Pipe Support System, And Method Of Use

Abstract

A pipe support system. The pipe support system comprises a first wedge block and a second opposing wedge block. Each of the blocks comprises a base having walls, and forming an angled top surface. The angled top surfaces face one another and are configured to support a joint or section of pipe along an outer diameter of the pipe. Beneficially, the distance or spacing between the wedge blocks may be adjusted by an operator to accommodate sections of pipe having different diameters. A method for supporting a section of pipe is also provided.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A pipe support system, comprising:
 a first wedge block and a second wedge block, wherein each of the first and second wedge blocks comprises:
 a base having an inside wall and an outside wall, wherein the outside wall is taller than the inside wall; 
 an angled top surface extending from the outside wall to the inside wall; and 
 at least one through-opening through each of the inside wall and the outside wall, wherein the respective through-openings are aligned; 
   at least one threaded bar configured to extend through aligned through-openings in each of the first wedge block and the second wedge block such that a rotation of the threaded bar in a first direction will draw the first and second wedge blocks inward towards each other while rotation of the threaded bar in a second opposite direction will allow the first and second wedge blocks to be moved outward from each other;   wherein the angled top surfaces face one another and are configured to support a joint or section of pipe along an outer diameter of the pipe.   
     
     
         2 . The pipe support system of  claim 1 , wherein the top surface of each of the first and second wedge blocks is at an angle of between 20° and 40°. 
     
     
         3 . The pipe support system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the angled top surface of each of the first and second wedge blocks comprises a substantially planar cap; and   each of the planar caps comprises channels dimensioned to gravitationally wick away water to prevent water from building up along the outer diameter of the pipe, forming a corrugated cap.   
     
     
         4 . The pipe support system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the base of each of the first and second wedge blocks is a polygonal base;   each of the first and second wedge blocks comprises opposing end walls that serve as feet for the wedge blocks; and   the channels on each corrugated cap are oriented transverse to the major axis of the planar cap.   
     
     
         5 . The pipe support system of  claim 4 , wherein each of the corrugated caps comprises:
 a first side configured to land on a top of an outside wall;   a shoulder along the first side configured to wrap over the top of the outside wall;   a second side configured to land on a top of an inside wall; and   a shoulder along the second side configured to wrap over the top of the inside wall.   
     
     
         6 . The pipe support system of  claim 5 , wherein:
 an outer surface of the inside wall comprises a notch; and   the shoulder along the second side of each corrugated cap comprises a lip that is dimensioned to snap-lock into the notch.   
     
     
         7 . The pipe support system of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the pipe support system further comprises a base plate;   the base plate has opposing parallel edges;   the feet of each polygonal base are configured to straddle the opposing parallel edges of the base plate, thereby laterally securing the first and second wedge blocks as they are moved inwardly and outwardly in response to rotation of the at least one threaded bar.   
     
     
         8 . The pipe support system of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the at least one threaded bar comprises two threaded bars;   the aligned through-openings along the inside and outside walls of each of the first and second wedge blocks comprise:
 first aligned through-openings disposed proximate the first end of the respective wedge blocks, and 
 second aligned through-openings disposed proximate the second end of the respective wedge blocks. 
   
     
     
         9 . The pipe support system of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a first nut threadedly secured onto an end of a first of the threaded bars; and   a second nut threadedly secured over an end of a second of the threaded bars;   and wherein each of the first nut and the second nut abuts an outer surface of the outside wall of a respective wedge block.   
     
     
         10 . The pipe support system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 an outer surface of each inside wall comprises a notch; and   the shoulder along the second side of each corrugated cap comprises a lip that is dimensioned to snap-lock into a notch, permitting the corrugated cap to be replaced after a period of wear.   
     
     
         11 . The pipe support system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the corrugated caps is fabricated from a non-conductive material. 
     
     
         12 . The pipe support system of  claim 11 , wherein each corrugated cap is fabricated from polyurethane or ductile iron. 
     
     
         13 . The pipe support system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the base of each of the first and second wedge blocks has a substantially hollow interior; and   each of the first and second wedge blocks is fabricated from a non-conductive material.   
     
     
         14 . The pipe support system of  claim 1 , wherein the base of each of the first and second wedge blocks defines a solid block of material. 
     
     
         15 . The pipe support system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a tubular spacer residing around each of the threaded bars, configured to hold the first wedge block and the second wedge block a predetermined distance apart.   
     
