Abstract:
The proposed invention relates to a pipe intermodal logistics apparatus and system to facilitate the transportation and storage of industrial pipe The pipe intermodal logistics apparatus includes a lower clamp which embraces the weight of one or more pipes, and an upper clamp which engages the upper surfaces of the one or more pipes to be transported. The lower and upper clamps each frictionally engage with surfaces of the one or more pipes to prevent longitudinal and lateral movement of the pipes during transportation.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to Australian Provisional Application AU 2014902517, entitled “Pipe Intermodal Logistics System” filed on 1 Jul. 2014: and to Australian Provisional Application AU 2014903047, entitled “PO Intermodal Logistics System” filed on 6 Aug. 2014 which are both incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
       DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a pipe intermodal logistics apparatus and system to facilitate the transportation and storage of pipe. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0003]    The present invention further relates to an apparatus for retaining and carrying industrial pipes such that the pipes do not move during transportation. 
         [0004]    The present invention also relates to an apparatus and system that mechanically clamps two or more industrial pipes together to form a single structural logistics entity. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0005]    It is well-known for industrial sized pipes, such as line pipes used by the gas and petro-chemical industries to be handled, stored, and transported many times between many venues using rail, ships, semi-trailers, or similar transportation vehicles before deployment. The present invention advantageously provides a logistics system which secures, protects, stores and transports industrial pipe, seamlessly from the Pipe Fabricator to the final trench. 
         [0006]    Known pipe transportation systems are platforms or cradles that physically carry the weight of the pipe. The present invention by using the structural properties of the cargo (pipe) itself, advantageously eliminates the requirement for a standalone platform to carry the pipe. This in turn reduces the total mass of the equipment required to transport industrial pipe. This logistics efficiency provides for budget, safety and environmental benefits. 
         [0007]    Furthermore, known pipe transportation systems require additional physical tensioning to be applied to the loads to prevent longitudinal and latitudinal movement of the pipes during transport. Longitudinal movement, of the pipes during transit may lead to pipes striking the cabin of the transport vehicle or extending outwardly from the back of a load, creating a danger to other road users or adjacent rail carriages for example. Lateral movement pipes may result in pipes striking each other on the carrying platform or cradle thereby potentially damaging the pipes. Such additional tensioning and strapping of pipes is very time consuming, often poorly regulated and is reliant on ongoing human factors to ensure load security. 
         [0008]    The present invention advantageously eliminates any load restraint ambiguity by mechanically retaining the pipes to a level which may satisfy National and International Transport Regulations. 
         [0009]    Further, traditional cantile stowage of pipes requires that bottom pipes in a load have enough structural integrity to withstand the weight of any pipes above them. Having pipes directly resting on each other during transport may lead to abrasive damage of the pipes as they may constantly rub against each during transport. 
         [0010]    Alternatively, it is known to offset pipes through the use of spacers to facilitate partial loading such that any top pipe does not sit directly above the one below it during transport. However, the process of inserting spacers and offsetting industrial pipes during loading on to the transport vehicle is also very time consuming and labour intensive. 
         [0011]    The present invention advantageously provides enhanced protection of the pipes in a load for transport by transferring the weight of the load through the pipe intermodal logistics apparatus; as well as preventing longitudinal and latitudinal movement of pipes during transit. 
         [0012]    Throughout the specification, the use of the term intermodal refers to the fact that the apparatus and system may be deployed in a variety of transportation devices such as heavy vehicles, rail and ships as well as&gt;retained in storage facilities. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    In a particular preferred embodiment, a pipe intermodal logistics apparatus for the storage and transportation of at least one pipe, comprising: a lower clamp including: a substantially horizontal base rail: a pair of upwardly extending vertical rails substantially perpendicular to the base rail, each vertical rail extending upwardly from an opposed end of the base rail; the lower clamp further including: a pair of lower brackets intermediate the vertical rails, each lower bracket having a rubber strip thereon, a first end fixed to the base rail and a second end fixed to one of the pair of vertical rails such that a lower portion of a pipe is receivable on the rubber strip of each lower bracket; and at least one lower block mounted to the base rail such that a second lower portion of a pipe is receivable on each lower block; an upper clamp including: a substantially horizontal top rail; a pair of downwardly extending vertical arms substantially perpendicular to the top rail, each vertical arm extending from an opposed end of the top rail; the upper clamp further including: a pair of top brackets intermediate the vertical arms, each top bracket having rubber strip thereon and a first end fixed to the top rail and a second end fixed to one of the pair of vertical arms such that the rubber strip of each top bracket is contactable by an upper portion of a pipe; and at least one upper block mounted to the top rail wherein each upper block is contactable by a second upper portion of a pipe; wherein the downwardly vertical extending arms are releasably fastenable to the upwardly extending vertical rails such that when in contact the frictional forces between the upper and lower brackets and pipe, and the upper and lower blocks and pipe, prevent longitudinal and lateral movement of the pipe. 
