GB2197931A

GB2197931A - Pipe supports

Info

Publication number: GB2197931A
Application number: GB08726749A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony John Salter
Original assignee: SALTER YVONNE D
Current assignee: SALTER YVONNE D
Priority date: 1986-11-15
Filing date: 1987-11-16
Publication date: 1988-06-02
Anticipated expiration: 2007-11-16
Also published as: GB2197931B; GB8726749D0

Abstract

Releasable locking means operates between the pivoted lever (2) and the frame (1) of a constant effort type pipe support to lock the lever, e.g. during initial fitting of the pipe support or temporarily whilst the support is in use. An opening (16) at either the lever or the frame and an aperture (11) in the other are relatively movable to be brought into register to receive a locking member (23). In the illustrated embodiment there are several holes (11) in the lever (2) in an arc about its pivotal axis, and there is a slot (16) in a slide member (13) movable on the frame (1) radially of the pivotal axis. The slot is oblique to the arc and by adjustment of the slide member (13) a portion of the slot can be registered with one of the holes (11) for a locking pin (23) to be inserted in the slot and aperture to lock the lever. <IMAGE>

Description

PIPE SUPPORTS This invention relates to pipe supports of the constant effort type comprising a frame, a lever pivoted to the frame and having carrying means for supporting a pipe, and spring aeans acting on the lever in opposition to a pipe supported by the carrier means in use to provide a substantially constant counterbalancing effort over a range of movement of the supported pipe.

It is desirable for the pipe supports to include provision for temporarily restraining movement of the lever, for example prior to and during fitting of the pipe supports for use, or whilst cleaning or maintenance is carried out on the pipes which they support when they are in use. Hitherto, provision has commonly been made for locking at the spring means to restrain movement of the lever.

The present invention provides a pipe support of the constant effort type which has releasable locking means operable between the lever and frame to restrain movement of the lever relative to the frame. More particularly, there is provided at one of either the frame or the lever an aperture which is spaced from the pivotal axis of the lever, and at the other an opening, there being provision for relative movement between the aperture and the opening such that within a range of pivoting movement of the lever at least a portion of the opening can be registered with the aperture by said relative movement, and a locking member which engages in the aperture and the registering opening or portion thereof to restrain movement of the lever relative to the frame.

There may be more than one aperture and/or opening. The or each opening may be a slot or a hole.

Where a slot is provided the relative movement between the aperture and the slot may be towards and away from the pivotal axis of the lever and the slot may be disposed obliquely to the direction of that relative movement so that within a range of pivoting movement of the lever a portion of the slot can be registered with the aperture by the relative movement. If the or each opening is a hole, the relative movement may be, or include, arcuate movement about the pivotal axis of the lever.

In one embodiment two or more apertures are disposed on an arc of fixed radius about the ' pivotal axis, and there is a slot in an element movable transversely of the arc towards and away from the pivotal axis. The apertures are in the lever and the movable element is mounted on the frame.

The locking member may be a pin, bolt or the like which engages in the or each aperture and the registering opening or portion of the opening.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of e#ample with reference to the accompanying drawings in which, Figure 1 is a side view of a part of a constant effort pipe support in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a simplified section on line 2-2 of Figure 1; and Figures 3 and 4 are fragmentary side and sectional plan views showing a modification to the pipe support.

In this embodiment the pipe support comprises a frame 1, a bell-crank lever 2 pivoted by a pivot pin 3 to the frame 1, a spring housing 4 bolted to the frame, a helical compression spring, not shown, accommodated in the spring housing, a piston, not shown, movable in the spring housing acted upon by the spring and connected by a draw bar, not shown, to a spring arm 5 of the lever, and a carrier 6 connected to a load arm 7 of the lever for suspending a pipe, not shown, from the lever. Mountings are provided on the spring housing 4 for securing the pipe support to a suitable support for use. The spring counterbalances with substantially constant effort the load exerted on the lever by a supported pipe.

Frame 1 comprises two parallel side plates 8 of generally right-angled triangular shape bolted at fixing flanges 9 to the spring housing 4. The lever 2 is constructed from elongate channel-section members welded together at an acute angle to provide the spring arm 5 and load arm 7 of the lever. It is pivoted between the two side plates 8 of the frame by the pivot pin 3 which is retained to the side plates 8 adjacent to their corners remote from the spring housing, and extends through the lever 2 at the intersection of the central longitudinal axes of the two elongate channel-section members. Two parallel, generally rhombic, locking plates 10 are welded on the lever adjacent to the pivot pin and are disposed between and parallel to the side plates 8.In each locking plate 10 there are three circular holes 11 lying on an arc centred on the pivotal axis of the pivot pin 3, the holes in the two locking plates respectively being in register with one another.

