GB2101954A

GB2101954A - Bundling pipes

Info

Publication number: GB2101954A
Application number: GB08122480A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hiroo Asakawa; Fumio Mimura
Original assignee: NICHIEI DISTRIBUTION SYST; NICHIEI DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS Inc; Nippon Kokan Ltd
Current assignee: NICHIEI DISTRIBUTION SYST; JFE Engineering Corp; NICHIEI DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS Inc
Priority date: 1981-07-31
Filing date: 1981-07-21
Publication date: 1983-01-26
Also published as: GB2101954B; FR2510523B1; DE3129074A1; FR2510523A1; DE3129074C2

Abstract

A binding device for a plurality of pipes (2) comprises bundling straps (6, 7) tightly fastening and encircling an assembly of sleepers (5) and spacers (3, 4). The spacers (3, 4) extend transversely to the sleepers to provide a plurality of pipe receiving spaces. The spacers include recesses by which they are coupled to the sleepers. Each elongated pipe is separately held by a respective space and secured tightly, thus preventing the pipes from bending, twisting or any damage. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Binding device for elongated pipes This invention relates to a binding device for shipping and the storage of a plurality of elongated pipes.

In those known cases in the prior art, a plurality of elongated pipes have been accumulated in a bundle and then tightly secured together with a steel wire or the like. This binding method however brings about some disadvantages that since the elongated pipes within the bundle are likely to shift and are poorly fixed, the pipes are liable to crush, bending or damages during storage, handling or transportation, and moreover it is difficult to attain a stable, safe and quick handling of the elongated pipes. Furthermore, the elongated pipes which are in direct contact with the adjacent pipes are subjected to possible damages against the surface of the pipes.In addition to the above disadvantages, the provision of steel wires alone so as to bundle a plurality of elongated pipes is dangerous in view of a possible breakage of the steel wires during handling, transportation or storage, particularly in a stacked storage.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a binding device for a plurality of elongated pipes in which the above disadvantages are fully eliminated.

It is a further object to provide a novel and improved binding device for a plurality of elongated pipes with relatively simple construction and inexpensive material to manufacture.

According to this invention the binding device for a plurality of elongated pipes is comprised of sleepers, spacers and bundling strap means for tightly fastening and encircling a plurality of sleepers and spacers, whereby the sleepers and spacers extend respectively in spaced relation to each other and are assembled to form a plurality of spaces defined by the surfaces of the sleepers and spacers and adapted to receive the outer peripheral surfaces of the elongated pipes in tight contact relation thereto. The sleepers are disposed in spaced and parallel arrangement to each other both in an vertical direction one over the other and in an horizontal direction side by side, and a plurality of the elongated pipes are placed side by side on and in transverse relation to each sleeper.The spacers are provided at intervals along one surface with recesses for coupling, each with a sleeper, and are disposed in spaced arrangement to each other in a transverse relation to the sleeper.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the spacers are disposed one by one alternately on opposite sides of a number of spaced parallel sleepers, the first to couple at its recesses with the one side of the sleepers and the next to couple at its recesses with the other side of the sleepers such that the sleepers are interposed between the spacers.

Each spacer has among recesses formed on one surface thereof two recesses defined by two right angled surfaces, i.e. arranged in L-shape, one at each end of its length. The spacers positioned between both ends of the sleepers may respectively be formed to have only those recesses which couple with the sleepers positioned between the uppermost and lowermost sleepers. Preferably, the spacers and sleepers are made of wood, and the bundling strap means are employed for encircling the sleepers and spacers in either a parallel or perpendicular direction relative to the surface of the sleepers on which the elongated pipes are deposited.

The binding device for a plurality of elongated pipes thus constructed has sufficient mechanical strength to bear against deformation, each elongated pipe may be fixed tightly within the space defined by the surfaces of the sleepers and spacers.

As a result, the binding device protects the elongated pipes from crushing, bending or damage during storage, handling or transportation. Astable, safe and quick handling of the elongated pipes can readily be obtained by using thus constructed binding device.

