saddle member it is preferred for the chock members to each have a mating concave bottom face that is resting on the convex support face to obtain a favourable load transmission between the chock member and the pipe saddle member. In an embodiment the chock members each have a support face which is convex seen in a cross-section along the longitudinal direction of the pipe to be supported or supported by the pipe saddle member.

In an embodiment each chock member has both a concave bottom face to mate with the convex support face of a saddle member and a convex support face for the reasons explained above. In an embodiment a chock member of the assembly is embodied to interlock with the pipe saddle member at least in a longitudinal direction of a supported pipe, e.g. has a pair of downward protruding ribs to form a groove and with a portion of the saddle member being received in said groove. In an embodiment a chock member is embodied as a wedge member having non-parallel support and bottom faces, wherein the bottom face is adapted to interlock at least in longitudinal direction of the supported pipe with the pipe saddle beam, e.g. has a concave lower face mating with a convex support face of the pipe saddle beam and/or is provided with downward protruding ribs to form a groove with said bottom face and the saddle beam member being received in said groove.

In an embodiment the chock member and/or the pipe saddle beam have friction enhancing formations, e.g. ribbing, friction material, e.g. rubber, or the like, to provide increased resistance against the chock member sliding over the pipe saddle beam radially away from the supported pipeline.

In an embodiment the temporary support stack assembly is further complemented by arranging roller members on top of the pipe saddle member, which roller members are configured to be located on each side of a pipe resting on the pipe saddle member, between the pipe and the pipe saddle member.

The roller members have a support base and are each provided with one or more rollers, rotatably connected to the support base of the roller member to revolve about a rotation axis, with the support base being supported by the pipe saddle member, and the rollers being supported on the support base such as to support the pipe and enabling a movement of the pipe perpendicular to the rotation axis. The rollers may be supported on the support base at axial ends of each roller, e.g. the axial ends of the roller having a reduced diameter relative to the pipe support section of the roller, such as to rotate partly within the base member, e.g. said axial ends being supported at respective indentations or openings in opposite side walls of the support base.

The rollers may be supported on the support base of the roller member with the rotation axis being tangential to the circumference of the pipe. Therein, the rollers may be supported by the support base such as to have an inclination of the rollers adapted to a specific diameter of the pipe. This configuration enables an axial movement of the pipe over the rollers.

This axial movement of pipe is for instance applied when constructing pipeline inside a tunnel, wherein the pipeline is to be rolled over the rollers, e.g. of multiple support stack assemblies in a row in line with the tunnel towards the tunnel mouth, into the tunnel. Therein individual pipes are, e.g. by cranes, one by one lifted onto the rollers of multiple support stack assemblies to be supported thereby, thereafter being joined end-to-end with an upstream part of the pipeline already having been moved towards or into the tunnel, after which the pipeline including the pipe is moved further into the tunnel over the length of the pipe, and these steps are repeated. The axial movement of pipe is for instance also applied when lowering and injecting pipeline axially directly into or onto a piece of ground in-line with a row of stack assemblies provided with the roller members, therein alternately rolling the pipeline over the rollers and axially into or onto the ground and joining end-to-end additional pipes and the pipeline being lowered. Enabling an axial movement of the pipe with respect to the support stack assembly by said roller members is furthermore advantageous as well for instance in situations of thermal expansion and/or shrinkage of the pipe or pipeline, so to decrease the impact of movements of the pipe on the stability of the stack assembly or assemblies it is supported thereby. For instance, in situations wherein changes of temperature may be expected to lead to such thermal expansion and/or shrinkage, the pipe(s) and/or pipeline may preventively be placed onto the rollers instead of directly onto the saddle member and/or the chock members.

The rollers may also be supported on the support base of the roller member with the rotation axes thereof being parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the pipe. Therein, in an embodiment, the rollers may be supported by a support base that is configured to allow for multiple positions of the rollers, e.g. more inwardly or outwardly, in adaptation to a specific diameter of the pipe. This configuration enables a rotating movement of the pipe over the rollers around the central longitudinal axis of the pipe.

For establishing this functionality, the support base may in opposite side walls thereof be provided with multiple indentations or openings at which the rollers may be supported depending on the diameter of the pipe, such that the roller members are adaptive to pipes with different diameters. Therein the rollers may be provided with diameters adapted to the diameter of the pipe, such as to increase the adaptivity of the roller members to pipes of different sizes. Enabling a rotational movement of pipe is for instance advantageous while joining pipes end- to-end, e.g. by welding, as the pipes may then be rotated to have a sideways or upward access to the still unjointed parts of the circumference underneath the pipe prior to the rotation. This prevents the need for workers to be located underneath the pipe while performing work to joining these parts, increasing their safety.

Furthermore, enabling a rotational movement is for instance advantageous as well in situations of thermal expansion and/or shrinkage of the pipe or pipeline, so to decrease the impact of movements of the pipe on the stability of the stack assembly or assemblies it is supported thereby. For instance, in situations wherein changes of temperature may be expected to lead to such thermal expansion and/or shrinkage, the pipe(s) and/or pipeline may preventively be placed onto the rollers instead of directly onto the saddle member and/or chock members.

In an embodiment a pair of roller members is interconnected at inwards sides thereof, e.g. such as to accord with the shape of the top face of the saddle member these are to be placed on. The interconnection may be in the form of a hinge, enabling pivoting of the roller members towards each other in inward or outward directions over an axially extending pivot axis with respect to the pipe, so that the interconnected roller members are adaptive to multiple inclination angles of the top surface of the saddle member. In addition, through the hinge the interconnected roller members may be adapted to as well be supported on an individual beam of the support stack assembly instead of on the saddle member. In addition, these may be adapted to as well be supported on chock members on the saddle member.

In an embodiment, the support base of the roller member is adapted to accommodate selectively a roller rotatable in a direction tangential to the circumference of the pipe, or a roller rotatable in an axial direction of the pipe, e.g. the latter in multiple more inwardly or outwardly located positions along the roller member. Therein the rollers are detachable from the support base, e.g. removable therefrom by lifting these out of the top of the support base, e.g. out of the indentations therein. Furthermore, therein e.g. the rollers are partly rotatable inside the support base, the support base having in the opposed side walls thereof in both mentioned directions indentations and/or openings at which axial ends of the rollers are supported.

The roller members may be configured to support the same roller(s) in both directions as discussed herein, e.g. by supporting the rollers in indentations in either of the side walls. In embodiments, the support base is in the, with respect to the pipe, tangentially extending opposite side walls thereof provided with multiple indentations or openings along the tangential direction of the pipe, at which multiple rollers may be supported in a row to each rotate in an axial direction of the pipe. These same multiple rollers may then also be positionable such as to be rotatably supported in indentations or openings of the other opposite side walls which extend in an axial direction of the pipe, e.g. therein being interconnected at the adjacent axial ends thereof not being supported in the indentations or openings, such as to together be supported by said indentations and/or openings and rotatable in a tangential direction with respect to the pipe.

The chock members, when present, as well as the roller members, when present, as well as a detachability of rollers from the roller members and the capability of the support bases thereof to accommodate different rollers in different directions and at different positions, the fact that the same roller members may be supported in both directions, and the fact that the rollers may be provided with different diameters and furthermore the adaptivity thereof to pipes of different sizes effectuates an extended modularity of the assemblies. In an embodiment the pipe saddle member has one or more planar and horizontal bottom face portions that rest directly onto one or more planar and horizontal intermediate face portions of one or more beams in the at least three-beam layer below, so as to transmit at least a part of a load of a pipe resting on the pipe saddle member via said one or more planar and horizontal bottom face portions of the pipe saddle member to said one or more beams in the at least three-beam layer, e.g. to said central beam of said three-beam layer.

The first aspect also relates to a temporary support stack assembly configured for and/or used in temporarily supporting a pipe as described herein. The temporary support stack assembly comprises individual beams arranged in multiple stacked horizontal layers, with each layer having multiple beams that are arranged in parallel and at a horizontal spacing distance from one another, and wherein the beams in a higher layer are stacked perpendicular onto the beams in a lower layer, wherein each beam has an elongated body having a length in longitudinal direction and a top face, a bottom face, opposed side faces, and axial end faces. The individual beams of the temporary support stack assembly each have a top face and a bottom face which each define multiple recesses that are spaced apart from another in longitudinal direction corresponding to said horizontal spacing distance by an intermediate face portion, wherein the multiple recesses of the top face are vertically aligned with the multiple recesses of the bottom face with a vertical load transmitting portion of the body between each pair of vertically aligned recesses.

The stacking of the beams of a higher layer onto the beams in a lower layer has been done so that each of said beams of said higher layer is placed with the recesses of the bottom face thereof into recesses of the top faces of the beams in the lower layer,

The recesses of the individual beams are such that in the temporary support stack assembly the intermediate face portions of individual beams that are located in a vertical plane above one are vertically spaced from one another so that a load exerted by a pipe supported by the temporary support stack assembly is transferred primarily via vertical columns formed by the stacked vertical load transmitting portions of the stacked individual beams.

The temporary support stack assembly may further include one or more features as described herein. The invention also relates to a pipe saddle member configured for use in a temporary support stack assembly as described herein.

The first aspect also relates to a method of temporarily supporting a pipe above the ground, wherein pipe saddle members as described herein are placed on the ground and the pipe is received by said pipe saddle members. So this method envisages the use of the pipe saddle members as temporary support without the presence of a stack of horizontal layers of individual beams below the pipe saddle member, which provides a low height temporary support for the pipe. This may e.g. be of use at a site where a pipe has to be temporarily stored for a later treatment. In this method, preferably, use is made of a pipe saddle member as well as chock members that are arranged between the pipe and the pipe saddle member supporting the pipe. According to a second aspect thereof, the invention achieves one or more of these objectives by providing a method for temporarily supporting a pipe according to the preamble of claim 1.

According to the second aspect of the invention an individual beam of the support stack assembly, preferably all individual beams in the layers of the stack, has multiple, preferably a pair, of transverse openings, preferably lifting openings, preferably configured to each receive therein a fork of a forklift tool, which transverse openings extend through the body between the opposed side faces with the body having a lower bridging portion below and an upper bridging portion above the opening.

Besides allowing, in a suitable embodiment, for easy handling of the beam, or a stack, by means of a forklift, reach stacker, or the like, the provision of such transverse openings reduces the weight of the beam. Also, the structure with an opening and upper and lower bridges between vertical load transmitting portions of the beam, respectively above and below the opening, allow to design the bending properties of the beam and thereby for instance the ability of the beam to deform in order to respond to any unevenness and/or later settling of the ground on which the assembly may be placed.

In an embodiment each opening, e.g. in a pair of lifting openings in a beam, is embodied as an elongated slot, wherein the bridging portions define substantial parallel, preferably planar, upper and lower faces of the elongated slot shape opening. Preferably axial end faces of the slot are rounded, e.g. semicircular.

Preferably any transverse openings, e.g. transverse lifting openings, in the beam are longitudinally offset from the recesses in the top and bottom faces of the beam, so that the stability of the vertical load transmitting portion of the beam between those vertically opposed recesses is not affected by the provision of the transverse opening.

As is preferred a beam is molded from a plastic material in a mold so that the molding results in a monolithic plastic beam having the mentioned recesses in the top face and in the bottom face thereof as well as one or more transverse openings. As preferred in an embodiment of the beam with a central recess and first and second outer recesses in each of the top face and the bottom face thereof as explained, a first transverse opening, e.g. embodied as elongated slot, being provided between a central vertical load transmitting portion of the beam and a first load transmitting portion near a first axial end of the beam, and a second transverse opening, e.g. embodied as elongated slot, being provided between the central vertical load transmitting portion of the beam and a second load transmitting portion near a second axial end of the beam.

