GB870885A - Constant-force support hangers, for example, for pipes - Google Patents

Abstract

870,885. Automatic tension control systems. GRINNELL CORPORATION. June 6, 1958 [June 12, 1957], No. 18101/58. Class 38 (4). [Also in Group XXVIII] A constant force support hanger, e.g. for piping 10, comprises a supported member 14, Fig. 1, to which a load is adapted to be applied, anchor means 12 for supporting the member, yieldable means 16 comprising a portion of the supporting structural frame of the hanger through which the member is supported by the anchor means and for providing relative movement between the member and anchor means in response to changes in force applied to the member by the load, means 30, 40 for adjusting the length of the hanger between the anchor means and the load, and means 12 for actuating the length-adjusting means in response to said relative movement to thereby change the length of the hanger to compensate for the said changes in force. As shown, upper and lower plates 12, 14 are connected by tension rods 16, the plate being suspended by rods 20, and a reversible electric motor 24 mounted on the plate 14 carries on the driving shaft 26 thereof a worm gear 28 which meshes with a worm-wheel 30 provided with a screw-threaded opening 38 for the reception of a screw member 40. Also, mounted on the plate 14 is a switch 54, the arm 56 of which is biased against the upper wall 57 of an aperture 57a in an element 58 by a tension spring 59, the element being fixed to the plate 12. Downward movement of the piping 10 resulting from a change in temperature causes elongation of the rods 16 so that the switch is actuated whereby the motor 24 rotates to drive the member 40 downwardly when the force applied by the piping is decreased and the rods begin to contract, such contraction causing the switch to again operate to stop the motor. Conversely, upward movement of the piping decreases the tension on the rods 16 whereby the motor is operated to raise the member 40, such lifting of the member having the effect of increasing the downward force exerted by the piping and elongating the rods; the elongation causes actuation of the switch to stop the motor. In a modification, the screw member 106, Fig. 4, is keyed to the worm-wheel 114 and receives a nut member 122 having depending tension rods 124 supporting a cross-head 128. The switch 144 is actuated by an element 140 secured to the member 122.