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4 Things to Look for When Checking Pipe System U-Bolts

Author: Ingrid

Sep. 09, 2024

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Tags: Construction & Real Estate

4 Things to Look for When Checking Pipe System U-Bolts

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U-bolts may seem like simple pipe supports, but they can have a big impact on your piping system and your wallet. These small supports keep massive pipes and critical pieces in their places. 

And leaving them unmonitored can lead to disaster. 

Luckily, by spotting warning signs early, you can keep U-bolts strong and your pipe system stronger. Here are the four things to look out for when you&#;re checking your pipe system&#;s U-bolts.

What to Look Out for When Checking U-Bolts

If you want to keep your piping system running strong and boost the performance of U-bolts, here are the things to check out regularly:

1. Are U-bolts accomplishing what they should?

The first thing any piping professional should check is whether their U-bolts are working as they should to improve your piping system&#;s performance. 

Wondering what your U-bolts should be doing? It depends on your system. U-bolts can be used as either an anchor or a guide. Here&#;s a bit more about these two uses:

U-Bolts as Anchors

Anchors fix piping to a position. By anchoring pipes, you can keep them from moving, slamming into surrounding objects, and becoming damaged. This is usually the U-bolt&#;s role during the shipping process, if you need to pin down a pipe&#;s location, or when you want to secure vertical piping. 

If you want U-bolts to serve as anchors, make sure both bolts are lined up on the bottom of the structure. From there, tighten the U-bolt down around the pipe as much as you can. This will keep the pipe secure and free from movement. 

U-Bolts as Guides

Guides generally restrict some pipe movement but allow the pipe to slide through in a direction that&#;s more natural. This is an advantage in piping systems with high vibrations or with pipes that might hop or rise up unrestrained. When acting as guides, U-bolts keep pipes from hitting surrounding objects, but they also avoid point loading by letting pipes move in a controlled motion. 

If you&#;re using your U-bolts as guides, make sure to place bolts on the top and bottom of the beam and leave some space between the U-bolt and the top of the pipe. This will allow the pipe to move in a controlled, axial motion. 

2. Are U-bolts Installed Securely? 

The way your U-bolts are installed can impact both their performance and their long-term effects on pipes. That&#;s why it&#;s important to regularly check U-bolt fittings. If U-bolts are too tight or too loose it can do damage. Too tight and they could damage the pipe surface. If they&#;re too loose, movement could break the bolt or pipes could move, wiggle, and become damaged. 

Prior to installing, be sure you&#;re tightening bolts with the recommended amount of torque. It&#;s also important to install U-bolts at the right depth for your intended purpose. U-bolts will be snugger if they&#;re working as anchors than if they&#;re meant to be guides. Finally, when drilling clearance holes for U-bolts, it&#;s a good idea to consult standards set up by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. 

3. Are there signs of corrosion?

Corrosion has the potential to wreak havoc on both U-bolts and surrounding pipes. Luckily, spotting corrosion early and preventing it from getting worse can protect your whole piping system. 

It&#;s wise to be wary of galvanic corrosion. If your pipe isn&#;t insulated or galvanized, it could corrode when it contacts a dissimilar metal. A simple fix is to use stainless steel U-bolts, galvanized bolts, or U-bolts coated in zinc plated steel. 

4. Are contact points damage-free?

A final spot to check U-bolts is around high-contact points. Here&#;s where to focus your attention:

  • Friction damage: When pipes scrape against metal surfaces, it can damage metal. These worn surfaces cause weak spots that are vulnerable to leaks or ruptures. It&#;s also smart to examine common contact points for signs of rust. Corrosion is common when pipes and the U-bolt base make contact. When that contact wears down a surface, a crevice can form and corrosive microbes can creep in. Check these spots regularly and always try to keep them clean and dry. 
  • Uncoated surfaces: Especially if you&#;re using U-bolts as guides, pipes can scrape against resistant surfaces. In these cases, it may be best to use U-bolts that feature thermoplastic coatings, such as ProTek U-bolts. These U-bolts include a unique coating designed to lower coefficient of friction, reduce friction damage, and stop metal-to-metal contact.

Learn More Ways to Elevate Your Piping System&#;s Performance

Checking your piping system&#;s U-bolts can help you keep your pipes operating smoothly and at a high level longer. 