In an embodiment, the openings are configured such that whilst a pipe is temporarily being supported on, or is being placed on, said temporary support stack assembly, one or more of the lower bridging portions of one or more of the beams, of which at least one of the beams is in the lowermost horizontal layer, of the assembly deforms such as to assume or adjust a curved shape in response to any unevenness and/or later settling of the ground on which the assembly is or is being placed and/or in response to the placement of the pipe onto the assembly and/or a slight change of shape and/or size of the pipe being supported by the assembly, e.g. in the form of thermal expansion or shrinking of the pipe. For example, the bridging portions of openings closest to an unevenness and/or a change of load respond strongest thereto, by deforming most, and bridges of openings further away therefrom respond less by deforming less, such that the beams function as a buffer in compensating the unevenness, transferring the effect thereof to a decreasing extent in a direction away from the unevenness and/or load change within the assembly.

The deformability of the bridging portions thus establishes a flexibility the beams of the assembly, and thereby of the assembly, e.g. advantageously to enable the above described dynamic behaviour. The second aspect of the invention also relates to a temporary support stack assembly. Therein an individual beam has multiple, preferably a pair, of transverse openings. Therein the openings are preferably configured to each receive therein a fork of a forklift tool, which transverse openings each extend through the body of the individual beam between the opposed side faces. The body has a lower bridging portion below and an upper bridging portion above a respective opening, e.g. allowing for handling of the beam, or the assembly, by means of a forklift, reach stacker, or the like.

In an embodiment each opening, e.g. in a pair of openings in a beam, is embodied as an elongated slot, wherein the bridging portions define substantial parallel, preferably planar, upper and lower faces of the elongated slot shaped opening and wherein axial end faces of the slot are preferably rounded, e.g. semicircular. In an embodiment the transverse openings in the individual beam are longitudinally offset from the recesses in the top and bottom faces of the beam.

In an embodiment, the openings are configured such as to assume a curved shape in response to any unevenness and/or later settling of the ground whilst a pipe is temporarily being supported on, or is being placed on, said temporary support stack assembly.

The temporary support stack assembly of the second aspect of the invention may further include one or more features as described herein, e.g. in relation to the first aspect, or any other aspect, of the invention.

According to a third aspect thereof, the invention achieves one or more of these objectives by providing a method for temporarily supporting a pipe according to the preamble of claim 1. According to the third aspect the recesses in the top face and the bottom face of a beam each have a length in the longitudinal direction that is greater than a width of a portion of the beam that is received in said recess so as to allow for play between the stacked individual beams in a horizontal plane. As indicated above it is considered desirable not to have the longitudinal length of the recess match the width of the portion of the beam that is received therein, as that would create a rigid interlock at all cross-points of stacked beams. This would render putting the stack together harder. Also, having all these rigid interlocks would create a rigidity of the stack that might be detrimental when one for instance takes into account that the ground may not be even and/or provide the same support for beams that may be laid directly on the ground.

Having this horizontal play allows the beams in the stack and the layers of beams to have some limited motion horizontally relative to one another, e.g. due to thermal distortion of the pipe or pipeline section supported on the stack.

In an embodiment, the recesses are configured such that whilst a pipe is temporarily being supported on, or is being placed on, said temporary support stack assembly, one or more beams of any of the temporary support stack assemblies moves within said play between the stacked individual beams in a horizontal plane such as to deform the assembly as a whole in response to any unevenness and/or later settling of the ground on which the assembly is placed, and/or in response to a slight change of shape and/or size of the pipe, e.g. in the form of thermal expansion or shrinking of the pipe.

The play established by the dimensioning of the recesses according to the third aspect of the invention thus establishes a flexibility the beams of the assembly, and thereby of the assembly, e.g. advantageously to enable the above described dynamic behaviour.

Furthermore, in case the beams are also provided with the openings according to the second aspect of the invention, the established play assists in the existing flexibility of the assembly established by the openings.

The third aspect of the invention also relates to a temporary support stack assembly. Therein the recesses of the top face and the bottom face of the individual beams each have a length in the longitudinal direction that is greater than a width of a portion of the beam that is received in said recess, so as to establish play between the stacked individual beams in a horizontal plane. Therein, preferably, the recesses of the top face and the bottom face of the individual beams each have a planar and horizontal recess face so that in the stacked assembly these planar and horizontal recess faces contact one another.

In an embodiment, the recesses are configured such that whilst a pipe is temporarily being supported on, or is being placed on, said temporary support stack assembly, an individual beam of the assembly is movable within said play between the stacked individual beams in a horizontal plane such as to deform the assembly as a whole in response to any unevenness and/or later settling of the ground on which the assembly is placed and/or in response to a slight change of shape and/or size of the pipe, e.g. in the form of thermal expansion or shrinking of the pipe.

The temporary support stack assembly of the third aspect of the invention may further include one or more features as described herein, e.g. in relation to any other aspect of the invention.

According to a fourth aspect thereof, the invention achieves one or more of these objectives by providing a method for temporarily supporting a pipe according to the preamble of claim 1.

According to the fourth aspect one or more, e.g. all, of the beams and/or, if present, the saddle member in the temporary support stack assemblies are provided with a data carrier and/or with a sensor, and optionally with a communication device as well. The data carrier may be a RFID tag, a radio-frequency identification tag.

The data carriers preferably at least have stored thereon, or relate to, a unique ID, identification, e.g. a number, for each beam.

It is envisaged that the sensors, when present, are provided for measuring one or more quantities or physical characteristics relevant to the functionality and/or to the maintenance status of the beams and/or of saddle member that is provided with the sensor. Preferably a sensor is embedded in the respective beam or saddle member, e.g. housed in a recessed compartment provided in the respective beam or saddle member.

The data carriers, if present, are provided for storing carrier data thereon. When present, data measured by the one or more sensors of a beam or saddle member may be stored, e.g. temporarily, on the data carrier of the beam or saddle member, e.g. in a memory of a chip of the data carrier.

The communication device, if present, may be configured and operated for sending out carrier data and/or sensor data. The communication device is preferably a wireless communication device.

In an embodiment, the data carrier is integrated with the communication device, e.g. the communication device being a wireless communication device. In this embodiment, the data carrier and wireless communication device may be integrated in an RFID tag. In this embodiment, the RFID tag has tag data stored thereon that is to be sent out by the communication device of the RFID tag, which may include sensor data from one or more sensors, when present. In an embodiment, the data carrier is integrated with the sensor. Therein the sensors may be connected to the data carrier or incorporated therein.

In an embodiment, the sensor is integrated with the communication device. Therein the sensors may be connected to the communication device or incorporated therein. In an embodiment, the sensors are integrated with both the communication device and the data carrier. In this embodiment, the data carrier and wireless communication device may be integrated in an RFID tag, and the sensor connected to or incorporated in the RFID tag. Based on the sent out carrier data and/or sensor data, it may subsequently be determined for each beam if it is qualified for use in the particular assembly, for supporting the one or more pipes. For example, the carrier data may reveal that the beam is too old, has been damaged in the past, is not robust enough for the stack to be built, etc. Therein, reading out of the carrier data stored on the data carriers, when present, e.g. within RFID tags, and/or sensor data of the sensors, when present, of the beams of a support stack assembly is accomplished by receiving the carrier data and/or sensors data sent out by the communication devices. In case of RFID tags, this is accomplished by scanning the RFID tags, e.g. with an RFID scanner. This may include sensor data, when sensors are connected thereto or incorporated therein.

In an embodiment, the data carrier is within a passive RFID tag, which is powered by the electromagnetic energy transmitted from an RFID reader. Therein, when connected to a sensor and/or having a sensor incorporated therein, the passive RFID tag uses the RF- energy of the RFID-scanner to power the connected sensor and/or the internal circuit with the incorporated sensor upon reading out of the tag. The RFID tag may also be an active RFID tag, which may be of the transponder-type or beacon-type, or alternatively, a battery- assisted (BAP) RFID tag. The active or BAP RFID tag may be connected to or have a sensor incorporated therein as well.

In an embodiment, in case all beams and the saddle member of a support stack assembly are determined to be qualified for use in the particular assembly, the assembly may according to an embodiment the method consequently approved for supporting a pipe. The approval may be stored in a database, e.g. in relation to a record wherein all identifications of the beams and possible of the saddle members are stored. Possible the record also stores the geographical location of the stack.

Said reading out of the sensor data and/or carrier data as well as said eventual approving of the assembly, may e.g. be done prior to or after a pipe is placed thereon to be supported by the assembly, and e.g. prior to or after an assembling of the temporary support stack. In an embodiment said reading out of the sensor data and/or carrier data takes place on-site, that is, on the site where the pipe is to be supported and the pipes are to be joined end-to- end. In an embodiment, based on the read out data of one or more assemblies a record is built or kept of the beams of the assemblies, e.g. of identifications thereof, and/or physical characteristics and/or product data thereof. These may e.g. be stored, e.g. in a digital database or a physical document, in relation to identifications of the assembly it is, was or is to be part of.

Based on the read out data of one or more assemblies a record may be built or kept of the approval of the assemblies the one or more pipes are supported by, or are to be supported by may be built up or kept. Data on this approval may e.g. be stored, e.g. in a digital database or a physical document, in relation to identifications of the assembly it relates to.

The determination of qualification for use of the beams and/or saddle member of an assembly, and based thereon of the complete assembly, may for instance include factors such as safety, reliability and functionality and historical and/or possible future degradation, at least during the expected operational time. Furthermore, it may include environmental factors, such as GPS-location, and temperature- and/or humidity.

The factors determining the qualification for use of the individual beams and/or the saddle member in the support stack assembly, and/or the complete assembly, may for instance be determined based on data relating to the physical characteristics of the particular beam or saddle member the data carrier is provided to, such as the age of the beam or saddle member, the use thereof to date, duration of use, maintenance status, material and geometric characteristics, fabrication process, physical status and/or expected operational lifespan of the respective beam or saddle member. Furthermore, it may be determined based on actual and/or historical measurement data of physical quantities, e.g. relating to the structural behaviour of the beam or saddle member and/or of environmental conditions and/or geographical information, which may as mentioned e.g. in particular be collected via said sensors based on the measurements thereof, e.g. actual or 'live' measurements, and/or logged measurements. In an embodiment, the carrier data of the data carrier, e.g. on the RFID tag, when present, of each beam and/or saddle member thereto comprises a unique identification of the beam and/or saddle member. Therein, e.g. the identification of the beam is after said reading out of the carrier data used to retrieve other data on the beam, e.g. stored in a digital database or a physical document, e.g. said other data comprising data relating to product data of the particular beam and/or the physical characteristics of the particular beam, such as the age, the use to date, duration of use, maintenance status, material and geometric characteristics, fabrication process, physical status and/or expected operational lifespan of the respective beam.

In an embodiment, the carrier data of the data carrier, e.g. on the RFID tag of the saddle member, when present, comprises, or relates to, an identification of the stack assembly.

In an embodiment carrier data and/or data from sensors, which may be incorporated in or connected to RFID tags, if present, relating to beams and/or the saddle member are digitally stored in an environment, e.g. a cloud or other storage space, accessible by one or more parties involved in the process of fabrication of beams, testing thereof, intermittent storage thereof, transportation thereof from and to the site of construction of the assemblies, construction of the assemblies, joining and staging the pipes and/or burying the pipes, for instance, HSE managers, construction workers, and (crane) operators on-site, e.g. via electronic devices connected to the storage space, e.g. tablets, mobile phones, personal digital assistants, smartwatches or personal computers. These devices may in itself be able to read out the carrier data and/or sensor data, e.g. be an RFID scanner, if RFID tags are applied within the stack assembly, or may contain, or be capable of accessing, the storage space for observing and/or monitoring the status of the assemblies.

