GB2133110A

GB2133110A - Pipe support for bridges

Info

Publication number: GB2133110A
Application number: GB08237081A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yosgutaka Deguchi
Original assignee: SAPPORO SANKI CO Ltd
Current assignee: SAPPORO SANKI CO Ltd
Priority date: 1982-12-31
Filing date: 1982-12-31
Publication date: 1984-07-18
Also published as: GB2133110B

Abstract

Structure for supporting a pipe spanning a river or the like comprises a hexagonal shell (5) of height greater than its width and having carbon fibre reinforcements (10) on the two horizontal surfaces. The structure is intended to be laid on the bases or legs of a bridge and not on the upper structure of the bridge. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A pipe laying structure This invention relates to a pipe laying structure and bridges with such structures thereon. More particularly, the invention relates to a structure for laying pipes such as water pipes and gas supply pipes across roads, railways or the like.

For laying pipes such as water pipes and gas pipes across a river for example, the pipe should be positioned between riversides, at a level sufficiently above the highest level, so that it will not be bent or carried away by a flood.

Therefore, it is usual to make use of a built or new bridge structure such that the pipe is supported by the bridge upper strucure such as bridge beams. However, this method is defective in that the pipe load applied to the upper structure, after its allowable load strength is established, will give rise to a problem concerning its stability and durability, and that the pipe seam might be loosened due to vibration or shock caused by the constant passing of cars and trains.

Further, it frequently happens that the above arrangement is not allowed due to administrative reasons as the administrative office for bridge construction and maintenance may be in conflict with that which controls water pipe works.

For reasons mentioned above and for other reasons, it is difficult to lay water pipes along the upper structures of bridges.

Therefore, long needed is a means by which a pipe may be laid on bridge bases and legs, such as not to give additional load to the bridge upper structure, and by which the pipe can be tensioned to its full length without becoming loose or slack.

Accordingly, in view of the above-described situation, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a structure which makes it possible to lay the pipe on bridge bases and/or legs, without giving additional load to the upper structure of the bridge, and which makes it possible to support the pipe in tension without it becoming loose or slack.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure which is light-weighted and which further reduces loosening and slackening of the pipe.

According to the invention, these and other objects of the invention which will be apparent from the explanation hereinafter, will be accomplished by the provision of a pipe laying structure for laying the pipe between bridge bases, consisting of a shell which has a hexagonal cross section and which has upper and lower horizontal planes to which carbon fiber reinforcement is adhered, and a pair of two inclined planes, the height of said hexagonal shell being greater than its width and its width being slightly greater than the outer diameter of the pipe, so that the pipe encased in the shell is supported by being fixed between inner surfaces of the inclined planes, said shell being for placement on bridge bases and legs.

According to the invention, since the hexagonal shell is laid at its horizontal plane on bridge bases and legs, it is well stabilized and will not roll or be shaken. In addition, due to its hexagonal structure, in particular due to its horizontal plane, it is well stabilized against lateral shock and/or vibration.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, reinforcement of carbon fiber material is adhered to the shell. Since the carbon fiber is extremely strong and is resistant to elasticity, even if the shell is formed of light material such as aluminium or reinforced plastics, extremely high rigidity can be obtained. Consequently, even when a long-span shell is laid, loosening and slackening of the shell is minimized and, thus, precise measuring can be realized. Due to this precise measuring, loosening and slacking can be further reduced.

Since the carbon fiber reinforcement is adhered to the horizontal planes which are remotest from the longitudinal axis, the reinforcing effect will be greatest.

The hexagonal shell is so formed that its height is greater than its width and its width is only a bit greater then the outer diameter of the pipe embraced therein. The pipe can be fixed by the inclined planes by placing the pipe in the shell and fixing flanges provided at the ends of the planes.

Accordingly, since there is no need to carry out a procedure for fixing the pipe to the shell, the work is simple, resulting in shortening of the working term and reducing the working cost.

Because the height of the shell is much greater than the pipe diameter and thus because the shell is sufficiently high, it is stable and strong against vertical shock or vibration.

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more fully apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains from the following detailed description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a frontal view of a bridge to which an embodiment of the invention is applied; Fig. 2 is a side view of the bridge along the line X-X of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of a shell which encases a pipe; and Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, of another embodiment of the shell.

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate an embodiment of water pipe which is laid across a river. In the drawings, a reference a denotes a bridge beam, references 1 and 2 denote bridge bases and legs, respectively, forming lower structure a of the bridge. Upper structure b of the bridge consisting of bridge beam 3 and floor 4, are placed over a lower structure a of the bridge.

