Patent Publication Number: US-10309555-B1

Title: Mechanical electrical plumbing rack device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional of and claims priority to U.S. Nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 15/168,470, entitled “Mechanical Electrical Plumbing Rack Device,” filed on May 31, 2016, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/293,016, filed on Feb. 9, 2016 and entitled “Mechanical Electrical Plumbing Rack Device,” the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a mechanical electrical plumbing corridor rack device, and more particularly, to a system for organizing, insulating and supporting pipes within a mechanical electrical plumbing corridor rack. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Multi-trade offsite prefabrication refers to a building construction method by which multiple building components are constructed in an offsite facility for subsequent incorporation into a building under construction. Healthcare facilities such as hospitals and clinics are well suited to this process since they require the construction of complex, but repetitive elements such as patient rooms, patient bathrooms, clinical spaces and so-called mechanical/electrical/plumbing (MEP) systems. 
     MEP systems consist of racks which extend horizontally above a ceiling in a room or vertically within a wall. MEP systems in the healthcare setting typically include a rectangular frame configured for supporting heat, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) ducts and pipes for carrying water, electrical wiring and gasses such as oxygen. The frames are arranged to align the HVAC ducts and pipes supported by the frames with the ducts and pipes of adjacent MEP racks. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The present application is directed to a system for organizing, insulating and supporting pipes within a MEP rack. According to one aspect of the invention, the present invention provides a MEP corridor rack including a frame having a first end and a second end and a composite panel supported in the first end of the frame, the composite panel being fabricated from a first non-metallic panel, a second metallic panel and an optional, third metallic panel, the first panel being adhered to a rear surface of the second panel or, optionally, sandwiched between the second panel and the third panel. A plurality of passageways extend through the composite panel, each passageway being defined by a first opening extending through the first panel, a second opening extending through the second panel and, optionally, a third opening extending through the third opening. So that the innermost diameter of the first passageway is defined by the first panel, the second opening and the third opening are arranged concentrically around the first opening. 
     One end of a first metal pipe extends through and is supported by a first passageway of the plurality of passageways, and a second end of the pipe extends through a first hole in a fourth panel that is positioned in and supported by the second end of the frame. By “pipe” it is meant any elongate cylinder, regardless of its cross-sectional shape. Thus, pipe may refer to ductile iron pipe, ductwork and the like. So that the first pipe may be identified and distinguished from other pipes extending within the frame, the second panel and the fourth panel each include a first means for identifying the first pipe and distinguishing the first pipe from other pipes of the plurality of pipes. The first means may also identify a material intended to be contained or transported within the first pipe. Exemplary materials, include electrical wiring which can be designated by the letter “E” being placed adjacent to the first passageway and the first hole, hot water which can be designated by the letters “HW” being placed adjacent to the first passageway and the first hole, cold water which can be designated by the letters “CW” being placed adjacent to the first passageway and the first hole and oxygen gas which can be designated by the term “O2” being placed adjacent to the first passageway and the first hole. 
     According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a MEP corridor rack including a frame having a first end and a second end, a first panel constructed from metal, the first panel being positioned in and supported by the first end of the frame and including a first plurality of passageways extending through the first panel, and a second panel constructed from metal, the first panel being positioned in and supported by the second end of the frame and including a second plurality of passageways extending through the second panel. A first metal pipe extends through and is supported by a first passageway of the first plurality of passageways and a second passageway of the second plurality of passageways. To prevent galvanic corrosion of the first pipe, the first metal pipe is spaced apart from first passageway and the second passageway. This is accomplished by providing a first non-metallic member that extends to and between the first pipe and a sidewall of the first passageway and a second non-metallic member that extends to and between the first pipe and a sidewall of the second passageway. In use, the rack may include other mechanical, electrical or plumbing components such as HVAC ductwork and may be arranged adjacent to another MEP rack so that the first pipe can be fluidly coupled to a second pipe of the other MEP rack. 
     According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of installing pipes including coupling a first panel to a first end section of a frame of a first MEP corridor rack, the first panel including a plurality of first openings therethrough. Each of the first openings of the plurality of first openings is associated with a first indicia displayed on the first panel that identifies a material that is intended to be transported through the first opening. A second panel is coupled to a second end section of the frame that is opposite the first end, the second panel including a plurality of second openings therethrough. Similar to the first panel, each second opening of the plurality of second openings is associated with second indicia that are displayed on the second panel that identifies a material that is intended to be transported through the second opening. With the first and second panels coupled to the frame, a first pipe that is intended for transporting a first material is selected and the first and second openings through which the first material is intended to travel are identified by reading the first and second indicia. The pipe is then inserted the first and second openings that were identified as the first and second openings through which the first material is intended to travel. Preferably, each of the first and second panels are constructed from a non-metallic panel, a first metal panel and a second metal panel wherein the non-metallic panel is sandwiched between the first metal panel and the second metal panel. This arrangement allows the first pipe to be directly supported within the first and second openings on the non-metallic panel without contacting the first pipe with the first and second metallic panels. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Furthermore, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a MEP corridor rack in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an architectural drawing of a building displaying an arrangement of multiple MEP corridor racks. 