In an embodiment, the carrier data, e.g. on the RFID tag of each individual beam and/or saddle member, when present, comprises product data and/or data on physical

characteristics of the beam to which the abovementioned examples apply.

In an embodiment, the RFID tags of the individual beams and/or saddle member, when present, are passive RFID tags, wherein said reading out takes place using inductive or radiative coupling within an interrogation zone of the respective RFID tags.

In an embodiment, the data on the RFID tag of a beam is updated, e.g. comprising replacing and/or adding tag data with new tag data relating to the beam. For instance, in case a beam has been determined to not be qualified for use in an assembly, the RFID tag may be updated to comprise data on this fact, e.g. so that it is written off and/or discarded, or marked such as to be qualified for another, e.g. shorter or less taxing, use. Or, for example, an event on the historical loading and/or use under certain taxing conditions of the beam or saddle member that leads to a degradation of the beam or saddle member, may be processed in the data.

Furthermore, stored data and/or tag data and updates thereof may include certifications and/or results of inspections, e.g. yearly inspections.

When provided, the or more of the sensors of an assembly may be provided for measuring physical characteristics or quantities of the beams and/or the saddle member these respectively provided with these sensors, such as:

- geographical location, e.g. by means of a satellite based system, e.g. a GPS receiver, calculating the geographical location of the beam and/or saddle member and/or the stack,

- strain, e.g. caused by the load of a pipe supported thereby,

- force and/or tension, e.g. the pressure and shear tension caused by the load of the pipe and the consequent deformation of the stack,

- vibration, e.g. caused by the pipe loading and/or environmental factors such as wind,

- deflection, e.g. caused by the load of a pipe supported thereby, e.g. in combination with environmental factors such as temperature and changes thereof,

- tilt and/or inclination, e.g. influenced by the positioning on a certain tilted or uneven ground, e.g. having become uneven and/or inclined over a certain time period under the influence of weather conditions such as rain, in case of a muddy ground, and e.g. measured in two perpendicular directions, e.g. in an axial and traverse direction with respect to the pipe to be, or being, supported thereby,

- position and/or motion, e.g. as a consequence of a movement of a pipe (to be) supported thereby, which may be intended, e.g. by construction workers and/or machinery, or unintended, e.g. as a consequence of thermal shrinking and/or expansion,

and/or changes of these quantities, e.g. in time and/or space.

This list is not limitative, and it is envisaged that in the near future measurements of other relevant quantities/characteristics may be measured by sensors suitable to be provided to the beams and/or saddle member of an assembly, and/or even coupled to RFID tags thereof, if present, which may additionally or instead be useful for determining qualification for use of beams and/or saddle members and/or complete assemblies.

One or more of the sensors may also be provided for measuring environmental conditions, such as:

- temperature, e.g. influencing the actual and future functionality and/or usability and/or degradation of the beam or saddle member, and the thermal expansion and/or shrinkage of a pipe supported thereby, - humidity, and/or e.g. influencing the functionality and/or usability and/or degradation of the beam or saddle member,

- moisture level, e.g. influencing the functionality and/or usability and/or degradation of the beam or saddle member,

This list is not limitative, and it is envisaged that in the future measurements of other quantities/characteristics may be coupled to RFID which may additionally or instead be useful for determining suitability for use of beams and/or saddle members and/or assemblies: for instance wind speed, electrical (lightning) activity of the air or ground vibrations resulting from plate tectonics may be of relevance.

In embodiments, the individual beams and/or the saddle member of a support stack assembly are each provided with the one or more sensors. These may be active or passive sensors, that is, powered by a respective energy source, e.g. a battery, e.g. for measuring temperature or inclination, or not, e.g. in case of a strain gauge for measuring strain.

In an embodiment, the individual beams are provided with the passive sensors. In this same or another embodiment, the saddle member of a stack is provided with the active sensor(s).

In embodiments, in particular the one or more active sensors, when present, are provided for measuring one or more of said environmental conditions, and/or the inclination, and/or the force and/or tension.

For example, the passive sensors, when present, may be provided for measuring one or more of said physical quantities of the beams and/or saddle member, preferably, at least on the individual beams for measuring the force exerted on the beams and the deflection of the beams.

For example, only the saddle member of a stack assembly may be provided with the one or more active sensors, preferably measuring at least temperature and inclination, e.g. in said two perpendicular directions, and preferably additionally the force exerted thereon and deflection thereof, such as to represent these conditions for the complete assembly it is part of.

In an embodiment, only the sensor(s) of the saddle member measure environmental conditions and inclination, e.g. in said two directions, e.g. the sensor(s) therein being active sensor(s). In an embodiment, the sensor(s) of the individual beams measure the force exerted on the beams and the deflection of the beams, e.g. the sensor(s) therein being passive sensor(s).

In an embodiment, only the saddle member of the support stack assembly is provided with a geographic location receiver, e.g. a GPS receiver, so as to represent the location of the assembly.

In an embodiment, read out geographical locations of multiple stack assemblies, e.g.

determined by sensors on saddle members thereof, are retrieved, compared, and based thereon, the distance in between them is calculated. Also the geographical locations of multiple stack assemblies may be represented in form a map. For example, the read out geographical locations of multiple stack assemblies are compared to a pre-planned design for the pipeline support, e.g. the comparison being done by suitable software run on a computer, e.g. the software having a routine to highlight a difference between the pre- planned location of a stack and the actual location of a stack.

In an embodiment, read out sensor data on physical quantities of multiple stack assemblies are retrieved, compared, and based thereon, the differences between these quantities for different assemblies is calculated.

In an embodiment, calculated distances between support stack assemblies and calculated differences between measurements on the load of the stack assemblies are used to determine if the load of the pipe onto the assemblies is divided evenly over the assemblies, and/or if a sufficient number of assemblies are used per length of pipe, and/or if changes therein are necessary or desired.

In an embodiment, the beams and/or saddle member are all provided with one or more geographic location sensors, e.g. GPS sensors, measuring the location of the beam and or saddle member provided therewith. Therein, the locations of the beams and/or saddle member of a single stack may then for instance be used to track the beams and/or saddle member. The locations thereof may also be compared to each other, such as to determine for each beam or saddle member if the location and/or orientation thereof, e.g. relative to one another and/or relative to the pipe, is as desired. For instance, a crooked beam or a undesirably slanted orientation with respect to the pipe may thereby be detected.

Furthermore, a change in location and/or orientation over a certain time period may for instance be detected for each beam or saddle member. This may occur e.g. as a

consequence of the underground becoming more or less inclined, e.g. due to rain in muddy grounds, or e.g. due to shifting or thermal expansion and/or shrinkage of the pipe, e.g. in the bends of the pipeline, or e.g. due to increased deflection. Based thereon, the stability of the saddle member on the underlying beams of the assembly, and/or the stability of the whole assembly, and/or e.g. the risk of consequent shifting of the pipe, may for instance be assessed as well.

In an embodiment, each beam and/or saddle member is provided with a sensor measuring one or more physical quantities/characteristics relating to the beam and/or saddle member. The measurement(s) therein preferably include deflection measurement and/or strain and/or force measurement. Based on these data, the load of the individual beams and saddle member within the stack assembly may be retrieved, and compared to each other, based on which e.g. inconsistencies and/or uneven dividing of the load of the pipe over the beams and saddle member may be detected. In an embodiment, each beam and/or saddle member is provided with a sensor as well as a data carrier, and sensor data on periodically measured physical quantities/characteristics relating to the beam and/or saddle member, and optionally the duration thereof, are possibly logged on the data carrier. The logged data preferably include deflection measurements and strain and force measurements. Based on these data, a service life and/or end of life of the respective beam or saddle member may be calculated. The results may therein for instance also be stored on the data carrier, e.g. even be logged over time, or e.g. be calculated after reading out of the measurement data and be stored in an external, e.g. digital, storage space. In an embodiment, multiple sensors are provided per beam and/or per saddle member within a stack assembly, measuring the same physical quantity. The measurements therein preferably include deflection measurements and/or strain and/or force measurements. Based on these data, the loading at different locations within each individual beam or saddle member may be retrieved, compared, and the division of the load within the beam or saddle member be assessed. Therein e.g. inconsistencies and/or uneven dividing of the load of the pipe over each beam or saddle member may be detected.

Where inconsistencies or uneven loading between, or within the beams or saddle member of a stack assembly, are detected, this data may e.g. be correlated to measurement data on other physical quantities thereof being measured, e.g. inclination, orientation, location, and/or deflection thereof, so as to detect the contribution of these parameters to said

inconsistencies and retrieve the cause of the inconsistency. In embodiments, particularly taxing conditions of each beam and saddle member may be logged, e.g. on the data carrier thereof, when present. This may for instance include said inconsistencies of loading, orientation, deformation, uneven loading, peak loading, overloading, exposure to environmental conditions outside predetermined limits and the duration thereof. Based on these data, a service life and/or end of life of the respective beam or saddle member may be calculated.

In embodiments, the individual beams and/or the saddle member of a support stack assembly are provided with RFID tags which have the one or more of these sensors connected thereto, or incorporated therein. Therein the RFID scanners used to read out the RFID tags are additionally provided with qualified application software in order for the sensor data to be interpreted correctly. Therein, in case the RFID tag of a beam and/or the saddle member is a passive RFID tag, it uses the RF-energy of the RFID-reader to power the connected sensor and/or the internal circuit with the incorporated sensor upon reading out of the tag.

In case the RFID tag of a beam and/or the saddle member is an active RFID tag, in particular, a beaconing RFID tag, it consistently sends out the information, e.g. including the sensor data, at predetermined intervals. The beaconing tag may therein be programmed to send the sensor information either every time it beacons, or send the data on a preprogrammed schedule. In case the RFID tag of a beam and/or the saddle member is of the transponder-type or is a battery-assisted RFID-tag, it only sends out information when interrogated first by the RFID scanner. When interrogated, the tag can be asked to only send tag data stored thereon, e.g. an identification, e.g. an identification of the beam it is provided to, or can be asked to send the sensor data as well, when such a sensor is connected thereto and/or incorporated therein. When the transponder or battery-assisted RFID-tag is interrogated by the reader and asked for pertinent sensor information, the tag powers on, powers the sensor, and then modulates the signal with the information and sends it back to the reader.

In case the RFID-tag of a beam and/or the saddle member is a battery-assisted RFID-tag, having incorporated or being connected to a sensor, the tag is powered by an internal battery thereof and can function in two ways: either by sending the real-time sensor data upon request by the RFID scanner, or by storing the sensor information over time by using data logging capabilities and sending the collected data when requested by the RFID scanner. Therein the data logging capabilities enable taking scheduled sensor measurements, alike a beaconing RFID tag. Therein internal battery allows the sensor to turn on, take a

measurement, store the data, and then turn back off, therein saving on battery power with respect to a beaconing active RFID-tag. When the data logging battery-assisted RFID tag is read by the RFID scanner, the information collected by the RFID tag over a predetermined time period is transferred to the reader.

In an embodiment, the RFID tag may be connected to a geographical location receiver, e.g. a GPS receiver e.g. to store, log, and/or provide to the RFID scanner actual information on the location of beams, e.g. so that it may be tracked easily by the mentioned electronic devices and/or RFID scanner(s).

In an embodiment, only the RFID tag of the saddle member of a support stack assembly, if present, is connected to or has incorporated a sensor measuring environmental conditions, e.g. the temperature, humidity and/or moisture, to represent these conditions of the complete assembly.

In an embodiment, only the RFID tag of the saddle member of a support stack assembly is connected to or has incorporated, a sensor measuring tilt and/or inclination, preferably in said two perpendicular directions, to represent the tilt and/or inclination of the complete assembly.

