One-Piece Pipe Clamp Structure for Rigid Slip-Resistant Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pipe hangers lack rigidity and strength, leading to deformation and slippage issues when supporting pipes in both vertical and horizontal orientations, particularly in industrial settings, where the weight and stress of pipes cause failure and potential damage to the pipe and its contents.
Innovation Solution
A clamp with a base and a load-bearing seat, featuring side support members extending at an oblique angle from the base, forming a one-piece unit that securely grips the pipe circumferentially, providing rigidity and strength to resist slippage and crushing, and is made from materials like steel or polymers to withstand tensional and torsional forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional pipe hangers are used to support pipes, then the device complexity is low, but the strength and rigidity are insufficient leading to deformation and slippage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple support functions into a single integrated clamp structure that includes a base, load bearing seat, and side support members. This merging of components provides enhanced strength and rigidity while maintaining simplicity, resolving the contradiction between structural strength and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp is formed from a single piece of material with optimized structural geometry, creating a composite-like integrated structure that distributes loads effectively across all components (base, seat, and side supports), thereby achieving high strength without requiring multiple separate parts.
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional pipe hangers are used to support pipes, then the device complexity is low, but the rigidity is insufficient leading to deformation under load
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of the base, load bearing seat, and side support members into a single rigid structure provides enhanced stability and resistance to deformation. The unified structure ensures that all components work together to maintain rigidity under various loading conditions without requiring complex assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
While the clamp is a single piece, it is functionally segmented into distinct regions (base for mounting, load bearing seat for vertical support, side support members for lateral stability) that each contribute to overall rigidity in specific directions, providing comprehensive structural stability.
3Reliability
If conventional pipe hangers are used, then ease of manufacture is high, but reliability is poor due to deformation and failure under pipe weight and stress
Solution Approach 1:
The single-piece construction integrates all critical load-bearing elements into one manufacturable unit, ensuring consistent material properties and eliminating weak points from assembly joints. This approach significantly improves reliability while remaining suitable for standard manufacturing processes like stamping or casting.
Solution Approach 2:
The optimized single-material construction with strategically designed geometric features provides reliable load distribution and stress management, preventing the deformation and failure modes seen in conventional hangers while maintaining compatibility with conventional manufacturing methods.
4Reliability
If conventional pipe hangers are used to support pipes in various orientations, then adaptability is moderate, but the clamp lacks sufficient support leading to slippage and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The combination of a load bearing seat for vertical support and oblique side support members for lateral confinement creates a secure multi-directional holding structure. This integrated design prevents slippage in both vertical and horizontal orientations while maintaining adaptability to different installation scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the clamp are optimized for specific functions: the load bearing seat provides vertical support capacity, while the side support members extending at oblique angles provide lateral stability and pipe engagement, creating locally optimized support zones that work together for secure holding in various orientations.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for installing pipes. The apparatus is a clamp for hanging or supporting pipe. The clamp comprises a base and a seat for receiving a pipe. The seat comprises at least two load bearing members adapted to receive the pipe. The clamp further comprises at least two side support members extending upward from the base at an oblique angle with respect to the base. The two support members each comprise an upwardly extending arm for receiving the pipe and wherein each upwardly extending arm forms an aperture for receiving a fastener to secure the pipe within the clamp. The clamp preferably comprises an integral, one-piece unit. Methods of making a pipe clamp and installing a pipe also are disclosed.