Each of the side plates 8 has a rectangular opening 12 cut into it which extends perpendicularly of the fixing flange 9 and is disposed so that its medial transverse axis lies in a plane near to the arc on which the holes 11 of the adjacent locking plate 10 lie. Again, the rectangular openings 12 of the two side plates are in register with one another. In each rectangular opening 12 there is a slide member 13 which is shorter than the opening, has a laterally projecting flange 14 at its end nearest to the fixing flange 9 having end portions 15 which overlie the longitudinal edges of the opening 12 at the outer surface of the side plate, and contains an oblique slot 16 extending at 450 to the medial transverse axis of the slide member. Conveniently, each slide member 13 is made from some of the material cut out of the respective side plate to form the rectangular opening 12.The slide members 13 are slightly narrower than the rectangular openings so that a small degree of lateral movement of the slide members in the rectangular openings is possible. Fixed on the lateral flange 14 of each slide member, in register with a hole 17 in that flange, is a nut 18 with which is engaged the shank of an adjusting bolt 19 held captive against axial movement by a cotter pin 20 and washer 21 to, but rotatable with respect to, a lug 22 fixed, as by welding, to the side plate adjacent to the end of the rectangular opening 12 nearest to the lateral flange.

Through its engagement with the nut 18, when the adjusting bolt 19 is turned it causes the slide member 13 to slide along the rectangular opening 12.

As the slide member moves the oblique slot 16 slides past the arc of the holes 11 in the adjacent locking plate 10. The extent of the movement of the slide member is such that at one end of its movement one end of the oblique slot is directly opposite the arc of the holes 11, and at the opposite end of its movement the other end of the oblique slot is directly opposite the arc of the holes.

A locking pin 23 attached by a chain 24 to the frame is engageable in registering holes 11 in the two locking plates and in portions of the oblique slots which register with those holes. When the locking pin 23 is so engaged it locks the lever against pivotal movement relative to the frame. A cotter pin 25 can be applied to the locking pin to secure it against accidental withdrawal.

As the lever pivots the locking plates 10 move arcuately past the rectangular openings 12 of the side plates 8. According to the extent of the pivoting one or another of the three holes 11 in each of the locking plates is brought into proximity to the oblique slot in the adjacent slide member 13. If it is desired to lock the lever and there are holes 11 not in register with portions of the oblique slots, the slide members 13 can be adjusted by means of the bolts 19 until portions of the slots are in register with the holes. The locking pin 23 can then be inserted in the holes and slots.

The overlying of the end portions 15 of the lateral flanges 14 against the side plates restrains the slide members 13 from twisting in the openings.

When the locking pin 23 is withdrawn the lever can pivot freely on the pivot pin under the actions of the spring and a supported pipe. The removed locking pin may be parked in a convenient place on the pipe support where it can be seen and will indicate at a glance that the lever is not locked.

When the locking pin is in use the lateral positions of the slide members in the rectangular openings will show whether the lever is in balance or not. If they are spaced from the longitudinal sides of the openings the lever is in balance, but if they are offset against one or other of those sides it is out of balance. Whether it is the effort of the supported pipe on the lever or the effort of the spring on the lever which is causing the imbalance will be indicated by whichever of the sides of the openings the slide members are being urged against.

There is provision on the lever for adjusting the positions at which the draw bar and carrier 6 act on spring arm 5 and load arm 7 respectively.

There is also provision, in accordance with the invention which is the subject of our co-pending British patent application No. 8618612, for adjusting at least one of the connections of the draw bar and the carrier to the lever such that the position of the connection can be moved transversely of the relevant arm of the lever to vary the perpendicular distance from the pivotal axis of the lever to the line of action of the force applied to the lever at the connection, thereby to boost or reduce the moment of the force on the lever. A variation in the force exerted on the lever by a supported pipe or by the spring can therefore be compensated for.

Instead of the members 13 conta#ining the oblique slots 16 being slidable in the rectangular openings 12, the longitudinal sides of the openings may be toothed and the members may have teeth which mate with the toothed sides so as to locate the members in positions along the openings at which they are selectively inserted by hand to register portions of the slots with holes 11 in the locking plates 10.

Such an arrangement as that just described is included in the pipe support shown in Figures 3 and 4 in which additional modifications are also incorporated. Here the members, 13', having the toothed longitudinal sides, 26, have retaining plates 27 secured to them, as by welding, by means of which the members are able to be fixed to the frame 1, in their adjusted positions. The oblique slots 16 in the members 13' are duplicated in the retaining plates. For the fixing of the retaining plates 27 use is made of an ultimate stop pin 28 which is fixed to and extends between the side plates 8 of the frame, and with which abutments 29, 30 on the lever 2 co-operate to determine the limits of the range of pivotal movement of the lever relative to the frame.Each retaining plate 27 contains a slot 31 extending parallel to the rectangular opening 12' (having toothed sides 32) with which the respective member 13' is associated. The slot 31 receives a threaded end of the ultimate stop pin 30 on which a washer 33 and nut 34 are fitted and tightened to clamp the retaining plate against the adjacent side plate 8. The locking pin 23 which engages in the oblique slots 16 and, with some clearance, in the registering holes 11 has a finned head 35 at one end of its shank which allows the shank to be seen in the adjacent oblique slot and hole 11 from the headed end of the pin so that, according to how the shank is lying in the hole, when the pipe support is in use, it can be readily seen whether or not the locked lever is in balance under the forces of the spring and supported load.If there is a variation in the load on the lever whilst it is locked, the bearing forces exerted by the locking pin on the retaining plates 27 at the oblique slots 16 may urge the plates angularly about the ultimate stop pin, but it will be appreciated that this will result merely in the members 13' being urged tightly against one or other of the toothed sides 32 of the rectangular openings 12'. The locking of the lever is therefore secure. When the locking pin is not in use it may be parked in an apertured lug 36 on the frame, as indicated.

