GB2159231A - Pipe support - Google Patents

Abstract

A pipe support (1) comprises a base member (2) including a pair of polypropylene support blocks (4,5) which are provided with respective cages (6,7) which accommodate stainless steel ball bearings (8,9). Expansion and contraction of pipe (10) is accommodated by the ball bearings (8,9) rotating in their respective cages (6,7). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pipe support This invention relates to a pipe support.

It is well known to support a horizontal pipe by a multiplicity of cast iron rollers which are mounted for rotation about their longitudinal axis. In theory expansion and contraction of the pipe should be accommodated by rotation of the rollers about their axis. In practice this frequently does not occur and the pipe expands and contracts across stationary rollers, which produces an irritating scraping sound.

It is an object of at least preferred embodiments of the present invention to provide a pipe support which will accommodate expansion and contraction of a pipe in a more reliable manner than heretofore achieved.

According to the present invention there is provided a pipe support which comprises a base member including a pair of cages and a pair of ball bearings rotatably mounted in respective ones of said cages and so disposed that, in use, a pipe can rest on said ball bearings.

If desired said base member and said cages may be formed as a single structure. However, it is currently preferred to construct said base member from two separate and distinct support blocks which accommodate respective ones of said cages and a metal fastener which extends between said support blocks.

Preferably, the cages are formed in a plastics material, for example polypropylene.

Advantageously, the ball bearings comprises a metal, for example stainless steel.

However, it will be appreciated that ball bearings of other materials, for example plastics might conceivably be used.

For a better understanding of the invention reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:~ Figure 1 is an end elevation of one embodiment of a pipe support in accordance with the invention supporting a pipe; Figure 2 is a view along line Il-Il of Fig. 1; and Figure 3 shows a modified support block.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a pipe support which is generally identified by reference numeral 1. The pipe support comprises a base member 2 which includes a U-shaped bracket 3 the ends of which are embedded in support blocks 4 and 5. Each support block 4 and 5 is provided with a cage 6 and 7 respectively which accommodates ball bearings 8 and 9 respectively. Ball bearings 8 and 9 are free to rotate in their cages 6 and 7 and support a pipe 10.

A U-shaped retainer 11 is positioned as shown and the whole pipe support is fixed to a horizontal support, not shown, by bolts 12 and 13 which pass through the horizontal extremities of U-shaped retainer 11 and through respective L-shaped members 14 and 15 which are connected to U-shaped bracket 3.

In use, movement of the pipe 10 is accommodated by the ball bearings 8 and 9 rotating in their respective cages 6 and 7. Retainer 11 is primarily intended to prevent the pipe 10 being displaced from the pipe support if, for example, a heating engineer trips over the pipe 10.

Preferably, the support blocks 4 and 5 are made of a resilient plastics material, for example polypropylene, and the ball bearings 8 and 9 are made from a metal, for example, stainless steel. The use of polypropylene support blocks 4 and 5 minimises heat transfer compared to the prior art.

Various modifications to the embodiment described could be made, for example, the support blocks 4 and 5 and the U-shaped bracket 3 could be made as a single plastic moulding.

If desired, and as shown in Fig. 3, the bearing block 4' can be provided with a buttress portion 16 to fully support the load of the pipe which acts in the direction "F" shown in Fig. 3.

1. A pipe support comprising a base member including a pair of cages and a pair of ball bearings rotatably mounted in respective ones of said cages and so disposed that, in use, a pipe can rest on said bearings.

2. A pipe support as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said base member comprises a pair of support blocks which accommodate respective ones of said cages and a metal fastener which extends between said support blocks.

3. A pipe support as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein said cages are formed in a plastics material.

4. A pipe support as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said ball bearings comprise a metal.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Pipe support This invention relates to a pipe support. It is well known to support a horizontal pipe by a multiplicity of cast iron rollers which are mounted for rotation about their longitudinal axis. In theory expansion and contraction of the pipe should be accommodated by rotation of the rollers about their axis. In practice this frequently does not occur and the pipe expands and contracts across stationary rollers, which produces an irritating scraping sound. It is an object of at least preferred embodiments of the present invention to provide a pipe support which will accommodate expansion and contraction of a pipe in a more reliable manner than heretofore achieved. According to the present invention there is provided a pipe support which comprises a base member including a pair of cages and a pair of ball bearings rotatably mounted in respective ones of said cages and so disposed that, in use, a pipe can rest on said ball bearings. If desired said base member and said cages may be formed as a single structure. However, it is currently preferred to construct said base member from two separate and distinct support blocks which accommodate respective ones of said cages and a metal fastener which extends between said support blocks. Preferably, the cages are formed in a plastics material, for example polypropylene. Advantageously, the ball bearings comprises a metal, for example stainless steel. However, it will be appreciated that ball bearings of other materials, for example plastics might conceivably be used. For a better understanding of the invention reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:~ Figure 1 is an end elevation of one embodiment of a pipe support in accordance with the invention supporting a pipe; Figure 2 is a view along line Il-Il of Fig. 1; and Figure 3 shows a modified support block. Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a pipe support which is generally identified by reference numeral 1. The pipe support comprises a base member 2 which includes a U-shaped bracket 3 the ends of which are embedded in support blocks 4 and 5. Each support block 4 and 5 is provided with a cage 6 and 7 respectively which accommodates ball bearings 8 and 9 respectively. Ball bearings 8 and 9 are free to rotate in their cages 6 and 7 and support a pipe 10. A U-shaped retainer 11 is positioned as shown and the whole pipe support is fixed to a horizontal support, not shown, by bolts 12 and 13 which pass through the horizontal extremities of U-shaped retainer 11 and through respective L-shaped members 14 and 15 which are connected to U-shaped bracket 3. In use, movement of the pipe 10 is accommodated by the ball bearings 8 and 9 rotating in their respective cages 6 and 7. Retainer 11 is primarily intended to prevent the pipe 10 being displaced from the pipe support if, for example, a heating engineer trips over the pipe 10. Preferably, the support blocks 4 and 5 are made of a resilient plastics material, for example polypropylene, and the ball bearings 8 and 9 are made from a metal, for example, stainless steel. The use of polypropylene support blocks 4 and 5 minimises heat transfer compared to the prior art. Various modifications to the embodiment described could be made, for example, the support blocks 4 and 5 and the U-shaped bracket 3 could be made as a single plastic moulding. If desired, and as shown in Fig. 3, the bearing block 4' can be provided with a buttress portion 16 to fully support the load of the pipe which acts in the direction "F" shown in Fig. 3. CLAIMS

1. A pipe support comprising a base member including a pair of cages and a pair of ball bearings rotatably mounted in respective ones of said cages and so disposed that, in use, a pipe can rest on said bearings.

2. A pipe support as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said base member comprises a pair of support blocks which accommodate respective ones of said cages and a metal fastener which extends between said support blocks.

3. A pipe support as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein said cages are formed in a plastics material.

4. A pipe support as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said ball bearings comprise a metal.