Thermal isolation clamp

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11570851-B2
Application number	US-201916247386-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 14, 2019
Priority date	Feb 17, 2014
Publication date	Jan 31, 2023
Grant date	Jan 31, 2023

Abstract

In combination with a pipe ( 213 ), a clamp ( 201 ) is provided which supports the pipe in a fixed position with respect to a substrate. The clamp includes first ( 203 ) and second ( 205 ) bands, wherein each of the first and second bands has an arcuate portion ( 209 ) and first and second terminal portions ( 211 ), and wherein the arcuate portions of the first and second bands are disposed in opposing relation around the surface of the pipe. A first fastener ( 207 ) extends through the first terminal portions of the first and second bands, and a second fastener extends through the second terminal portions of the first and second bands. A thermal insulator ( 233 ) is disposed between the first fastener and the first terminal portions of the first and second bands, and between the second fastener and the second terminal portions of the first and second bands.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a pipe, a clamp which supports said pipe in a fixed position with respect to a substrate, said clamp comprising:
first and second bands, wherein each of said first and second bands has an arcuate portion and first and second terminal portions, and wherein the arcuate portions of said first and second bands are disposed in opposing relation around a surface of said pipe;
a first fastener which extends through the first terminal portions of said first and second bands;
a second fastener which extends through the second terminal portions of said first and second bands; and
at least one thermal insulator, said at least one thermal insulator being disposed between said first fastener and said first terminal portions of said first and second bands, and further disposed between said second fastener and said second terminal portions of said first and second bands, said at least one thermal insulator extending through apertures in the first and second terminal portions.

2. The combination of claim 1 , wherein said at least one thermal insulator is disposed between said substrate and said first terminal portion of said first band, wherein said at least one thermal insulator is disposed between said substrate and said second terminal portion of said first band.

3. The combination of claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second fasteners is equipped with a head, and wherein said at least one thermal insulator is disposed between said head of said first fastener and said first terminal portion of said second band, wherein said at least one thermal insulator is disposed between said head of said second fastener and said second terminal portion of said second band.

4. The combination of claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second fasteners comprises a shaft, and wherein a first cylindrical portion of said at least one thermal insulator is disposed around the shaft of said first fastener and between the substrate and the first terminal portion of said first band, wherein a second cylindrical portion of said at least one thermal insulator is disposed around the shaft of said second fastener and between the substrate and the second terminal portion of said first band.

5. The combination of claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second fasteners comprises a head, and wherein a third cylindrical portion of said at least one thermal insulator is disposed around the shaft of said first fastener and between the head of said first fastener and the first terminal portion of said second band, wherein a fourth cylindrical portion of said at least one thermal insulator is disposed around the shaft of said second fastener and between the head of said second fastener and the second terminal portion of said second band.

6. The combination of claim 1 , wherein said first terminal portions of said first and second bands are disposed in an opposing, spaced apart relation to each other, and wherein said second terminal portions of said first and second bands are disposed in an opposing, spaced apart relation to each other.

7. The combination of claim 6 , wherein said first fastener is equipped with a shaft which extends through the apertures in each of said first terminal portions of said first and second bands, wherein said second fastener is equipped with a shaft which extends through the apertures in each of said second terminal portions of said first and second bands, wherein a first cylindrical portion of said at least one thermal insulator is disposed around the shaft of said first fastener and between the substrate and the first terminal portion of said first band, and wherein a second cylindrical portion of said at least one thermal insulator is disposed around the shaft of said second fastener and between the substrate and the second terminal portion of said first band, wherein the first cylindrical portion of said at least one thermal insulator extends through the aperture of the first terminal portion of said first band, and wherein the second cylindrical portion of said at least one thermal insulator extends through the aperture of the second terminal portion of said first band.

8. The combination of claim 7 , wherein each of said first and second fasteners is equipped with a head, wherein a third cylindrical portion of said at least one thermal insulator is disposed around the shaft of said first fastener and between the head of said first fastener and the first terminal portion of said second band, wherein a fourth cylindrical portion of said at least one thermal insulator is disposed around the shaft of said second fastener and between the head of said second fastener and the second terminal portion of said second band, wherein the third cylindrical portion of said at least one thermal insulator extends through the aperture in the first terminal portion of said second band, and wherein the fourth cylindrical portion of said at least one thermal insulator extends through the aperture in the second terminal portion of said second band.

9. The combination of claim 8 , further comprising a first washer disposed about the shaft of said first fastener and a second washer disposed about the shaft of said second fastener, wherein the third cylindrical portion of said at least one thermal insulator is disposed around the shaft of said first fastener and between the first washer and the first terminal portion of said second band, and wherein the fourth cylindrical portion of said at least one thermal insulator is disposed around the shaft of said second fastener and between the second washer and the second terminal portion of said second band.

10. The combination of claim 9 , further comprising a third washer disposed about the shaft of said first fastener and a fourth washer disposed about the shaft of said second fastener, wherein said first cylindrical portion of said at least one thermal insulator is disposed between the third washer and the first terminal portion of said first band, and wherein said second cylindrical portion of said at least one thermal insulator is disposed between the fourth washer and the second terminal portion of said first band.

11. The combination of claim 1 , wherein said at least one thermal insulator comprises polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and wherein said thermal insulator is not disposed on the surface of said pipe.

12. The combination of claim 1 , wherein said clamp supports said pipe in a fixed, spaced apart relation to said substrate.

13. The combination of claim 1 , wherein said pipe is equipped with a heating strip which heats the surface of said pipe, and wherein said heating strip is helically wound about the surface of said pipe.

14. A clamp for supporting a pipe with respect to a substrate, the clamp comprising:
first and second bands, wherein each of the first and second bands has a holding portion and first and second terminal portions, wherein the holding portions of the first and second bands are configured to engage a surface of the pipe, and wherein each first terminal portion defines a first aperture and each second terminal portion defines a second aperture;
a first fastener extending through the first aperture of the first terminal portion of the first band and through the first aperture of the first terminal portion of the second band;
a second fastener extending through the second aperture of the second terminal portion of the first band and through the second aperture of the second terminal portion of the second band; and
at least one thermal insulator, wherein the at least one thermal insulator is disposed between the first fastener and the first terminal portions of the f

Assignees

• Watlow Electric Mfg

Inventors

• Fisher Michael L

Classifications

• F16L59/16

  Arrangements specially adapted to local requirements at flanges, junctions, valves or the like · CPC title

• F16L59/135

  Hangers or supports specially adapted for insulated pipes · CPC title

• F16B43/001

  for sealing or insulation · CPC title

• F16B2/12

  using sliding jaws · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title