Arcuate saddles with rounded corners

摘要

Certain embodiments of the present invention relate to arcuate saddles typically used to anchor and suspend insulated or non-insulated pipes. Rounded corners on the saddles facilitate comfortably introducing and placing the saddles into hangers as well as improving use. Certain embodiments of the present invention involve methods of manufacturing arcuate saddles with rounded corners.

主权项

1. A method of forming an arcuate saddle for supporting pipe, comprising:
forming a first substantially rectangular flat metal saddle blank having a length and a width, wherein said saddle blank defines two parallel length sides and two parallel width sides wherein said blank defines corners wherein said length sides are substantially perpendicular to said width sides; cutting convex arcuate curves in the leading edge of said first saddle blank in a first cutting cycle using a pair of pierce punches; cutting rounded corner portions in the trailing edge of said first saddle blank and concurrently cutting rounded corner portions for the leading edge of a succeeding saddle blank in a second cutting cycle using said pierce punches in a second cutting cycle; and, forming said first substantially rectangular saddle blank into an arcuate saddle shape defined by a constant radius, wherein said arcuate saddle shape defines an interior channel having open ends sized to engage only the lower half of a supported pipe and concurrently cutting rounded corner portions in the trailing edge of said succeeding saddle blank in a third cutting cycle.