Modular tubing support and constrainment device

• US 6,116,547 A
• Filed: 02/12/1999
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Entegris Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fluoroware, Inc. (Entegris Incorporated)
• Inventors: Johnson, Michael W., McKenzie, Jeffrey J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Application Number:
  US09/249,126
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 248/49, 248/68.1, 248/53, 248/58, 248/901, 405/154
• US Class Current: 248/49
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/26 specially adapted for supporting the pipes all along their length, e.g. pipe channels or ducts channels for electric cables formed by wire H02G3/0443
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0437 Channels
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/263 Installation, e.g. suspension, of conduit channels or other supports
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/286 in walls
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/901 Support having temperature or pressure responsive feature

Abstract

A system and method for isolating the compressive and tensive forces created in a section of flexible tubing whose length expands and contracts in response to the fluid it conveys, while constraining the expansion of the tubing to a substantially horizontal plane. The tubing section having a pair of ends and a center portion therebetween. The system having a support structure and a pair of clamping members. The support structure having a pair of side constrainment portions for constraining the expansion of the tubing. The clamping members for anchoring the ends of the tubing section within the support structure thereby fixing their positions relative to each other and the support structure. When the tubing expands, the ends remain in their fixed position and the center portion of the tubing is forced to snake between the side constrainment portions.

Claims

1. A system for constraining a section of flexible tubing and isolating compressive and tensive forces created in the tubing when the tubing expands and contracts, the system comprising:

a) a section of flexible tubing being formed of plastic, the tubing section having a fluid flow concourse for conveying fluid which varies in temperature, a pair of ends, a center portion between the ends, an exterior surface, and a length which expands and contracts in response to the fluid temperature;

b) a support tray for supporting the section of tubing, the support tray comprising a bottom portion, and a pair of side containment portions engaged with the bottom portion; and

c) first and second clamping portions attached to the support tray;

each clamping portion having a clamp locking portion and a tubing engagement portion for gripping the exterior surface of the tubing section;

the clamping members further having an open position where the tubing engagement portions are spaced apart allowing for the insertion and removal of the tubing, and a closed position where the clamp locking portion locks the tubing engagement portions against the exterior surface of the tubing section thereby anchoring the tubing section to the support tray, preventing the lateral and longitudinal movement of the ends, and fixing the positions of the ends relative to each other, whereby when the length of the tubing expands compressive forces are exerted on the clamping members and the tubing snakes between the side constrainment portions, and when the length of tubing contracts tensive forces are exerted on the clamping members.

2. A system for constraining a section of flexible tubing and isolating compressive and tensive forces created in the tubing when the tubing expands and contracts, the system comprising:

a) a section of flexible tubing being formed of plastic, the tubing section having a fluid flow concourse for conveying fluid which varies in temperature, a pair of ends, a center portion between the ends, and a length which expands and contracts in response to the fluid temperature;

b) a support tray for supporting the section of tubing, the support tray comprising a bottom portion, and a pair of side containment portions engaged with the bottom portion; and

c) a pair of clamping members attached to the support tray, each clamping member anchoring one of the ends of the tubing section thereby preventing the lateral and longitudinal movement of the ends and fixing the positions of the ends relative to each other, whereby when the length of the tubing expands compressive forces are exerted on the clamping members and the tubing snakes between the side constrainment portions forming nodes, the number of nodes dependent upon the amount the length of the tubing has expanded, and when the length of tubing contracts tensive forces are exerted on the clamping members, and wherein the side constrainment portions further comprise a top edge and a top constrainment portion adjacent the top edge, whereby the top constrainment portions constrain the snaking of the tubing to a horizontal plane.

3. A system for isolating a tubing junction from tensive and compressive loads, the system comprising:

a) two sections of flexible tubing, each tubing section having a junction end subjected to varying tensive and compressive loads;

the junction ends of the tubing sections joined at the tubing junction;

b) a support structure positioned proximate the tubing junction; and

c) first and second clamping members connected to the support structure, the first clamping member anchoring the junction end of one of the tubing sections to the support structure and the second clamping member anchoring the junction end of the other tubing section to the support structure, thereby fixing the positions of the junction ends relative to each other and the support structure, whereby the tubing junction is isolated from the varying tensive and compressive loads.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the support structure comprises a pair of support trays positioned in fixed relation to each other, each support tray configured to support one of the tubing sections.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the support structure spans the tubing junction.

