THERMALLY DECOUPLED PIPE BRACKET WITH HIGH MECHANICAL LOADING CAPACITY

Abstract

The invention relates to a pipe holder for mounting a pipe on a bearing, comprising two foot supports which are mutually spaced apart and are in each case capable of being connected to the bearing; a support element having a web, a pipe receptacle at the upper end of the web, and a foot part at the lower end of the web, wherein the foot part is disposed in the intermediate space between the foot supports; as well as at least one pressure-resistant insulating element which is disposed between the first foot support and the foot part as well as between the second foot support and the foot part of the support element, wherein the foot supports, the insulating elements, and the foot part are connected to one another in a force-fitting manner by way of at least one fastening element.

Claims

1. A pipe holder for mounting a pipe on a bearing, comprising: two foot supports which are mutually spaced apart and are in each case capable of being connected to the bearing; a support element having a web, a pipe receptacle at the upper end of the web, and a foot part at the lower end of the web, wherein the pipe receptacle, the web, and the foot part are configured so as to be integral or are connected to one another in a materially integral manner, and wherein the foot part is disposed in the intermediate space between the foot supports; at least one pressure-resistant insulating element which is disposed between the first foot support and the foot part as well as between the second foot support and the foot part, wherein the foot supports, the insulating element, and the foot part are connected to one another in a force-fitting manner by way of at least one fastening element, and the pipe holder is conceived for withstanding a breaking load (according to appendix J of DIN EN 13480-3:2013-11) of at least 2.8 kN, wherein the bearing face (A in [mm.sup.2]) of the insulating element on the foot part and the cold-pressure resistance (K in [N/mm.sup.2]) of the insulating element meet the condition K>3.Math.10.sup.6.Math.A.sup.(1.39).

2. The pipe holder according to claim 1, wherein the two foot supports have in each case one first face which is capable of being connected to the bearing, as well as in each case one second face which extends in the direction of the pipe so as to be substantially perpendicular to the first face.

3. The pipe holder according to claim 1, wherein the foot part of the support element is embodied as an angled profile having a first face which runs so as to be substantially parallel to the bearing, and a second face which extends so as to be substantially perpendicular to the first face and so as to be substantially parallel to the pipe axis.

4. The pipe holder according to claim 3, wherein the connection between the foot part and the pipe receptacle of the support element is formed as a web by a substantially planar component.

5. The pipe holder according to claim 3, wherein the connection between the foot part and the pipe receptacle of the support element is formed as a web by a component having an angled profile having a first face which runs so as to be parallel to the second face of the foot part of the support element, and a second face which runs so as to be substantially perpendicular to the first face.

6. The pipe holder according to claim 1, wherein the support element comprises two pipe receptacles for receiving the pipe in a bearing manner, said pipe receptacles being connected to one another by way of a common foot part.

7. The pipe holder according to claim 6, wherein the foot part of the support element is configured as an angled profile having a first face which runs so as to be substantially parallel to the bearing, and a second face which extends so as to be substantially perpendicular to the first face and so as to be substantially parallel to the pipe axis, and wherein the connection between the foot part and the respective pipe receptacle of the support element is in each case formed as webs by a component having an angled profile having a first face which runs so as to be parallel to the second face of the foot part of the support element, and a second face which runs so as to be substantially perpendicular to the first face.

8. The pipe holder according to claim 3, wherein the first face of the angled profile of the foot part of the support element is spaced apart from the bearing.

9. The pipe holder according to claim 3, wherein the second face of the foot support runs so as to be substantially parallel to the second face of the foot part of the support element, and wherein the insulating element between the two second faces is clamped by way of a tightening torque of at least 100 Nm.

10. The pipe holder according to claim 1, wherein the insulating element on the external faces thereof is at least partially surrounded by a casing.

11. The pipe holder according to claim 1, which is conceived for withstanding a breaking load (according to appendix J of DIN EN 13480-3:2013-11) of at least 6.4 kN, wherein the bearing face (A in [mm.sup.2]) of the insulating element on the foot part and the cold-pressure resistance (K in [N/mm.sup.2]) of the insulating element meet the condition K>2.Math.10.sup.6.Math.A.sup.(1.28).

