Pipe restraint device

Claim 2

In a system including a pipe conducting a fluid at high pressure, a restraint device normally free of any contact with said pipe for limiting movement of said pipe in the event of rupture of said pipe, comprising: a U-shaped restraint member positioned around said pipe and normally spaced therefrom; support means adjacent each end of said restraint member, said support means being fixed to a structural member of said system; and a pivotable connection between each end of said restraint member and said support means, the material and size of said restraint member being selected to provide plastic elongation of said restraint member and absorption of energy of said pipe upon impact of said pipe against said restraint member in the event of said pipe rupture.

Claim 3

The restraint device of claim 1 wherein said pivotable connection consists of a clevis arrangement.

Claim 4

The restraint device of claim 2 wherein clevis arrangement comprises clevises attached to the ends of said restraint member and lugs attached to said clevises with pins, said lugs being fixed to said support means.

Claim 5

The restraint device of claim 3 wherein said clevises are attached to said restraint member ends by threads and wherein the threaded ends of said restraint member are of enlarged diameter.

Claim 6

The restraint device of claim 1 further including a bearing plate secured to said restraint member between said restraint member and said pipe and spaced from said pipe.

Claim 7

The restraint device of claim 5 wherein said bearing plate is attached to said restraint member remote from the bearing plate ends whereby said bearing plate tends to wrap around said pipe upon being impacted by said pipe in the event of said pipe rupture.

Claim 8

In a system according to claim 1 wherein said restraint device consists of a module of a plurality of adjacently positioned restraint members, and pivotable connections between the ends of each restraint members and said support means.

Claim 9

The restraint device of claim 1 wherein said pivotable connection consists of apertured lugs attached to the ends of said restraint member, and pins through said apertures in said lugs, said pins being secured to said support means.

Claim 10

In a system including a pipe conducting a fluid at high pressure, a restraint device normally free of any contact with said pipe for limiting movement of said pipe in the event of rupture of said pipe, comprising: a generally U-shaped, normally unstressed, restraint member positioned around said pipe and normally spaced therefrom; support means adjacent each end of said restraint member, said support means being fixed to a structural member of said system; and a connection between each end of said restraint member and said support means, the material and size of said restraint member being selected to provide plastic elongation thereof and absorption of energy of said pipe upon impact of said pipe against said restraint member in the event of said pipe rupture.

Claim 11

In a system including a pipe conducting a fluid at high pressure, a restraint device normally free of any contact with said pipe for limiting movement of said pipe in the event of rupture of said pipe, comprising: a generally U-shaped, normally unstressed, restraint member positioned around said pipe and normally spaced therefrom; support means adjacent each end of said restraint member, said support means being fixed to a structural member of said system; and a connection between each end of said restraint member and said support means, the material and size of said restraint member being selected to provide plastic elongation thereof and absorption of energy of said pipe upon impact of said pipe against said restraint member in the event of said pipe rupture.

Claim 12

In a system including a pipe conducting a fluid at high pressure, a restraint device normally free of any contact with said pipe for limiting movement of said pipe in the event of rupture of said pipe, comprising: a generally U-shaped, normally unstressed, restraint member including two side portions, said restraint member being positioned around said pipe and normally spaced therefrom; support means adjacent each end of said restraint member, said support means being fixed to a structural member of said system; and a connection between each end of said restraint member and said support means, the material and size of at least said side portions of said restraint member being selected to provide plastic elongation thereof and absorption of energy of said pipe upon impact of said pipe against said restraint member in the event of said pipe rupture.

Claim 13

In a system including a pipe conducting a fluid at high pressure, a restraint device normally free of any contact with said pipe for limiting movement of said pipe in the event of rupture of said pipe, comprising: a generally U-shaped, normally unstressed, restraint member including two side portions, said restraint member being positioned around said pipe and normally spaced therefrom; support means adjacent each end of said restraint member, said support means being fixed to a structural member of said system; and a connection between each end of said restraint member and said support means, the material and size of at least said side portions of said restraint member being selected to provide plastic elongation thereof and absorption of energy of said pipe upon impact of said pipe against said restraint member in the event of said pipe rupture.

Claim 14

In a system including a pipe conducting a fluid at high pressure, a restraint device, normally free of any contact with said pipe for limiting movement of said pipe in the event of rupture of said pipe, comprising: a normally unstressed restraint member having one end positioned around said pipe and normally spaced therefrom; support means adjacent the other end of said restraint member, said support means being fixed to a structural member of said system; and a connection between said other end of said restraint member and said support means, the material and size of at least a portion of said restraint member being selected to provide plastic elongation thereof and absorption of energy of said pipe upon impact of said pipe against said restraint member in the event of said pipe rupture.

Claim 15

In a system including a pipe conducting a fluid at high pressure, a restraint device, normally free of any contact with said pipe for limiting movement of said pipe in the event of rupture of said pipe, comprising: a normally unstressed restraint member having one end positioned around said pipe and normally spaced therefrom; support means adjacent the other end of said restraint member, said support means being fixed to a structural member of said system; and a connection between said other end of said restraint member and said support means, the material and size of at least a portion of said restraint member being selected to provide plastic elongation thereof and absorption of energy of said pipe upon impact of said pipe against said restraint member in the event of said pipe rupture.