         [0014]    In a preferred form of the invention, the vertical arms of the upper clamp are telescopically adjustable within the upwardly extending vertical rails of the lower clamp. 
         [0015]    In a further preferred form of the invention, the vertical arms of the upper clamp upper clamp are downwardly pressured a pre-determined distance into the upwardly extending vertical rails of the lower clamp prior to being releasably fastened to the lower clamp. 
         [0016]    In another preferred form of the invention each pipe intermodal logistics apparatus is vertically stackable on top of another pipe intermodal logistics apparatus. 
         [0017]    Other preferred features of the various aspects of the invention will be apparent from the dependant claims and from the following description of the preferred embodiments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the pipe intermodal logistics apparatus according to the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of a lower clamp of the pipe intermodal logistics apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of an upper clamp of the pipe intermodal logistics apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  illustrates an end view of the pipe intermodal logistics apparatus according to  FIG. 1  holding two pipes; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the pipe intermodal logistics apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4B  illustrates a perspective view of the tensioning plates of  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of a series of pipe intermodal logistics apparatus according to  FIG. 1  retaining two pipes. 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of a block of pipe intermodal logistics apparatus according to  FIG. 1  retaining ten pipes in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]      FIGS. 1-3  illustrate a pipe intermodal logistics apparatus  20  according to an embodiment of the present invention configured to transport up to two pipes. 
         [0027]    The pipe intermodal logistics apparatus  20  includes a lower clamp  40  and an upper clamp  60 . The lower clamp  40  includes a horizontal base rail  42  and a pair of vertical rails  44 , one at each end of the base rail  42 , extending, substantially vertically upwardly from the base rail  42 . Lower clamp  40  also includes a pair of lower blocks  70  and a pair of lower brackets  46  for receiving circumferential portions of the pipe or pipes to be transported. 
         [0028]    Similarly, upper clamp  60  includes a horizontal base top  62  and a pair of vertical arms  64  one at each end of the top rail  62 , extending substantially vertically downwardly from the top rail  62 . Upper clamp  60  also includes a pair of upper blocks  71  and a pair of top brackets  66  for receiving portions of the pipe or pipes to be transported. 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  illustrates the upwardly extending vertical rails  44  of the lower clamp  40  receiving the downwardly extending vertical arms  64  of the upper clamp  60  to create a frame within which a pair of pipes may be paired, nested and subsequently stored or transported. The vertical arms  64  of the upper clamp  60  are preferably telescopically adjustable within the vertical rails  44  of the lower clamp  40 . This allows the distance between the horizontal base rail  42  and horizontal top rail  62  to be selectively varied and thereby also vary the size of pipe which is retainable within the pipe intermodal logistics apparatus  20 . Preferably, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  the vertical rails  44  and vertical arms  64  each include one or more bolt holes  54 . This enables a bolt or locking pin to be inserted to release* fasten the upper clamp  60  to the lower clamp  40  once the upper clamp is telescopically adjusted to the desired distance apart from the lower clamp and the respective bolt holes  54  are aligned. 
         [0030]    In a preferred form of the invention, the lower clamp  40  and upper clamp  60  are dimensioned such that the vertical arms  64  are telescopically adjustable with respect to the vertical rails  44  so that the pipe intermodal logistics apparatus may accommodate line pipe of 42″ diameter in a first position; and line pipe of 53″ diameter in a second position. 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , fixed to each end of the base rail  42  and to each vertical rail  44  is a corner stand  90 . Each corner stand  90  is fixed to the base rail  42  and each vertical rail  44  such that the corner stand  90  is flush with the base rail  42  in order to provide a stable footing and prevent the lower clamp  40  from falling over. 