Pipe Clamp Manufacturer & Supplier | Stainless steel | Cast Iron

Pipe Clamp Manufacturer & Supplier | Stainless steel | Cast Iron

We are a Pipe clamp manufacturer & supplier in China. We can supply different materials with pipe clamps. Such as Stainless steel Pipe clamp, cast iron Pipe clamp, aluminum Pipe clamp. Carbon Steel Clamp, Ductile Iron Clamp, and other pipe clamp parts. Clamps can reduce vibration and noise, enhance the sealing ability. Clamp products applications are wide and unlimited. Specially customized clamps also can be ODM and OEM as per customers&#; needs.

What is Pipe clamp ?

Pipe clamps are the device of fixing on pipe or tube. It is suitable for the fixing of light, medium-weight, and heavy pipelines made from different materials. It can be defined as the support mechanism for suspended pipes. The pipe clamp ensures all pipes are fixed securely and can be used in installing or uninstalling.

Pipe clamps fall under the category of pipe fasteners and are widely used to serve the purpose of securing piping in a variety of installations&#;especially those concerned with construction and plumbing.

Pipe clamps come in different sizes, materials, and types, with each type having unique mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties. Some common types of pipe clamps are listed below.

Pipe Clamp Classification

  1. By shape. Full circle heavy pipe clamp. Full round pipe clamp. Long head to half type pipe clamp. Short head to half type pipe clamp. Rotate the pipe clamp. Rotating with a felt clamp. J-type pipe clamps, etc. Double bolt pipe clamp. Galvanized double hole pipe clamp. Three-hole pipe clamp. Two-piece pipe clamp, sleeve pipe clamp

2. By material. Plastic ABS pipe clamps. Aluminum alloy pipe clamps. Stainless steel pipe clamps. Carbon steel pipe clamps, Cast Iron pipe clamps, etc.

stainless-steel-pipe-clamps

3.By functions:

Rigid Clamps Rigid clamps are usually made from hard iron or steel. It makes these clamps suitable for fixture building and allows fast locking and unlocking. Pipes can easily be inserted into these clamps and locked to an accurate position. Rigid clamps closely resemble traditionally styled pipe clamps and are ideal for minimizing leakage. Rigid clamps are often used in the construction of milling and shaping machines. Adjustable Clamps Steel, aluminum, and plastic often comprise the base material for these clamps. The biggest advantage of adjustable clamps is that they can be used for a wide range of pipe sizes. The size of the clamp can be changed easily by the diameter of the pipe by tightening or loosening the screw attached to the clamp. This allows the clamp to be reused for another pipe that has a different diameter, hence making it economical to buy. Swivel Crossover Clamps Swivel crossover clamps generally consist of a couple of half fittings which are bolted together. This feature of swivel crossover clamps allows full rotation of the pipes to any desired angle between 0 and 360, making them ideal for crossbracing. These pipe clamps are generally easy to install and operate and can be used to build racks, railings, and other structures. Moreover, they can be added to existing pipe structures easily without undergoing the hassle of dismantling them. Standard pipe clamps Standard clamps are typically fixed using two screws &#; one on either side of the clamp. They can be lined or unlined, depending on the application and there tends to be a wide range of sizes to choose from. Best for straightforward installations of metal or plastic pipes. Cushioned Clamps Cushioned clamps have a unique long-lasting and protective cushion that allows protection from marring and corrosion. These clamps can be used for a variety of pipe surfaces, such as wood, metal, and plastic. But they are especially recommended for the clamping and suspension of non-insulated pipes. Using this type often makes clamping easy as it allows a slight difference in pipe size to be compensated due to the flexibility of the cushion. Cushioned clamps prevent corrosion and absorb vibrations and shock. Additionally, these clamps provide noise reduction which may be beneficial during construction. Cushioned clamps are typically manufactured from steel and stainless steel and are easy to install. U-bolt Clamps Available to fit a range of diameter sizes, u-bolt clamps have 4 components, namely the saddle, U-bolt, and 2 hex nuts. For proper installation, the nuts of the clamp require tightening. Once that is done, these clamps can sustain a tremendous amount of weight. U-bolt pipe clamps can be used to secure a pair of pipes or tubes together and are often referred to as saddle clamps. U-bolt clamps are manufactured from steel, aluminum, and malleable iron castings. Heavy-duty pipe clamps Heavy-duty clamps have a high safe working load, so are designed for use where heavy load support is required. They can be used indoors and outdoors and are available both with and without lining. They have modern features to make them easier to fit than traditional clamps. Take a look at how our heavy-duty pipe supports were used to secure district heating pipes to the underside of a bridge. Best for safe fixing of heavy load pipework indoors or outdoors. Pipe clamps with rubber lining Some applications require pipe clamps to have a rubber lining. This is often a requirement due to the material or temperature of the pipe. Lined clamps also offer noise-insulating properties.

