Universal support and vibration isolator

Abstract

A pipe support is provided that includes a frame capable of being placed around an existing pipe and a plurality of support members within the frame. The frame is a hollow cylinder that includes two connectable halves divided along the diameter of the hollow cylinder. The pipe support includes two bearing rings connected to the frame for supporting each of the plurality of members at a minimum of two contact points. Each of the two bearing rings include bearing points for each support member arranged in a cylindrical pattern concentric with the hollow cylinder frame. The pipe support includes means for rotating each of the support members at a first contact point with respect to a second contact point so that the support members engage a pipe placed within the pipe support. The support members are rods that provide vibration isolation to a pipe placed within the pipe support.

The following is claimed:  
     
         1 . A support, comprising: 
 a frame;    a plurality of support members within said frame;    means for supporting each of the plurality of members at a minimum of two contact points; and    means for rotating each of said support members at a first contact point with respect to a second contact point so that said support members engage an object placed within the support.    
     
     
         2 . A pipe support for an installed pipe, comprising: 
 a frame capable of being placed around an installed pipe;    a plurality of support members within said frame;    means for supporting each of the plurality of members at a minimum of two contact points; and    means for rotating each of said support members at a first contact point with respect to a second contact point so that said support members engage a pipe placed within the pipe support.    
     
     
         3 . The pipe support of  claim 2 , wherein said frame is a hollow cylinder.  
     
     
         4 . The pipe support of  claim 3 , wherein said hollow cylinder comprises two connectable halves divided along the diameter of the hollow cylinder.  
     
     
         5 . The pipe support of  claim 2 , wherein said support members are rods for providing vibration isolation to a pipe placed within said pipe support.  
     
     
         6 . The pipe support of  claim 2 , wherein said support members are arranged in a symmetric pattern.  
     
     
         7 . The pipe support of  claim 2 , wherein said support members are arranged in an asymmetric pattern.  
     
     
         8 . The pipe support of  claim 2 , wherein said support members are elastic.  
     
     
         9 . The pipe support of  claim 2 , wherein the means for supporting the plurality of members are bearing points connected to the frame.  
     
     
         10 . The pipe support of  claim 3 , wherein the means for supporting the plurality of members at a minimum of two contact points are at least two bearing rings connected to the frame, each of said bearing rings including a bearing point for each support member.  
     
     
         11 . The pipe support of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 means for adjusting the frequency that will occur in the support members when vibration is isolated by said support members.    
     
     
         12 . The pipe support of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 means for varying the distance between the two contact points where each of the plurality of support members are supported.    
     
     
         13 . The pipe support of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said frame is a hollow cylinder comprising two connectable halves divided along the diameter of the hollow cylinder;    said support members are rods for providing vibration isolation to a pipe placed within said pipe support;    the means for supporting the plurality of members at a minimum of two contact points are at least two bearing rings connected to the frame, each of said bearing rings including a bearing point for each support member, said bearing points being arranged in a circular pattern concentric with the hollow cylinder frame; and    means for varying the distance between the two contact points where each of the plurality of support members are supported.    
     
     
         14 . A method of securing a pipe, comprising: 
 (a) providing a pipe support comprising: 
 a frame capable of being placed around an installed pipe;  
 a plurality of support members within said frame;  
 means for supporting each of the plurality of members at a minimum of two contact points; and  
 means for rotating each of said support members at a first contact point with respect to a second contact point so that the support members engage a pipe placed within the pipe support;  
   (b) placing said pipe support around the pipe; and    (c) turning said rotating means to cause said support members to engage the pipe and secure it within said frame.    
     
     
         15 . A method of isolating vibration in a object, comprising: 
 (a) providing a pipe support comprising: 
 a frame capable of being placed around an object;  
 a plurality of support members within said frame;  
 means for supporting each of said plurality of members at a minimum of two contact points; and  
 means for rotating each of said support members at a first contact point with respect to a second contact point so that the support members engage an object placed within the frame;  
   (b) placing said frame around said object; and    (c) turning said rotating means to secure the object such that vibration occurring in the object is isolated by said plurality of support members.    
     
     
         16 . A method of isolating vibration in a rotating object provided with bearing means, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a support comprising 
 a frame capable of being placed around a rotating object provided with bearing means;  
 a plurality of support members within said frame;  
 means for supporting each of said plurality of support members at a minimum of two points; and  
 means for rotating each of said support members at a first contact point with respect to a second contact point so the support members engage the bearing means;  
   (b) placing said frame around the object and its bearing means; and    (c) turning said rotating means to cause said support members to engage the bearing means.    
     
     
         17 . A method for securing a rotating object, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a support comprising 
 a frame capable of being secured to a rotating object;  
 a plurality of support members within said frame;  
 means for supporting each of said plurality of support members at a minimum of two points;  
 means for rotating each of the support members at a first contact point with respect to a second contact point so the support members engage a rotating object placed within said frame; and  
 contact means attached to an outer surface of said frame that allow the frame to rotate and slide within a generally cylindrical enclosure;  
   (b) placing said frame around the rotating object;    (c) turning said rotating means to cause said support members to engage the rotating object and secure it within said frame; and    (d) placing said frame within an enclosure.    
     
     
         18 . A method of isolating vibration from an object provided with contacting supports, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing an isolator support comprising 
 a frame capable of being placed around the contacting supports;  
 a plurality of support members within said frame;  
 means for supporting each of the plurality of support members at a minimum of two points; and  
 means for rotating each of said support members at a first contact point with respect to a second contact point so the support members engage the contacting supports;  
   (b) placing said isolator support around the contacting supports; and    (c) turning said rotating means to cause said support means to engage the contacting supports.    
     
     
         19 . A support for a rotating object, comprising 
 a frame capable of being secured to a rotating object;    a plurality of support members within said frame;    means for supporting each of said plurality of support members at a minimum of two points;    means for rotating each of the support members at a first contact point with respect to a second contact point so the support members engage a rotating object placed within said frame; and    contact means attached to an outer surface of said frame that allow the frame to rotate and slide within a generally cylindrical enclosure.