Patent Abstract:
Have invented a new strut system designed for the attachment of pipes, conduit, and tubes to vertical and horizontal surfaces in a sanitary manner. The mounting of pipes, conduits or tubes in an environment that demands a high level of sanitation, (i.e.; food processing and pharmaceutical manufacturing) is best accomplished through the use of my invention. Unlike strut systems currently available, my strut system repels contaminants, is easy to inspect, and easy to clean.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0000]     Not Applicable  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0000]     Not Applicable  
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX  
       [0000]     Not Applicable  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     My invention is intended to be used in food processing and pharmaceutical processing facilities to improve the inspectability and cleanability of pipe, conduit, and tube installations. Currently, these facilities are forced to use standard mounting systems to install pipe, conduit, and tube. The standard mounting systems are inherently dirty. Also, the standard mounting systems are exceedingly difficult to inspect and clean.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     My invention is a new sanitary system for mounting pipe, conduit, and tube in food grade or pharmaceutical grade installations. It is designed such that it resists contamination, is easy to inspect, and easy to clean. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)  
       [0003]      1 A. Top view of wall mount strut assembly  
         [0004]      1 B. Side view of wall mount strut assembly  
         [0005]      1 C. Front view of wall mount strut assembly  
         [0006]      1 D. Exploded isometric assembly of wall mount strut application  
         [0007]      2 A. Top view of trapeze mount strut assembly  
         [0008]      2 B. Side view of trapeze mount strut assembly  
         [0009]      2 C. Front view of trapeze mount strut assembly  
         [0010]      2 D. Exploded isometric assembly of trapeze mount strut application  
         [0011]      3 A. Top view of spacer  
         [0012]      3 B. Front view of spacer  
         [0013]      4 A. Top view of wall mount strut  
         [0014]      4 B. Front view of wall mount strut  
         [0015]      4 C. End view of wall mount strut  
         [0016]      5 A. Top view of trapeze mount strut  
         [0017]      5 B. Front view of trapeze mount strut  
         [0018]      5 C. End view of trapeze mount strut  
         [0019]      6 A. Top view of “L”-bracket  
         [0020]      6 B. Front view of “L”-bracket  
         [0021]      6 C. Side view of “L”-bracket  
         [0022]      7 A. End view of hanger rod  
         [0023]      7 B. Front view of hanger rod  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0024]     My invention is a mounting system that sanitarily mounts pipes, conduits, and tubes to vertical and horizontal surfaces in locations that require a high degree of cleanliness. Typically, this mounting system would be employed in food processing and pharmaceutical factories.  
         [0025]     In the past, these facilities have had only standard strut systems to mount their pipes, conduit, and tubes. This has been a major food and drug safety problem, as standard strut systems are easily soiled, harbor contaminants, are difficult to inspect, and difficult to clean.  
         [0026]     My sanitary strut system can be configured for two general applications. When mounting pipes, conduits, or tubes to a wall (or other vertical surface), the “wall mount” strut assembly (shown in  FIGS. 1A, 1B ,  1 C, and  1 D) is preferred. The main components of this assembly are “wall mount strut” (shown in  FIGS. 4A, 4B , and  4 C) and multiple “spacers” (shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B ). The wall mount strut is punched and cold formed from 12 gauge T304 stainless steel sheet that is polished to a #4 sanitary finish. The multiple punched holes and slots permit mounting of the strut to the wall and pipes to the strut in multiple locations. Specifically, note that the strut&#39;s cross section has no horizontal surfaces (see  FIG. 1B ). Standard struts typically have multiple horizontal surfaces. My strut&#39;s configuration is better than standard strut, in that is tends to “shed” falling contaminants downward, as opposed to collecting them. The wall mount spacers are machined from solid 1″ diameter T304 stainless steel round bar. Specifically, note that the spacers hold the strut away from the wall at a distance of not less than 1″ (see  FIG. 1A ). Standard strut systems typically mount the strut directly to the wall. My strut system is better than standard systems in that this gap between the wall and the back of the strut facilitates inspection, cleaning, and allows falling contaminants and water from wash downs to fall through this gap and downward. Conversely, the back surface of standard strut mounted directly to the wall is not inspectable, cleanable, and harbors filth and mildew. The pipes, conduits, or tubes are attached to the wall mount strut with stainless steel U-bolts of minimum thread length, as threads are difficult to clean. The entire assembly is attached to the wall with ⅜″ diameter stainless steel wedge anchors (see  FIG. 1D ).  
         [0027]     To mount pipes, conduits, or tubes below a ceiling (or other horizontal surfaces), the “trapeze mount strut” assembly (shown in  FIGS. 2A, 2B ,  2 C, and  2 D) is preferred. The main components of this assembly are “trapeze mount strut” (shown in  FIGS. 5A, 5B , and  5 C) and smooth hanger rods (shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B ). The trapeze mount strut is punched and cold formed from 12 gauge T304 stainless steel sheet that is polished to a #4 sanitary finish. The multiple punched holes and slots permit mounting of strut to ceiling and pipes to strut in multiple locations. Specifically, note that my strut is an “open” C-channel with legs pointing downward (see  FIG. 2B ). Standard trapeze struts are “closed” C-channels with hemmed legs that point upward. My strut system is better than standard strut systems, in that the legs of my trapeze mount strut are open, not hemmed, and point downward, thus allowing easy inspection, cleaning, and eliminates any upward facing troughs to collect and hold contaminants. Conversely, standard trapeze mount installations have upward facing channels that trough to hold falling debris, and wash down water. Their design is so enclosed as to require disassembly for cleaning in some cases to achieve an adequate level of sanitation. The smooth hanger rods are fabricated from T304 stainless steel schedule 80 pipe. They are tapped in each end for ⅜″ national coarse threads, and the outer surface is polished to a #4 sanitary finish (see  FIGS. 7A and 7B ). Standard trapeze struts are mounted with continuously threaded rod. My trapeze strut system is better, as the smooth hanger rods are easy to clean, where as the outer surface of the standard strut&#39;s continuously threaded rods is so convoluted, that they are extremely difficult to satisfactorily clean. The pipes, conduits and tube are attached to the trapeze mount strut with the same stainless steel minimum thread U-bolts used for wall mount strut, and the entire trapeze assembly is attached to the ceiling with L-brackets (see  FIGS. 6A, 6B , and  6 C).  
         [0028]     Overall, my stainless steel strut system provides a means by which one can attach pipes, conduits, and tubes to horizontal and vertical surfaces in a sanitary way. This level of inspectability and cleanability is not provided by the struts currently on the market.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5