In particular, a binding device comprises a plurality of sleepers in spaced parallel relation to each other, a plurality of spacers in spaced parallel relation to each other and transverse to the sleepers, the spacers each having on one face at intervals along its length, recesses for receiving and coupling with the sleepers at the points where they cross, the coupled assembly of spaced and transverse sleepers and spacers forming spaces for receiving pipes transverse to the assembly, and at least one bundling strap for holding the assembly together.

The invention may be illustrated by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the binding device according to the invention utilized in bundling a plurality of elongated pipes; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the binding device according to the invention; Figure 3 is a plan view of a bundle in which the binding devices are used at three different position along the axes of the eight elongated pipes; Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the bundle shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the bundle shown in Figure 3; and Figure 6 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the binding device in which the spacers positioned between the both side two spacers have no L-shaped recesses at the both ends of its length.

A binding device generally designated at 1 for a plurality of elongated pipes 2 is illustrated which comprises first and second spacers 3 and 4, sleepers 5, and bundling straps 6 and 7 for tightly fastening and encircling a plurality of sleepers and spacers.

The spacers 3 and 4, and sleepers 5 are preferably made of wood. The elongated pipes to be handled with the binding device according to this invention may be of any size and length having a substantially circular cross section, such as steel pipes, poly-vinyl chloride pipes, glass tubes or the like.

Although shown in Figures 1 to 6 are the bundle assemblies which includes respectively five spacers 3 3 and 4, three sleepers 5, and two bundling straps 6 and 7, it is to be understood that each component may be increased in number so as to accommodate a greater number of elongated pipes 2, and in addition the bundle assembly using the binding device of the invention may be stacked in multiple one by one overlying upon the other.

As best shown in Figure 2, the first spacers 3 have respectively on its surface at intervals along its length a plurality of recesses, in this embodiment, three recesses 8, 9 and 10. The recesses 8 and 10 are formed at the both ends of its length to have a substantially L-shaped cross section, that is, the recesses 8 and 10 being defined by two right angled surfaces of the spacer 3, while the recess 9 being defined by three surfaces each intersecting at a right angle. Similarly to the first spacers 3, the second spacers 4 have three recesses 11, 12 and 13, the recesses 11 and 13 having a substantially L-shaped cross section. The only difference between the both spacers 3 and 4 is the depth of the recesses, the recesses 8, 9 and 10 having a longer depth in relation to the width of the first spacers 3 than that of the recesses 11, 12 and 13.

The sleepers 5 is formed so as to have the same cross section as that of the recesses 9 and 12, so that the sleepers 5 are coupled with the spacers 3 and 4 in relatively tight contact relation to each other.

The sleepers 5 are disposed in spaced and parallel arrangement to each other both in a vertical direction one over the other and in a horizontal direction side by side, and a plurality of the elongated pipes 2 are placed side by side on and in transverse relation to the sleeper 5. The sleepers 5 and spacers 3 and 4 extend respectively in spaced relation to each other and are assembled to form a plurality of spaces 14 defined by the surfaces of the sleepers 5 and spacers 3 and 4 and adapted to receive the outer peripheral surfaces of the respective elongated pipes 2 in tight contact relation thereto.

The first spacers 3 are located at the both end portion of the sleepers 5, while the second spacers 4 are located between the first spacers 3, thus in association with the sleepers 5 forming a plurality of spaces 14. The first and second spacers 3 and 4 are disposed one by one alternately first to couple with the one side of the sleepers Sat their recesses and then to couple with the other side of the sleepers Sat their recesses such that the sleepers are supported and interposed between the first and second spacers 3 and 4.

The bundling straps 6 and 7 may be hoops, wires, nylon strings or the like, or any other known strapping devices. The provision of the bundling straps 6 and 7 is effected by encircling them around the sleepers 5 and spacers 3 and 4, one being fastened in perpendicular direction relative to the surface of the sleepers 5 on which the pipes 2 are deposted, and the other being fastened in parallel direction relative to the surface.

