Abstract:
A pipe support clamp, a system using the clamp, and a method of supporting a pipe with the clamp are disclosed. The pipe support clamp includes two housings, and a number of high temperature inserts, where at least one high temperature insert is coupled to the first housing and at least one high temperature insert is coupled to the second housing.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention is directed to pipe clamps, systems, and methods. In particular, the invention is directed toward pipe clamps, systems, and methods for high temperature applications. 
     2. Background of the Invention 
     Piping systems are used throughout the world to transport materials from one point to another. Large scale piping systems can include pipes that are several feet in diameter and hundreds of miles in length, such as the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. While small scale piping systems can have pipes that are smaller than an inch in diameter and only transport materials a few feet, such as household plumbing systems. Each type of systems has many unique features and also many features in common. For instance, many piping systems are supported. 
     There are a number of devices to support piping systems, including but not limited to clamps, risers, hangers, saddle supports, pipe stanchions, pipe rolls, trapeze, pipe rings, etc. Each of these devices can be used to support a pipe from the floor, a wall, or from above (e.g. a ceiling). For example, a pipe clamp is a device that surrounds a pipe and can be attached to a supporting structure.  FIG. 1 , shows an exemplary pipe clamp  100 . Pipe clamp  100  has an upper c-shaped portion  105  and a lower c-shaped portion  110  which are held together by fastening devices  115 . C-shaped portions  105  and  110  are kept at a specified distance by spacers  120 . The clamps can be made out of any material, including but not limited to steel, iron, plastic, fibrous materials, and synthetic materials. 
     The pipes that are supported by clamps and other devices often carry materials that are in excess of 750° F. In such circumstances, the supports must be able to endure such high temperatures, or else the devices may fail. Often, certain alloy steels, such as the chrome molybdenum steels ASTM A387 Grade 22 (which has an allowable stress of 3.8 ksi at 1100° F.) or ASTM A387 Grade P91 (which has an allowable stress of 10.3 ksi at 1100° F.), are used in pipe clamps. However, alloys such as ASTM A387 Grade 22have a significant load carrying capacity reduction at temperatures above 1000° F. and alloys such as ASTM A387 Grade P91 can be expensive and difficult to cut and machine. Thus it is desirable to have a supporting device that can support a pipe at high temperatures that is inexpensive and easily made. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention overcomes the problems and disadvantages associated with current strategies and designs and provides new tools and methods of supporting an object. 
     One embodiment is directed to a pipe support clamp. The clamp includes a first and a second housing and a number of high temperature inserts. At least one high temperature insert is attached to an inner surface of the first housing and at least one high temperature insert is attached to an inner surface of the second housing. 
     In certain embodiments, there are a number of fastening devices that attached the first housing to the second housing. In certain embodiment, there is at least one spacer. The spacer is positioned between the first housing and the second housing to separate the first housing from the second housing at a predetermined distance. The high temperature inserts can be adapted to engage a shear lug or a stanchion. 
     In certain embodiments, the first housing and the second housing are of a one material and the high temperature inserts are of another material. The first material can be standard grade alloy and the second material is of a higher grade alloy. The higher grade alloy can be adapted to withstand temperatures in excess of 500° F. (260° C.). The higher grade alloy can be chosen from materials such as ASTM A387 Grade P91 alloy. 
     Another embodiment is directed to a system for supporting a pipe. The system includes the pipe and pipe supports. Each pipe support clamp can include a first and a second housing, and a number of high temperature inserts. At least one high temperature insert is attached to the inner surface of the first housing and at least one high temperature insert is coupled to the inner surface of the second housing. 
     In certain embodiments, each pipe support clamp includes a number of fastening devices to attach the first housing to the second housing. In certain embodiments, each pipe support clamp includes at least one spacer. The spacer is positioned between the first housing and the second housing to separate the first housing from the second housing at a predetermined distance. The pipe can have a number of shear lugs or stanchions coupled to the pipe, wherein each high temperature inserts is adapted to engage one shear lugs or stanchion. 
     In certain embodiments, the first housing and the second housing are of one material and the high temperature inserts are of another material. The first material can be standard grade alloy and the second material can be a higher grade alloy. The higher grade alloy can be adapted to withstand temperatures in excess of 500° F. (260° C.). The higher grade alloy can be chosen from materials such as ASTM A387 Grade P91 alloy. 
     Another embodiment is directed to a method of supporting a pipe. The method includes the steps of attaching at least one high temperature insert to the inner surface of a first housing, attaching at least one high temperature insert to the inner surface of a second housing, positioning the pipe between the first housing and the second housing, and attaching the first housing to the second housing so that the high temperature inserts come into contact with the outer surface of the pipe. The high temperature inserts can be adjacent to an outer surface of the pipe. 
