GB2165915A

GB2165915A - Pipe support system

Info

Publication number: GB2165915A
Application number: GB08419892A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Element
Original assignee: Tustin & Smith Ltd
Current assignee: Tustin & Smith Ltd
Priority date: 1984-08-03
Filing date: 1984-08-03
Publication date: 1986-04-23
Also published as: GB8419892D0

Abstract

In a pipe support system, such as may be used to support pipework beneath a ceiling, a mounting bar 10 depends from a hanging rail 16 secured to the ceiling. A unitary connecting member 14 is screwed on to a threaded bottom end portion of the bar 10 to secure a pipe- embracing clip 12 in the form of a band extending between two apertured mounting ears 20 and 22. The connecting member 14 comprises two oppositely-projecting headed studs 32 and 34 and the ears 20 and 22 of the clip are so apertured that they can be mounted and retained on the stud shanks behind the heads. In one form the stud heads 38 are oblong (as viewed axially of the stud) and similar apertures (40, Fig. 2) in the ears 20 and 22 are aligned transversely of the stud heads when the clip is orientated for use. in an alternative, key-hole slots in the ears cooperate with studs having circular heads. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pipe support systems This invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to pipe support systems such as may be used, for example, to carry horizontal runs of central heating, air conditioning, etc. pipework beneath ceilings in industrial and commercial installations.

One known kind of pipe support system makes use of mounting bars, which can be secured at one end to depend, for example, at intervals from a hanging rail secured to a ceiling, and pipe-embracing clips adapted to be secured to the free ends of the mounting bars to support a length of pipe. Each clip comprises a pipe-embracing portion in the form of a band which extends between two mounting ears to form a nearly closed ring, connecting means whereby the clip can be secured to the mounting bar co-operating with the ears to retain the clip in support of a pipe. The connecting means may comprise one or more screw-threaded members arranged to co-operate with a threaded free end portion of the mounting bar to secure the clip to the bar.

Such pipe supporting means, comprising a mounting bar, a clip and connecting means, is referred to hereinafter as a pipe support of the kind hereinbefore defined.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved pipe support of the kind hereinbefore defined, in particular one in which the connecting means is an improvement on those arrangements known hitherto.

The invention provides in one of its aspects a pipe support of the kind hereinbefore defined in which the connecting means comprises two mounting portions in the form of headed studs, the ears of the clip being so apertured that they can be mounted on the studs, behind the heads, to support a pipe carried within the clip.

The connecting means may comprise a connecting member which comprises a body portion in the form of a block from which the studs project from opposite side faces, the block enabling the member to be mounted on an end portion of the mounting bar. A tapped bore may extend through the block between the side faces (i.e. transversely of the projection of the studs) to enable the block to be threadedly mounted on to the mounting bar.

The connecting#member may be formed as a die casting or a machined component. The apertures in the ears of the clip are suitably formed to enable the ears to be passed over the heads of the studs. In a preferred form the studs comprise heads which are oblong as viewed axially of the stud and the ears of the clip are provided with similar oblong apertures enabling the ears to be passed over the heads, the heads being aligned transversely of the bar and the ear apertures being aligned longitudinally of the bar (in the final assembly) in order that the heads prevent removal of the clip without a relative rotation of 90 between the clip and the connecting member. Such a relative rotation is, of course, necessary in mounting the ears on to the studs.In an alternative form the studs comprise circular heads and the ears of the clip are provided with apertures in the form of keyhole slots.

There now follows a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a pipe support which illustrates the invention by way of example.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure I is an end view of the pipe support; Figure 2 is a side view of the pipe support; Figures 3a and 3b are plan and side views, respectively, of a connecting member of the support; Figure 4 is a scrap view showing an apertured ear of a clip of the support; Figures 5a and 5b are plan and side views, respectively, of an alternative connecting member; and Figure 6 is a scrap view showing an apertured ear of a clip suitable for use with the connecting member shown in Fig. 5.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a pipe support comprises an elongate mounting bar 10, a pipe-embracing clip 12 and connecting means comprising a unitary connecting member 14.

The mounting bar 10 is in the form of a straight screw-threaded rod which is adapted to be secured at one end (by means of a conventional kind, not shown) to a hanging rail 16 secured to a ceiling. The bar depends vertically from the rail 16.

The clip 12 comprises a pipe-embracing portion 18 in the form of a band which extends between two apertured mounting ears 20 and 22 to form a nearly closed ring. The clip is secured to the bottom, free, end of the bar 10 by means of the connecting member 14 to support a length of pipe (not shown) beneath the ceiling, the connecting member co-operating with the ears 20 and 22 of the clip to retain the clip around a pipe.