The second spacers 4 may be modified as seen from Figure 6which is slightly different from those shown in Figure 2. In this embodiment, the second spacers 4 positioned between the both end portion of the sleepers 5 are respectively formed to have only those recesses 12 which couple with the sleepers 5 positioned between the uppermost and lowermost sleepers 5, without having the recesses 11 and 13.

The method of bundling or its function when used the binding device according to the present invention will now be described.

First, a plurality of first or lowermost sleepers 5 are placed on the ground or shipping location in spacedapart and parallel dispostion, with the bundling straps 6 underlying on each sleeper 5. Then, the elongated pipes 2 are seated on the lowermost sleepers 5 in a equal spaced-apart and parallel relation to each other. A plurality of second or intermediate sleepers 5 are placed on the pipes resting on the lowermost sleepers Sat just the upright position of the respective lowermost sleepers 5. The second spacers 4 are coupled with the lowermost and intermediate sleepers 5 so as to interpose them between the spacers 4. The uppermost sleepers 5 are deposited on the pipes 2 resting on the intermediate sleepers 5 and also between the recesses 13 of the second spacers 4.After coupling the first spacers 3 with the both end portions of the sleepers Sat the recesses 8, 9 and 10, all the sleepers 5 are arranged so as to tightly embrace within each space 14 the elongated pipes 2. Lastly, the bundling straps 6 and 7 are drawn around thus constructed bundling assembly in order to tightly secure and integrate all the components.

The elongated pipes 2 thus embraced within the spaces 14 are out of contact with each other and individually supported in the spaces. Since the spacers 3 and 4 and sleepers 5 are made of rigid enough to endure the external forces imparted thereon, the elongated pipes 2 are free of bending or twising during handling and transportation. Moreover, the bundling assembly formed by using the binding device of the invention can afford to attain a stable, safe and quick handling of the elongated pipes, with relatively very simple construction and inexpensive material.

Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been changed in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be restored to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinaf

Claims

ter claimed. CLAIMS

1. A binding device for a plurality of elongated pipes comprising: a plurality sleepers disposed in spaced and parallel arrangement to each other both in a vertical direction one over the other and in a horizontal direction side by side, a plurality of the elongated pipes being placed side by side on and in transverse relation to said each sleeper, a plurality of spacers each having on one surface at intervals along its length a plurality of recesses which are respectively adapted to couple with each sleeper and disposed in spaced arrangement to each other in a transverse relation to said sleeper, and bundling strap means for tightly fastening and encircling said plurality of sleepers and spacers, whereby said sleepers and spacers extend respectively in spaced relation to each other and are assembled to form a plurality of spaced defined by the surfaces of said sleepers and spacers and adapted to receive the outer peripheral surfaces of said respective elongated pipes in tight contact relation thereto.

2. A binding device for a plurality of elongated pipes comprising; a plurality of sleepers in spaced parallel relation to each other, a plurality of spacers in spaced parallel relation to each other and transverse to the sleepers, the spacers each having on one face at intervals along its length recesses for receiving and coupling with the sleepers at the points where they cross, the coupled assembly of the spaced and transverse sleepers and spacers forming spaces for receiving pipes transverse to the assembly; and at least one bundling strap for holding the assembly together.

3. A binding device as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which spacers are disposed one by one alternately on opposite sides of the sleepers, the first to couple with the one side of said sleepers and the next to couple with the other side of said sleepers such that said sleepers are interposed between said spacers.

4. A binding device as claimed in Claim 1,2 or 3 in which at least the two outermost spacers have among recesses formed on the surface thereof two recesses defined by two right angled surfaces, i.e. in L-shaped arrangement, one at each end.

S. A binding device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the spacers positioned between the two outermost spacers have only those recesses which couple with the sleepers positioned between the uppermost and lowermost sleepers.

6. A binding device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the spacers and sleepers are made of wood.

7. A binding device as claimed in any preceding claim in which said bundling strap means are employed for encircling said sleepers and spacers, one encircling in the plane in which the sleepers are disposed and one encircling in the plane normal thereto.