AU2018226477A1 - An adjustable support system and support member for pipe - Google Patents

Abstract

An adjustable support system for a body, including: a base mountable to a surface and having an adjustment axis; a support member having a first portion for connecting to the base, and a second portion for supporting the body, wherein the position of the second portion is continuously adjustable in the direction of the adjustment axis, to locate at any point in the direction of the axis over a region serviced by the system. {Figure 4} 'K ILk It C-' I'tA Ci t6 it Nt I'?:, I~ 'K

Description

AN ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT SYSTEM AND SUPPORT MEMBER FOR PIPE

Field [0001] The present invention relates to an adjustable support system for bodies such as pipe, and in particular to an adjustable support system for supporting substantially horizontally run pipe.

Background [0002] Pipe and/or cable support systems within construction environments are typically adjustable temporary stanchions with a cradle for supporting a portion of pipe or cabling. The adjustable temporary stanchions do not prevent pipes from falling or jumping off their cradle and are therefore not desirable for use in a high activity construction site, near machinery, or in any critical or semi-permanent application.

[0003] Alternatively, the pipe support system may be a simple bent steel bar partially embedded into a solid component such as a rock or concrete wall. Whilst this type of system works to prevent pipes from falling they are not adjustable. Therefore, pipes are often incorrectly supported as the steel bar cannot be brought up to hold the pipe correctly. Further, it is known practice to weld many of these simple pipe supports to one another thus resulting in many or all of the pipes to be incorrectly support, with no mechanism for adjustment.

Object of the Invention [0004] It is the object of the present invention to substantially overcome or ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to at least provide a useful alternative.

Summary of Invention [0005] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an adjustable support system for a body, including: a base mountable to a surface and having a adjustment axis; a support member having a first portion for connecting to the base, and a second portion for supporting the body, wherein the position of the second portion is continuously adjustable in the

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2018226477 06 Sep 2018 direction of the adjustment axis, to locate at any point in the direction of the axis over a region serviced by the system.

[0006] Preferably, wherein the base has a longitudinal axis defining the adjustment axis.

[0007] Preferably, the second portion includes a hook member for supporting a portion of a body in the form of a pipe.

[0008] Preferably, the second portion includes a tray member for supporting a portion of a body in the form of a cable.

[0009] Preferably, the first portion is attachable to the base at discrete points along the direction of the adjustment axis, and wherein the second portion is adjustable in the direction of the adjustment axis relative to the first portion by at least the same distance as the offset between the discrete points.

[0010] Preferably, the base includes a plurality of apertures regularly spaced in the direction of the adjustment axis, wherein the first member includes a locking means for connecting the first member to at least one of the apertures, wherein the base portion is adjustable in the direction of the adjustment axis relative to the first portion by at least the same distance as the spacing of the apertures.

[0011] Preferably, the base is a formed of a channel section having two opposing flanges connected by a webbing portion, wherein the apertures are formed in the flanges.

[0012] Preferably, the locking means is a fastener received by a transverse aperture in the first portion.

[0013] Preferably, the first portion includes a recess configured to receive a flange portion of the second portion, wherein the second portion has a locking means for continuously adjustably connecting the flange portion within the recess.

[0014] Preferably, the locking means is a fastener having a thread received by a threaded aperture of the flange portion.

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2018226477 06 Sep 2018 [0015] Preferably, the rotation of the fastener in the threaded aperture of the flange portion continuously adjusts the position of the flange portion within the recess in the direction of the axis.

[0016] Preferably, the flange portion is configured to move axially about the threaded aperture.

[0017] In an alternative embodiment, the base includes a longitudinally extending aperture configured to receive a fastener such that the first member can be fastened to any point along the longitudinally extending aperture.

[0018] Preferably, the system includes a plurality of support members.

[0019] Preferably, each of the support members are independently movable along the longitudinal axis.

[0020] Preferably, wherein the system includes a plurality of support members, each being independently adjustable in the direction of the longitudinal axis by moving each first portion relative to the base and by moving each second portion relative to the first portion.

[0021] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a support member for a pipe or cable, having a first portion for connecting to the base, and a second portion for supporting the pipe or cable, wherein the first portion includes a recess configured to receive a flange portion of the second portion, wherein the second portion has a locking means for adjustably connecting the flange portion within the recess.

[0022] Disclosed is an adjustable support system for pipe. It is understood that the adjustable support system is would be suitable for other components such as cable and the like. The adjustable support system includes a longitudinal base mountable to a surface. The surface may be a vertical wall, or a partially vertically wall. The adjustable support system includes a support member movable along the length of the base, and locking means to secure the support member to the base.