Description

[0050] The invention will be explained in more detail hereunder with reference to the drawings. The drawings are to be understood to be schematic illustrations. Said drawings do not represent any limitation of the invention, for example with a view to specific dimensions or variants of design embodiments. In the drawings:

[0051] FIG. 1: shows a cross section and a plan view of a single-bracket standard holder according to the prior art;

[0052] FIG. 2: shows a cross section and a plan view of a double-bracket standard holder according to the prior art;

[0053] FIG. 3: shows a view of a first embodiment of a pipe holder according to the invention;

[0054] FIG. 4: shows a cross section of the first embodiment according to FIG. 3;

[0055] FIG. 5: shows a view of a second embodiment of a pipe holder according to the invention;

[0056] FIG. 6: shows a cross section of the second embodiment according to FIG. 5;

[0057] FIG. 7: shows a view of a third embodiment of a pipe holder according to the invention;

[0058] FIG. 8: shows a cross section of the third embodiment according to FIG. 7; and

[0059] FIG. 9: shows a limiting curve of the cold-pressure resistance as a function of the bearing face of the insulating element on the foot part.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS USED

[0060] 10 . . . Pipe

[0061] 12 . . . Bearing

[0062] 20 . . . First foot support

[0063] 21 . . . Second foot support

[0064] 30 . . . Web of the support element

[0065] 31 . . . Pipe receptacle of the support element

[0066] 32 . . . Foot part of the support element

[0067] 40 . . . Insulating element

[0068] 50 . . . Fastening element

[0069] 60 . . . Casing

[0070] FIG. 1 shows a single-bracket standard holder according to the prior art in the cross section (left) and in the plan view (right). The pipe holder comprises a support element having a web 30, the upper end of the latter being connected to a pipe bracket according to the prior art as a pipe receptacle 31. The pipe 10 to be mounted is enclosed by the pipe bracket. The web 30 at the lower end thereof is connected to a foot part 32, wherein the web 30 and the foot part 32 in the cross section, thus perpendicular to the pipe profile, form a T-profile. The pipe holder in the example illustrated is fastened to a T-support as the bearing 12. This corresponds to a situation that is often encountered in practice, in which the pipe holder is fastened to supports of a pipe bridge, for example. The fastening of the pipe holder to the bearing 12 is performed by way of a clamping part which is braced both on the foot part 32 as well as on the bearing 12. By virtue of the fact that the support element, the clamping part, and the bearing are usually made from a steel and all components are in direct mutual contact, the standard holder has a high heat loss when the temperature of the medium flowing in the pipe deviates significantly from the ambient temperature around the bearing 12. However, the direct contact of the component has a positive effect in terms of the forces to be absorbed, since the standard holder is suitable for absorbing forces both in the axial direction (indicated by Fx in FIG. 1) and in the radial direction (Fy), as well as forces in the vertical direction (Fz).

[0071] FIG. 2 shows a double-bracket standard holder according to the prior art in the cross section (left) and in the plan view (right). The construction in principle corresponds to that of the single-bracket holder illustrated in FIG. 1, but with the difference that the upper end of the web 30 is connected to two separate pipe brackets as pipe receptacles 31, and the web 30 is configured as a rectangular plate instead of the trapezoidal shape.

[0072] FIG. 3, in a three-dimensional view, diagrammatically shows a first embodiment of the pipe holder according to the invention for mounting a pipe 10 on a bearing 12. FIG. 4 shows the pipe holder according to FIG. 3 in the cross section perpendicular to the pipe axis. The pipe holder comprises a first foot support 20 and a second foot support 21 which are mutually spaced apart. Both foot supports are in each case capable of being connected to the bearing 12, for example capable of being screw-fitted. The pipe holder comprises a support element having a web 30, a pipe receptacle 31 at the upper end of the web, and a foot part 32 at the lower end of the web. The pipe receptacle 31 in the illustrated embodiment is designed as a two-part pipe bracket for receiving the pipe 10 in a bearing manner, wherein the lower half of the pipe bracket is connected in a materially integral manner to the web 30 of the support element, in the example illustrated is welded to the latter. The web 30 is configured as a substantially planar component.

[0073] The foot part 32 of the support element is disposed in the intermediate space between the two foot supports 20, 21. The foot part 32 of the support element is embodied as an angled profile in the form of a T-profile, having a first face which runs so as to be substantially parallel to the bearing 12, and a second face which extends so as to be substantially perpendicular to the first face and so as to be substantially parallel to the pipe axis. The first phase of the angled profile is spaced apart from the bearing 12. The foot part 32 is connected in a materially integral manner to the web 30, in the example illustrated is welded to the latter.

