AU2015100019A4 - High density foam ferrule - Google Patents

Abstract

- 1 The present invention is directed to a high density polyurethane foam ferrule that has neoprene gasket seal and a foil sisal barrier wrap. The ferrule doesn't rot, 5 seals against water leakage, a good insulator, easy to install and can be made to any pipe size. --------------- Fig. 2

Description

- 1 HIGH DENSITY FOAM FERRULE FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to ferrules that support heavy pipes. The 5 present invention has particular but not exclusive application for air conditioning pipes for buildings. Reference to use of the invention with respect to air conditioning pipes is by way of example only and the invention is not limited to this use. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 0 Wooden ferrules are used to support large pipes used in the air conditioning of buildings. The wooden ferrules comprise of multiple parts depending on the diameter and size of the pipe. The wooden ferrules are used to space the supporting bracket from the pipe. Depending on the size of the pipe two or more parts may need to be glued 5 together to form the required ferrule size. The wooden ferrules for air conditioning pipes also require the placement of a vapor seal around the outer surface of the ferrule to prevent vapor and condensation leaking from the ferrule. The wooden ferrules can subsequently become waterlogged and eventually rot. When the wooden ferrules rot they need to be replaced so as to maintain the integrity of the 0 pipe mounting to the building. The use of wooden ferrules also suffer from having poor insulation properties. As well wooden ferrules are labour intensive to manufacture and wood is a relatively expensive raw material. 25 OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative ferrule that can be used with air conditioning pipework that overcomes at least in part one or more of the abovementioned disadvantages. 30 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect the present invention broadly resides in a ferrule for a pipe comprising a high density foam block wherein the block is in at least two sections which when joined forms a substantial ring shape, a section seal at each junction -2 formed by opposing ends of the block sections and a vapor barrier around an outer surface of the foam block. In another aspect the invention broadly resides in a ferrule for a pipe comprising a high density foam ring-shaped block in two or more sections, a section 5 seal at each junction formed by opposing ends of the block sections and a vapor barrier around an outer surface of the foam block; wherein each of the block sections are connected by the vapor barrier allowing the sections to be positioned about the pipe to form the ferrule. Preferably the high density foam block has a closed cell structure. o Preferably the high density foam block is high density polyurethane foam. Preferably the foam of high density foam block is not compressible. Preferably the foam block does not absorb moisture and does not rot. Preferably the foam block is substantially circular with a substantially circular aperture to form the ring shape. Preferably the diameter of the aperture is 5 substantially the same as the outer diameter of the pipe that is to be supported by the ferrule. In one preferred embodiment the block comprises of two semicircular sections. Preferably the section seal is a compressible gasket-type seal. Preferably the section seal is a neoprene or rubber gasket seal. o The vapor barrier that surrounds the outer surface of the foam block is preferably a foil vapor barrier. Preferably the foil vapor barrier is able to reflect heat. In the embodiment where the foam block forms two semicircular rings, the vapor barrier forms a hinge between the two sections. The vapor barrier preferably connects the sections. There is preferably at 25 least one break in the surrounding vapor barrier to allow the sections to be positioned about the pipe to form the ferrule. In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the section ends that are not connected by the vapor barrier has a vapor barrier tail extending beyond the respective section end. Preferably both opposing section ends have a vapor barrier 30 tail. The vapor barrier tails preferably overlap when the sections are positioned about the pipe to form the ferrule. More preferably the overlapping tails can adhere to each other to complete the vapor barrier.