     
         16 . A method of supporting a section of pipe, comprising:
 providing a pipe support system, comprising:
 a first wedge block and a second wedge block, wherein each of the first and second wedge blocks comprises a base and an angled top surface, 
 at least one through-opening through each of the first and second wedge blocks, wherein the respective through-openings are aligned, and 
 at least one threaded bar configured to extend through aligned through-openings in each of the first wedge block and the second wedge block; 
   determining a spacing between the first wedge block and the second wedge block in order to support a joint or section of pipe having an outer diameter;   rotating each of the threaded bars in order to provide for the determined spacing; and   placing the joint or section of pipe onto the angled top surfaces, thereby supporting the pipe above a ground surface.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein each of the threaded bars may be rotated in a first direction to draw the first and second wedge blocks inward towards each other, and may be rotated in a second opposite direction to allow the first and second wedge blocks to be moved outward from each other. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein rotating each of the threaded bars comprises rotating a nut located at an end of each of the threaded bars relative to the respective threaded bar. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the base of each of the first and second wedge blocks comprises a polygonal base having an inside wall and an outside wall, wherein the outside wall is taller than the inside wall;   the angled top surface of each of the first and second wedge blocks extends from the outside wall to the inside wall; and   angled top surface of each of the first and second wedge blocks is at an angle of between 20° and 40°.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein:
 the angled top surface of each of the first and second wedge blocks comprises a planar cap; and   each of the planar caps comprises channels dimensioned to gravitationally wick away water to prevent water from building up along the outer diameter of the pipe, forming a corrugated cap.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein each of the corrugated caps comprises:
 a first side configured to land on a top of an outside wall of a base;   a shoulder along the first side configured to wrap over the top of the outside wall;   a second side configured to land on a top of an inside wall of the base; and   a shoulder along the second side configured to wrap over the top of the inside wall;   and wherein:
 an outer surface of the inside wall of each wedge block comprises a notch; and 
 the shoulder along the second side of each corrugated cap comprises a lip that is dimensioned to snap-lock into the notch. 
   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 replacing each of the corrugated caps after a period of wear.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the pipe support system further comprises a base plate;   the base plate has opposing parallel edges;   the polygonal base of each of the first and second wedge blocks comprises a first end and an opposing second end, wherein; and   the method further comprises placing the first and second wedge blocks onto the base such that the first and second opposing ends of each of the wedge blocks straddles the opposing parallel edges of the base plate, thereby laterally securing the first and second wedge blocks as they are moved inwardly and outwardly in response to rotation of the at least one threaded bar.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein:
 the at least one threaded bar comprises two threaded bars;   the aligned through-openings along the inside and outside walls of each of the first and second wedge blocks comprise:
 first aligned through-openings disposed proximate the first end of the respective wedge blocks, and 
 second aligned through-openings disposed proximate the second end of the respective wedge blocks. 
   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the pipe support system further comprises:
 a first nut threadedly secured onto an end of a first of the threaded bars; and   a second nut threadedly secured over an end of a second of the threaded bars;   and wherein each of the first nut and the second nut abuts an outer surface of the outside wall of a respective wedge block;   and wherein adjusting the spacing of the first wedge block and the second wedge block further comprises rotating the threaded bars relative to the respective nuts.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein each of the corrugated caps is fabricated from a non-conductive material. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 determining an optimum spacing between the first and second wedge blocks based upon (i) the angle of each of the first and second wedge blocks, and (ii) the outer diameter of the supported pipe.   
     
     
         28 . A method of replacing a bearing plate for a pipe support structure, comprising:
 providing a pipe support system comprising a first wedge block and a second wedge block, wherein each of the first and second wedge blocks comprises a base;   using a snap-lock fit, installing a bearing plate onto each of the first and second wedge blocks, wherein each of the bearing plates comprises corrugations dimensioned to gravitationally wick away water to prevent water from building up along the outer diameter of a pipe, and wherein each of the bearing plates resides at an angle of between 20° and 40° over the respective wedge blocks;   determining a spacing between the first wedge block and the second wedge block in order to support a joint or section of pipe having an outer diameter;   placing the joint or section of pipe onto the bearing plates, thereby supporting the joint or section of pipe above a ground surface;   after a period of time, removing the bearing plates from the respective wedge blocks; and   using a snap-lock fit, installing a replacement bearing plate onto each of the first and second wedge blocks, wherein each of the replacement bearing plates also comprises corrugations dimensioned to gravitationally wick away water to prevent water from building up along the outer diameter of pipe, and wherein each of the replacement bearing plates also resides at an angle of between 20° and 40° over the respective wedge blocks.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein:
 each of the wedge blocks comprises an inside wall and an outside wall, together configured to support a respective bearing plate;   the outside wall of each of the first and second wedge blocks is taller than the inside wall, forming the angle;   an outer surface of each of the inside walls comprises a notch;   each of the corrugated caps comprises:
 a first side configured to land on a top of an outside wall; 
 a shoulder along the first side configured to wrap over the top of the outside wall; 
 a second side configured to land on a top of an inside wall; and 
 a shoulder along the second side configured to wrap over the top of the inside wall; and 
   the shoulder along the second side of each bearing plate comprises a lip that is dimensioned to snap-lock into the notch.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein:
 the pipe support further comprises:
 a pair of through-openings through each of the first and second wedge blocks, wherein the respective through-openings are aligned, 
 two threaded bars configured to extend through aligned through-openings in each of the first wedge block and the second wedge block; 
   and the method further comprises rotating each of the threaded bars in order to provide for the determined spacing between the first and second wedge blocks.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the angle of each of the corrugated caps is tuned to form a tangent line with the pipe after the spacing between the first wedge block and the second wedge block is determined and upon receiving the pipe.