WO2003069203A1

WO2003069203A1 - Support for an elongate article

Info

Publication number: WO2003069203A1
Application number: PCT/GB2003/000656
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tony Brown
Original assignee: Tony Brown
Priority date: 2002-02-16
Filing date: 2003-02-14
Publication date: 2003-08-21
Also published as: GB0203700D0; WO2003069203B1; AU2003207314A1

Abstract

A pipe support includes a number of stackable moulded plastics components (1-4). Upper and lower components (1 and 2) have top and bottom walls and upwardly convergent sides, with locating projections (19) and recesses (18) formed on the opposable top and bottom walls. A top component (3) is formed with a saddle (34) for receiving a pipe or similar article, with recesses formed in its bottom wall to receive locating projections (29) on the upper component. One or more planar height-adjusting shims (4) can be inserted below the saddle component, located by opposing recesses (48) and projections (49). All the components have mutually aligned internal load-bearing elements (130, 150, 174 and 192) to transmit compressive forces from the pipe to the ground when stacked.

Description

SUPPORT FOR AN ELONGATE ARTICLE

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a support for elongate articles, particularly heavy articles such as lengths of pipe or logs.

BACKGROUND

When laying underground cross-country pipelines, lengths of plastic-coated pipe, which may be up to 1.43 metres or more in diameter, are commonly laid out or 'strung' on site in their preliminary positions adjacent to the trench in which the completed pipeline is to be laid. In order to protect any pipe coating from accidental damage, and enable the lengths to be lifted when required, they are normally supported on hardwood beams which are spaced apart and laid transverse to the axis of the pipe. The beams may also be used to support the pipe at an increased height when the ends are welded together. On average, about twelve hardwood beams are required for each pipe section. Instability of the pipe sections can be a problem when supported on timber beams. Also, the lengths of timber have a limited life, being prone to splintering and general damage. Timber in general, and hardwood in particular, is an increasingly precious natural resource and the existing methods are very wasteful. Furthermore, the used beams are difficult to dispose of in an environmentally acceptable manner, which presents an additional cost burden in the pipeline laying process. The presence of unused timber beams littering a construction site may also be a significant health and safety concern.

The present invention seeks to eliminate the use of timber beams.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a support for an elongate article which includes a plurality of components which can be used separately to support the article and which fit together when stacked one upon another to support the article at an increased height.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description and the accompanying drawings referred to therein are included by way of non-limiting example in order to illustrate how the invention may be put into practice. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of a pipe support in accordance with the invention with the components shown in their assembled positions, vertically separated and partly sectioned for clarity;

Figure 2 is similar view of the pipe support as viewed from one end;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a component of the pipe support;

Figure 4 is a plan view of an upper bottom component of the pipe support;

Figure 5 is a plan view of a shim component of the pipe support;

Figure 6 is a plan view of a saddle component of the pipe support;

Figure 7 shows the support being used in stringing the individual lengths of pipe; and

Figure 8 shows how the assembled supports are used to support the lengths of pipe when they are joined together.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring firstly to Fig.s 1 and 2, the support shown in the drawings is intended for supporting lengths of pipe which (by way of example) may be 1.43 metres in diameter, as used in the construction of underground gas, oil or other pipelines. The support includes an upper component 1 , a bottom component 2, a saddle 3 and one or more optional shims 4. The shims may be of identical construction, only one such shim being shown in the drawings. The components are all of hollow construction moulded of recycled thermoplastics, although other preferably lightweight materials could be used such as GRP or aluminium.

The bottom component 2 is shown in Fig.s 1 , 2 and 3 and is of substantially rectangular plan view with short ends 101 and 102 and longer sides 103 and 104. The component includes parallel top and base walls 10 and 11 , the top wall 10 being smaller than the base wall 11. The two walls 10 and 11 are joined by a continuous side wall 12 which is convergent in an upward direction. At spaced intervals the side wall 12 is formed with grooves 13 which extend between the top and base walls 10 and 11 , strengthening the side wall against vertical compression forces. If desired, the bottom component could be secured on a planar base (not shown) with holes formed in the area of the base exposed by the grooves 13 to allow the insertion of ground-anchoring pins. Handle recesses (not shown) may be formed in the side wall 12, at the junction between the side wall 12 and the base wall 11. The top wall 10 is formed with four cylindrical locating projections 19. Corresponding recesses 122 are formed in the base wall 11 (Fig. 1), allowing the bottom components to be easily stacked during storage. Additional strengthening is provided by internal cylindrical load- bearing elements 130 which bridge the top and base walls in various positions. Strengthening grooves may also be formed in the base wall 11 if desired.