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2018226477 06 Sep 2018 [0023] Preferably, the support member includes a first portion movable along the longitudinal base and secured to the longitudinal base by the locking means, and a second portion attachable to the first portion and adjustable relative to the first portion.

[0024] Preferably, the second portion includes a hook portion configured to support a portion of pipe.

[0025] Preferably, the second portion includes a tray suitable for cable.

[0026] Preferably, the locking means includes a first locking means for securing the first portion to the base, and a second locking means for securing the second portion to the first portion.

[0027] Preferably, the support system includes a plurality of support members attached along the length of the base, with each support member being independently movable along the base to allow a user to selectively position each support member. The position of each support member may be determined by moving the first support member relative to the longitudinal base and moving the second support member relative to the first support member.

Brief Description of Drawings [0028] Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0029] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable pipe support system according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 2 is a perspective view of an adjustable pipe support system according to another embodiment of the present invention; and [0031] Figure 3 is a section view taken from Figure 2 showing a support member;

[0032] Figure 4 is a perspective view of an adjustable pipe support according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the embodiment of Figure 4; and

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2018226477 06 Sep 2018 [0034] Figure 6 is a cut-away side view of an embodiment of a support member.

Description of Embodiments [0035] With reference to the Figures, described herein are example embodiments of an adjustable support system for a body. The body may include services such as pipes and cables. The system may include a base, which may be mounted to a surface, the base having an axis. The base may have at least one support member which is adjustable in position along the axis. The support member may have a first portion for connecting to the base, and a second portion that supports the body, for example a portion of the pipe. The support member may be continuously adjustable in the direction of the axis. Otherwise stated, the adjustability of the support member in the direction of the axis is not limited to discrete points, but can rather be adjusted to any point in the direction of the axis, over a region serviced by the system. In an embodiment, the entire support member may be continuously adjustable in position in the direction of the axis. In an alternative embodiment, the second portion may be continuously adjustable in the direction of the axis.

[0036] Figure 1 shows an embodiment of an adjustable support system according to the present invention. The adjustable support system may be applicable to supporting bodies such as pipe, cable or the like.

[0037] The adjustable support system 10 includes a longitudinal base such as a panel 12 and at least one support member 14. The base in the form of a panel 12 has a longitudinal axis X-X. Figure 1 shows five support members 14, including four support members 14 to support a portion of pipe (not shown) and one support member 14A to support cable (not shown). The panel 12 is rectangular in shape and can be formed from steel, aluminium, or other appropriate material. The thickness of the panel 12 is selected to suit the application and material choice. The panel 12 includes a longitudinally extending aperture or slot 16. Alternatively, the panel 12 may include a plurality of apertures or slots, as will be clear in conjunction with Figure 2 described below. Each support member 14, 14A is movable along the length of the panel 12 along the longitudinal direction to a position suitable for supporting either a portion of pipe or cable. Advantageously, each support member 14, 14A is movable independently to allow for multiple arrangements. Further advantageously, the support members are continuously adjustable in position along the longitudinal axis X-X. The panel 12 can be mounted to a wall

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2018226477 06 Sep 2018 or solid support using rods (not shown) passed through top and bottom slots 16A, 16B, or other current industry standard methods. The top 16A and bottom 16B slots are so called as they are positioned above and below the aperture 16 in the direction of the longitudinal axis X-X. As seen in Figures 1 and 2, the base 12 of the adjustable support system 10 is mountable to a vertical wall 130 to support one or more horizontally run pipes or cables. Alternatively, the adjustable support system 10 may be mounted to a sloped wall or mounted at an angle to a wall. In certain applications, the base 12 of the adjustable support system 10 may be orientated horizontally. The support member 14 includes a first portion 18 which is moveable along the panel 12, and a second portion 20, 20A attachable to the first portion 18. The second portion 20, 20A is adapted to support a portion of the body, with the second portion 20 being adapted to support a portion of a pipe, and the second portion 20A being adapted to support a portion of a cable. The first portion 18 includes an aperture 22 through which a fastener 24 such as a threaded bolt 24 is passed, the fastener also passing through the aperture 16 at a selectable point along the longitudinal axis X-X, and tightened to secure the support member 14, 14A in place.

