Systems, methods and apparatus for the subterranean support of underground conduits and/or pipes

• US 8,936,414 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2012
• Issued: 01/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Terra Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Terra Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Wegener, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): ANDRISH, SEAN D
• Application Number:
  US13/451,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20120207549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 405/184.4, 405/157, 405/154.1, 248/58, 248/59
• US Class Current: 405/184.4
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 27/46 Foundations for supply conduits or other canals bridges for supporting conduits E01D18/00; elevated canals E02B5/005; penstocks E02B9/06
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 27/48 Foundations inserted underneath existing buildings or constructions making a new substructure subsequent to lifting or moving of buildings E04G23/06
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 5/04 made of steel
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 7/18 Placing by vibrating vibrators for soil compacting E02D3/046

Abstract

A support system supports a pipe or conduit. In one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus, systems and methods include support beams extending across an excavated opening. For example, a pair of beams may be positioned to span the excavated opening with the opposing ends of the beams supported on the ground above the excavated opening. Support rods may be positioned to extend through and/or from the beams and into the excavated opening. In one exemplary embodiment, the support rods include a J-hook configured for receipt within an opening in pipe or conduit support members positioned beneath and supporting the pipe or conduit. In another exemplary embodiment, a pipe contacting support member is positioned beneath and contacting a pipe for supporting the pipe and fully excavating the pipe.

Claims

1. A support system for supporting a pipe positioned underground comprising:

a support member disposed beneath the pipe and contacting the pipe, the support member comprising an elongate bar extending from a first end to a second end of the support member, the elongate bar having a pipe contacting member disposed thereon, the pipe contacting member maintaining the pipe in electrical isolation;

a first elongate suspension member having a support member connecting end and a beam end, said support member connecting end connected to the first end of the support member;

a first beam disposed above the pipe and roughly parallel to the pipe, wherein said beam end of the first elongate suspension member is connected to the first beam and the first elongate suspension member suspends beneath the first beam;

a second elongate suspension member having a support member connecting end and a beam end, said support member connecting end of the second elongate suspension member connected to the second end of the support member; and

a second beam disposed above the pipe and roughly parallel to the pipe and the first beam, wherein said beam end of the second elongate suspension member is connected to the second beam and the second elongate suspension member suspends beneath the second beam.

2. The support system of claim 1 wherein the elongate bar has a longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end of the support member, wherein the elongate bar is rotatable about the longitudinal axis.

3. The support system of claim 1 wherein the pipe contacting member has a surface having a shape, wherein the shape of the surface generally corresponds to the shape of the pipe for receiving the pipe when the pipe contacts the pipe contacting member.

4. The support system of claim 3 wherein the pipe contacting member is rotatable about an axis, and further wherein the shape of the surface generally corresponds to the shape of the pipe no matter what portion of the surface contacts the pipe when rotated.

5. The support system of claim 1 wherein the pipe contacting member is made of a material selected from the group consisting of a plastic, a rubber, and combinations thereof.

6. The support system of claim 1 wherein the first beam further comprises an opening in the first beam, the beam connection end of the first elongate suspension member sized to pass through the opening in the first beam, the first elongate suspension member extending at least partially through the opening, the beam connection end of the first elongate suspension member connected to the first beam.

7. The support system of claim 1 wherein the first end of the support member comprises a threaded connector, wherein the first elongate suspension member is connected to the first end of the support member by being threadingly engaged with the threaded connector.

8. A method of supporting a pipe positioned underground comprising the steps of:

providing a pipe positioned underground in earth;

excavating the earth around the pipe in an excavation pit having a first edge and a second edge so that at least a portion of the pipe is exposed but said pipe is still supported within the earth;

excavating the earth under the pipe in at least one location to fit a support member, the remainder of the exposed pipe supported in the earth;

disposing a first beam across the excavation pit from the first edge to the second edge of the excavation pit, said first beam disposed roughly parallel with the pipe and positioned above the pipe;

connecting a first elongate suspension member to the first beam, the first elongate suspension member disposed downwardly and positioned adjacent the pipe at the at least one location where the earth is excavated under the pipe;

disposing a second beam across the excavation pit from the first edge to the second edge of the excavation pit, said second beam disposed roughly parallel with the pipe and the first beam and positioned above the pipe;

connecting a second elongate suspension member to the second beam, the second elongate suspension member disposed downwardly and positioned adjacent the pipe at the at least one location where the earth is excavated under the pipe, and further wherein the first elongate suspension member and the second elongate suspension member has a distance between them;

connecting a support member to the first elongate suspension member and the second elongate suspension member wherein the support member spans the distance between the first and second elongate members; and

placing the support member under the pipe and contacting the pipe.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the support member comprises a pipe contacting member, the pipe contacting member maintaining the pipe in electrical isolation.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the pipe contacting member is made of a material selected from the group consisting of a plastic, a rubber, and combinations thereof.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the pipe contacting member has a surface having a shape, the shape of the surface corresponding to the shape of the pipe.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the pipe contacting member is rotatable about an axis.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the support member has a first end and a second end, and an elongate bar between the first end and the second end.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of:

excavating the pipe completely within the excavation pit, the pipe supported by the support member.

15. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of:

adjusting the height of the support member to fully support the pipe resting thereon.