         FIG. 3  is a front plan view of a first pipe holder in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a rear plan view of the first pipe holder of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the first pipe holder of  FIG. 3  through line  5 - 5 . 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of a second pipe holder in accordance with the present invention mounted in the MEP corridor rack of  FIG. 1  displaying pipes being supported by and extending between the first pipe holder and the second pipe holder of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of a third pipe holder in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of a fourth pipe holder in accordance with the present invention mounted in the MEP corridor rack of  FIG. 1  displaying pipes being supported by and extending between the fourth pipe holder and the third pipe holder of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an end of the MEP rack of  FIG. 1  displaying the third pipe holder of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the other end of the MEP rack of  FIG. 9  displaying the fourth pipe holder of  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Before the present compositions, articles, devices, and/or methods are disclosed and described in detail, it is to be understood that they are not limited to specific methods unless otherwise specified, or to particular reagents unless otherwise specified, and as such may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology as used herein is used only for the purpose of describing particular embodiments and is not intended to be limiting. 
       FIG. 1  depicts a MEP corridor rack  10  in accordance with the present invention. Rack  10  includes five rectangular frame units consisting of a back frame unit  12 , a front frame unit  14 , and three interior frame units  16 . Each of frame units  12 ,  14  and  16  includes an opposing pair of vertical beams  18  that are arranged in parallel and coupled to the one another along their respective ends by an opposing pair of horizontal beams  20 . Units  12 ,  14  and  16  are aligned and coupled to one another by four horizontal beams  22  to form rack  10 . Each of frame units  12 ,  14  and  16  includes two pipe holder frames including a first pipe holder frame  24  and a second pipe holder frame  26 . 
       FIG. 2  depicts a floor plan for a building  11  including patient rooms  13  and hallways  15 . Displayed on the floor plan are MEP corridor racks  17 . Racks  17  are horizontally racks arranged above the ceiling of hallways  15 .  FIG. 2  illustrates the modular construction of buildings that incorporate MEP racks. 
       FIGS. 3 through 5  depict a first pipe holder  28  in accordance with the present invention. First pipe holder  28  includes a substantially flat, rectangular metal first panel  30  constructed from an aluminum or steel metal sheet. First panel  30  has a front surface  32  and a rear surface. Adhered to the rear surface of first panel  30  is a non-metal second panel  36 . Second panel  36  includes as exposed surface  34  and is manufactured from an insulating, non-conductive material such as closed-cell extruded polystyrene, cellulose-based products such as wood and cork, fiberglass, rock and slag wool or concrete. Second panel  36  can be adhered to first panel  30  using an adhesive such a glue or second panel  36  can be bolted or nailed to first panel  30 . 
     Extending through panels  30  and  36  are a plurality of openings configured for supporting pipes such as metal pipes. In particular, each opening includes a first hole  38  having a sidewall formed by the second panel  36  and a second hole  40  having a sidewall formed by the first panel  30 . In each instance, second hole  40  has a greater diameter than the diameter of the first hole  38  with which it corresponds. Extending through the plurality of openings are pipes  39 . Since each opening has an innermost diameter that defined and formed exclusively by second panel  36 , pipes  39  are spaced part from and do not come in contact with first panel  30 . As such, the conduction of heat into and out of pipes  39  via pipe holder frame  28  is reduced since the pipes  39  contact only an insulating material when passing through the opening. Furthermore, by maintaining a distance between pipes  39  and first panel  30 , galvanic corrosion is prevented since the configuration of the opening prevents any metal to metal contact between the pipes and first panel  30 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , displayed on front surface  32  of first panel  30  are indicia  41  which are engraved into first panel  30 . Each of the indicia is associated with a particular one of the openings. The indicia may designate the materials that are to be transported through the openings, for example, an opening may be associated with the letters “CW” to designate that the material to be transported through that pipe  39  will be cold water or the letters “HW” to designate that the material to be transported through that pipe  29  will be hot water. Other indicia may include “HHWS which designates heating hot water supply, “HHWR” which designates heating hot water return, and “HWR” which designates hot water recirculating. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a second pipe holder  50  that is aligned with first pipe holder  28  and pipes  39  being supported by and extending between first pipe holder  28  and the second pipe holder  50 . Second pipe holder  50  is essentially identical to first pipe holder  28  except that the indicia are reversed, i.e., the indicia of second pipe holder  50  are displayed as a mirror image of the indicia of first pipe holder  28 . Thus, indicia  41  of first pipe holder  28  are aligned with like-indicia  41  of second pipe holder  50 . Alignment of the like-indicia allows workers to identify which of the plurality of openings through which specific pipes are intended to extend. Thus, workers may properly insert the intended pipes through rack  10  beginning from either back frame unit  12  or front frame unit  14 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a third pipe holder  52  having a different configuration of openings and indicia than the first and second pipe holders  28  and  50 .  FIG. 8  illustrates a fourth pipe holder  54  where the openings and indicia configurations are aligned and correspond with the indicia and opening configuration of third pipe holder  52 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates an end of a MEP rack  56  displaying third pipe holder  52 . Rack  56  includes framing  58  for supporting HVAC ductwork  60 , as well as framing  62  for supporting additional pipes. Framing  62  may or may not provide insulted support of pipes. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates the other end of MEP rack  56  supporting fourth pipe holder  54 .