         [0032]    In a similar manner,  FIGS. 1 and 3  illustrate a corner stand  90  fixed to each end the top rail  62  and to each vertical arm  64 . The corner stands  90  are fixed flush to the top rail  62  to provide a continuous even surface. As a result, in the preferred form the lower clamp  40  and upper clamp  60  of the pipe intermodal logistics apparatus  20  are interchangeable in position, so that an upper clamp  60  may equally act as a lower clamp receiving the load of a pipe or pipes requiring transportation; and the lower clamp  40  may act as an upper clamp. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , lower clamp  40  includes a horizontal base rail  42 , fixed at each end of the base rail is an upwardly extending vertical rail  44  substantially perpendicular to the base rail  42 . Preferably the vertical rails  42  are welded to the base rail  42 . However as would be understood by the skilled person, the base and vertical rails may be attached using alternative mechanical fastening means such as fastening nuts and bolts. The vertical rails preferably comprise RHS steel tubing whilst the horizontal rail  42  is preferably in the form of a steel I-beam. 
         [0034]    In a preferred form, base rail  42  includes on its top surface two parallel rows of block retaining holes  50  for receiving and retaining one or more lower blocks  70  to the base rail  42 . Each lower block  70  preferably includes a plurality of studs which extend from the base of the block and are received by the block retaining holes where they may be fastened to base rail  42  using fastening nuts. In this manner, the location of one or more of the lower blocks  70  along the base rail  42  may be varied. Lower blocks  70  also include a pipe receiving surface  72  which receives a lower portion of a pipe to be transported by the pipe intermodal logistics apparatus. By adjusting the position of a lower block  70  along the rail  42 , the distance between the pipe receiving surface  72  of the lower block  70  and a lower bracket  46  may be varied according to the diameter of the pipe to be transported. 
         [0035]    Preferably each lower bracket  46  is welded into position, with one end of the bracket fixed to a vertical rail  44  and the other to the horizontal base rail  42 . It will be understood that alternative mechanical fastening means may also be used to fix the lower brackets  46  into position. Each bracket includes a rubber strip  82  for receiving and cushioning a portion of the pipe for transportation. Similarly, each of the pipe receiving surfaces  72  of the lower and upper blocks  70 ,  71  are preferably covered with a rubber strip  82  as shown. The rubber strips are preferably a minimum  15  mm thick to allow for compression and wear. However, the lower and upper blocks  70 ,  71  may also receive a portion of pipe without a rubber strip lined on the pipe receiving surface  72  if required. The lower and upper blocks  70 ,  71  are preferably steel blocks, however, these blocks may also be made of nylon, wood or a similar material. 
         [0036]    As shown best in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , corner stands  90  are preferably constructed to be broadest at their base in order to provide stability to the lower clamp  40  to allow the lower clamp  40  to stand upright without any further assistance. In a preferred form, each corner stand  90  includes a base plate  92  and a number of side plates  94 . The Figures currently show three sides plates for each corner stand  90 . However, as would be understood by the skilled person, in alternative embodiments the number of side plates may be altered depending on the structural rigidity required. The side plates  94  are preferably welded to the base plate  94  and also to a vertical rail  44 . Preferably, upper clamp  60  also includes corner stands  90  of a construction described above which are preferably welded to vertical arms  64 . 
         [0037]    In the preferred form of the present invention, upper clamp  60  shares features of construction with the lower clamp  40 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the horizontal top rail  62  of upper clamp  60  also includes two parallel rows of block retaining holes  50  for receiving and retaining one or more upper blocks  71  in various locations along the top rail in the manner previously described for the lower clamp  40 . Upper clamp  60  preferably also includes a pair of top brackets  66 , each having a first end fixed to the horizontal top rail  62  and a second end fixed to the downwardly extending vertical arms  64  in a manner similar to that described for the lower clamp  40 . 