As yet a further modification in which the rectangular openings 12 again have toothed longitudinal sides, the members engageable with them may each have a cylindrical toothed part which co-operates with the toothed sides so that it can be located in various positions along and angularly in the rectangular openings, and an eccentric hole in the cylindrical part of similar diameter to the holes 11 in the locking plates. By rotation of the member and selection of the position at which the member is engaged along the opening, the eccentric hole can be brought into register with the nearest hole in the adjacent locking plate. The locking pin can then be inserted in the registering holes to lock the lever. The locking pin may possibly be fixed, as by welding, in the eccentric hole.

Claims

1. A pipe support of the constant effort type comprising a frame, a lever pivoted to the frame and having carrying means for supporting a pipe, spring means acting on the lever in opposition to a pipe supported by the carrier means in use to provide a substantially constant counterbalancing effort over a range of movement of the supported pipe, and releasable locking means operable between the lever and frame to restrain movement of the lever relative to the frame.

2. A pipe support according to claim 1 wherein the releasable locking means comprises at one of either the frame or the lever an aperture which is spaced from the pivotal axis of the lever and at the other an opening, there being provision for relative movement between the aperture and the opening such that within a range of pivoting movement of the lever at least a portion of the opening can be registered with the aperture by said relative movement, and a locking member which engages in the aperture and the registering opening or portion thereof to restrain movement of the lever relative to the frame.

3. A pipe support according to claim 2 wherein there is more than one aperture.

4. A pipe support according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein there is more than one opening.

5. A pipe support according to any of claims 2 to 4 wherein the or each opening is a slot, the relative movement provided between the or each aperture and the slot is towards and away from the pivotal axis of the lever, and the slot is disposed obliquely to the direction of the relative movement so that within a range of pivoting movement of the lever a portion of the slot can be registered with the aperture by the relative movement.

6. A pipe support according to claim 5 as dependent from claim 3 wherein the apertures are in the lever and are disposed in an arc of fixed radius about the pivotal axis of the lever, and the or each slot is in an element on the frame movable transversely of the arc towards and away from the pivotal axis.

7. A pipe support according to claim 6 wherein the element is mounted on the frame and is movable transversely of the arc by relative rotation between interengaged complementary screw-threaded means respectively retained to the element and the frame.

8. A pipe support according to claim 6 wherein the element has teeth which are selectively engageable with toothed means on the frame to locate the element in adjusted positions relative to the frame at varying distances from the pivotal axis.

9. A pipe support according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the element is located in an opening in the frame and is movable along the opening transversely of the arc.

10. A pipe support according to claim 9 as dependent from claim 8 wherein the element has opposed edges in which the teeth are formed and the toothed means on the frame comprises teeth in edges of the opening adjacent the opposed edges of the element.

11. A pipe support according to claim 10 wherein the element has a retaining plate adapted to be fixed to the frame in any position in which the element is located in the opening in the frame, to secure the element against removal from the opening.

12. A pipe support according to claim 11 wherein an ultimate stop pin is fixed to the frame with which the lever co-operates to limit the range of pivotal movement of the lever relative to the frame, and the retainer plate is secured to the frame by means of the ultimate stop pin.

13. A pipe support according to claim 3 wherein the apertures are in the lever and are disposed in an arc of fixed radius about the pivotal axis of the lever, and the or each opening is a hole in an element movably mounted on the frame to vary the position of the hole for registration with one or another of the apertures.

14. A pipe support according to claim 13 wherein the element is located in an opening in the frame having opposed parallel edges formed with the teeth, the element has a cylindrical toothed part which is selectively engageable with the teeth of the parallel edges to locate the element at adjusted positions longitudinally of the parallel edges and angularly in the opening, and the or each hole in the element is eccentric with respect to the cylindrical toothed part, the arrangement being such that by adjustment of longitudinal and angular position of the element in the opening the position of the or each hole is variable for registration with one or another of the apertures.

15. A pipe support according to any of claims 2 to 4 wherein the or each opening is a hole and the relative movement provided between the or each aperture and the hole is, or includes, arcuate movement about the pivotal axis of the lever.

16. A pipe support according to any of claims 2 to 15 wherein the locking member is a pin, bolt or the like which engages in the or each aperture and the or each registering opening or portion thereof.

17. A pipe support according to claim 16 wherein the locking member has a shank which engages in the or each aperture and the or each registering opening or portion thereof, and a finned head at one end of the shank which enables the shank to be seen in the aperture and opening when the locking member is viewed from its headed end.

18. A pipe support substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

19. A pipe support substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by Figures 1 and 2 as modified by Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.