Vertically adjustable pipe support apparatus

Abstract

A vertically adjustable pipe support apparatus includes a pair of parallel support pillars supporting a pair of movable pillars for slidable movement along the support pillars to enable the movable pillars to be extended and retracted with respect to the support pillars. Each movable pillar can be releasably locked by a locking mechanism on the support pillars at a desired height along the support pillars. A pipe holder for supporting a pipe is connected between the top ends of the movable pillars. Each support pillar preferably has a length not exceeding the height of the top of a supported pipe when the movable pillars are in their fully retracted positions. Each movable pillar may have a length substantially equal to the length of the support pillars. The base and support pillars may be integrally formed with each other from a single piece of sheet metal, and the movable pillars and the pipe holder may be integrally formed with each other from another single piece of sheet metal.

1 . A vertically adjustable pipe support apparatus comprising: 
 a base;    a first and a second support pillar mounted in parallel on the base and separated from each other by a distance larger than a diameter of a pipe to be supported;    a first and a second movable pillar supported by the first and second support pillar, respectively, for slidable movement along a height of the support pillars to extend and retract the movable pillars with respect to the support pillars;    a locking mechanism which can releasably lock the movable pillars against movement along the height of the support pillars; and    a pipe holder connected between top ends of the movable pillars for supporting a pipe,    wherein the support pillars have a height with respect to the base which is no higher than a height of the top of a pipe supported by the pipe holder when the movable pillars are fully retracted with respect to the support pillars.    
   
   
       2 . A vertically adjustable pipe support apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each movable pillar has a length substantially equal to the length of the support pillars.  
   
   
       3 . A vertically adjustable pipe support apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the base and the support pillars are integrally formed with each from a single piece of sheet metal, and the movable pillars and the pipe holder are integrally formed with each other from a single piece of sheet metal.  
   
   
       4 . A vertically adjustable pipe support apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each support pillar each has a substantially U-shaped cross section and each movable pillar is accommodated within the U-shaped cross section of one of the support pillars.  
   
   
       5 . A vertically adjustable pipe support apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pipe holder is an arcuate member shaped to extend along the circumference of the bottom half of a pipe to be supported.  
   
   
       6 . A vertically adjustable pipe support apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the pipe holder is a generally C-shaped member shaped to elastically fit around a portion of the circumference of a pipe to be supported.  
   
   
       7 . A vertically adjustable pipe support apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a bolt which is threadingly engaged with one of the movable pillars and capable of being tightened against one of the support pillars.  
   
   
       8 . A method of supporting a pipe comprising: 
 receiving a first portion of the length of a pipe in the pipe holder of a first pipe support apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  with the movable pillars of the first pipe support apparatus at a first height with respect to the base; and    receiving a second portion of the length of the pipe in the pipe holder of a second pipe support apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  with the movable pillars of the second pipe support apparatus at a second height with respect to the base of the second pipe support apparatus, the second height being different from the first height.    
   
   
       9 . A method as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the pipe is elastically gripped by the pipe holders of the first and second pipe support apparatuses.  
   
   
       10 . A pipe arrangement comprising: 
 a first pipe support apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  having its pipe holder at a first height with respect to its base;    a second pipe support apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  having its pipe holder at a second height with respect to its base, the second height being different from the first base; and    a pipe supported by the pipe holder of each of the first and second pipe support apparatuses.    
   
   
       11 . A pipe arrangement as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the pipe is elastically gripped by the pipe holders of the first and second pipe support apparatuses.  
   
   
       12 . A vertically adjustable pipe support apparatus comprising: 
 a base;    a first and a second support pillar mounted in parallel on the base and integrally formed with the base;    a first and a second movable pillar slidably engaged with the first and second support pillar, respectively, for slidable movement along a height of the support pillars to extend and retract the movable pillars with respect to the support pillars; and    a pipe holder integrally formed with the movable pillars and extending between top ends of the movable pillars for supporting a pipe.    
   
   
       13 . A vertically adjustable pipe support apparatus as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the support pillars are integrally formed with the base from a single piece of sheet metal, and the pipe holder is integrally formed with the movable pillars from a single piece of sheet metal.