Adjustable Pipe Support Stand for Height Tuning and Thermal Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe support systems are inefficient in accommodating varying pipe heights and uneven surfaces, and they require time-consuming and costly replacement of bearing plates, which are often specific to each pipe component, and do not allow for easy adjustment or micro-movement due to thermal expansion and contraction.
Innovation Solution
A pipe support system comprising a base plate with a vertically oriented tubular body of adjustable length, an adjustable stud assembly with a non-threaded head and flanged housing, and a cap with channels for water drainage, allowing macro and micro-adjustments in height and accommodating thermal expansion, along with a method for replacing worn caps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bearing plates are made specific to each pipe component, then the support is stable and reliable, but the replacement becomes time-consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal bearing plate design that can accommodate multiple pipe components through standardized mounting interfaces and adjustable positioning mechanisms. The bearing plate includes generic features such as standardized holes, adjustable clamps, and modular components that allow it to support different types of pipe components (valves, flanges, elbows) without requiring component-specific custom plates. This universality enables quick replacement while maintaining reliable support for various pipe components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the pipe support system is fixed in height, then the structure is simple and stable, but it cannot accommodate varying pipe heights or uneven surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates adjustable height mechanisms that allow the bearing plate to be positioned at different vertical levels. The support structure includes movable components such as adjustable legs, telescopic elements, or repositionable mounting brackets that enable height adjustment while maintaining structural stability. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt to varying pipe heights and uneven ground surfaces without requiring a completely complex redesign of the entire support structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The support system is divided into modular segments including the bearing plate, mounting structure, and support elements that can be independently adjusted or replaced. This segmentation allows for localized height adjustments without affecting the entire structure, enabling adaptability while keeping individual components relatively simple and manageable.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the pipe support system is rigid and fixed, then the installation is simple, but it does not allow for micro-movement due to thermal expansion and contraction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates features that allow for thermal expansion and contraction by enabling micro-movements in the supported pipe components. The bearing plate and mounting structure include adjustment mechanisms, clearance provisions, or flexible connection elements that permit small positional changes in response to thermal effects. These parameter changes (position, orientation) allow the system to accommodate thermal expansion while maintaining overall structural integrity and installation simplicity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides easy installation and replacement of bearing plates, adjusts to varying pipe heights, and allows for relative longitudinal movement of pipe components, reducing friction and wear from thermal expansion, while maintaining stability and preventing water accumulation.
Implementation Method 1
a cap with channels for water drainage
Implementation Method 2
Temperature fluctuations will inevitably cause portions of the pipeline to expand and contract
Data Source
AI summary
A pipe support system includes a pipe base, a threaded bolt having a head, a deck supported above the pipe base, and a cap removably resting on the upper surface of the deck. Methods for installing the pipe support system include determining a height of a joint of pipe or pipe component above a ground surface; selecting a length of the pipe base in accordance with the height of the joint of pipe or pipe component above the ground surface; slidably placing the bolt into an inner diameter of the pipe base until a flanged housing is landed onto a top of the pipe base; rotating the head of the bolt relative to the pipe base in order to provide micro-adjustments to the height of the deck relative to the pipe base; and placing the joint of pipe or other pipe component onto the cap, thereby supporting the pipe component above the surface.