     In certain embodiments, the method includes attaching the first housing to the second housing with at least one fastening device. In certain embodiments, the method includes positioning at least one spacer between the first housing and the second housing to separate the first housing from the second housing at a predetermined distance. In certain embodiments, there are a plurality of shear lugs or stanchions attached to the pipe and each high temperature inserts is adapted to engage one shear lugs or stanchion. 
     In certain embodiments, the first housing and the second housing are of one material and the high temperature inserts are of another material. The first material can be standard grade alloy and the second material is of a higher grade alloy. The higher grade alloy can be adapted to withstand temperatures in excess of 500° F. (260° C.). The higher grade alloy can be chosen from materials such as ASTM A387 Grade P91 alloy. 
     Other embodiments and advantages of the invention are set forth in part in the description, which follows, and in part, may be obvious from this description, or may be learned from the practice of the invention. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       The invention is described in greater detail by way of example only and with reference to the attached drawing, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a conventional pipe clamp. 
         FIG. 2  shows an embodiment of a riser clamp. 
         FIG. 3   a  shows a second embodiment of a riser clamp. 
         FIG. 3   b  shows a second embodiment of a riser clamp. 
         FIG. 4  shows an embodiment of a 3-bolt clamp. 
         FIG. 5  shows an embodiment of a yoke clamp. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As embodied and broadly described herein, the disclosures herein provide detailed embodiments of the invention. However, the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. Therefore, there is no intent that specific structural and functional details should be limiting, but rather the intention is that they provide a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention 
     A problem in the art capable of being solved by the embodiments of the present invention is supporting a pipe that is subject to high temperatures. It has been surprisingly discovered that inserting an alloy spacer between a pipe clamp and the pipe increases the load capacity of the pipe clamp at high temperatures. 
       FIG. 2  shows an embodiment of a of a riser clamp  200 . Riser clamp  200  may support a vertical pipe  205 . In certain embodiments, pipe  205  has shear lugs  210  coupled to the outer surface of the pipe body at regular intervals. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , four shear lugs  210  are equally spaced around pipe  205 . Shear lugs  210  can be coupled to pipe  205  by welds, adhesive, or any by other method known in the art. Additionally, shear lugs  210  can be incorporated into pipe  205  during the manufacturing process of pipe  205 , e.g. by molding or machining. In the preferred embodiment, shear lugs  210  are of the same material as pipe  205 , however any material could be used. 
     In certain embodiments, riser clamp  200  has two c-shaped halves  215 . C-shaped halves  215  can be made of any material know in the art, including but not limited to metal, plastic, resin, synthetic materials, and fibers. C-shaped halves  215  can be coupled together by fastening devices  220 . While four fastening devices  220  are shown, any number of fastening devices can be used. Fastening devices can be bolts, clips, rivets, snaps, adhesive, welds, or any other device know in the art. In certain embodiments spacers  225  are positioned between the two c-shaped halves  215 . Spacers  225  can be of any material, including but not limited to, fiber, plastic, metal, asbestos, synthetic materials, and resin, or combinations thereof. In the preferred embodiment, spacers  225  are positioned over fastening devices  220 . Spacers  225  keep the two c-shaped halves  215  at a predetermined separation. 
     At least one high temperature insert  230  is coupled to each c-shaped half  215 . High temperature inserts  230  can be coupled to c-shaped halves  215  by any method know in the art including but not limited to welding, adhesive, and bolting. In the embodiments where welding is used, it is well known in the art that different materials require different welding techniques. In the preferred embodiment, high temperature inserts  230  are made of alloys of steel that are able to withstand (e.g. without melting, cracking, oxidizing, combusting, or otherwise substantially altering in physical or chemical form) temperatures above at least 500° F., 750° F., or 1000° F. High temperature inserts  230  can be made by any method known in the art, including but not limited to growing, molding, and machining. In the preferred embodiments, high temperature inserts  230  are made of high grade alloys such as ASTM A387 Grade P91. Preferably, c-shaped halves  215  are made of a standard grade material, such as ASTM A387 Grade 22 or ASTM A36, while high temperature inserts  230  are made of the high grade alloys. While high temperature inserts  230  are shown as substantially rectangular in cross sectional shape, high temperature inserts  230  can have any shape, including but not limited to circular, ovoid, square, spiral, trapezoidal, and triangular. Additionally, high temperature inserts  230  can be arranged in any way, for example, symmetrically, at diametrically opposed positions, staggered, off set, asymmetrically, and evenly spaced. 