         [0038]    This advantageously allows the lower clamp  40  and upper clamp  60  to be interchangeable in position. That is, an upper clamp  60  may equally stand upright unassisted and be used as a clamp for receiving and load bearing one or more pipes; and a lower clamp  40  may readily be inverted, and releasably fixed to an upper clamp carrying a pipe. The lower clamp  40  in the inverted position is able to hold and retain a pipe or pipes in their allocated position on the inverted upper clamp  60  which now takes the weight of a pipe or pipes loaded thereon. 
         [0039]    In  FIGS. 1 to 3 , each corner stand  90  also includes a multi-apertured base corner casting  100  which sits flush with the base plate  92 . The base corner casting  100  is also fixed to the horizontal top rail  62  of an upper plate; or horizontal base rail  42  of a lower plate  40 . The corner casting  100  preferably includes twin apertures therein so that the lower or upper clamps  40 ,  60  may be fixed to a transportation surface such as the tray of a semi-trailer or similar transportation means, using well-known ISO twistlock fasteners. Preferably, also included is a multi-apertured side corner casting  102  which sits flush with and is fixed to each side plate  94 . The side corner castings  102  allow hooks with chains to attach to the upper and lower clamps in order for a crane to lift and manoeuvre a plurality of pipe intermodal logistics apparatus holding a pipe or pipes, to and from transport vehicles, or about a storage yard. Each of the base corner castings  100  are preferably welded into position. However, the skilled person would recognise that the entire corner stand  90 , base and side corner castings  100 .  102  may be cast as a single piece. 
         [0040]      FIG. 4  illustrates an end vie r of a pipe intermodal logistics apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention retaining two pipes ready for transport.  FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of multiple pipe intermodal logistics apparatus according a preferred embodiment of the invention which secures multiple pipes to form an intermodal platform ready for transportation. 
         [0041]    In operation, a plurality of lower clamps  40  are linearly aligned in a spaced apart relationship. First and second pipes P 1 , P 2  are then lowered onto the plurality of lower clamps  40  so that a lower portion of each pipe is received by the rubber strip  82  of each lower bracket  46  of each lower clamp  40 ; and that a second lower portion of each pipe P 1 , P 2  is received on the rubber strip  82  fixed on the pipe receiving surface  72  of each lower block  70  adjacent respective lower brackets  46 . In this manner the weight of each pipe P 1  and P 2  is distributed across the plurality of lower clamps  40 . 
         [0042]    The complementary upper clamps  60  for each lower clamp  40  are then lowered into each lower clamp such that the downwardly vertical extending arms  64  of each upper clamp  60  are received by the respective upwardly extending vertical rails  44  of each lower clamp  40  such that the rubber strip  82  of each top bracket  66  of each upper clamp  60  is in contact with an upper portion of each pipe P 1 , P 2 ; and the rubber strip  82  of each upper block  71  contact a second upper portion of each pipe P 1 , P 2 . 
         [0043]    Preferably, the bolt holes  54  of each of the lower and upper clamps are located such that once pipes P 1  and P 2  are cradled in position, a pre-determined downward force is required on the upper clamp  60  in order to partially compress each of the rubber strips  82  in contact with the pipes P 1 , P 2  and thereby align each of the bolt holes  54 . Once aligned, a bolt or locking pin (not shown) is threaded through the aligned bolt holes  54  and each upper clamp  60  is releasably fastened to a lower clamp  40 . As a result of the pre-determined downward pressure provided, the engagement of the partially compressed rubber strips with multiple portions of each pipe P 1 , P 2  provides the co-efficient of friction necessary between the pipes P 1 , P 2  and each pipe intermodal logistics apparatus  20 ; to prevent any longitudinal or lateral movement of either pipe P 1  or P 2  within the pipe intermodal logistics apparatus. 
         [0044]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , each upwardly extending vertical rail  44  includes at least one lower tensioning plate  58  preferably welded there to; and each downwardly extending vertical arm  64  has a complementary upper tensioning plate  56  preferably welded to it such that the upper and lower tensioning plates align to receive tensioning bolt  57 . A controlled downward force is applied to the upper clamp  60  by the tightening of tension bolt  57  which is thread though upper tensioning plate  56  and lower tensioning plate  58 . The tension bolt  57  is received by a nut (not shown) welded onto the underside of lower tensioning plate  58 . 