[0074] The pipe holder furthermore comprises a pressure-resistant insulating element 40 which in the embodiment illustrated is in two parts, wherein one part of the insulating element 40 is in each case disposed between the first foot support 20 and the foot part 32, as well as between the second foot support 21 and the foot part 32.

[0075] The foot supports 20, 21, the two parts of the insulating element 40, and the foot part 32 are connected to one another in a force-fitting manner by two screws as fastening elements 50.

[0076] The two parts of the insulating element 40 are dimensioned such that said two parts just fill the space between the first face of the angled profile of the foot part 32 of the support element and the upper edges of the foot supports 20, 21. The dimension of the two parts of the insulating element in the transverse direction is chosen such that the edges of the first face of the angled profile upon fastening do not directly contact the internal sides of the foot supports 20, 21. The choice of the spacing substantially depends on whether the main focus in the design of the pipe holder is on the thermal decoupling or mechanical stability. To this end, a compromise is typically to be reached, since a minor spacing means better mechanical stability but also a higher heat transfer than in the case of a larger spacing. In the example illustrated, a minor spacing has been chosen, and the pipe holder has thus been optimized with a view to mechanical stability.

[0077] The bearing face (A in [mm.sup.2]) of the insulating element 40 on the foot part 32 is dimensioned such that said bearing face meets the condition K>3.Math.10.sup.6.Math.A.sup.(1.39), wherein K refers to the cold-pressure resistance (in [N/mm.sup.2]) of the chosen insulating element. Typical values for the cold-pressure resistance are, for example, 27 N/mm.sup.2 in the case of calcium silicate, approx. 300 N/mm.sup.2 in the case of laminates based on glass fibers which are bonded by way of the high-temperature resistant-polymer, as well as approx. 400 N/mm.sup.2 in the case of insulation materials which are compressed to form laminates and which as substantial component parts comprise mica fractions in conjunction with impregnated silicone-resins.

[0078] FIG. 5, in a three-dimensional view, diagrammatically shows a second embodiment of the pipe holder according to the invention for mounting a pipe 10 on a bearing. FIG. 6 shows the pipe holder according to FIG. 5 in the cross section perpendicular to the pipe axis. By contrast to the pipe holder according to FIGS. 3 and 4, the support element in the case of this embodiment comprises two pipe receptacles 31 for receiving the pipe 10 in a bearing manner. The two pipe receptacles 31 are connected to one another by way of a common foot part 32. The foot part 32, like in the case of the pipe holder according to FIGS. 3 and 4, is designed as an angled profile in the form of a T-profile. The webs 30 as the connection between the foot part 32 and the respective pipe receptacle 31 of the support element are likewise designed as an angled profile in the form of a T-profile, wherein the respective face proportions of the foot part 32 and of the webs 30 are connected to one another in a materially integral manner, in the example illustrated are welded to one another. The two webs 30 of the support element run in the direction of the pipe 10 so as to be substantially perpendicular to the bearing 12 and are mutually parallel such that the support element in the transverse view (perpendicular to the pipe axis) has a U-profile.

[0079] In a manner similar to the pipe holder according to FIGS. 3 and 4, the pipe holder illustrated in FIG. 5 comprises a two-part, pressure-resistant, insulating element 40, wherein a part of the insulating element 40 is in each case disposed between the first foot support 20 and the foot part 32 of the support element as well as between the second foot support 21 and the foot part 32 of the support element. The dimensioning of the two parts of the insulating element 40 corresponds to that described in the context of FIGS. 3 and 4, so that this pipe holder is also conceived with a view to an ideally high mechanical stability. This pipe holder, by virtue of the double T-support structure, is also suitable for absorbing high transverse loads.

[0080] FIG. 7, in a three-dimensional view, diagrammatically shows a third embodiment of the pipe holder according to the invention for mounting a pipe 10 on a bearing. FIG. 8 shows the pipe holder according to FIG. 7 in the cross section perpendicular to the pipe axis. The pipe holder according to this embodiment, in terms of the construction thereof, is similar to the pipe holder shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, with the difference that the web 30 of the support element in the longitudinal direction of the pipe is designed so as to be wider, wherein this is likewise a substantially planar component.

