Adjustable Pipe Support Assembly With Flexible Strap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pipe clamps are heavy, non-conforming, and difficult to remove, leading to damage and making inspections for corrosion and vibrations challenging, which results in increased costs and safety issues due to the need for specialized equipment and personnel.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable pipe support assembly comprising a flexible strap and mounting brackets that can be easily detached and reattached, allowing for efficient inspection and vibration control without requiring heavy machinery or specialized personnel, using a flexible mesh strap to accommodate various pipe sizes and reduce stress concentrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional rigid pipe clamps are used to secure the pipe, then the pipe is firmly supported, but the clamp creates resistance against the pipe surface causing wear and damage to the outer coating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid pipe clamps with a flexible hose clamp that conforms to the pipe surface. The flexible material allows the clamp to adapt to the pipe's curvature and surface irregularities, distributing pressure evenly and preventing localized stress concentrations that would damage the outer coating while maintaining firm support.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the clamp from rigid to flexible, allowing it to deform and conform to the pipe surface. This parameter change enables the clamp to maintain adequate holding force while reducing harmful stress concentrations on the pipe coating.
2Strength
If conventional heavy pipe clamps are used, then the pipe is securely held, but the clamp is difficult to remove and requires heavy machinery and specialized personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the pipe support system into separate modular components: the flexible hose clamp, the pipe chock, and the mounting bracket. This segmentation allows each component to be independently installed and removed, eliminating the need to handle heavy integrated assemblies and enabling maintenance with minimal equipment and personnel.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs simple, lightweight components that can be easily replaced rather than repaired. The hose clamp and pipe chock are designed as simple, inexpensive parts that can be quickly removed and replaced without specialized tools or heavy machinery, reducing maintenance complexity and cost.
3Stability of the object's composition
If conventional rigid clamps are used, then the pipe is braced, but the clamp does not conform to pipe surface during rapid movement or vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible hose clamp naturally conforms to the pipe surface shape, even during rapid movement or vibration. The flexibility allows the clamp to adapt to surface irregularities and maintain contact without creating stress concentrations, ensuring both stability and conformity.
4Reliability
If conventional pipe clamps are used, then the pipe is supported, but inspection for corrosion and damage is difficult due to heavy equipment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The modular design allows the flexible hose clamp to be easily removed from the pipe, enabling quick visual inspection of the pipe surface for corrosion and damage. The lightweight components can be handled by single personnel without heavy equipment, significantly improving inspection efficiency while maintaining pipe support reliability through the simple, effective design of individual components.
Data Source
AI summary
A pipe support assembly for use in the pipeline transmission industry. More particularly, an adjustable pipe support assembly for use in bracing and securing a section of pipe, while being able to removably detach a strap of said support assembly from said pipe, and thus, monitor and inspect an outer coating of said pipe for corrosion and/or any other possible damage to said pipe. More particularly still, a pipe support assembly having a plurality of pipe chocks with vibration regulators for use in preventing and controlling any vibratory movements of said pipe.