         [0045]    By tightening each tensioning bolt  57 , the upper clamp  60  and lower clamp  40  are brought together in a continuously adjustable manner until respective bolt holes  54  from each of the lower and upper clamps  40 ,  60  align to receive a locking pin. In a preferred embodiment, bolt holes  54  are vertically spaced apart in  5  mm increments. Each tensioning bolt  57  is then tightened to compress the rubber strips  82  onto portions of a pipe or pipes received by the pipe intermodal logistics apparatus  20 . The individual tightening of each tensioning bolt  57  compensates for the wear and tear of the rubber strips  82  and eliminates any space left behind as a result of the rubber being worn away more from one rubber strip over another. 
         [0046]    In an alternative embodiment, a pre-determined and controlled downward force may be applied to upper clamp  60  through the use of a ratcheting mechanism such as tie-down ratchet straps having straps which may hook into the respective side corner castings  102  of each of the lower and upper clamps  40 ,  60 . The ratchet mechanism is then operated to draw the straps together and thereby force the upper clamp  60  towards lower clamp  40  until the respective bolt holes  54  align in the manner described above. 
         [0047]    Once a pipe or pipes is locked into position within two or more pipe intermodal logistics apparatus  20 , the pipes themselves provide the structural integrity during transportation of the pipes. This eliminates the need for a separate platform or base such as a flat rack or jinker to load bear and retain pipes in position. 
         [0048]    As will be appreciated by the skilled person, the number of pipe intermodal logistics apparatus  20  required to transport a pipe is dependent upon the length of pipe. However, in a preferred form, at least one pipe intermodal logistics apparatus  20  at either end of a pipe is required. 
         [0049]    As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , a further advantage of the preferred embodiments of the present invention is that each pipe intermodal logistics apparatus  20  may be vertically stacked upon another pipe intermodal logistics apparatus  20  below it. This creates a pipe intermodal logistics system whereby multiple layers of pipe intermodal logistics apparatus  20  may be releasable fastened to each other and create a block of two or more pipes ready for lifting and moving on/off various transport means until the block is lifted off a transportation device at its final location trench-side. Advantageously, the present invention provides the user with the flexibility to determine the number of pipes they wish to retain as a block of pipes for storage and transport as a single unit. 
         [0050]    The embodiment of  FIG. 6  show a first layer of five horizontally spaced apart pipe intermodal logistics apparatus  20 , each retaining two pipes. Stacked thereon are four more vertical layers of pipe intermodal logistics apparatus  20 , each carrying two pipes. Each pair of pipes is retained by five horizontally spaced apart pipe intermodal logistics apparatus  20 , wherein each horizontally spaced apart pipe intermodal logistics apparatus  20  is releasably fastened to a pipe intermodal logistics apparatus  20  directly beneath it. 
         [0051]    Preferably, each pipe intermodal logistics apparatus  20  is releasably fastened into position on top of it using a pair of ISO twist locks engaging with respective base corner castings. Hence, the embodiment of  FIG. 6  shows ten pipes retained as a single block, ready for transportation as a single unit. However, as would be appreciated by the skilled person, the user may select to increase or decrease the number of horizontal layers of spaced pipe intermodal logistics apparatus  20  in order to increase or decrease the number of pipes held as a single block ready for further operations. The pipe intermodal logistics system illustrated in  FIG. 6  thereby creates a logistics advantage in the handling and transportation of pipes without the need for any additional platforms or multiple tying and untying, of a load of pipes. For example, a single block of ten pipes per  FIG. 6  may be craned into a ship&#39;s holding at once, transported to another destination, then lifted out onto a rail or road vehicle, either as the same block of ten pipes, or in sub-groups thereof. The block of pipes may have one or more horizontal layers of multiple intermodal logistics apparatus  20  removed from the layer or layers below it depending on which row of ISO twist locks is unfastened. Advantageously, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , none of the pipes is in contact with each other or load bearing any other pipe whilst in storage or transit. 
         [0052]    Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context, requires otherwise, the word “comprise”, and variations such as “comprises” and “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.