[0081] This embodiment also comprises a two-part, pressure-resistant, insulating element 40, wherein a part of the insulating element 40 is in each case disposed between the first foot support 20 and the foot part 32 as well as between the second foot support 21 and the foot part 32 of the support element. The insulating element on the external faces thereof is surrounded by a casing 60 which in this example is produced from a steel sheet. The casing 60 completely encloses the insulating element 40 in the longitudinal and transverse direction of the pipe. The insulating element toward the top is not enclosed by the casing since the pipe holder in this example is provided so as to be surrounded by a pipe insulation. The insulation layer around the pipe as well as the tubular casing of the insulation layer are not illustrated in FIG. 8 but only indicated by the arc in dashed lines. Upon completion of the pipe casing the latter adjoins the casing 40 of the insulating element in a sealing manner such that the insulating element 40 of the pipe holder according to the invention is protected against weather influences or other types of damage.

EXAMPLE 1: SINGLE-BRACKET PIPE HOLDER

[0082] A single-bracket pipe holder according to the invention and according to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, in terms of the thermal properties thereof, was compared with a standard holder according to FIG. 1, known from the prior art. Said single-bracket pipe holder according to the invention was furthermore compared with a corresponding pipe holder according to the teaching of first and unexamined publication DE 10 2014 109 599 A1 according to FIG. 2 in the latter, hereunder referred to as the insulated holder.

[0083] In the description of the pipe holders, for all components hereunder the term length is used for the extent of said pipe holders in the axial pipe direction, the term width is used for the radial extent perpendicular to the length, and the term height is used for the extent in the direction of the pipe 10 in the vertical direction from the bearing 12.

[0084] The standard holder was made from steel having a material thickness of 10 mm. The length of the foot part 32 was 250 mm, the length thereof 100 mm. The web 30 was designed so as to be trapezoidal having a height of 150 mm, a length on the foot part of 250 mm, and a length on the pipe bracket of 50 mm. The pipe bracket had a length of 50 mm at dissimilar diameters for the dissimilar nominal widths of the pipe holders tested.

[0085] The single-bracket pipe holder according to the invention, in terms of the construction thereof, corresponded to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The web 30 had a height of 80 mm and a length of 50 mm. The length of the pipe bracket as the pipe receptacle 31 was likewise 50 mm. The foot part 32 was made from a T-profile having a width and height of 50 mm in a length of 210 mm. The pipe receptacle, the web, and the foot part were in each case produced from steel having a material thickness of 5 mm and were connected to one another in a materially integral manner by welding. L-profiles from steel, having a material thickness of 5 mm, which were in each case 250 mm long, 60 mm high, and 40 mm wide were used as foot supports 20, 21. An insulating element 40 from calcium silicate having a length of 210 mm, a width of 30 mm, and a height of 45 mm was in each case inserted between the foot supports and the foot part. The foot supports, the insulating elements, and the foot part were connected by two screws as fastening elements 50, having a tightening torque of in each case 100 Nm per screw. The bearing face of the insulating element at the foot part was 9450 mm.sup.2. The cold-pressure resistance of the insulating elements was 27 N/mm.sup.2.

[0086] The insulated holder according to the prior art tested, in terms of the construction thereof, corresponded to the holder shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of document DE 10 2014 109 599 A1. In the case of this holder, the support element is composed of two separate formed parts which are punched from a steel sheet and are bent in such a manner that the upper ends of the formed parts form in each case one half of the pipe receptacle. In order for the support element to be formed, the two formed parts by way of recesses at the height level of the pipe receptacle are assembled so as to be folded into one another. The web which transitions seamlessly into the foot part adjoins the pipe receptacle. That part of the formed part which in the installed state is overlapped by the foot supports is to be considered the foot part. The material thickness of the steel sheets of which the formed parts were composed was 3 mm, so that the web and the foot part in the installed state had a total material thickness of 6 mm. The height of the web was 65 mm, and the height of the foot part 55 mm, at a length of 85 mm. The length of the pipe receptacle was likewise 85 mm. The foot supports were configured as L-profiles having a height of 85 mm and a width of 45 mm. An insulating element of calcium silicate having a length of 75 mm, a width of 20 mm, and a height of 75 mm was in each case inserted between the foot supports and the foot part.

[0087] The determination of the thermal properties, in particular the heat losses to be attributed to the pipe holders, was performed at a pipe testing station. The heat losses on various pipe specimens having dissimilar nominal widths at dissimilar temperatures were ascertained first. To this end, the respective pipe specimen was insulated using mineral-wool insulating shells having a thermal conductivity according to the AGI limiting curve 4. As a comparison basis, the heat losses by way of the pipe shells without a pipe holder were ascertained.