To change the position of the support member 14, 14A, the fastener may be loosened and slid along the aperture 16 to locate at a different point along the longitudinal axis X-X, and subsequently tightened to secure the support member 14, 14A at that point. The first portion 18 and the second portion 20, 20A may be formed of separate parts fixed together or formed as a single part. The position of the support member 14 is adjustable along the aperture 16. As shown in Figure 1, a cable tray support 14A and pipe support 14 may be used on a panel 12 to allow for both pipe and cable to be supported on the adjustable support system 10.

[0038] Figures 2 and 3 show an alternative embodiment of an adjustable support system 100 according to the invention. The adjustable support system 100 includes a longitudinal base 112 in the form of a C-channel 112 (otherwise known as a channel section, having a webbing portion connecting two flange portions), and a plurality of support members 114. The base 112 in the form of a C-channel 112 has a longitudinal axis X-X. As seen in Figure 2 there are four support members 114 for supporting a portion of pipe 116, and one support member 114A for supporting cable (not shown). Each of the pipe support members 114 includes a first portion 118 attachable along the length of the C-channel 112 in the direction of the longitudinal axis X-X, and secured to the C-channel 112 using a first locking means 124 such as a fastener. Each of the support members 114 further include a second portion 120 attached to the first portion 118 for supporting a portion of pipe 116. The support member 114A is attachable directly to the C21238899

2018226477 06 Sep 2018 channel 112. The C-channel 112 may be fixed to a wall or solid support 130 using rods (not shown) passed through slots 122 in the C-channel 112, or other current industry standard methods. The C-channel 112 may be formed from steel, aluminium or other suitable material. The C-channel 112 includes a plurality of apertures 126 positioned linearly in a longitudinal direction in each sidewall 128 (otherwise known as flanges) of the C-channel 112 to allow for adjustment of the support members 114. The apertures 126 may be regularly spaced along the longitudinal axis X-X.

[0039] Figure 3 shows one configuration of the support member 114. The second portion 120 includes a hook portion 146 for supporting a portion of pipe 116. The first portion 118 is mountable to the C-channel 112. A first locking means in the form of fasteners 124 (shown in Figure 2) secure the first portion 118 to the C-channel 112, and a second locking means 132 which may take the form of a fastener 132 secures the second portion 120 to the first portion 118. The first portion 120 of the support member 114 includes a shoulder portion 134 and a neck portion 136. The shoulder portion 134 includes transverse apertures 138 for fixing to the C-channel 112 using fasteners 124. Specifically, a fastener may be received through an aperture 126 in each of the sidewalls/flanges 128 as well as the transverse aperture 138, thereby facilitating connection of the first portion to the C-channel/base 112. The apertures 126 in the sidewalls 128 of the C-channel 112 allow for adjustment of the first portion 118 of the support member 114 in the direction of the longitudinal axis. The adjustment of the first portion 118 in the direction of the longitudinal axis X-X may occur at discrete intervals according to the spacing between the apertures 126 in the sidewalls 128. In the depicted embodiment. By removing the first locking means/fastener 124 from the apertures 126 of the sidewall 128 and the aperture 138 of the c-channel 112, the position of the first portion 118 may be adjusted along the longitudinal axis X-X. Then the fastener may be received by apertures 126 at a different longitudinal position, as well as the aperture 138 of the side wall, to secure the first member to an alternate longitudinal position.

[0040] The neck portion 136 is generally rectangular in shape and includes a recess 140 defined by sidewalls 142. Top and bottom opposing sidewalls 142 include apertures 144 for receiving a second locking means 132 in the form of a fastener 132. The second portion 120 includes a curved hook portion 146 and a flange portion 148. The flange portion 148 has a threaded aperture 150 extending therethrough. The second portion 120 is fixed within the recess

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140 of the neck portion 136 using the second locking means, in the form of a threaded fastener 132. By this arrangement, the fastener 132 may be rotated to affect movement of the flange portion 148 within the recess 140 in the direction of the longitudinal axis. Preferably, the amount of adjustment of the second portion in the direction of the longitudinal axis X-X is at least the same as the offset between successive apertures 126 in the sidewalls 128. By this arrangement, the second portion 120 of the support member 114 is adjustable continuously to any point in the direction of the longitudinal axis X-X by a combination of making a course longitudinal adjustment of the first member 118 relative to the base 112 and making a fine longitudinal adjustment of the second member 120 relative to the first member 118.