The upper component 1 , shown in Fig.s 1, 2 and 4, is also substantially rectangular in plan view with short ends 105 and 106, longer sides 107 and 108 and parallel top and base walls 20 and 21. The spacing between the top and base walls 20 and 21 is substantially equal to those of the base component so that the two components are of substantially the same height. The base wall 21 is of generally the same size and shape as the top wall 10 of bottom component 2, but the top wall 20 is smaller than the base wall 21 to which it is connected by a continuous upwardly-convergent side wall 22. The side wall 22 is formed with grooves 23 extending between the top and base walls 20 and 21 and aligned with the grooves 13 of the bottom component 2. The side wall 22 may again be formed with handle recesses (not shown) at the junction with the base wall 21. The base wall 21 is formed with sockets 18 to receive the projections 19 and thereby positively locate the two components 1 and 2 against lateral movement. At each end, the top wall 20 is formed with a pair of shallow circular projections 29 (see below). Additional strengthening is provided by internal cylindrical load- bearing elements 150 which bridge the top and base walls. Grooves 152 may also be formed in the base wall if desired. Additional recesses 155 may be formed in the base wall 21 corresponding to the top projections 29, allowing the upper components to be stacked during storage.

The shim 4 is shown in Fig.s 1 , 2 and 5. The shim is generally planar and rectangular, being substantially of the same profile as the top wall 20 of upper component 2 with top and base walls 170, 171 joined by_^an upright side wall 172. The shim has aligned cup-like bottom sockets 48 and top projections 49 which locate the shims relative to each other when two or more shims are stacked and which also locate the shims on the projections 29 of the upper component 2. Internal cylindrical load-bearing elements 174 bridge the top and base walls, as shown.

Referring to Fig.s 1, 2 and 6, the saddle 3 has a rectangular and substantially planar base wall 31 with ends 109, 110 and longer sides 111 , 112. The underside of the base 31 is formed with locating sockets 190 for registration with the projections 49 of the shim component 4 or projections 29 of the upper component 1. A top wall 30 is joined to the base wall 31 by a short side wall 32. The top wall 30 is formed with an upwardly-projecting cradle 34. The cradle has a concave upper surface 37 such that, in use, the cradle 34 can receive a pipe with its axis extending parallel to the shorter ends 109 and 110. Strengthening grooves 33 are formed in the upright faces 38 of the cradle 34, and Internal load-bearing elements such as 192 bridge the top and base walls.

The load-bearing elements 130, 150, 174 and 192 are vertically aligned to transmit compression forces through the saddle 3 to the underlying ground when the four components are stacked, and thus prevent distortion of the components under the weight of the pipe.

During stringing of the lengths of pipe the components 1-4 can be used separately as shown in Fig. 7 to temporarily support the pipe P at opposite ends. The top projections 19, 29 and 49 locate the pipe to prevent it from rolling off the components. When the length of pipe is lifted to be welded to an adjacent length all the components are assembled to support the pipe at an increased height for access by the welding equipment, as shown in Fig. 8. One or more shims 4 can be used to adjust the support to the required height if necessary.

Additional components similar to the components 1 and 2 can be provided. A larger component can be inserted below the bottom component 2, or a smaller component could be located on the upper component 1. Different sized saddles can be provided for use with the corresponding components, allowing the support to be used with different sizes of pipe.

It will be appreciated that the features disclosed herein may be present in any feasible combination. Whilst the above description lays emphasis on those areas which, in combination, are believed to be new, protection is claimed for any inventive combination of the features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A support for an elongate article, characterised in that the support includes a plurality of components (1-4) which can be used separately to support the article and which fit together when stacked one upon another to support the article at an increased height.

2. A support according to Claim 1 , in which the components include a top-most component (3) which has a saddle (34) for receiving the elongate article.

3. A support according to Claim 2, in which the saddle has a concave upper surface (37).

4. A support according to Claim 1 , in which the opposable top and bottom faces of components are provided with mutual location means (19, 18; 29, 48; 49,190).

5. A support according to Claim 4, in which said mutual location means include upstanding projections and corresponding recesses.

6. A support according to Claim 1 , in which the base area of each component is greater than that of the one above.

7. A support according to Claim 1 , in which the components are moulded of thermoplastic material.

8. A support according to Claim 1 , in which each of the components is of hollow construction and contains at least one vertical load bearing element (130, 150, 174, 192).

9. A support according to Claim 8, in which the load bearing elements are substantially aligned when the components are stacked one upon another.

10. A support according to Claim 1 , in which the components include at least one planar shim element (4) which is of shallow height relative to the other components.