Advantages of Pipe Clamp

We have a vast range of pipe clamps and brackets for fixing pipework, that covers 99% of all known pipe sizes and pipe types. Our pipe clamps have below advantages:

1.High corrosion resistance

Corrosive environments grade is from C1 to C5. C5 is the highest level of corrosion expected. Our pipe clamps cast and fixings are suitable for use in C1-C4 environments. Especially our stainless steel pipe clamp.

2. Easy installation and uninstalling.

We can produce as the client&#;s request or design it as the customer&#;s idea. To ensure it is easy to install and uninstall to save time and cost.

3. High technical support and design tools

As a global company, we have invested in state-of-the-art technology which allows us to be as accurate as possible when making calculations and designing effective pipe fixing installations for our customers.

4. Extreme Quality Inspection

In testing our pipe clamps, we are not only to test appearance, but also in-house test clamps to destruction. So we can ensure the quality!

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Investment Casting Clamp

Clamps investment casting is our advantaged product. We are a China Investment Casting pipe Clamp manufacturer and supplier. We can produce many kinds of precision casting clamps, pipe steel clamps. If you have investment casting clamp parts purchasing or steel pipe clamp price inquiry. Welcome, contact us freely. The popular types of investment casting clamps are as below. Stainless steel Investment Casting Clamp, Investment Casting Carbon Steel Clamping Parts, Ductile Iron Saddle Clamp.

Clamp casting profile

1. Material percentage alloy steel:45%          
carbon steel:35%
stainless steel:10%
iron:10% 2. Casting weight percentage 0.1-5kg:40%
5-20kg:30%
20-40kg:20%
above 40kg:10% 3. Industry percentage Components for train & railway: 20%
Components for automobile & truck: 35%
Components for construction machinery & forklift: 25%
Components for agricultural machinery: 10%
Other machinery components: 10% 4. Global market share United States:30%
Europe:15%
Japan& Korea:35%
Domestic market:15%
Other:5% 5. Production capacity Production Capacity: 1,000 tons / year

High Quality Industrial Pipe Clamps

Standard: GB/T &#; , BS &#; , DIN EN, EN, JIS G:, ASTM A53,ASTM A53: GR. A , GR. B,

Steel Grade: Q195, Q235, Q345, S235, S235JR, S355JR.STK400 /500.

Size: 1/2&#;, 3/4&#;, 1, 1-1/4&#;, 1-1/2&#;, 2&#;, 2-1/2&#;, 3&#;, 3-1/2&#;, 4&#;.

Stainless steel pipe clamp investment casting

 Material  Carbon steel, Alloy steel, Stainless steel, Aluminium, Copper       Process Lost wax casting + CNC machining  Casting tolerance       ISO-mK, VDG P690 D1-D2, ISO-3- DCTG4-6, GCTG4-6  Casting roughness      Ra1.6-3.2  Machining roughness  Ra0.8-3.2  Casting weight range 0.005-50kg  Material standard GB, ASTM, AISI, DIN, BS, JIS, NF, AS, AAR&#;.  Surface treatment Zinc plating, Polishing, Anodizing, Painting, Nickel plating  Heat treatment Annealing, Normalizing, Hardening, Tempering, Case hardening&#;  Service OEM& ODM  Quality Control ISO  Application Pump & Valve Parts

Ductile Iron Saddle Clamp

1. Material: Gray Iron, Ductile Iron, Malleable iron;

2. Process: Green sand & Resin sand & Precoated sand;

3. Finish: Antirust oil, Plating, Paint, Powder Coating, etc&#;;

4. Weight: 0.03 &#; 50 Kg;

5. Years of experience in manufacturing and exporting pipe clamps.

6. All sorts of casting can be manufactured according to customer&#;s requirement, drawing, design, or samples;

7. The coordinated service (casting, machining, and surface treatment) make lower price possible;

8. Strong engineering team makes high quality;

9. Full material testing process and quality control system;

10. On-time delivery;

11. OEM & ISO;

Product Name   saddle clamp for steel pipe Size  DN50/PVC63(3/4&#;-2&#;)DN300/PVC315(3/4&#;-2&#;) Material  Ductile Iron GGG50,GJS500-7,GGG40 Usage  For air, water, sewer and gas pipelines Pressure  PN10,PN16 Pressure Test 15Bar, 24Bar, Connection pipe PVC/PE Pipe Surface Treatment  FBE Coating Payment term 1.30% TT deposit and 70% TT when the goods are finished but before shipment
2. L/C or D/P Packing case, pallets, or as per customers&#; requirement