[0041] Referring now to Figures 4 to 6, shown is an alternative embodiment of the adjustable support system 100. In this embodiment, the first portion 118 of the support member 110 is in the form of a rectangular block having a recess 140 for receiving the flange portion 148 of the second portion 120 of the support member 110. The recess 140 is defined by walls 142, which also define the outer surfaces of the block shaped first portion 118. The first portion 118 is sized to locate between the flanges 128 of the C-channel base 112, such that a fastener 124 can be inserted though the apertures 126 of the flanges 128 as well as in the first portion 118 thereby securing the first portion 118 to the base 112 as described in relation to Figures 2 and 3. Also similar to the embodiments of Figures 2 and 3, the flange portion 148 has a threaded aperture 150 so it can be fixed within the recess 140 by a threaded fastener, which can be rotated to adjust the position of the second member 120 continuously in the direction of the longitudinal axis XX. The second member 120 can also be moved axially about the fastener 132, thereby adjusting the angle of the second member 120 relative to the axis X-X.

[0042] The continuous adjustment of the support members 110 in the direction of the axis X-X allows for exact positioning in that axis. Further, the angular adjustability of the support member allows for more precise support of bodies that may not run straight past the system, for example, if the base is attached to a wall that is not perfectly straight.

[0043] Although specific embodiments of the invention are illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations exist. It should be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are examples only and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration in any way. Rather, the foregoing summary and detailed description will

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2018226477 06 Sep 2018 provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing at least one exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Generally, this application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein.

[0044] It will also be appreciated that in this document the terms comprise, comprising, include, including, contain, containing, have, having, and any variations thereof, are intended to be understood in an inclusive (i.e. non-exclusive) sense, such that the process, method, device, apparatus or system described herein is not limited to those features or parts or elements or steps recited but may include other elements, features, parts or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Furthermore, the terms a and an used herein are intended to be understood as meaning one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise. Moreover, the terms first, second, third, etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on or to establish a certain ranking of importance of their objects.

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Claims (17)

1. An adjustable support system for a body, including:

a base mountable to a surface and having an adjustment axis;

a support member having a first portion for connecting to the base, and a second portion for supporting the body, wherein the position of the second portion is continuously adjustable in the direction of the adjustment axis, to locate at any point in the direction of the axis over a region serviced by the system.

2. The adjustable support according to claim 1, wherein the base has a longitudinal axis defining the adjustment axis.

3. The adjustable support system of claim 1, wherein the second portion includes a hook member for supporting a portion of a body in the form of a pipe.

4. The adjustable support system of claim 1, wherein the second portion includes a tray member for supporting a portion of a body in the form of a cable.

5. The adjustable support system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first portion is attachable to the base at discrete points along the direction of the adjustment axis, and wherein the second portion is adjustable in the direction of the adjustment axis relative to the first portion by at least the same distance as the offset between the discrete points.

6. The adjustable support system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base includes a plurality of apertures regularly spaced in the direction of the adjustment axis, wherein the first member includes a locking means for connecting the first member to at least one of the apertures, wherein the base portion is adjustable in the direction of the adjustment axis relative to the first portion by at least the same distance as the spacing of the apertures.

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7. The adjustable support system of claim 6, wherein the base is a formed of a channel section having two opposing flanges connected by a webbing portion, wherein the apertures are formed in the flanges.

8. The adjustable support system according to claim 7, wherein the locking means is a fastener received by a transverse aperture in the first portion.

9. The adjustable support system according to any one of claims 5-8, wherein the first portion includes a recess configured to receive a flange portion of the second portion, wherein the second portion has a locking means for continuously adjustably connecting the flange portion within the recess.

10. The adjustable support system of claim 9, wherein the locking means is a fastener having a thread received by a threaded aperture of the flange portion.

11. The adjustment support system of claim 10, wherein the rotation of the fastener in the threaded aperture of the flange portion continuously adjusts the position of the flange portion within the recess in the direction of the axis.

12. The adjustment support system of claim 11, wherein flange portion is configured to move axially about the threaded aperture.

13. The adjustable support system according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the base includes a longitudinally extending aperture configured to receive a fastener such that the first member can be fastened to any point along the longitudinally extending aperture.

14. The adjustable support system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system includes a plurality of support members.

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15. The adjustable support system according to claim 12, wherein each of the support members are independently movable along the longitudinal axis.

16. The adjustable support system according to any one of claims 5 to 10, wherein the system includes a plurality of support members, each being independently adjustable in the direction of the longitudinal axis by moving each first portion relative to the base and by moving each second portion relative to the first portion.

17. A support member for a pipe or cable, having a first portion for connecting to the base, and a second portion for supporting the pipe or cable, wherein the first portion includes a recess configured to receive a flange portion of the second portion, wherein the second portion has a locking means for adjustably connecting the flange portion within the recess.