     High temperature inserts  230  are positioned on c-shaped halves  215  so that high temperature inserts  230  engage shear lugs  210  upon assembly of riser clamp  200 . For example, inserts  230  can have cavities into which shear lugs  210  fit. While high temperature inserts  230  can cover any portion of the inner surface of c-shaped halves  215 , preferably high temperature inserts  230  are spaced at regular intervals around the inner surface of c-shaped halves  215 . High temperature inserts  230  reduce the temperature experienced by c-shaped halves  215 . For example, it has been determined that for each inch between the outer surface of pipe  205  and the inner surface of c-shaped halves  215  there is a 100° F. temperature drop. High temperature inserts  230  can keep the outer surface of pipe  205  and the inner surface of c-shaped halves  215  separated at any distance. However in the preferred embodiment, high temperature inserts  230  provide two inches of space between the outer surface of pipe  205  and the inner surface of c-shaped halves  215 . Two inches of space can increase the capacity of a clamp by a factor of three. In certain embodiments, the empty space between pipe  205  and c-shaped halves  215  is filled with an insulating material. Any insulating material can be used, including but not limited to fiberglass, synthetic polymers, cellulose, mineral wool and asbestos. 
       FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  show two other embodiments of a riser clamp  300   a  and  300   b . Riser clamps  300   a  and  300   b  can support a vertical pipe  305 . In riser clamps  300   a  and  300   b , stanchions  310  are coupled to the outer surface of pipe  305 . Stanchions  310  can be tube stubs, pipe stubs, round bars or posts to provided support. Stanchions  310  can be coupled by any method known in the art, including but not limited to welds and adhesive. Additionally, stanchions  310  can be incorporated into pipe  305  during the manufacturing process of pipe  305 , e.g. by molding or machining. In the preferred embodiment, stanchions  310  are of the same material as pipe  305 , however another material could be used. As shown in  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b , two stanchions  310  are shown at diametrically opposed positions on pipe  305  to permit the pipe to rotate in the clamp. 
     Similarly to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , riser clamps  300   a  and  300   b  can include c-shaped halves  315 , fastening devices  320 , and spacers  325 . However, riser clamp  300   a  has two high temperature inserts  330 , while the inserts in riser clamp  300   b  are two high temperature sleeves  340 . High temperature inserts  330  and high temperature sleeves  340  can be coupled to c-shaped halves  315  by any method know in the art including but not limited to welding, adhesive, and bolting. In the embodiments where welding is used, it is well known in the art that different materials require different welding techniques. In the preferred embodiment, high temperature inserts  330  and high temperature sleeves  340  are made of alloys of steel that are able to withstand (e.g. without melting, cracking, oxidizing, combusting, or otherwise substantially altering in physical or chemical form) temperatures above at least 500° F., 750° F., 1000° F. High temperature inserts  330  and high temperature sleeves  340  can be made by any method known in the art, including but not limited to growing, molding, and machining. In the preferred embodiments, high temperature inserts  330  and high temperature sleeves  340  are made of high grade alloys such as ASTM A387 Grade P91 alloys. Preferably, c-shaped halves  315  are made of a standard grade material, such as ASTM A387 Grade 22 or ASTM A36, while high temperature inserts  330  and high temperature sleeves  340  are made of the high grade alloys. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3   a , high temperature inserts  330  are positioned on c-shaped halves  315  so that high temperature inserts  330  engage stanchions  310  upon assembly of riser clamp  300   a . For example, each high temperature inserts  330  can have a hole through which a stanchion  310  fits. While high temperature inserts  330  can cover any portion of the inner surface of c-shaped halves  315 , preferably high temperature inserts  330  are attached at two points along the inner surface of c-shaped halves  315  such that high temperature inserts  330  are parallel to the center line CL of riser clamp  300   a . More preferably, high temperature inserts  330  are positioned such that there is a gap between the inner surface of c-shape halves  315  and a surface of high temperature inserts  330 . In certain embodiments, the empty space between pipe  305  and c-shaped halves  315  is filled with an insulating material. Any insulating material can be used, including but not limited to fiberglass, synthetic polymers, cellulose, mineral wool and asbestos. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3   b , c-shaped halves  315  have bore holes  345  through which high temperature sleeves  340  can fit. Preferably, bore holes  345  are created prior to installation of riser clamp  300   b  and, more preferably, bore holes  345  are created during fabrication of c-shaped halves  315 . In the preferred embodiment, high temperature sleeves  340  are hollow pipes or tubes fitted into bore holes  345  and are welded to c-shaped halves  315 . However, high temperature sleeves  340  can be coupled to c-shaped halves  315  by other methods, including but not limited to, adhesive, friction fitting, and screw threading. In the preferred embodiment, the inner diameter of high temperature sleeves  340  is slightly larger than the outer diameter of stanchions  310 . Preferably, stanchions  310  fit securely within high temperature sleeves  340 . 