Shell 5 for a service pipe such as a water pipe is laid between bridge bases 1, 1 in such a manner that it is supported at its midway on bridge legs 2, 2. Shell 5 is a hollow pipe giving an approximate hexagonal cross seciton and is made of suitable plastic material such as steel, aluminium, reinforced plastics and so on. Hexagonal shell 5 consists of upper and lower shells 5a and 5b consisting of a pair of inclined planes 7, 7 extending from ends of horizontal planes and being fixed to each other at flanges 8, 8 provided at ends of inclined planes 7.

Flanges 8, 8 are fixed to each other by means of bolt and nut 9 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, or by adhesive or any other suitable means, depending on the location where the pipe is laid or the pipe length condition.

Hexagonal shell 5 is formed such that its height, i.e. distance between upper and lower horizontal planes 6, 6 is far greater while its width is only slightly greater than outer diameter of water pipe 11 encased therein.

Shell 5 is as long as the bridge. An integral single unit may be used, or several units, each having the same length as that between bridge legs, may be connected so as to form a bridgelong shell. The latter process is more advantageous, since production is easier, and since stability against rolling from side to side is improved to the provision of flanges 8, 8 which act as reinforcing ribs.

Carbon fiber reinforcement 10 is adhered to outer surface of horizontal planes 6, 6 along their full length. The carbon fiber reinforcement may be carbon fiber tape cloth consisting of carbon fiber and of fiber material such as glass fiber, or carbon fiber band formed with resins such as polyester.

The carbon fiber is arranged to be directed longitudinally of the reinforcement and, therefore, to the longitudinal direction of the shell 5 on which reinforcement is adhered.

Shell 5 is supported midway by bridge legs in such a manner that lower horizontal plane may be fixed to bridge bases 1 and legs 2, by means of bolts, fixing bands or any suitable means (not shown). Within shell 5 is provided a water pipe 11, gas supply pipe or any pipe intended.

Pipe 11 which has a circular cross section, may be the same or a bit longer than shell 5, and is fixed to the shell in such a manner that it is supported against and by incined planes 7, 7.

If the pipe is to be placed at a cold location and/or if the fluid flfowing through pipe might be liable to freezing, core material 12 may be provided in a space defined between shell 5 and pipe 11, as shown in Fig. 4. Further, carbon fiber reinforcement 13 may be adhered to top and/or bottom side on pipe 1 1 along its full length, for reinforcing the pipe strength, as shown in Fig. 4.

Reinforcement 13 may be of the same material as used for carbon fiber reinforcement 10.

The reinforcement may be electrically connected to a suitable electrical source, so that it may be heated for preventing fluid flowing through pipe 11 from freezing.

The pipe 11 encased in shell 5, is connected to pipes 14 located at the riversides (Fig. 1).

The structure of the invention can be applied not only to water pipe but also to a supply pipe or any other pipe works. It can be used for laying not only across a strait, but also for laying pipes under an upland bridge so as to cross a road or a railway.

Claims

1. A pipe laying structure for laying the pipe between bridge bases, consisting of a shell which has as hexagonal cross section and which has upper and lower horizontal planes to which carbon fiber reinforcement is adhered, and two pairs of inclined planes, the height of said hexagonal shell being greater than its width and its width being greater than outer diameter of the pipe, so that the pipe encased in the shell is supported by being fixed between inner surfaces of the inclined planes, said shell being for placement on bridge bases and legs.

2. A pipe laying structure according to claim 1, wherein said shell consists of two horizontal planes extending from ends of said horizontal planes at the same angle and having flanges at their ends, said flanges being face to face so that the inclined planes may be fixed to each other.

3. A pipe laying structure according to claim 1, wherein the shell is produced by extrusion molding in a form of a hexagonal hollow.

4. A pipe laying structure according to claim 1, wherein the shell is made of metallic material.

5. A pipe laying structure according to claim 1, wherein the shell is made of plastics material.

6. A pipe laying structure according to claim 1, wherein the carbon fiber reinforcement is of pure carbon fiber.

7. A pipe laying structure according to claim 1, wherein the carbon fiber reinforcement is tape cloth woven from carbon fiber and glass fiber or the like.

8. A pipe laying structure according to claim 1, wherein the carbon fiber reinforcement is made of carbon fiber formed into a thin band with synthetic resin such as polyester.

9. A pipe laying structure according to claim 1, wherein core material is provided in the space between the shell and the pipe, for preventing fluid in the pipe from freezing.

10. A pipe laying structure according to claim 1, wherein carbon fiber reinforcement is adhered to the pipe along its full length.

11. A pipe laying structure according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcement is electrically connected to a suitable electric source so that it may be heated.

12. A pipe laying structure substantially as herein before described with reference to Fig. 3 or Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A bridge provided with a pipe laying structure according to any one of the preceding claims.