6. A method for constraining a section of flexible tubing and isolating compressive and tensive forces created in the tubing when the tubing expands and contracts, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a section of flexible tubing being formed of plastic, the tubing section having an exterior surface, a fluid flow concourse for conveying fluid which varies in temperature, a pair of ends, a center portion between the ends, and a length which expands and contracts in response to the fluid temperature;

b) providing a support tray for supporting the section of tubing, the support tray having a bottom portion, and a pair of side constrainment portions engaged with the bottom portion;

c) attaching a pair of clamping members to the support tray; and

d) anchoring each of the ends of the tubing section with one of the clamping members thereby preventing the lateral and longitudinal movement of the ends and fixing the positions of the ends relative to each other, whereby when the length of the tubing expands compressive forces are exerted on the clamping members and the tubing is forced to snake between the side constrainment portions, and when the length of tubing contracts tensive forces are exerted on the clamping members and wherein each clamping member comprises;

first and second clamping portions attached to the support tray;

each clamping portion having a clamp locking portion and a tubing engagement portion for gripping the exterior surface of the tubing section;

the clamping members further having an open position where the tubing engagement portions are spaced apart allowing for the insertion and removal of the tubing, and a closed position where the clamp locking portion locks the tubing engagement portions against the exterior surface of the tubing section thereby anchoring the tubing section to the support tray.

7. A system for isolating an end portion of a section of flexible tubing from tensive and compressive loads existing within the tubing section, the system comprising:

a) a section of flexible tubing having an end portion, the tubing section subjected to varying tensive and compressive loads due to the expansion and contraction of the tubing section;

b) a support structure positioned proximate the end portion of the tubing section; and

c) a clamping member attached to the support structure, the clamping member anchoring the tubing section proximate the end portion to the support structure thereby fixing the end portion with respect to the support structure, whereby the end portion is isolated from the varying tensive and compressive loads.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the support structure comprises a support tray configured to support the tubing section, the support tray having a bottom portion and a pair of side constrainment portions engaged with the bottom portion.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the tubing section has an exterior surface and the clamping member comprises:

first and second clamping portions attached to the support structure;

each clamping portion having a locking portion and a tubing engagement portion for gripping the exterior surface of the tubing section;

the clamping member further having an open position where the tubing engagement portions are spaced apart allowing for the insertion and removal of the tubing, and a closed position where the clamp locking portion locks the tubing engagement portions against the exterior surface of the tubing section thereby anchoring the tubing section to the support structure.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the tubing engagement portions further comprise an elastomer material for gripping the exterior surface of the tubing.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the end portion of the tubing section connects to another tubing section.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the end portion of the tubing section connects to equipment.

13. A method for isolating an end portion of a section of flexible tubing from tensive and compressive stresses existing within the tubing section, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a tubing section having an end portion and an exterior surface, the tubing section subjected to varying tensive and compressive stresses due to the expansion and contraction of the tubing section;

b) providing a support structure proximate the end portion of the tubing section;

c) attaching a clamping member to the support structure proximate the end portion of the tubing section; and

d) anchoring the tubing section adjacent the end portion to the support structure with the clamping member, thereby fixing the position of the end portion with respect to the support structure and isolating the end portion from the varying tensive and compressive stresses.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the clamping member comprises:

first and second clamping portions attached to the support structure;

each clamping portion having a locking portion and a tubing engagement portion for gripping the exterior surface of the tubing section;

the clamping member further having an open position where the tubing engagement portions are spaced apart allowing for the insertion and removal of the tubing, and a closed position where the clamp locking portion locks the tubing engagement portions against the exterior surface of the tubing section thereby anchoring the tubing section to the support structure.

15. A method for isolating a tubing junction from tensive and compressive stresses, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing first and second sections of flexible tubing, each tubing section having a junction end subjected to varying tensive and compressive loads;

the junction ends of the tubing sections joined at the tubing junction;

b) providing a support structure positioned proximate the tubing junction;

c) attaching first and second clamping members to the support structure proximate the tubing junction;

d) anchoring the junction end of the first tubing section with the first clamping member, thereby fixing its position relative to the support structure; and

e) anchoring the junction end of the second tubing section with the second clamping member, thereby fixing its position relative to the support structure and the junction end of the first tubing section;

whereby the tubing junction is isolated from the varying tensive and compressive loads of the tubing sections.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the support structure comprises a pair of support trays positioned in fixed relation to each other, each support tray configured to support one of the tubing sections.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the support structure spans the tubing junction.