       FIG. 4  shows an embodiment of a 3-bolt clamp  400 . 3-bolt clamp  400  can be used to support a horizontal pipe  405 . Unlike the embodiments show in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , there are no lugs or stanchions coupled to pipe  405 . Since pipe  405  is horizontal, pipe  405  can be supported by resting pipe  405  on a support structure, for example 3-bolt clamp  400 . Similarly to the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , 3-bolt clamp  400  can include c-shaped halves  415 , fastening devices  420 , and spacers  425 . 
     3-bolt clamp  400  employs high temperature inserts  430  to secure and support pipe  405 . In the preferred embodiment, high temperature inserts  430  are coupled to c-shaped clamps  415 . High temperature inserts  430  can be coupled to c-shaped halves  415  by any method know in the art including but not limited to compressive force, welding, adhesive, and bolting. In the embodiments where welding is used, it is well known in the art that different materials require different welding techniques. In the preferred embodiment, high temperature inserts  430  are made of alloys of steel that are able to withstand (e.g. without melting, cracking, oxidizing, combusting, or otherwise substantially altering in physical or chemical form) temperatures above at least 500° F., 750° F., or 1000° F. High temperature inserts  430  can be made by any method known in the art, including but not limited to growing, molding, and machining. In the preferred embodiments, high temperature inserts  430  are made of high grade alloys such as ASTM A387 Grade P91 alloys. Preferably, c-shaped halves  415  are made of a standard grade material, such as ASTM A387 Grade 22 or ASTM A36, while high temperature inserts  430  are made of the high grade alloys. 
     While high temperature inserts  430  can cover any portion of the inner surface of c-shaped halves  415 , preferably high temperature inserts  430  are spaced at regular intervals around the inner surface of c-shaped halves  415 . In certain embodiments, the empty space between pipe  405  and c-shaped halves  415  is filled with an insulating material. Any insulating material can be used, including but not limited to fiberglass, synthetic polymers, cellulose, mineral wool and asbestos. 
       FIG. 5  shows an embodiment of a yoke clamp  500 . Yoke clamp  500  can be used to support a horizontal pipe  505 . Yoke clamp  500  can include u-shaped member  510  coupled to support bracket  515 . U-shaped member  510  and support bracket  515  may be coupled by any method known in the art, including but not limited to bolts, snaps, cotter pins, adhesive, and welding. Since pipe  505  is horizontal, pipe  505  can be supported by resting pipe  505  on a support structure, for example u-shaped member  510 . Yoke clamp  500  employs high temperature inserts  530  to secure and support pipe  505 . In the preferred embodiment, at least one high temperature insert  530  is coupled to u-shaped member  510 , and at least one high temperature insert  530  is coupled to support bracket  515 . High temperature inserts  530  can be coupled to u-shaped member  410  and support bracket  515  by any method know in the art including but not limited to compressive force, welding, adhesive, and bolting. In the embodiments where welding is used, it is well known in the art that different materials require different welding techniques. In the preferred embodiment, high temperature inserts  530  are made of alloys of steel that are able to withstand (e.g. without melting, cracking, oxidizing, combusting, or otherwise substantially altering in physical or chemical form) temperatures above at 500° F., 750° F., 1000° F. High temperature inserts  530  can be made by any method known in the art, including but not limited to growing, molding, and machining. In the preferred embodiments, high temperature inserts  530  are made of high grade alloys such as ASTM A387 Grade P91 alloys. Preferably, u-shaped member  510  is made from a 300 series stainless steel and support bracket  515  is made of a standard grade material, such as ASTM A387 Grade 22, while high temperature inserts  530  are made of the high grade alloys. 
     While high temperature inserts  530  can cover any portion of the inner surface of u-shaped member  510  and support bracket  515 , preferably high temperature inserts  530  only cover a portion of u-shaped member  510  and support bracket  515 . In certain embodiments, the empty space between pipe  505 , u-shaped remember  510 , and support bracket  515  is filled with an insulating material. Any insulating material can be used, including but not limited to fiberglass, synthetic polymers, cellulose, mineral wool and asbestos. 
     Other embodiments and uses of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. All references cited herein, including all publications, U.S. and foreign patents and patent applications, are specifically and entirely incorporated by reference. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered exemplary only with the true scope and spirit of the invention indicated by the following claims. Furthermore, the term “comprising of” includes the terms “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of.”