High Precision Custom Made Pipe Clamp

Product Name High Precision Custom Made Pipe Clamp Material Carbon steel, stainless steel, Two-way stainless steel, alloy steel Production Process precision casting Tolerance CT 4&#;6 Design  According to the customer&#;s design, ideas and samples; According to the sample, we can provide measurement and drawing Service OEM&ODM. Accept trial order Packing No fumigation wooden case Major export markets The United States, Japan, South Korea, Germany Certificate ISO The Factory History Since Machine equipment Lathes, CNC, drilling machines, milling machines, boring machines, machining centers, etc Surface treatment Painting, spraying, electroplating, electrolysis, polishing, heat treatment Inspection equipment Rockwell hardness tester, Vickers hardness tester roughness tester, barometer, concentricity tester, universal microscope, coordinate measuring machine, digital caliper, spectrometer, impact testing machine, etc Application Including automobile parts, railway parts, medical parts, ship parts, lighting parts, pump body, valve parts, construction parts, and other mining machinery

1. Manufacturing Process:

Process design&#; Tooling making &#; Wax injection &#;Wax pattern assembly&#; Mold preheat &#; Wax removal &#;Stuccoing&#;Dipping Casting&#; Mold shake out &#;Workpiece cut-off &#; Grinding &#; Pack& transport &#; Final inspection &#;Machining &#; Heat treatment

2.Technical Support

Changrui Casting is professional at independent development and design. Our engineers are skilled at AUTO CAD, PRO ENGINEER, SOLID WORKS, and other 2D & 3D software. We can design, develop, produce

and deliver your PO according to your drawings, samples, or just an idea. Dual control of standard products and OEM products.

3.Quality Control

1) Checking the raw material after they reach our factory&#;&#;- Incoming quality control ( IQC)

2) Checking the details before the production line operated

3) Have a full inspection and routing inspection during mass production&#;In-process quality control(IPQC)

4) Checking the goods after they are finished&#;- Final quality control(FQC)

5) Checking the goods after they are finished&#;&#;Outgoing quality control(OQC)

3.1 We provide various test facilities as mentioned under:

1. Chemical analysis 2. Tensile strength 3. Elongation rate 4. Shrinkage rate 5. Impact test  6. Harness test 7. Metallography 8.Non-destructive tests(including dye-penetrant, ultrasonic, magnetic particle, and radiography) 9. Surface roughness test  10.CMM test  11.3D Scanning

Regular package:

  • Pallet including iron pallet, regular wooden pallet and non-fumigation pallet.
  • Plastic film inside with iron cage is for items with a large cubic, and irregular shape.
  • Wooden case is high quality to accept more than 1.2ton goods.
  • We can provide many different Packing ways according to our customers&#; different requirement.
  • Packaging: 60pcs per carton,each part be packed by bubble bag, 16.50kgs per carton. 54cartons per wooden case/pallet.

Shipping:

  • DHL ,UPS,FEDEX, etc, 3-5 days, door to door.
  • COSCO,MSK, with fast and competitive ocean charges for customers always.
  • Train transportation is also available.
  • Shipping: By sea from Qingdao/Shanghai, By air from Qingdao, By train from Ningbo&#;.

Why choose us?

  • 1.We are a professional supplier ,our products obtained related qualification certification,We warranty no quality issues.
  • 2.We will offer more favorable and reasonable price.
  • 3 One stop source,Any related products may inquire with us.
  • 4.We are close to the airport and Qingdao port. The logistics are very convenient.
  • 5.We accept many flexible payment terms.

FAQ

Q1. Are you a manufacturer or a trading company?

A1. We are a professional manufacturer with over 15 years of export experience in designing and producing metal castings.

Q2. What is your MOQ?

A2. It is according to you, usually, it is units. We accept small quantities&#;

Q3. What is the delivery time for the sample?

A3. It is according to the sample, usually, it is 25 to 35 days.

Q4. What is the thinnest wall thickness you can cast?

A4. By special technology, like ceramic core/soluble wax, we can cast the wall thickness at 0.5-0.8mm.

Q5. What is the range of the weight you have cast?

A5. The weight we can cast is from 0.007kg to 80kg.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Custom Fabrication Pipe Clamps.

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