Each of the connecting members shown in Figs. 3 and 5 is formed as a single die casting and comprises a body portion 24 in the form of a cuboid block. A tapped bore 26 extends right through the block between opposite side faces 28 and 30 to enable the connecting member to be threaded on to the bottom end portion of the mounting bar 10.

Projecting from those side faces 28 and 30, in opposite directions transversely of the axis of the bore 26 in the block, are mounting portions 32 and 34 of the connecting member in the form of headed studs; each stud comprises a short cylindrical shank 36 and an enlarged head 38, 38' centred on the shank and spaced from the side faces 28 and 30 of the block 24.

The ears 20 and 22 of the clip 12 are suitably apertured to enable them to be passed over the heads of the studs 32 and 34 and to be engaged behind the heads.

In the case of the connecting member 14 and clip 12 illustrated by Figs. 3 and 4, and use of which is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the head 38 of each stud of the connecting member is of an oblong shape, as viewed axially of the stud (Fig. 3b), and the aperture 40 in each ear of the clip (Fig. 4) is of a corresponding shape though very slightly larger. However, the heads 38 are aligned transversely of the axis of the bore 26 in the connecting member (Fig. 3b) and the ear apertures 40 (Fig. 4) are aligned longitudinally of the bar 10 (in the final assembly). As a consequence the heads 38 prevent removal of the clip 12 without a relative rotation of 900 being effected between the clip and the connecting member 14.Such relative rotation (though in the opposite direction) is, of course, necessary in assembly of the clip on to the connecting member; the clip is arranged with the apertures 40 in its mounting ears overlying the heads 38 of the studs, the ears are squeezed together to pass the ears over the heads of the studs (i.e. with the heads passing through the apertures 40) and the clip is then rotated through 90 (about the axis of the studs) and released, to be retained hanging from the shanks 36 behind the heads 38 (see Fig. 2).

In the case of the connecting member and clip illustrated by Figs. 5 and 6, the heads 38' of the studs of the connecting member are circular, as viewed axially of the studs, and the aperture 40' in each ear of the clip is in the form of an inverted keyhole slot (Fig. 6); the keyhole slot comprises a lower circular portion 42 of a diameter very slightly larger than that of each of the heads 38' of the studs, and an upper portion 44 in the form of a vertical slot having a width very slightly larger than the diameter of each of the shanks 36 of the studs. The keyhole slots enable the ears of the clip to be hooked over the studs; in assembly of the clip with the connecting member, the clip thereafter being retained hanging from the shanks 36 (within the portions 44 of the apertures 40') behind the heads 38'.

For greater security, the arrangement may be such as to permit a lock nut (not shown) to be screwed down the mounting bar 10 tightly against an upper face of the connecting member.

Instead of being formed as a die casting, a connecting member for use in performance of the invention may be manufactured in any suitable manner. For example, a member similar to that illustrated by Figs. 5a and 5b could readily be machined from hexagonal bar, being turned about the stud axis to form the studs.

Claims

1. A pipe support of the kind hereinbefore defined in which the connecting means comprises two mounting portions in the form of headed studs, the ears of the clip being so apertured that they can be mounted on the studs, behind the heads, to support a pipe carried within the clip.

2. A pipe support according to claim 1 in which the connecting means comprises a connecting member comprising a body portion in the form of a block from which the studs project from opposite side faces, the block enabling the member to be mounted on an end portion of the mounting bar.

3. A pipe support according to claim 2 in which a tapped bore extends through the block to enable the block to be threadedly mounted on to the mounting bar.

4. A pipe support according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the studs comprise heads which are oblong as viewed axially of the stud and the ears of the clip are provided with similar oblong apertures enabling the ears to be passed over the heads, the heads being aligned transversely of the ear apertures in the normal orientation of the clip in order that the heads prevent removal of the clip without a relative rotation being effected between the clip and the connecting member.

5. A pipe support according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the studs comprise circular heads and the ears of the clip are provided with apertures in the form of keyhole slots enabling the clip to be hooked over the studs, in assembly of the pipe support, to hang retained behind the stud heads.

6. A pipe support constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 and either Figs. 3a, 3b and 4 or Figs. 5a, 5b and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

7. A connecting member for a pipe support according to claim 2, which member is of a unitary construction substantially as hereinbefore described with reference either to Figs.

3a and 3b or to Figs. 5a and 5b.