Spring-based support device for anchoring and/or centralizing a bolt or pipe in a borehole

Abstract

A device for supporting a bolt or pipe in a borehole. A mounting portion is adapted for being placed at a predetermined location between a first end and a second end of the bolt or pipe. The mounting portion forms at least a coil of a helical spring adapted for surrounding a respective section of the bolt or pipe. A first interacting portion extends from a first end of the mounting portion. The first interacting portion is adapted for interacting with a wall of the borehole for centralizing the bolt or pipe within the borehole.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for supporting a bolt or pipe in a borehole comprising:
 a mounting portion adapted for being placed at a predetermined location between a first end and a second end of the bolt or pipe, the mounting portion forming at least a coil of a helical spring adapted for surrounding a respective section of the bolt or pipe; and,   a first interacting portion extending from a first end of the mounting portion, the first interacting portion being adapted for interacting with a wall of the borehole for centralizing the bolt or pipe within the borehole.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1  further comprising a second interacting portion extending from a second end of the mounting portion, the second interacting portion being adapted for interacting with the wall of the borehole for centralizing the bolt or pipe within the borehole. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 2  wherein the first interacting portion and the second interacting portion each extend outwardly in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the mounting portion. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 3  wherein the first interacting portion and the second interacting portion each extend along a substantially straight line and wherein an end of each of the first interacting portion and the second interacting portion is adapted to interact with the wall of the borehole for centralizing the bolt or pipe within the borehole. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 3  wherein the first interacting portion and the second interacting portion each extend along a substantially straight line and wherein an end of each of the first interacting portion and the second interacting portion is adapted to interact with the wall of the borehole for centralizing the bolt within the borehole and for retaining the bolt within the borehole. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 2  wherein the first interacting portion and the second interacting portion each first extend outwardly in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the mounting portion and then inwardly in the direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the mounting portion and wherein an apex of each of the first interacting portion and the second interacting portion is adapted to interact with the wall of the borehole for centralizing the bolt or pipe within the borehole. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 6  wherein the first interacting portion and the second interacting portion each first extend along a substantially straight line followed by a curved portion. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 6  wherein an end of each of the first interacting portion and the second interacting portion is disposed at approximately a same distance to the longitudinal axis as the mounting portion. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 4  wherein the end of the first interacting portion and end of the second interacting portion are disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 6  wherein the apex of the first interacting portion and apex of the second interacting portion are disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the mounting portion is adapted for being threaded onto a screw thread disposed on the bolt or pipe. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 11  wherein the mounting portion comprises a plurality of coils and wherein adjacent coils are spaced having a predetermined distance therebetween. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 12  wherein the predetermined distance between adjacent coils corresponds to a distance between successive screw threads of the bolt or pipe. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the first interacting portion forms a spiral with a diameter increasing from a diameter being approximately equal to a diameter of the mounting portion to a diameter being approximately equal to a diameter of the borehole. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 14  wherein an end portion of the first interacting portion is adapted to interact with the wall of the borehole for centralizing the bolt or pipe within the borehole. 
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 14  wherein an end portion of the first interacting portion is adapted to interact with the wall of the borehole for centralizing the bolt within the borehole and for retaining the bolt within the borehole. 
     
     
         17 . A method for supporting a bolt or pipe in a borehole comprising:
 providing a plurality of support devices, each support device comprising:
 a mounting portion adapted for being placed at a predetermined location between a first end and a second end of the bolt or pipe, the mounting portion forming at least a coil of a helical spring adapted for surrounding a respective section of the bolt or pipe; and, 
 interacting means adapted for interacting with a wall of the borehole for centralizing the bolt or pipe within the borehole, the interacting means extending from the mounting portion; 
   placing a first support device at a predetermined location between a first end and a second end of a first section of the bolt or pipe; and,   disposing the first section of the bolt or pipe in the borehole.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17  further comprising:
 placing a second support device at a predetermined location between a first end and a second end of a second section of the bolt or pipe; 
 connecting the second section of the bolt or pipe to the first section of the bolt or pipe; and, 
 disposing the second section of the bolt or pipe in the borehole. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17  further comprising placing a second support device at a predetermined location between the first end and the second end of the first section of the bolt or pipe. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17  wherein the interacting means are adapted for interacting with a wall of the borehole for retaining the bolt within the borehole and wherein the first section of the bolt is disposed in the borehole in an upward or upwardly inclined direction.