In an embodiment, the RFID tag of the saddle member is an active RFID-tag, or an RFID-tag with a wide read range, e.g. in the order of the on-site distance between a plurality of assembled stack assemblies or the distance between these assemblies and the location of a scanning device in an operator's cabin, so that the operator may read out actual and/or historical data on these environmental conditions. Based thereon, e.g. together with other tag data and/or (measured) physical quantities by connected sensors within the stacks, as previously discussed, the qualification for use of the beams or saddle member and/or complete assembly may be determined.

In an embodiment, when present, the active RFID tag of the saddle member may at regular time intervals beacon the data of the RFID tags and/or sensors in the assembly to an external RFID scanner. Therein, sensor data may by the connected RFID tag, or apart therefrom, be sent out to an external RFID scanner. Alternatively, e.g. to save on battery life, the saddle member may be provided with a battery-assisted RFID tag - instead of the active RFID tag - which either logs or beacons the data from the RFID tags of the assembly.

In an embodiment, when present, the RFID tags of the beams and/or saddle member connected to, or having incorporated, a sensor measuring physical quantities of the beam or saddle member it is provided to, are passive RFID tags. The sensors may e.g. be embodied as strain gauges for measuring strain or e.g. force and/or deflection and/or position and/or motion and/or vibration sensors, as discussed before. These RFID tags may advantageously be provided to one or more of the recesses of the top surface or bottom surface of the beams.

When present, the sensors within an assembly, the RFID tags, the geographical, e.g. GPS, receiver and/or possible other monitoring technologies may form a wireless network, e.g. a wireless sensor network (WSN).

In an embodiment, the saddle member of the stack assembly is configured to function as an RFID scanner. Therein it is wirelessly connected to the RFID tags of the assembly, when present, collecting tag data thereof. It may also be configured to function as a reader for the sensors of the assembly, when present, therein collecting sensor data thereof. For instance, therein, the saddle member collects data of passive sensors, optionally being connected to or incorporated within RFID tags, provided to the individual beams and/or the saddle member of the assembly, e.g. within the wireless sensor network of the assembly, when present.

In an embodiment the saddle member is configured to function as a HUB, e.g. wherein the sensors and/or RFID tags together form a WLAN network connected to a VWVAN network through said HUB, the saddle member therein providing a WWAN/WLAN gateway for the sensor data and/or tag data, e.g. which are therein stored in an external storage space of the VWVAN network. In an embodiment, data carriers, e.g. in RFID tags, and/or sensors of the beams of multiple support stack assemblies are in one step of the method consecutively or simultaneously scanned and/or read out, and if determined to be qualified for use in the particular assembly in one or more of the previously described ways, consequently approved. In another step of the method the one or more pipes are placed on the stack assemblies, e.g. prior to or after said scanning and/or reading out. The read out data from sensors of the assembly and/or RFID tags of the beams and/or saddle member may activate a signal in case a beam and/or saddle member and/or assembly on-site is not qualified for use, e.g. in the form of a (push-) message, warning, a visual or audio or otherwise sensible alarm, e.g. on the RFID scanner, when applied, and/or a device reading out the sensors, and/or a device connected thereto, or a device connected to a data storage space, e.g. within a wireless network, e.g. a WWAN network, e.g. after a periodical update thereof. This connection may in particular be wireless, e.g. via WiFi, Bluetooth, RF, or equivalent. For instance, the (RFID) scanner and/or sensor reading device, when applied, may produce a warning message or indication upon reading data of an assembly based on which carrier data or the device detects the assembly to not be approved. It may, alternatively or additionally, per individual beam or saddle member indicate if it is qualified for use or not. The reading device may for instance produce a signal based on actual measurements of environmental conditions, or measurements of tilt, inclination or motion, as e.g. measured by an active sensor, when a measured value exceeds predetermined upper or lower limits for the condition. Therein the measurements may in particular be carried out through an active sensor of the saddle member only, e.g. connected to a data carrier, e.g. to the RFID tag thereof, when present.

The signal may be in the form of a warning message on the display, a visual or audio or otherwise sensible alarm, and/or an activation of a signal of devices connected thereto, or connected to the storage space, e.g. after a periodical update thereof.

In an embodiment an electronic device, which is connected to the sensors, data carriers, RFID tags, the communication devices and/or to the reading device(s) applied, e.g. the saddle member of an assembly, and/or to the wireless network, when present, e.g. to the storage space therein, is configured to display an overview of the beams and saddle member of a stack assembly being or having been assembled on-site, with per beam or saddle member an indication if it is qualified for use or not.

In an embodiment an RFID scanner and/or sensor reading device or other electronic device, which is connected to the sensors, RFID tags, and/or to the RFID scanner(s) and/or readers, and/or to the wireless network, when present, e.g. to the storage space thereof, is configured to display an overview of the stack assemblies being or having been assembled on-site, with per assembly an indication of the approval or disapproval thereof. In an embodiment, the saddle member of a stack assembly is provided with one or more active sensors measuring at least one of: inclination in two directions, deflection, the load exerted thereon, temperature, and humidity. The saddle member and/or the beams may be provided with a unique identification of the stack and/or the individual beam or saddle member that is scannable. The individual beams of this assembly are therein provided with passive sensors, measuring deflection, and the load exerted thereon. The individual beams are furthermore provided with a unique identification, e.g. by means of a data carrier, e.g. RFID tags, which are scannable. The sensors in the stack assembly together form a wireless WLAN network, and the saddle member functions as a HUB to form a WWAN/WLAN gateway between this network and an external WWAN network, collecting the sensor data of the sensors in the stack assembly and passing the sensor data to an external storage space of the WWAN network. One or more electronic devices, as discussed before, are connected to this WWAN network, and configured to through this connection display the sensor data of the assembly and/or indicate, e.g. per measured quantity, if the stack assembly is qualified for use when considering each quantity, being within predetermined limits for these quantities, or not. The device, and/or a second device, e.g. a smartwatch or mobile phone, connected thereto via the WWAN network, may indicate a warning signal, e.g. give off a visual, audio or otherwise sensible alarm in case the stack is not qualified for use. In this embodiment, the WLAN network of multiple stack assemblies may be connected to the

WWAN network through the HUB formed by the saddle member of each assembly, so that the sensor data of these stack assemblies are all accessible through the WWAN network.

In an embodiment, each beam and saddle member of a stack assembly is provided with a unique identification, e.g. through a RFID tag, which are readable by an external scanner. This scanner may be connected to a WAN network, which has linked to these identifications in a digital storage space thereof a record of specific data on each beam and saddle member. Preferably at least the first date in use, the date of the last certification, the final date for preventive replacement, and the date of production are therein kept, and regularly updated. One or more electronic devices are connected to the WAN network, configured to display thereon per beam and saddle member the abovementioned data linked thereto. The device, and/or a second device, e.g. a smartwatch or mobile phone, connected to the WAN network, may indicate a warning signal, e.g. give off a visual, audio or otherwise sensible alarm in case one or more of the beams or the saddle member of the assembly is not qualified for use. In this embodiment, the data on beams and saddle members of multiple assemblies are accessible through the WAN network. It is envisaged that the RFID tags are applied in a system for keeping account and/or monitoring of the quality of use of individual beams and/or saddle members and/or assemblies and/or sets of beams, e.g. together with a saddle member, which may be used prior to, during, and/or after the assembling of the support stack assemblies and/or the joining and/or staging of pipes.

The fourth aspect also relates to a temporary support stack assembly. Therein the temporary support stack assembly includes one or more features as described herein, e.g. in relation to any of the other aspects of the invention.

The now following discussion of features relate to embodiments of the present invention according to any aspect thereof.

In an embodiment, due to profile of the top and bottom faces of the individual beams the correct assembly of the stack is facilitated as the recesses provide clear guidance on the spacing of the beams during the assembly. Also the beams of the stacked layers have mechanical interlock, albeit preferably with play in the horizontal plane to provide some degree of freedom as will be explained below, so that slipping of one or more beams out of the stack, e.g. under load exerted by the supported pipe or pipeline section or some other external load, is hindered.

As indicated above the method is envisaged primarily as part of a construction process of a pipeline section with end-to-end joined pipes, which pipeline section is to be buried in the ground, wherein the construction process comprises temporarily supporting pipes that are to be joined end-to-end on temporary support stack assemblies.

In a preferred embodiment, e.g. with a length of each individual beam between 1.0 and 1.5 meter, e.g. of 1.2 meter (4 ft.), the individual beams each have a top face and a bottom face that is provided with exactly three recesses, wherein the multiple stacked horizontal layers each are assembled with exactly three individual beams that are arranged in parallel and at said horizontal spacing distance from one another, so in so-called three-beam layers. This provides for nine of the mentioned vertical load transmitting columns in the stack.

Preferably the top face and bottom face of each individual beam are symmetrical relative to a horizontal midplane of the beam, so that the orientation of top and bottom becomes irrelevant when stacking the beams. Preferably the recesses of the top and bottom face each have a planar, flat and horizontal recess face, so that in the stacked assembly these planar and horizontal recess faces contact one another. Preferably all individual beams in the layers of the stack are identical. This allows for easy assembly of the stack.

In a preferred embodiment the individual beams are made out of plastic material, e.g.

recycled plastic material, e.g. LDPE, preferably each being made as a monolithic plastic component.

In an embodiment an individual beam is molded as a monolithic plastic component in a mold from plastic material. Preferably the recesses are integrally formed in a molding process of the beam by corresponding recess forming portions in the mold. This for example assures that the intermediate portions of the body of the beam that protrude relative to the lowermost recess faces are integral with the remainder of the molded plastic body which enhances the resistance of said portions against any horizontal load thereon, e.g. caused a beam that wants to slip horizontally from the stack. In case of a wooden beam embodiment in the context of the present invention these portions would be easily damaged and might give way as the wood is likely to crack along the grain, and therefore a plastic version is preferred over wood. In an alternative one could provide a wooden beam with a top member and a bottom member of other material extending over the top and bottom of the wooden beam

respectively, e.g. of these top and bottom member being made plastic, to arrive at the structure with recesses in the top face and the bottom face of the composite beam. In a practical embodiment the individual beams have a length of between 1 meter and 1.5 meter, e.g. 1.2 meter (4 ft.) or approximate 4 ft.

In a practical embodiment the top face and the bottom face of an individual beam each have co-planar, preferably flat and horizontal, intermediate face portions. In an embodiment the top face and the bottom face of an individual beam each form at least, preferably just, three recesses and form co-planar, preferably horizontal and flat,

intermediate face portions between the longitudinally spaced apart recesses. In an embodiment the recesses of the top face and the bottom face are each between 0.5 and 2 centimetres deep relative to the intermediate face portion, e.g. about 1.5 centimetres deep.

Preferably the recesses of the top face and the bottom face each having a planar, flat and horizontal recess face without any protrusions, relief, or the like, in the region of the recess face.

Preferably the recesses of the top face and the bottom face of the individual beams each have a planar and horizontal recess face so that in the stacked assembly these planar and horizontal recess faces contact one another.

In the stack assembly the vertical load exerted by the pipe on the stack, e.g. via the pipe saddle member, is primarily transferred to the ground via the vertical load transmitting portions of the stacked beams that are present between the vertically aligned recesses in each beam. So these vertical load transmitting portions effectively form vertical pillars or columns transferring this load.

In a preferred embodiment the top and bottom face of an individual beam have a central recess as well as a first and a second outer recesses located at equal longitudinal distance from the central recess. Herein the first and second outer recesses are spaced from the axial end face of the beam so that a raised portion of the beam is present between each of said first and second outer recesses and the respective axial end face of the beam.

