GB612494A - Sway braces for pipelines or like parts - Google Patents

Abstract

612,494. Vibration-dampers. GENERAL SPRING CORPORATION. May 27, 1946, No. 15982. Convention date, Aug. 4, 1945. [Class 108 (iii)] [Also in Group XXVIII] A sway brace, for connecting a pipeline to a fixed support so as to restrain vibratory and inertial movements, but to allow limited slower or persistent movement of the pipeline relative to the support, comprises spring means for applying a steadying force to the pipeline and means for connecting the spring means to the pipeline and to the support, the connecting means including a coupling having members which are normally interengaged so that the coupling will transmit the steadying force for restraining vibration and inertial movements and which are releasable to render the coupling inoperative and permit free adjustment between the members for accommodating the limited movement of the pipeline without the latter being under the action of the spring. Figs. 1 and 2 show the invention applied to pipelines carrying fluid subject to temperature changes. The pipe 14, Fig. 2, is connected to a fixed support 16 by a number of spring-sway braces 10 of the type described in Specification 565,189 and a rod and sleeve coupling having expansion or shrink engagement. Fig. 1 shows a form of the invention for use with high temperature pipelines the materials of the rod 24 and sleeve 20 being chosen with the rod having the highest coefficient of thermal expansion so that, at operating temperatures, the rod will expand and be gripped by the sleeve. A similar arrangement but with shrink engagement of sleeve to rod may be used for refrigerant pipelines. Means may be provided for heating one of the parts of the coupling so that it will expand away from the other part when a substantial temperature change takes place in the pipeline thus relieving stresses in the pipeline by disconnection of the coupling. When readjustment is complete, the coupling members re-engage. Fig. 8 shows an alternative arrangement in which a toothed connection replaces the rod and sleeve. A rod 24d is attached to the spring and carries a solenoid 75 the plunger of which is connected to bellcranks 76 pivoted on the rod and each carrying a roller 78. The rod 24d is toothed and engages teeth on a rod 80 attached to the fixed support 16e. Yokes 82 are welded to rod 24d, these yokes carrying bearing plates 84 which are pressed against rod 80 by springs 86. The springs are sufficiently stiff to hold the two rods 24d and 80 engaged against all normal vibration but are adapted to be deflected by a pull of the solenoid on the cranks 76. The solenoid may be controlled by a mercury switch 97 which senses drift of the mean or relaxed position of the apparatus. Specification 575,385, [Group XXVIII], also is referred to.