-3 In a further aspect, the invention broadly resides in a method of installation of the ferrule as described above around a pipe including positioning the foam block around the pipe; abutting sections against each other; and 5 sealing the vapor barrier by adhering adjacent overlapping tails. The ferrule positioned about the pipe preferably forms a support for a mounting bracket. In one preferred embodiment there is an arcuate sleeve positionable around a lower portion of the ferrule. Preferably the sleeve is a rolled steel sleeve. Preferably the arcuate sleeve is positioned around a lower portion of 0 the ferrule to transfer load across a comparative larger area to reduce the risk of pipe sag because of plastic deformation. The features described with respect to one aspect also apply where applicable to all other aspects of the invention. Furthermore different combinations of described features are herein described and claimed even when not expressly 5 stated. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the present invention can be more readily understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred 0 embodiment of the invention and wherein: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the ferrule in the open position; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of the ferrule in the closed position; Figure 3 is a another diagrammatic view of the ferrule in the closed position; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the ferrule and mounted 25 with a bracket; and Figure 5 is a photographic view of the mounted ferrule. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the figures 1 to 5 there is shown a ferrule (10) comprising of 30 two semi-circular high density polyurethane foam block sections (11). The outside surface of the foam block sections (11) has a vapor barrier (12). The vapor barrier (12) consists of a foil SISAL wrap. The foil sisal wrap (12) serves to hinge one of the foam block sections to the other foam block section. Between the two foam block sections (11) there is a neoprene (or rubber) seal (13). The neoprene seal (13) is -4 sandwiched between on opposing ends (14) of the block sections (11) to form a substantially watertight seal between the two sections (11). With reference to Figure 1, there is shown a vapor barrier tail (16) extending from the end of the section (11). The tail (16) can adhere to the outer surface of the 5 SISAL wrap (12) when the ferrule (10) is positioned around the pipe. In an alternative embodiment, there is also a tail (16) extending from the opposing end (14) of the free end of the section (11). With reference to Figure 1, the ferrule (10) is in an open position. The ferrule (10) shown in Figure 2 is in a closed and sealed position positioned about the pipe 0 (20). The vapor barrier (12) has two tails (16) on opposing sections (11). The tails (16) are adhered to each other to effect the vapor barrier (12). In Figure 3, the other side of the ferrule (10) is shown. The neoprene seal (13) forms a gasket between the two opposing ends of the block sections (11). With reference to Figure 4, there is shown a ferrule (30) in cross-section. The 5 ferrule is about a pipe (41). The ferrule (30) is positioned around the pipe to form a moisture or water tight seal. The ferrule (30) also forms a support for bracket (35) that surrounds the ferrule (30) and mounts the ferrule (30) to a beam (36). In this embodiment there is an arcuate sleeve (40) positioned between the beam (36) and the foam block section (31) of the ferrule (30). The arcuate rolled steel sleeve (40) 0 extends partially around the outer surface of the ferrule (30). The arcuate rolled steel sleeve (40) serves to spread the load across a larger surface area when the mounted ferrule (30) is adjacent to the beam (36). With reference to Figure 5, there is shown a photographic representation of a pipe (50) mounted to a beam (56) by a ferrule (51) consisting of high density 25 polyurethane foam in two semi-circular sections (53) is positioned about the pipe (50) and maintained in position by a bracket (52) that is mounted to the beam (56). The high density polyurethane foam ferrule of the invention forms a seal for water and moisture. The high density polyurethane foam does not rot in the presence of moisture. As the foam is high density polyurethane foam it has a closed 30 cell structure and is not easily deformed by compression. The use of high density polyurethane foam with the ferrule of the invention is useful where the pipes have a diameter greater than or equal to 100mm. An advantage of the high density polyurethane foam is that it is also a good insulating material preventing the transfer of heat. A further advantage of the high density polyurethane foam ferrule is that it -5 uses the vapor barrier wrap as a hinge so that the sections can part and be positioned about a pipe and maintained in the mounted position by the adhering of two vapor barrier tails to each other or a vapor barrier tail adhering to the outer surface of the barrier wrap of the adjacent section. 5 The preferred embodiment of the present invention is a high density polyurethane foam ferrule that has neoprene gasket seal and a foil sisal barrier wrap. The advantage of the preferred embodiment is that it doesn't rot, seals against water leakage, a good insulator, easy to install and can be made to any pipe size. 0 VARIATIONS It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth. 5 Throughout the description and claims of this specification the word "comprise" and variations of that word such as "comprises" and "comprising", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

Claims (5)

1. A ferrule for a pipe comprising a high density foam block wherein the block is in at least two sections which when joined forms a substantial ring shape, a section 5 seal at each junction formed by opposing ends of the block sections and a vapor barrier around an outer surface of the foam block.

2. A ferrule for a pipe comprising a high density foam ring-shaped block in two or more sections, a section seal at each junction formed by opposing ends of the block 0 sections and a vapor barrier around an outer surface of the foam block; wherein each of the block sections are connected by the vapor barrier allowing the sections to be positioned about the pipe to form the ferrule.

3. A ferrule as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the high density foam block is 5 high density polyurethane foam, there are two foam block sections, the vapor barrier is a foil sisal wrap that serves as a hinge to connect and position the block sections relative to each other.

4. A ferrule as claimed in any one of the above mentioned claims wherein there 0 is an arcuate sleeve positionable around a lower portion of the ferrule to transfer load and reduce the risk of pipe sag because of plastic deformation.

5. A method of installation of the ferrule as claimed in any one of the above mentioned claims around a pipe including 25 positioning the foam block sections around the pipe; abutting the sections against each other; sealing the vapor barrier by adhering adjacent overlapping tails or the tail to the outer surface of the adjacent section; and optionally positioning a bracket around the ferrule and mounting the bracket. 30