In a preferred embodiment the vertical load transmitting portions of the body of a beam, so the portions that are present between vertically aligned recesses in the top face and bottom face is of solid cross-section. Therefore, in this embodiment at least these parts are not hollow, have no transverse openings through the part or the like, so as to obtain a solid vertical load transmitting column or pillar. In a preferred embodiment the recesses in the top and bottom face of the beam each have a planar, flat and horizontal recess face, so that in the stacked assembly these planar and horizontal recess faces contact one another. The invention also relates to an individual beam configured for assembly a temporary support stack assembly as described herein. The invention also relates to the manufacturing of an individual beam configured for assembly a temporary support stack assembly as described herein, e.g. by molding the beam in a mold from plastic material.

The present invention also relates to a method of handling a temporary support stack assembly as described herein, having individual beams provided with forklift openings as described herein, by means of a forklift tool or vehicle provided with a forklift tool.

The present invention also relates to a method wherein temporary support stack assemblies are pre-assembled at a pre-assembly location, e.g. stacks of just multiple horizontal layers without a pipe saddle member thereon, and shipping said pre-assembled temporary support stack assemblies from said pre-assembly location to the site of actual use for supporting a pipe thereon, e.g. on a vehicle, and then placing said pre-assembled temporary support stack assemblies on the ground and, if desired, finalizing said assemblies, e.g. by arranging one or more further layers thereon and/or by arranging the saddle member. The site can for instance be on or along a path extending along a trench wherein the pipeline is to be buried.

The present invention also relates to a set of identical beams configured for use in assembly of a temporary support stack assembly, e.g. for temporarily supporting a pipe or other object thereon, wherein the temporary support stack assembly to be assembled comprises said beams arranged in multiple stacked horizontal layers, with each layer having multiple of said beams that are arranged in parallel and at a horizontal spacing distance from one another, and wherein the beams in a higher layer are stacked perpendicular onto the beams in a lower layer, wherein each beam has an elongated body having a length in longitudinal direction and a top face, a bottom face, opposed side faces, and axial end faces, wherein said beams each have a top face and a bottom face which each define multiple recesses that are spaced apart from another in longitudinal direction corresponding to said horizontal spacing distance by an intermediate face portion, wherein the multiple recesses of the top face are vertically aligned with the multiple recesses of the bottom face with a vertical load transmitting portion of the body between each pair of vertically aligned recesses. The identical beams of said set may have one or more features as described herein. For example, each beam has exact three recesses in the top face and in the bottom face as described herein. For example, each beam has two forklift openings as described herein. The invention also relates to the use of said set of identical beams in assembly of a temporary support stack assembly.

The invention also relates to a method, wherein temporary support stack assemblies as disclosed herein are assembled, and wherein pipes that are to be joined end-to-end are temporarily supported on the temporary support stack assemblies. This method optionally comprises the further step of joining, e.g. welding, the pipes end-to-end to form a pipeline section, e.g. of a natural gas pipeline. The method optionally comprises the further step of burying the pipeline section made of joined pipes into the ground, e.g. placing the pipeline section in a trench and covering the pipeline section.

The invention also relates to the construction of a land based pipeline, e.g. natural gas pipeline, wherein use is made of temporary support stack assemblies as described herein.

The invention also relates to a temporary support stack assembly configured for and/or used in temporarily supporting a pipe as described herein.

Combinations of the features according to different aspects also accord to the invention. A preferred method according to the invention accords to all four aspects of the invention. A preferred temporary support stack assembly according to the invention accords to all four aspects of the invention.

The invention will now be explained further in relation to the appended drawings. In the drawings:

- fig. 1 shows a pipe, e.g. in the construction of a land based natural gas pipeline, supported on two temporary support stack assemblies according to the invention,

- fig. 2 shows a temporary support stack assembly of figure 1 provide with chock members on the pipe saddle member,

- fig. 3 shows the assembly of figure 2 with the chock members removed,

- fig. 4 shows the assembly of figure 2 from one side, in direction of the length of the pipe to be supported thereon,

- fig. 5 shows the assembly of figure 2 from another side, - fig. 6A shows an individual beam of the assembly of figure 2 in a perspective view from below onto one side face and the bottom face,

- fig. 6B shows the beam of figure 6A in a perspective view from above onto the other side face and the top face,

- fig. 6C represents the plan view of the top face and of the bottom face of the beam of figures 6A, B,

- fig. 6D represents the side view onto each of the sides of the beam of figures 6A, B,

- fig. 7 A shows the pipe saddle member of the assembly of figure 2,

- fig. 7B shows a cross section of the pipe saddle member of the assembly of figure 2, - fig. 8 illustrates the arrangement of the pipe saddle member on top of an underlying individual beam in the assembly of figure 2,

- fig. 9 shows a vertical section through the assembly of figure 2,

- fig. 10 shows the hooking of a hook portion of the saddle member in the assembly of figure

2,

- fig. 1 1 illustrates the play between stacked individual beams,

- figs. 12a, b,c show the chock member of the assembly of figure 2 from various angles,

- fig. 13 illustrates the support of a pipe just on pipe saddle beams according to the invention,

- fig. 14 shows the result of a Finite Element analysis of the material stress within an assembly according to the invention whilst supporting a pipe,

- fig. 15 shows the results of fig. 14 within the highest stress range,

- fig. 16 shows an assembly according to the second and third aspect of the invention supporting a pipe, while being placed onto an uneven surface,

- fig. 17 shows the assembly in the same situation as Figure 16, with the pipe not being shown, in a three-dimensional view,

- fig. 18 is a photo of an assembly according to the invention in a real-life test setting according to the situation depicted in figs. 16 and 17,

- fig. 19 shows an individual beam of an assembly according to the invention,

- fig. 20 shows a flow chart illustrating an example method according to the fourth aspect of the invention,

- fig. 21A shows a beam according to the fourth aspect of the invention,

- fig. 21 B shows a beam according to the fourth aspect of the invention,

- fig. 21 C shows a saddle member according to the fourth aspect of the invention,

- fig. 22A illustrates a step of the method according to the fourth aspect of the invention,

- fig. 22B illustrates a step of the method according to the fourth aspect of the invention, - fig. 23 illustrates a step of the method according to the fourth aspect of the invention,

- figs. 24A-E consecutively show a saddle member being provided with roller members - fig. 24F illustrates a pipe being supported by roller members such that the pipe is axially movable with respect thereto, and

- fig. 24G illustrates a pipe being supported by roller members such that the pipe is rotatable with respect thereto,

- figs. 24H-M consecutively show a beam being provided with roller members,

- fig. 25A shows a saddle member with roller members with rollers in two directions,

- fig. 25B-0 show a beam and saddle member being provided with roller members with the same rollers in either two directions. Figure 1 depicts a pipe 1 temporarily supported on two temporary support stack assemblies 10 according to the invention. As explained, it is envisaged that the assemblies 10 are of advantage in the construction of a pipeline, e.g. a main natural gas pipeline. In this construction process, often, a trench is made in the ground and pipes are positioned alongside the trench, supported on these stack assemblies 10 so that the pipes 1 can be joined end-to-end to make a pipeline section. The pipeline section is then lifted off the stack assemblies 10 using multiple lifting machines and then lowered into the trench. Then the pipeline section is buried.

In view of the welding and possible coating process of the welded regions, the assemblies 10 provide for sufficient height above the ground, e.g. for a welder to move underneath the pipe ends to be welded together.

The pipe 1 may have a diameter of over 20 inch, e.g. between 30 and 60 inch. The pipe may be a coated steel pipe, e.g. configured as a natural gas transportation pipe.

The assembly 10 will now be discussed in more detail with reference to figures 2 - 12.

Figure 2 depicts the entire assembly 10. This assembly comprises a stack of six so-called three-beam horizontal layers, each having three individual beams 20. All individual beams 20 are identical, so that they can be used with discretion to their final position in the stack.

As depicted in figures 6A-D each beam 20 has an elongated body with a length in longitudinal direction and a top face 21 , a bottom face 22, opposed side faces 23,34, and axial end faces 25, 26.

The top face and the bottom face which each define multiple recesses 31 , 32, 33, 41 , 42, 43 that are spaced apart from another in longitudinal direction corresponding to a horizontal spacing distance by an intermediate face portion 34, 35, 44, 45. Furthermore outer face portions 36, 37 and 46, 47 of the top face and the bottom face respectively are present between each outer recess of the face and the neighbouring axial end of the beam. The three recesses 31 , 32, 33, of the top face 21 are vertically aligned with the three recesses 41 , 42, 43 of the bottom face 22 and a vertical load transmitting portion 27, 28, 29 of the body is present between each pair of vertically aligned recesses 31 ,41 ; 32,42; 33,43.

The depicted individual beam 20 has a length of 1.2 meter (4 ft.).

All figures of the beam 20 and the assembly 10 are to scale in this example.

The outer face portions as well as the intermediate face portions of the top face 21 are co- planar, here as preferred horizontal and flat.

The recesses of the top face 21 and of the bottom face 22 of the beam 20 each have a planar and horizontal recess face, here between inclined ramp faces of the recess. As can be seen, in the stacked assembly 10, these planar and horizontal recess faces contact one another.

The recesses of the top and bottom faces are between 0.5 and 2 centimetres deep relative to the intermediate face portions, here about 1.5 centimetres deep.

In a practical embodiment the vertical distance between the vertically recesses of a beam, so the height of a vertical load transmitting portion of the beam, is between 10 and 15 centimetres, e.g. 12 centimetres.

The beam 20 has a pair of transverse lifting openings 51 , 52, here configured to each receive therein a fork of a forklift tool, which transverse lifting openings 51 , 52 each extend through the body of the beam 20 between the opposed side faces 23, 24. So the body has a lower bridging portion 53 below and an upper bridging portion 54 above a respective lifting opening 52.

The provision of fork lift openings 51 , 52 allows for handling of the beam 20, or the assembly 10 or part thereof, by means of a forklift, a reach stacker, or the like. Also the openings 51 , 52 reduced the weight of the beam which facilitates handling and allows to design the bending properties of the beam 20. Each lifting opening 51 , 52 is embodied as an elongated slot, here configured to receive a fork of a forklift tool. The bridging portions 53, 54 here define substantial parallel, preferably planar, upper and lower faces of the elongated slot shaped lifting opening 51 , 52. The axial end faces of the slot 51 , 52 are rounded, here semicircular.

The transverse lifting openings 51 , 52 in the beam 20 are longitudinally offset from the recesses in the top and bottom faces 21 , 22 of the beam and thus between the vertical load transmitting portions 27, 28, 29 of the beam 20.

As preferred the entire beam 20, including the profile of the top and bottom faces and including the lifting openings 51 , 52 is made as a monolithic plastic part, e.g. of recycled plastic, in a mold with the mold having portions forming the recesses and the lifting openings.

Depicted here is that the side faces 23, 24 are substantially planar, flat and vertical side faces 23, 24, so that the overall cross-section of the beam 20 is square or rectangular depending on the height versus the width of the beam 20.

The recesses in the top face 21 and the bottom face 22 merge into the side faces 22, 23, so they extend full across the width of the beam 20.

The side faces, as depicted here, may have shallow lateral indentations 61 , 62, 63 e.g. for an integrally molded logo or the like, as a relief, in the region of each indentation.

It is further depicted here that between each outer load transmitting portion and the neighbouring axial end of the beam, a side face may have a lateral engagement indentation 64, 65 that may serve to receive therein for example part of a manual lifting tool for the beam 20.

As illustrated in the figures the assembly 10 here comprises a stack with six so-called three- beam horizontal layers, each having three individual beams 20. In each layer there are three beams 20 that are arranged in parallel and at a horizontal spacing distance from one another. The beams 20 in a higher layer are stacked perpendicular onto the beams 20 in a lower layer of the stack. The stacking of the beams 20 of a higher layer onto the beams 20 in a lower layer has been done so that each of the beams 20 of the higher layer is placed with the recesses 41 ,42,43 of the bottom face 22 thereof into aligned recesses 31 , 32, 33 of the top faces 21 of the beams 20 in the lower layer.