[0088] The pipe holders to be tested were subsequently fastened in each case separately to the pipe specimens, the mineral-wool insulation was attached again, and the heat loss was again ascertained. The heat loss (in Watt) of the respective pipe holder was then derived from the difference of the heat loss measured reduced by the initially ascertained heat loss of the pipe specimen by way of the pipe shells without the pipe holder. The values are stated in the following table. The ambient temperature during the measurements was 20 C.

TABLE-US-00001 Nominal Heat loss by way of holder [W] Holder width T = 100 C. T = 200 C. T = 300 C. Standard holder DN 100 9.4 24.6 36.0 Insulated holder DN 100 3.9 14.4 23.7 According to the DN 100 0.4 4.1 6.4 invention Standard holder DN 25 12.9 32.9 56.4 According to the DN 25 3.9 12.9 23.4 invention

EXAMPLE 2: DOUBLE-BRACKET PIPE HOLDER

[0089] In a further series of tests, a double-bracket pipe holder according to the invention according to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 was compared with a corresponding double-bracket standard holder according to FIG. 2. Said double-bracket pipe holder according to the invention was furthermore compared with a corresponding pipe holder according to the teaching of first and unexamined publication DE 10 2014 109 599 A1 according to FIG. 3 therein, hereunder referred to as the insulated holder.

[0090] The standard holder was made from steel having a material thickness of 10 mm. The length of the foot part 32 was 250 mm, the width thereof 100 mm. The web 30 was designed so as to be rectangular having a height of 150 mm and a length of 250 mm. A pipe bracket as a pipe receptacle was in each case attached in the axial direction on both ends of the web. The pipe brackets had in each case a length of 50 mm at dissimilar diameters for the dissimilar nominal widths of the pipe holders tested.

[0091] The double-bracket pipe holder according to the invention, in terms of the construction thereof, corresponded to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. The pipe holder comprised two pipe brackets as pipe receptacles 31 which had in each case a length of 50 mm. The two pipe receptacles were connected by in each case one T-profile of the dimensions 50506 mm as the web, having a common T-profile of the dimensions 50506 mm as the foot part. The three T-profiles were made from steel and were connected in a materially integral manner both to one another as well as to the pipe brackets by welding. The length of the foot part was 210 mm, the web length 80 mm. L-profiles from steel having a material thickness of 6 mm, which were in each case 250 mm long, 60 mm high and 40 mm wide, were used as foot supports 20, 21. An insulating element 40 of calcium silicate, having a length of 210 mm, a width of 30 mm and a height of 45 mm, was in each case inserted between the foot supports and the foot part. The foot supports, the insulating elements, and the foot part, deviating from the illustration in FIG. 5, were connected by three screws as fasting elements 50, having a tightening torque of in each case 100 Nm per screw. The bearing face of the insulating element on the foot part was 9450 mm.sup.2. The cold-pressure resistance of the insulating elements was 27 N/mm.sup.2.

[0092] The insulated holder according to the prior art tested, in terms of the construction thereof, corresponded to the holder shown in FIG. 3 of document DE 10 2014 109 599 A1. The embodiment of the formed parts corresponded to that described above in the context of the single-bracket holder, so that the double-bracket holder differed from the single-bracket holder only in terms of the number of formed parts as well as the length of the foot supports.

[0093] The procedure in ascertaining the heat losses corresponded to that described in the context of example 1 above. The results are reproduced in the table below.

TABLE-US-00002 Nominal Heat loss by way of holder [W] Holder width T = 100 C. T = 200 C. T = 300 C. Standard holder DN 100 11.6 30.9 46.8 Insulated holder DN 100 8.5 25.2 41.6 According to the DN 100 5.5 17.4 27.4 invention

[0094] In a further series of tests, the pipe holders were however checked as to what maximum forces said pipe holders can absorb in the axial pipe direction (Fx) and in the radial direction (Fy). To this end, the holders were in each case fixedly screw-fitted to a bearing and a force either in the axial or the radial direction was exerted on the pipe clamped in the holders. These experiments were carried out at a media temperature of 300 C.

[0095] The table hereunder reproduces the maximum forces (in kN) before a mechanical failure of the respective holders occurred:

TABLE-US-00003 Force [kN] Fx Fy Insulated holder 24.6 11.0 According to the 49.6 18.5 invention

[0096] Both the single-bracket as well as the double-bracket pipe holder according to the invention in relation to holders known from the prior art are distinguished by a significantly higher absorption of forces at a simultaneously improved thermal insulation.