Industrial-piping system attachment devices for seismic bracing and methods of use

A method of making an apparatus that can be used to support industrial piping, comprising the steps of:

• providing a pipe-fitting-attachment device;
• providing a first attachment interface on said pipe-fitting-attachment device,
• wherein said first attachment interface is adapted to directly and sealingly couple to a pipe opening on a piping system;
• providing a second attachment interface on said pipe-fitting-attachment device,
• wherein said second attachment interface is adapted to directly couple to an external restraining structure for restricting the movement of said piping system;
• and
• providing a gripping section on said pipe-fitting-attachment device,
• wherein said gripping section is coupled to both said first attachment interface and to said second attachment interface;
• wherein said first attachment interface, second interface, and gripping section are substantially longitudinally aligned with each other on said pipe-fitting-attachment device.

A system of motion restraints installed on an industrial-piping system, comprising:

• a first piping-support apparatus, comprising:
• a first attachment interface,
• wherein said first attachment interface is adapted to directly and sealingly couple to a pipe opening on a piping system,
• a second attachment interface,
• wherein said second attachment interface is adapted to directly couple to an external restraining structure for restricting the movement of said piping system, and
• a gripping section,
• wherein said gripping section is coupled to both said first attachment interface and to said second attachment interface,
• wherein said first piping-support apparatus' first attachment interface, second interface, and gripping section are substantially longitudinally aligned with each other,
• wherein said first piping-support apparatus' first attachment interface comprises male threads adapted to engage female threads in a piping opening, and
• wherein said first piping-support apparatus is coupled at its first attachment interface with a first piping-system outlet member equipped with female threads, and coupled at its second attachment interface with a first external restraining structure for restricting the movement of said piping system;
• a second piping-support apparatus, comprising:
• a first attachment interface,
• wherein said first attachment interface is adapted to directly and sealingly couple to a pipe opening on a piping system,
• a second attachment interface,
• wherein said second attachment interface is adapted to directly couple to an external restraining structure for restricting the movement of said piping system, and
• a gripping section,
• wherein said gripping section is coupled to both said first attachment interface and to said second attachment interface,
• wherein said second piping-support apparatus' first attachment interface, second interface, and gripping section are substantially longitudinally aligned with each other,
• wherein said second piping-support apparatus' first attachment interface is a substantially hollowed-out section that contains female threads adapted to engage male threads disposed at the end of a piping opening, and
• wherein said second piping-support apparatus is coupled at its first attachment interface with a second piping-system outlet member equipped with male threads, and coupled at its second attachment interface with a second external restraining structure for restricting the movement of said piping system;
• and
• a third piping-support apparatus, comprising:
• a first attachment interface,
• wherein said first attachment interface is adapted to directly and sealingly couple to a pipe opening on a piping system,
• a second attachment interface,
• wherein said second attachment interface is adapted to directly couple to an external restraining structure for restricting the movement of said piping system, and
• a gripping section,
• wherein said gripping section is coupled to both said first attachment interface and to said second attachment interface,
• wherein said third piping-support apparatus' first attachment interface, second interface, and gripping section are substantially longitudinally aligned with each other,
• wherein said third piping-support apparatus' first attachment interface comprises a circumferentially grooved end adapted to:
• engage a piping opening that also has a circumferential groove disposed near said piping opening;
• and
• be fixedly and sealing attached to said piping opening using a mechanical groove coupling equipped with an elastomeric seal, and
• wherein said third piping-support apparatus is coupled at its first attachment interface with a third piping-system outlet member equipped with a circumferential coupling groove, and coupled at its second attachment interface with a third external restraining structure for restricting the movement of said piping system.

A method of making a system of motion restraints installed on an industrial-piping system, comprising the steps of:

• providing a first piping-support apparatus comprising:
• a first attachment interface,
• wherein said first attachment interface is adapted to directly and sealingly couple to a pipe opening on a piping system,
• a second attachment interface,
• wherein said second attachment interface is adapted to directly couple to an external restraining structure for restricting the movement of said piping system, and
• a gripping section,
• wherein said gripping section is coupled to both said first attachment interface and to said second attachment interface,
• wherein said first piping-support apparatus' first attachment interface, second interface, and gripping section are substantially longitudinally aligned with each other, and
• wherein said first piping-support apparatus' first attachment interface comprises male threads adapted to engage female threads in a piping opening;
• coupling said first piping-support apparatus at its first attachment interface with a first piping-system outlet member equipped with female threads;
• coupling said first piping-support apparatus at its second attachment interface with a first external restraining structure for restricting the movement of said piping system;
• providing a second piping-support apparatus comprising:
• a first attachment interface,
• wherein said first attachment interface is adapted to directly and sealingly couple to a pipe opening on a piping system,
• a second attachment interface,
• wherein said second attachment interface is adapted to directly couple to an external restraining structure for restricting the movement of said piping system, and
• a gripping section,
• wherein said gripping section is coupled to both said first attachment interface and to said second attachment interface,
• wherein said second piping-support apparatus' first attachment interface, second interface, and gripping section are substantially longitudinally aligned with each other, and
• wherein said second piping-support apparatus' first attachment interface is a substantially hollowed-out section that contains female threads adapted to engage male threads disposed at the end of a piping opening;
• coupling said second piping-support apparatus at its first attachment interface with a second piping-system outlet member equipped with male threads;
• coupling said second piping-support apparatus at its second attachment interface with a second external restraining structure for restricting the movement of said piping system;
• providing a third piping-support apparatus comprising:
• a first attachment interface,
• wherein said first attachment interface is adapted to directly and sealingly couple to a pipe opening on a piping system,
• a second attachment interface,
• wherein said second attachment interface is adapted to directly couple to an external restraining structure for restricting the movement of said piping system, and
• a gripping section,
• wherein said gripping section is coupled to both said first attachment interface and to said second attachment interface,
• wherein said third piping-support apparatus' first attachment interface, second interface, and gripping section are substantially longitudinally aligned with each other, and
• wherein said third piping-support apparatus' first attachment interface comprises a circumferentially grooved end adapted to:
• engage a piping opening that also has a circumferential groove disposed near said piping opening;
• and
• be fixedly and sealing attached to said piping opening using a mechanical groove coupling equipped with an elastomeric seal;
• coupling said third piping-support apparatus at its first attachment interface with a third piping-system outlet member equipped with a circumferential coupling groove;
• and
• coupling said third piping-support apparatus at its second attachment interface with a third external restraining structure for restricting the movement of said piping system.