These recesses 31 , 32, 33, 41 , 42, 43 of the beams 20 are such that in the temporary support stack assembly 10 the intermediate face portions 34, 35, 44, 45 of individual beams 20 that are located in a vertical plane above one another are vertically spaced from one another so that a load exerted by a pipe 1 resting on the temporary support stack assembly 10 is transferred primarily via vertical columns formed by the stacked vertical load

transmitting portions 27, 28, 29 (see dash lines in figure 6D) of the stacked individual beams 20. In this three-beam layers design the result is nine of such columns in the assembly 10.

The temporary support stack assembly 10 is further complemented with a pipe saddle member 70 that is arranged on top of the stacked layers of individual beams 20.

The pipe saddle member has a pipe saddle member body forming a saddle 71 with a support face 72 to receiving thereon the pipe 1. As shown the saddle member provides a support face for the pipe only in a centre plane of the stack, so away from a front and a rear plane of the stack seen in longitudinal direction of the pipe supported on the saddle member. This design concentrates the load of the pipe in the center of the stack, even in case of any (later) misalignment which is preferred over any design where such misalignment would cause over excessive load in a front or rear plane of the stack for example.

As can be seen the temporary support stack assembly 10 has been assembled with a stack of at least three, here six, three-beam layers with three beams 20 each in alternating perpendicular stacking arrangement. This six-layer stack has been further complemented by arranging two further individual beams 20 on the stack, each in aligned outer recesses of the individual beams 20 of the three-beam layer below, so in outer vertical planes of the stack assembly 10.

The vertical load transmitting portions 27, 28, 29 of the body of the beam 20 that are each present between a pair of vertically aligned recesses in the top face and bottom face thereof, are illustrated to be of solid cross-section, so as to obtain a solid vertical load transmitting column of stacked beams in the assembly, e.g. nine columns in the embodiment depicted here

Figure 10 illustrates that the recesses of the top face and of the bottom face of the beams 20 each have a length in the longitudinal direction of the beam that is greater than a width of a portion of the beam 20 that is received in the recess, so as to establish a limited play between the stacked individual beams 20 in a horizontal plane.

Then the assembly has been further complemented by arranging the pipe saddle member 70 on the six-layer stack. This pipe saddle member 70 rests on these two individual beams, here the upper beams 20, as well as on at least one of the individual beams 20 of the three- beam layer below.

As depicted for example in figures 7A,7B, 8 the pipe saddle member 70 is embodied with a bottom face 73 that is configured to rest directly on the intermediate face portions of the top face of the central beam 20 of the layer below.

In more detail the exemplary pipe saddle member 70 shown here has a main body portion 75 in between these two upper individual beams 20, which portion 75 here rests directly onto just one, namely the central one, individual beam 20 in the three-beam layer below.

In more detail, in this exemplary embodiment, the pipe saddle member has one or more planar horizontal bottom face portions 75 that rest directly onto one or more planar horizontal intermediate face portions of the top face of the central beam 20 in the three-beam layer, so as to transmit at least a part of a load of a pipe resting on the pipe saddle member 70 via said one or more planar horizontal bottom face portions of the pipe saddle member to said central beam 20 in the highest or uppermost three-beam layer of the stack.

Also depicted is that the pipe saddle member 70 has a hook portion 76, 77 at each axial end of the main portion 75. Each of these hook portions 76, 77 hooks from above over the respective one of these two upper individual beams 20 and is, as preferred, partly received in a central recess in the top face of the respective individual beam. Preferably the hook portions do not or hardly absorb any vertical load and primarily serve to maintain the interlock with the beams 20 and contribute to the stability of the assembly 10. The hooks 76, 77 can also be used as handles when manually handling the member 70.

The depicted pipe saddle member 70 has a saddle 71 with a substantially v-shaped support face 72 to receive a pipe therein. As shown in figure 7B the support face 72 of the pipe saddle member 70 is convex seen in a cross-section along the longitudinal direction of the pipe 1 to be supported or supported by the pipe saddle member 70. The peak of the convex cross-section of the support face is located in a midplane of the pipe saddle 71.

As visible in for example figure 2, the temporary support assembly 70 is further

complemented by arranging chock members 81 on top of the pipe saddle member 70, which chock members 81 are configured to be located on each side of the pipe 1 resting on the saddle between the pipe and the pipe saddle member.

Each chock member 81 here is embodied as a wedge chock member having a non-parallel support face 83 for the pipe 1 and bottom face 84 adapted to rest on the pipe saddle member 70.

The bottom of the chock member 81 has a pair of downward protruding ribs 85, 86 to form a groove in which a portion of the saddle member 70 is received, which creates an interlock in a longitudinal direction of a supported pipe 1. In combination with the convex cross-section of the support face 72 of the pipe saddle member 70 the chock members 81 each have a mating concave bottom face 84 that is resting on the convex support face 72 as shown in figure 2 for example to obtain a favourable load transmission between the chock member 81 and the pipe saddle member 70.

Also illustrates is that the chock members 81 each have a support face 83 which is convex seen in a cross-section along the longitudinal direction of the pipe 1 to be supported or supported by the pipe saddle member. In use, one may proceed to assemble the assembly 10 to the form of figure 3 so first leaving out the chock members 81. The, e.g. using a mobile crane, the pipe 1 is placed on the two assemblies 10 and the chock members 81 are mounted to secure the position of the pipe 1 so that it does not roll sideways. Pipes 1 may be supported in this manner with their ends close to another allowing to join, e.g. weld, them together whilst resting on the assemblies 10, e.g. with the welder (e.g. a machine and/or person) moving under the pipes when needed. Several pipes are so joined to form a pipeline section, e.g. up to 1 kilometre in length in total, still resting on the assemblies. Then, using lifting machines, the pipeline section is lifted off the assemblies 10 and lowered into a trench. It will be appreciated that by increasing or reducing the number of layers in the stack the height of the assemblies can be readily varied and accommodated to the local situation. An individual beam 20, made of plastic, can be lifted and handled manually if desired.

It will be appreciated that a complete assembly 10 can be handled by a forklift or the like, e.g. allowing for pre-assembly of the assembly, or just the stack thereof, at a pre-assembly location and later transportation to the actual site of use of the assembly. For example, the assembly 10 is placed on a lorry or other vehicle and transported to the site of use.

Figure 13 illustrates that the saddle members 70 can also be used separate from any beams 20 or assembled stacks to support a pipe 1 thereon, close to the ground, e.g. to avoid that the pipe 1 starts to roll.

Figure 14 shows by the colouring in of a line drawing of the stack the result of a FEM- analysis of the material stress within an assembly according to the invention whilst supporting a pipe, as corresponding to the values shown in the legend to the right of the figure. Figure 15 shows the same results, but now only for the part of the assembly experiencing the highest stress range, of which the lower limit is indicated by the arrow in the legend. From comparing both figures, it may be verified that the larger part of the stack is subjected to material stresses within the lowest stress range, that is, the range up to the arrow. The visible part of the results gives an indication of the transfer of the stress from the V-surface of the saddle member that is in contact with the pipe to the rest of the assembly. It is shown that the stresses are divided from the contact surface mainly via the beams on which the saddle member rests and the columns with decreasing magnitude to the remainder of the beams.

Figure 16 illustrates an assembly according to the second and third aspect of the invention supporting a pipe, while being placed onto an uneven surface. The unevenness is in this case a stone, which is approximately a third of the height of an individual beam of the stack. Figure 16 is a schematic view of the real-life test arrangement shown on the photo of Fig. 18. It is noted that an unevenness of this kind is beyond the range of an unevenness which may be expected in practical uses of the assembly, and is shown here merely to illustrate the functionality of the openings in an amplified manner. Figure 17 shows the assembly in the same situation as Figure 16, with the pipe not being shown, in a three-dimensional view.

In the Figures 16-18 it is illustrated that the openings are configured such that whilst a pipe is temporarily being supported on the temporary support stack assembly, the bridging portions of the beams of the assembly deform such as to assume or adjust a curved shape in response to any unevenness of the ground on which the assembly is placed.

It is also visible that the bridging portions of openings closest to the stone respond strongest thereto, by deforming most, and bridges of openings further away therefrom respond less by deforming less. This enables the beams function as a buffer in compensating the

unevenness, transferring the effect thereof to a decreasing extent in a direction away from the unevenness and/or load change within the assembly.

Furthermore, from the figures it can be envisaged that the recesses in the beams allowing for play between the stacked individual beams in a horizontal plane assist the flexibility of the assembly which has been established by the openings.

Figure 19 illustrates an embodiment of a beam, of which a multiplicity may be used in assembling a temporary support stack assembly according to the invention. In this embodiment, multiple elongate upwardly extending grooves are present along the length of the beam, for purposes of flexibility and material savings.

Figure 20 illustrates a flow chart illustrating an example method for temporarily supporting a pipe according to the fourth aspect of the invention. Each of the beams and the saddle member in the temporary support stack assembly is therein provided with an RFID tag having stored thereon tag data.

Herein, starting from the top-left arrow of the flow-chart, the method comprises scanning the RFID tags of individual beams to be used in the temporary support assemblies, such as to read out said data stored thereon by the shown scanner, and consequently, based on the read out data, determining for each beam if each one of the beams is qualified for use in the particular assembly for supporting a pipe. In this case this determination is done based on a checklist and testing of the beam. The data on the RFID tags of the individual beams and saddle member, and/or the data stored externally and being linked to the data on the RFID tags of the individual beams, may therein be updated based on the inspection. This inspection and based thereon the consequent validation or rejection of beams takes place at the location of the supplier and prior to transport to the site where the pipe is to be supported and the pipes are to be joined end-to-end.

Following the next arrow in the figure, after transportation, the beams are transported to said site, where they are assembled to form the temporary support stack assemblies.

Consequently each stack is inspected, again by scanning the RFID tags of the beams of each assembly, such as to read out said data stored thereon by the shown scanner, and consequently, based on the read out data, determining for each beam of the assembly if each one of the beams is qualified for use in the particular assembly for supporting a pipe, such that the assembly as a whole is based thereon consequently validated or rejected. In this case this determination is done based on 'best practices' of each assembly as a whole.

Consequently, after validation of the stack assemblies, the operator crane may be informed of the validation and a safety area cleared. One or more pipes that are to be joined end-to- end are placed onto said temporary support stack assemblies such as to consequently be temporarily supported on said temporary support stack assemblies.

The method then comprises the further step of joining, e.g. welding, the pipes end-to-end to form a pipeline section, and optionally the further step of burying the pipeline section into the ground, e.g. placing the pipeline section in a trench and covering the pipeline section.

Moving on to the bottom-right arrow of the flow chart of figure 20, after said use of the support stack assemblies in supporting a pipe, these may either be reused on-site for supporting pipeline, or transported back to the supplier. In case of re-use on-site, the method may be repeated from the step of inspection of the stack assemblies. The data on the RFID tags of the individual beams, and/or the data stored externally and being linked to the data on the RFID tags of the individual beams, may therein be updated based on the inspection.

In case of transportation of the beams back to the supplier, the individual beams of the assemblies may here be inspected again such as to repeat the method from this inspection step. The data on the RFID tags of the individual beams, and/or the data stored externally and being linked to the data on the RFID tags of the individual beams, may therein be updated based on the inspection.

In Figure 21a an individual beam 20 of the assembly is shown which is provided with a unique ID through an RFID tag, readable by an external scanner.

In Figure 21 b an individual beam 20 of the support stack assembly is shown which is at the recesses 31 , 32, 33 and the intermediate face portions 34, 35 of the top face 21 of the beam provided with passive sensors 91 for measuring the force exerted on the beam 20, the strain of the beam 20, and its deflection.

