Adjustable Pipe Support Assembly for Lateral Stability and Thermal Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe support systems lack flexibility in elevation adjustment while maintaining lateral stability, particularly in applications requiring thermal expansion and seismic loads, as they often restrict motion and require excessive supplemental bracing.
Innovation Solution
A pipe support system comprising bracket assemblies that clamp to a strut channel with rotatable cylinders and threaded rods, allowing for adjustable elevation and lateral support through a triangulated structure with hose clamps, enabling flexible elevation adjustments and accommodating thermal expansion with specified angles for seismic applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If pipe supports are mounted in close proximity to structural members, then lateral support is improved, but elevation adjustment range is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The support system is divided into separate functional components: a mounting bracket that attaches to the structural member, a threaded rod that provides adjustable length, and a pipe support element. This segmentation allows the mounting location to be fixed for lateral stability while the threaded rod length can be varied to achieve different elevations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates adjustable elements including the threaded rod length and the position of the pipe support along the rod. These dynamic adjustments enable elevation changes while the mounting bracket remains fixed to the structural member, maintaining lateral support.
2Adaptability or versatility
If pipe supports provide greater elevation adjustment freedom, then adaptability is improved, but lateral support is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the lateral support function (mounting bracket) from the elevation adjustment function (threaded rod and support position), the system achieves both lateral stability and elevation freedom simultaneously rather than compromising one for the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The threaded rod acts as an intermediary element that transmits the adjustment mechanism's motion to the pipe support while allowing independent optimization of lateral support at the mounting point and elevation adjustment at the pipe support point.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid pipe support structures are used, then lateral stability is improved, but thermal expansion accommodation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable threaded rod and repositionable pipe support create a semi-dynamic system that can be configured to accommodate thermal expansion by introducing appropriate angles and flexibility points while maintaining rigid lateral support through the mounting bracket.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows changing geometric parameters such as the angle of the threaded rod and the position of the pipe support to create flexibility for thermal expansion accommodation while maintaining lateral stability through the fixed mounting bracket.
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanism for the support or suspension of a tubular member having a pair of mounting brackets including pivotally mounted receivers to threadingly engage a pair of threaded rods, a pair of threaded rods, a pair of supporting shoes, and a circumferential clamping mechanism to bind the shoes around the tubular member it is supporting. The mounting brackets may be configured to engage and rigidly clamp to universal strut channel. Threaded rod of desired length is installed at one end to the pivotally mounted receiver of the bracket and the other end to the support shoe. Fine elevation adjustment is achieved by adjusting the engagement between the threaded rods and shoes or adjustment of the span between brackets. The mechanism offers broad installation flexibility while minimizing supply side costs associated with packaging, inventory, warehousing, and transportation.