Patent Application
20170284589
The present invention relates to pipe supports. More particularly, it relates to an insulation compression reduction assembly to be used with a pipe support providing enhanced support to pipes extending horizontally in piping systems. A kit of unassembled components of the above assembly that can be assembled together for providing the same is also provided.
In commercial and industrial constructions, horizontally running pipe systems are most commonly supported using a series of U-shaped pipe supporting members, such as clevis hangers, affixed to the ceiling or to any other overhead surface, and disposed at variable distances.
The pipe conduits often convey material at a temperature substantially higher or lower from the ambient temperature. In such cases, the pipe conduits usually require thermal insulation in order to prevent changes in the temperature of the conveyed material, due to heat transfer occurring at the pipe surface. Thermal insulation is also very effective in preventing the formation of condensation at the surface of the pipe in the case where the conveyed fluid material is colder than the ambient temperature, thereby avoiding premature rusting of the components of the pipe supporting system as well as water drops falling to the ground in the case of constructions where pipe systems are visible, e.g. warehouses, underground parking lots, or the like.
In the above-mentioned configuration, the pipe or the thermal insulation envelope covering the pipe usually rests directly on the U-shaped metal strips of the supporting members, which creates several problems, mostly caused by the sharp edges of the U-shaped metal strips and their relatively narrow width.
Firstly, when a thermal insulation envelope covers a pipe, traditional U-shaped pipe supporting members tend to crush the insulation layer at the support points. This is mostly due to the usual fragility of commonly used pipe insulation material and to the pressure being applied over a narrow contact surface between a support and the insulated pipe. This crushing of the insulation material causes a decrease in the thickness of the insulation layer of the pipe, negatively impacting on the overall insulation of the pipe. Furthermore, friction and vibration, which always occur at the support points, further degrade the insulation and can lead to rupture in the insulation envelope which further reduces the insulation of the pipe system. The reduction in insulation is often exacerbated by the conductive heat transfer between the pipe and the holder, since both components are often made of heat conductive material.
In addition, subsequent installation or replacement of thermal insulation over a length of pipe often proves to be a long and arduous job for workers attending to these tasks. The common method for installing an insulated pipe usually involves two steps. In the first step, a technician secures the U-shaped supporting members to the overhead surface and inserts the section of pipes in the supporting members. In the second step, an insulation technician covers the pipes with an insulation layer. This insulation layer is typically cut lengthwise. In this last step, the supporting members cause difficulties as they prevent the sliding of the insulation layer on the pipes at the contact points.
Hence, in light of the aforementioned, there is a need for an insulation compression reduction assembly, which by virtue of its design and components, would be able to overcome or at least minimize some of the above-discussed prior art concerns.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an insulation compression reduction assembly for reducing compression of an insulating material surrounding a horizontally extending pipe in combination with a pipe support supporting said pipe. The compression reduction assembly includes a base pressure skate element sized and shaped to fit within the pipe support, a pipe holder structure sized and shaped to rest against an outer surface of the horizontal extending pipe, and a spacing element connecting the base pressure skate element and the pipe holder structure and forming an offset spacing therebetween for reducing compression of the insulating material. An insulation compression reduction kit of disassembled components of the above assembly that can be used to form the above compression reduction assembly is also provided according to the present invention.
Advantageously, the insulation compression reduction assembly and kit described hereinabove offers a solution to the crushing of the insulation layer covering the pipes by providing an offset space between the pipe and the pipe support.
The objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following non-restrictive description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given for the purpose of exemplification only, with reference to the appended drawings.
For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference is now made by way of example to the accompanying drawings in which:
In the following description, the same numerical references refer to similar elements.
The embodiments, geometrical configurations, materials mentioned and/or dimensions shown in the figures or described in the present description are preferred embodiments only, given solely for exemplification purposes.
Moreover, although the preferred embodiment of the compression reduction assembly and corresponding parts thereof consist of certain geometrical configurations as explained and illustrated herein, not all of these components and geometries are essential to the invention and thus should not be taken in their restrictive sense, i.e. should not be taken as to limit the scope of the present invention. It is to be understood, as also apparent to a person skilled in the art, that other suitable components and cooperation thereinbetween, as well as other suitable geometrical configurations, may be used for the compression reduction assembly according to the present invention, as will be briefly explained herein and as can be easily inferred herefrom, by a person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention and as better illustrated in
As better shown in
However, any type of insulation tube can be used with the present invention. In some scenarios, the insulation tube may not be provided with a pre-defined split line. In such cases, the installer can locally slice open a portion of the insulation tube to allow installation of the compression reduction assembly around this localized area of the otherwise unsplit tube. The insulation tube 24 can further comprise a vapour barrier 26 on an external surface of the tube.
In some implementations, the base pressure skate element 18 includes a slotted portion 28 shaped and sized to receive the spacing element 22.
Similarly, in some implementations, although not illustrated in the figures, the pipe holder structure 20 also includes a slotted portion shaped and sized to receive the spacing element 22.
As better shown in
It will be readily understood by one skilled in the art that the above-mentioned embodiment is merely illustrative of the possible specific embodiments which may represent principles of the present invention. Of course, numerous modifications could be made to the embodiment described above without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CA2015/050889 | 9/15/2015 | WO | 00 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62050520 | Sep 2014 | US |