In Figure 21 c a saddle member 70 of the support stack assembly is shown which is provided with an active sensor 92 for measuring the inclination of the saddle member in two perpendicular directions, namely tangential and axial to the pipe, and deflection of, and the force exerted on, the saddle member as well as the temperature, humidity, and moisture.

In Figure 22a it is depicted that each beam 20 and saddle member 70 of the stack assembly 10 are each provided with a unique identification through a RFID tag 94, which is for the assembly 10 readable by an external scanner 93. This scanner 93 is connected to a WAN network, which has linked to these identifications in a digital storage space thereof a record of specific data on each beam 20 and saddle member 70. At least the first date in use, the date of the last certification, the final date for preventive replacement, and the date of production are therein kept, and regularly updated. A tablet 93 is connected to the WAN network, configured to display thereon per beam and saddle member the abovementioned data linked thereto. The tablet 93, and, a smartwatch 93 also connected to the WAN network, indicates a warning signal in the form of a visual, audible and buzzing alarm in case one or more of the beams 20 or the saddle member 70 of the assembly is not qualified for use. In this embodiment, the data on beams 20 and saddle members 70 of multiple assemblies 10 are accessible through the WAN network.

In Figure 22b it is depicted that the saddle member 70 of the almost completely assembled stack assembly 10 e.g. at the location of the supplier, or e.g. on-site, is provided with an active sensor 92 for measuring deflection thereof and its inclination in two perpendicular directions, namely tangential and axial to the pipe, and for measuring temperature, humidity, and moisture. The sensors 91 , 92 of the support stack assembly together form a wireless sensor network. Therein the sensor 92 of the saddle member is an active sensor, and the sensors 91 of the individual beams passive sensors. The saddle member and/or the beams are provided with a unique identification of the stack and/or the individual beam or saddle member that is scannable.

The sensors 91 , 92 in the stack assembly together form a wireless WLAN network, and the saddle member 70 functions as a HUB to form a WWAN/WLAN gateway between this network and an external VVWAN network, collecting the sensor data of the sensors 91 , 92 in the stack assembly 10 and passing the sensor data to an external storage space of the VVWAN network. The tablet 93 is connected to this V WAN network, and configured to through this connection display the sensor data of the assembly 10 and indicate on the display, per measured quantity, if the stack assembly 10 is qualified for use when

considering each quantity, being within predetermined limits for these quantities, or not. The tablet 93, and a smartwatch 93 connected thereto via the VVWAN network, indicates a warning signal in the form of a visible, hearable and buzzing alarm in case the stack assembly 10 is not qualified for use. In this case, the judgement for each factor determining the qualification of the stack assembly for use, is that the quantity is within predetermined limits for that factor, which is indicated by the word ΌΚ.

In this embodiment, the WLAN network of multiple stack assemblies 10 are connected to the VVWAN network through the HUB formed by the saddle member 70 of each assembly 10, so that the sensor data of these stack assemblies 10 are all accessible through the WWAN network. In case one or more quantities would not be within the predetermined limits therefor (not shown), it would be indicated on the display for that specific quantity, and the stack assembly would be determined unqualified for use. Furthermore, a warning message would be displayed on the smartwatch 93 indicating the support stack assembly 10 not being qualified for use.

Figure 23 shows multiple support stack assemblies 10 having been assembled on-site, with located most distantly in the picture, already end-to-end joined pipes being supported by the assemblies 10, and located most nearby in the picture, not yet joined pipes 1 being supported thereby.

At the forefront, a tablet 93 is shown being held by an operator. The tablet 93 has software which interprets the measurement data of the sensors 91 , 92 of the stack assemblies 10, and the identifications and status data linked thereto, such as to determine for each stack assembly if it is qualified for use or not. On the display of the tablet 93, it is indicated per stack assembly 10 if it is qualified for use or not. If a stack assembly 10 is unqualified, this is shown by a cross near the location of the stack assembly on the screen, and if it is qualified for use, by a check mark thereon.

Figures 24A-E show a saddle member 70 according to the first aspect of the invention being complemented by arranging roller members 101 on top of the pipe saddle member 70, which roller members 101 are configured for being located on each side of a pipe resting on the pipe saddle member, between the pipe and the pipe saddle member. By the advancement from figure 24A to figure 24B and consequently to figure 24c, or to figure 24D and consequently to figure 24E, the placement of two roller members 101 on top of the pipe saddle member 70 is illustrated. The roller members are each provided with rollers 102, rotatably connected to a support base 103 of the roller member 101 , with the support base 103 being supported by the pipe saddle member 70, and the rollers being supported on the support base 103 such as to support the pipe 1 while through the rolling thereof along rotation axes 105 thereof enabling a movement of the pipe 1 perpendicular to the rotation axes 105.

The rollers 103 are supported on the base member 103 at axial ends 106 thereof, e.g. with a reduced diameter, such as to rotate partly within the base member 103, e.g. said axial ends 106 being supported at respective indentations 107 in opposite side walls 104 of the support base.

In figure 24C, it is shown that rollers 102 are supported on the support base 103 of the roller member with the rotation axes 105 thereof being tangential to the circumference of the pipe 1 that is to be placed thereon, in the way shown in figure 24F. Therein, the rollers 102 are supported by the support base 103 such as to have an inclination of the rollers 102 adapted to a specific diameter of the pipe 1.

This configuration enables an axial movement of the pipe over the rollers. This is indicated in figure 24F by the arrow along a central longitudinal axis 2 of the pipe 1 , pointing in the axial movement directions of the pipe 1. In figure 24E it is shown that rollers 102 are supported on the support base 103 of the roller member 101 with the rotation axes 105 thereof being parallel to the central longitudinal axis 2 of the pipe 1. This configuration enables a rotating movement of the pipe 1 over the rollers 102 around the central longitudinal axis 2 of the pipe. This is indicated in figure 24G by the arrow around the central longitudinal axis 2 of the pipe, pointing in the rotational movement directions of the pipe 1. Multiple indentations 107 are provided along the inwards-outwards direction in the side walls 104 of the support base, so that the rollers 102 may be supported by the support base 103 more inwardly or outwardly in adaptation to a specific diameter of the pipe 1.

Figures 24H-M show a beam 20 according to the first aspect of the invention being complemented by arranging the roller members 101 on top of the beam 20, which roller members 101 are configured for being located on each side of a pipe resting on the beam 20, between the pipe and the beam 20. By the advancement from figure 24H to figure 24I and consequently to figure 24J, or from figure 24K and to figure 24L and consequently to figure 24M, the placement of two roller members 101 on top of the beam 20 is illustrated.

In figure 24J, it is shown that rollers 102 are supported on the support base 103 of the roller member with the rotation axes 105 thereof being tangential to the circumference of the pipe 1 that is to be placed thereon. This configuration enables an axial movement of the pipe over the rollers.

In figure 24M it is shown that rollers 102 are supported on the support base 103 of the roller member 101 with the rotation axes 105 thereof being parallel to the central longitudinal axis 2 of the pipe 1. This configuration enables a rotating movement of the pipe 1 over the rollers 102 around the central longitudinal axis 2 of the pipe.

The support base 103 of each roller member 101 is adapted to accommodate both a roller

102 rotatable in a direction tangential to the circumference of the pipe 1 , as well as a roller

103 rotatable in an axial direction of the pipe 1. The latter even in multiple more inwardly or outwardly located positions along the roller member. Therein, as for instance depicted in figure 24B and figure 24D the rollers 102 are detachable from the support base 103, namely removable therefrom by lifting these out of the indentations on the top of the support base 103. Furthermore, therein the rollers 102 are partly rotatable inside the support base 103, the support base 103 having in the opposed side walls 104 thereof in both mentioned directions indentations 107 at which the axial ends 106 of the rollers are supported.

In Figure 24N an embodiment of the roller members 101 is shown wherein the roller member 101 is configured accommodate the same rollers 102 in both directions by supporting these in indentations 107 in either of the side walls. In embodiments, the support base 103 is in the, with respect to the pipe 1 , tangentially extending opposite side walls thereof provided with three indentations 107 along the tangential direction of the pipe 1 , for supporting three rollers 102 in a row to each rotate in an axial direction of the pipe. In the figure, the three rollers 102 of the rightmost roller member 101 are supported in this way. The three rollers 102 are positionable as well such as to be rotatably supported in indentations 107 of the other opposite side walls which extend in an axial direction of the pipe 1. In the figure, the three rollers 102 are supported in this way in the leftmost roller member 101. Therein these rollers are interconnected at the adjacent axial ends thereof not being supported in the indentations 107, such as to together be supported by the two indentation 107 in said side walls, while being rotatable in a tangential direction with respect to the pipe 1. It is noted that in practice, the rollers 102 of both roller members 101 would be rotatable either all in a tangential or all in an axial direction to enable the axial or rotational movement of the pipe. The configuration of the rollers 102 in figure 24N in a different direction within each respective roller member 101 is shown merely to demonstrate the usability of the rollers 102 in both directions for the individual roller members 101.

Figures 25B-G illustrate the rollers 102 being placed inside the support bases 103 and the thereby formed roller members 101 onto an individual beam 20. Figures 25B-D illustrate this for the rollers 101 being directed such as to rotate along axial rotation axes enabling the rotational movement of the pipe 1 over the rollers 102, and figures 25E-G illustrate this for the roller members 101 being directed such as to rotate along tangential rotation axes enabling the axial movement of the pipe 1 over the rollers 102. Figures 25H-0 illustrate the rollers 102 being placed inside the support bases 103 and the thereby formed roller members 101 onto a saddle member 70. Figures 25H-K illustrate this for the rollers 101 being directed such as to rotate along axial rotation axes enabling the rotational movement of the pipe 1 over the rollers 102, and figures 25L-0 illustrate this for the roller members 101 being directed such as to rotate along tangential rotation axes enabling the axial movement of the pipe 1 over the rollers 102. From the embodiment of the roller member 101 shown in figures 25B-0, it is visible that the two roller members 101 are interconnected at the inwards sides thereof by interconnecting the support bases 103 thereof. The interconnected roller members 101 are pivotable such as to accord with the shape of the top face 21 of the saddle member 70 these are to be placed on, as illustrated in figures 25H-0.

The interconnection is in the form of a hinge, enabling pivoting of the roller members 101 towards each other in inward or outward directions over an axially extending pivot axis with respect to the pipe 1 , so that the interconnected roller members 101 are adaptive to multiple inclination angles of the top face 21 of the saddle member 70.

In addition, through the hinge the interconnected roller members may be adapted to as well be supported on an individual beam 20 of the support stack assembly 10 instead of on the saddle member 70. This is illustrated in figures 25B-G In addition, it may be envisaged that the interconnected roller members may be pivoted such as accord to the inclination of the top surface of chock members 81 supported on the saddle member 70, to be supported on these chock members 81.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. Method for temporarily supporting a pipe (1), for example in a construction process of a pipeline section of end-to-end joined pipes, which pipeline section is to be buried in the ground, wherein the construction process comprises temporarily supporting pipes that are to be joined end-to-end on temporary support stack assemblies (10), wherein the method comprises the step of assembling a temporary support stack assembly (10) wherein individual beams (20) are arranged in multiple stacked horizontal layers, with each layer having multiple beams (20) that are arranged in parallel and at a horizontal spacing distance from one another, and wherein the beams (20) in a higher layer are stacked perpendicular onto the beams in a lower layer, wherein each beam has an elongated body having a length in longitudinal direction and a top face (21 ), a bottom face (22), opposed side faces (23,24), and axial end faces (25,26), characterized in that said individual beams (20) each have a top face (21) and a bottom face (22) which each define multiple recesses (31 ,32,33,41 ,42,43) that are spaced apart from another in longitudinal direction corresponding to said horizontal spacing distance by an intermediate face portion (34,35,44,45), wherein the multiple recesses of the top face are vertically aligned with the multiple recesses of the bottom face with a vertical load

transmitting portion (27,28,29) of the body between each pair of vertically aligned recesses, and characterized in that the stacking of the beams (20) of a higher layer onto the beams (20) in a lower layer is done so that each of said beams of said higher layer is placed with the recesses (41 ,42,43) of the bottom face thereof into recesses (31 ,32,33) of the top faces of the beams in the lower layer, and characterized in that the recesses (31 ,32,33,41 ,42,43) of the individual beams (20) are such that in the temporary support stack assembly (10) the intermediate face portions

(34,35,44,45) of individual beams that are located in a vertical plane above one another are vertically spaced from one another so that a load exerted by a pipe (1) supported by the temporary support stack assembly is transferred primarily via vertical columns formed by the stacked vertical load transmitting portions (27,28,29) of the stacked individual beams (20).

