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Pipe Support Bearing
Introduction
When structures get hot, they expand. This expansion has to be accommodated within the design of the structure. Just as bridges and buildings expand and contract as a result of the changes in ambient temperature, pipelines expand and contract as the temperature of the fluid they are transporting changes as well as the changes in the weather outside the pipeline.
Pipelines will expand and contract by an amount determined by the shape and coefficient of thermal expansion of the material used in building them. If these pipelines are not allowed to expand and contract freely, severe stresses get induced which could lead to failure or overloading.
An extremely effective way of accommodating expansion in pipelines is to allow one item to move in relation to another. This can be achieved by using low friction slide bearings to separate the expanding item from the support structure.
At the heart of these slide bearing is a graphite plugged self lubricating bronze plate. The bronze plate acts as the bearing pad for the pipe support slide bearing. Piping system slide bearings consist of a graphite filled bronze bearing plate with an upper and lower slide plate component. Slide plates are usually arranged in a “sandwich” formation. The lower slide plate may also be welded to a stationary support, which grounds the plate. While the other plate is attached to the moving component directly. As the system moves, friction is transferred at the intersection of the two plates.
Bronze plates filled with graphite solid lubricant plugs can handle temperatures up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. The bronze plates are also suited for high pressure systems. Bronze slide plates offer the following additional advantages:
- Capable of operating completely dry, no lubrication required.
- Able to withstand a wide range of environmental conditions.
- Resistant to a wide range of organic and inorganic chemicals.
- Can tolerate some embedment of small particles without causing failure.
- Long and maintenance free life
Applications
Pipe Support Bearings
A new range of bronze bearing plates supplied by Armadillo. These are used for numerous applications within pipeline support systems such as Oil & Gas to Industrial systems.
Floor Vibration Isolation
Floor vibrations can be caused by walking, dancing, jumping, aerobics and other occupant activities. Mechanical equipment such as heating, ventilating and HVAC systems as well as pumps andin mechanical rooms can also cause floor vibrations. The basic configuration of a floor system should be established early in the design process.
Building Vibration Isolation
Train, traffic or subway generated ground waves can create structural vibration in a building’s foundations and base slab. The effect of this structural vibration is dependant on many factors including but not limited to the stiffness or rigidity of the building foundation, soil dynamics and the amplitude and frequency of vibration.
Machine Vibration Isolation
Load Bearing Pads
Foundation Isolation
See our comprehensive range of foundation isolation materials here.
Slide Bearings
Armadillo structural slide bearings are custom designed to accommodate expansion, contraction and other reciprocating motions of any structure that moves as a result of thermal, seismic or differential forces.
Dance Floor Pads
Sports floors, gymnasiums and dance studios require a firm yet resilient feel. This is achieved by supporting the floor on resilient pads to give the correct balance for shock absorbing coupled with sufficient rebound to give the floor a “live” feel. Armadillo DFP15 is the ideal material to achieve this.
Materials
Armaload - DLW66
Armaload DLW66 random oriented fiber (ROF) bearing pads are made from masticated elastomer which is fully cured and fiber reinforced. The random fiber reinforcement provides higher tensile and compressive strength, stiffness, tear resistance and durability than unreinforced rubber pads. ROF bearing pads will support loads up to 2,000 psi before breakdown.
Armaload - Mil-C-882
Armaload is a preformed fabric bearing pad which meets MIL-C-882, AASHTO 14.7.6.1, AASHTO 14.7.6.2 and AASHTO 18.10.1 specifications. Manufactured from compressed layers of closely woven lightweight fabric, bound withmaterial will support loads up to 12,000 psi before breakdown.
Armacork
Offered in various sheet sizes and thicknesses Armacork is the ideal entry level material to offer a cost effective and fast vibration control solution for many industrial applications.
The introduction of Armacork between the machine base and the supporting foundation effectively prevents the transmission of structure borne disturbance to the adjacent areas.
Neoprene / Rubber Pads
Some applications do not warrant the expense of a custom made Vibration Control pad but do require some element of resilience in the installation.
In such cases, for slight surface irregularities, Industrial Grade pads can be provided by Armadillo NV as an alternative low cost solution.
Vibstop
Vibstop isolation material is a specifically designed vibration absorbing medium. Produced as a cost-effective solution to isolating foundations whether it be existing machinery or installing new equipment.
Armacush
Armadillo Armacush is an ideal product which not only gives excellent long term performance but is also specifically designed for ease of installation to avoid costly delays in the construction process. Designed for full area coverage the problem of temporary shuttering or designing the mass to be able to span bearing centres is avoided.
PTFE
When movements need to be accommodated in structural connections, a sliding element will need to be employed in the design. Armadillo can design manufacture and supply a cost effective solution for applications such as vessel thermal, petrochemical applications, pipelines or building movement joints. A PTFE surface is applied to Armaload fabric reinforced or ROF bearing pads where higher loads and rotation may occur.
Regupol/Regufoam
Regufoam® was developed as a top-quality mixed-cell PUR foam for vibration damping and structure-borne noise decoupling. Regufoam® is made in various densities with precisely stipulated physical properties. Regufoam® is suitable for foundation decoupling, protecting buildings from vibrations in the vicinity of track systems, vibration insulation in railway construction and passive and active insulation of facility engineering plants and machines.