2. Method according to claim 1 , wherein said top face (21) and said bottom face (22) of said individual beams (20) each define at least three, e.g. exactly three, recesses (31 ,32,33,41 ,42,43) that are spaced apart from another in longitudinal direction corresponding to said horizontal spacing distance by an intermediate face portion

(34,35,44,45), wherein the at least three recesses of the top face are vertically aligned with the at least three recesses of the bottom face with a vertical load transmitting portion (27,28,29) of the body between each pair of vertically aligned recesses, and wherein the temporary support stack assembly (10) is complemented by arranging two individual beams (20) on said stack assembly, each in aligned outer recesses (31 ,33) of the individual beams (20) of the at least three-beam layer below, and is further complemented by arranging a pipe saddle member (70) on said stack assembly, which pipe saddle member has a pipe saddle member body forming a saddle (71) with a support face (72) configured to receive thereon a pipe (1), which pipe saddle member is configured and arranged so as to rest on said two individual beams (20) as well as on at least one of the individual beams (20) of the at least three-beam layer below.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the pipe saddle member (70) has a main body portion (75) in between said two individual beams (20), which main body portion (75) rests directly onto at least one individual beam (20) in the at least three-beam layer below, e.g. on one individual beam (20) in said three-beam layer below.

4. Method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the pipe saddle member has a hook portion (76,77) at each axial end of said main portion (75), wherein each of the hook portions (76,77) hooks from above over the respective one of said two individual beams (20) and is preferably partly received in a recess (32), e.g. a central recess, in the top face of said respective individual beam (10).

5. Method according to any one of claims 2 - 4, wherein the pipe saddle member has a saddle (71) with a substantially semi-circular or v-shaped support face (72) to receive a pipe (1) therein.

6. Method according to any one of claims 2 - 5, wherein the support face (72) of the pipe saddle member is convex seen in a cross-section along the longitudinal direction of the pipe to be supported or supported by the pipe saddle member.

7. Method according to any one or more of claims 2 - 6, wherein the temporary support assembly (10) is further complemented by arranging chock members (81) on top of the pipe saddle member (70), which chock members are configured to be located on each side of the pipe resting on the saddle between the pipe and the pipe saddle member.

8. Method according to claim 7, wherein a chock member (81 ) is embodied as a wedge chock member having a non-parallel support face (83) for the pipe and bottom face (84) adapted to rest on the pipe saddle member (70).

9. Method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein a chock member (81 ) is embodied to interlock at least in a longitudinal direction of a supported pipe (1 ) with the pipe saddle member (70), e.g. has a pair of downward protruding ribs (85,86) to form a groove and with a portion of the saddle member being received in said groove.

10. Method according to any of claims 2 - 9, wherein the pipe saddle member (70) has one or more planar horizontal bottom face portions that rest directly onto one or more planar horizontal intermediate face portions (34,35) of one or more beams (20) in the at least three- beam layer below, so as to transmit at least a part of a load of a pipe resting on the pipe saddle member via said one or more planar horizontal bottom face portions of the pipe saddle member to said one or more beams in the at least three-beam layer below.

1 1. Method according to any of claims 1 - 10, wherein the individual beams (20) have been made out of plastic material, e.g. recycled plastic material, preferably each being made as a monolithic plastic component.

12. Method according to any one or more of claims 1 - 1 1 , wherein multiple temporary support stack assemblies (10) are assembled, and wherein one or more pipes (1) that are to be joined end-to-end are placed onto said temporary support stack assemblies such as to consequently be temporarily supported on said temporary support stack assemblies, the method optionally comprising the further step of joining, e.g. welding, the pipes end-to-end to form a pipeline section, and optionally the further step of burying the pipeline section into the ground, e.g. placing the pipeline section in a trench and covering the pipeline section.

13. Method for temporarily supporting a pipe (1), for example in a construction process of a pipeline section of end-to-end joined pipes, which pipeline section is to be buried in the ground, wherein the construction process comprises temporarily supporting pipes that are to be joined end-to-end on temporary support stack assemblies (10), wherein the method comprises the step of assembling a temporary support stack assembly (10) wherein individual beams (20) are arranged in multiple stacked horizontal layers, with each layer having multiple beams (20) that are arranged in parallel and at a horizontal spacing distance from one another, and wherein the beams (20) in a higher layer are stacked perpendicular onto the beams in a lower layer, wherein each beam has an elongated body having a length in longitudinal direction and a top face (21), a bottom face (22), opposed side faces (23,24), and axial end faces (25,26), characterized in that each of the individual beams (20) in the temporary support stack assembly is provided with a data carrier having data stored thereon, for example an RFID tag having stored thereon tag data, the method further comprising scanning the data carriers, for example RFID tags, of the beams (20) of the support stack assembly such as to read out said data stored thereon, and consequently, based on the read out data, determining for said beams (20) if each one of the beams (20) is qualified for use in the particular assembly for supporting a pipe (1).

14. Method according to claim 13, wherein said reading out of the data carriers, for example RFID tags, is performed on-site, that is, on the site where the pipe is to be supported and the pipes are to be joined end-to-end.

15. Method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein qualification for use in the support stack assembly is determined based on data relating to one or more characteristics of the particular beam (20), e.g. the age, the use to date, duration of use, maintenance status, material and geometric characteristics, fabrication process, physical status, and/or expected operational lifespan of the respective beam.

16. Method according to any of claims 12 - 15, wherein based on the read out data of data carriers of the beams (20) of one or more temporary support stack assemblies a record is built or kept of the beams of the support stack assemblies, e.g. of identifications of individual beams thereof, and/or physical characteristics and/or product data thereof and/or the approval thereof, which is preferably stored, e.g. in a digital database or a physical document, in relation to identifications of the assembly it is, was or is to be part of.

17. Method according to any of claims 12 - 16, wherein the data stored on the data carrier, for example the tag data of the RFID tag, of each beam (20) comprises a unique identification of the beam, and wherein, preferably, the identification of the beam (20) is, after said reading out of the data, used to retrieve other data on the respective beam (20), e.g. other data that is stored in a digital database or in a physical document, e.g. said other data comprising data relating to product data of the respective beam and/or the physical characteristics of the respective beam, e.g. the age, the use to date, duration of use, maintenance status, material and/or geometric characteristics, fabrication process, physical status, and/or expected operational lifespan of the respective beam.

18. Method according to any of claims 12 - 17, wherein the data stored on the data carrier, for example the tag data of the RFID tag, of each beam (20) comprises product data and/or data on physical characteristics of the beam, e.g. the age, the use to date, duration of use, maintenance status, material and/or geometric characteristics, fabrication process, physical status, and/or expected operational lifespan of the respective beam.

19. Temporary support stack assembly (10) for temporarily supporting a pipe, wherein the temporary support stack assembly comprises individual beams (20) arranged in multiple stacked horizontal layers, with each layer having multiple beams (20) that are arranged in parallel and at a horizontal spacing distance from one another, and wherein the beams in a higher layer are stacked perpendicular onto the beams in a lower layer, wherein each beam (20) has an elongated body having a length in longitudinal direction and a top face (21), a bottom face (22), opposed side faces (23,24), and axial end faces (25,26), characterized in that said individual beams (20) each have a top face and a bottom face which each define multiple recesses (31 ,32,33,41 ,42,43) that are spaced apart from another in longitudinal direction corresponding to said horizontal spacing distance by an intermediate face portion (34,35,44,45), wherein the multiple recesses of the top face are vertically aligned with the multiple recesses of the bottom face with a vertical load transmitting portion

(27,28,29) of the body between each pair of vertically aligned recesses, and characterized in that the stacking of the beams (20) of a higher layer onto the beams (20) in a lower layer has been done so that each of said beams of said higher layer is placed with the recesses (41 ,42,43) of the bottom face thereof into recesses (31 ,32,33) of the top faces of the beams in the lower layer, and characterized in that the recesses (31 ,32,33,41 ,42,43) of the individual beams (20) are such that in the temporary support stack assembly (10) the intermediate face portions (34,35,44,45) of individual beams that are located in a vertical plane above one another are vertically spaced from one another so that a load exerted by a pipe (1) supported by the temporary support stack assembly is transferred primarily via vertical columns formed by the stacked vertical load transmitting portions (27,28,29) of the stacked individual beam.

20. Temporary support stack assembly (10) for temporarily supporting a pipe, wherein the temporary support stack assembly comprises individual beams (20) arranged in at least three stacked horizontal three-beam layers, with each layer having exactly three individual beams (20) that are arranged in parallel and at a horizontal spacing distance from one another, and wherein the beams (20) in a higher layer are stacked perpendicular onto the beams in a lower layer, wherein each beam has an elongated body having a length in longitudinal direction and a top face (21 ), a bottom face (22), opposed side faces (23,24), and axial end faces (25,26), wherein said individual beams (20) each have a top face (21) and a bottom face (22) which each define at least three, e.g. exactly three, recesses (31 ,32,33,41 ,42,43) that are spaced apart from another in longitudinal direction corresponding to said horizontal spacing distance by an intermediate face portion (34,35,44,45), wherein the at least three, e.g. exactly three, recesses of the top face are vertically aligned with the three recesses of the bottom face with a vertical load transmitting portion (27,28,29) of the body between each pair of vertically aligned recesses, and characterized in that the beams (20) of a higher layer are stacked onto the beams (20) in a lower layer so that each of said beams of said higher layer is placed with the recesses

(41 ,42,43) of the bottom face thereof into recesses (31 ,32,33) of the top faces of the beams in the lower layer, and characterized in that the at least three, e.g. exactly three, recesses (31 ,32,33,41 ,42,43) of the individual beams (20) are such that in the temporary support stack assembly (10) the intermediate face portions (34,35,44,45) of individual beams that are located in a vertical plane above one another are vertically spaced from one another so that a load exerted by a pipe (1) supported by the temporary support stack assembly is transferred primarily via vertical columns formed by the stacked vertical load transmitting portions (27,28,29) of the stacked individual beams (20), wherein the temporary support stack assembly (10) is complemented by arranging two individual beams (20) on said support stack, each in aligned outer recesses (31 ,33) of the individual beams (20) of the at least three-beam layer below, and is further complemented by arranging a pipe saddle member (70) on said support stack, which pipe saddle member has a pipe saddle member body forming a saddle (71) with a support face (72) to receiving thereon a pipe (1) and which pipe saddle member rests on said two individual beams (20) as well as on at least one of the individual beams (20) of the at least three-beam layer below.

21. Temporary support stack assembly according to claim 20, wherein the pipe saddle member (70) has a main body portion (75) in between said two individual beams (20) that rests directly onto at least one, e.g. just one, individual beam (20) in said at least three-beam layer below, and wherein, preferably, the pipe saddle member has a hook portion (76,77) at each axial end of said main portion (75), wherein each of the hook portions (76,77) hooks from above over the respective one of said two individual beams (20) and is, preferably, partly received in a recess (32), e.g. a central recess, in the top face of said respective individual beam (10).