MXPA97000760A - Appliance to anclar duc - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for anchoring ducts, to hold a line of ducts against the ground, the apparatus for anchoring ducts consists of: A) left and right anchoring units, each anchoring unit consisting of: a) anchoring means for securing the anchoring unit with respect to the ground b) an anchoring picket, which extends vertically from the anchoring means, the anchoring picket having a lower portion attached to the anchoring means and an upper portion; ) a tie-down clamp, having a tubular body with an axial channel through which the upper portion of the anchor picket passes, the tubular body having a connected sleeve defining a channel parallel to the axial channel of the tubular body, the sleeve having a slotted lower opening, and d) an upper coupling, attached to the upper portion of the anchor picket, and B) a holding brigade having left and right loops and a central portion, the b left loop attached to the clamp sleeve of the left anchor unit, and the right loop attached to the clamp sleeve of the right anchor unit, adapting to pass over the pipe the central position of the flange fastening

Description

APPARATUS FOR ANCHORING DUCTS REFERENCES There are no requests related to this application that have been registered in this country or any other.

BACKGROUND A variety of duct anchoring structures are known to anchor and stabilize gas pipelines, pipelines and other types of ducts located in lakes, rivers, swamps and gels. Such structures are important to avoid the displacement of the pipelines, which can result in the degradation of the pipe structure, and, more importantly, leaks, explosions or damage to the environment. Pipeline displacement is often caused by water that tends to float pipelines and pipelines that have positive buoyancy. As a result, a variety of anchoring structures and ponderals have been developed, none of which has completely solved the problem.

Unfortunately, the elongated nature of the ducts results in a considerable lever arm and the need to anchor the duct at frequent intervals. The failure to properly anchor the section of a pipeline may result in that section floating, and as a consequence, the imposition of considerable stress on adjacent sections of the pipeline that are properly anchored. This often causes the duct to be arched in the anchor area.

It is generally the case that the pipe, until it arches, can withstand a considerable moment of force. However, once the pipeline has already been deformed somewhat, the natural stress resulting from the circular cross-section is quickly lost. Unfortunately, the anchors of previous inventions tended to arch the pipelines to the extent of contributing to the problem. This is usually caused by the rigid type structures that are used to prevent pipeline lift. Generally, rigid structures do not distribute stress uniformly over a large area, thereby contributing to the deformation of the pipeline.

Another cause of pipeline arcing is the result of duct anchoring devices from previous inventions oppressing the sides of the duct. The severe vertical stresses of a pipeline may tend to raise the containment devices and move them to the top of the pipeline; as a result, the ends of the containment devices, on one side or the other of the pipeline, tend to forcefully move toward each other, nicking the pipeline. Once nicked, the pipe degrades more quickly and can break.

In addition, in cases where the pipeline is anchored in a trench, most pipeline anchoring structures require workers to enter the trench and secure the anchoring structures. As a result, workers are at risk of landslides, and ditches have to be dug in order to comply with expensive safety rules.

What is needed is a duct anchor device that provides a non-rigid structure that is less likely to deform and weaken the duct. The apparatus must provide mooring structures that distribute the existing efforts in the widest possible way, in order to avoid the deformation of the pipeline. The apparatus must also provide structures that allow workers to hold the mooring structures without having to enter the trench. The apparatus should also respond to severe vertical forces of the pipeline, by displacing the ends of any tie-down elements away from the sides of the pipeline, rather than moving them towards them.

SUMMARY The present invention aims at an apparatus that meets the aforementioned needs. It offers an innovative duct anchoring device that reduces the tension of the ducts.

The duct anchor apparatus of the present invention provides: (a) A helical anchor. The helical anchor structure combines an easy installation below the floor surface with a resistance to unwanted displacements. An anchor picket made of solid steel is attached to the helical anchor. The anchor picket provides a lower wedge point and an upper hole for a bolt, which is attached to the lower coupling. (b) Lower coupling. The lower coupling is a tubular sleeve that connects the anchor picket of the helical anchor to a vertical extension rod. In applications that need a lot of torque to install the helical anchor, the tubular sleeve of the lower coupling would have its square cross section, and would provide a pair of holes for lower bolts to join the anchor picket and a pair of upper bolt holes to join an extension rod. In applications with less torque, the coupling The lower one could have a round cross section, and would have an internal thread that coincides with the external threading of the anchor picket and the extension rod. 30 (c) An extension rod. The extension rod consists of a solid steel body that generally has a bolt hole, both at its upper and lower ends. The lower end is bolted to the pair of upper bolt holes of the lower coupling. (d) A mooring clamp. The tie clamp consists of a tubular body having a channel through which the extension rod passes, allowing the tie clamp to pivot freely on the extension rod. A sleeve, which carries the tubular body, provides a channel which is radially projected outwardly from the center of the channel of the tubular body. (e) A clamping flange that has two ends and each ends in a loop.

The loop at each end passes through the channel and joins it through the sleeve holding the tie clamp. The clamping flange goes over the duct, and prevents the same float in case the duct was submerged in water. (f) A spacer, having a tubular body generally of circular cross-section, is occasionally incorporated into the extension rod, above the tie-down clamp. The lower opening of the spacer rests on the upper part of the clamp. The spacer allows the 5 workers to force the tie clamp, and consequently the clamping flange, in a downward direction, until the clamping flange is taut against the top of the duct. Due to the length of the spacer, this task can be done from a safe place, above the pipeline and outside the ditch where the pipeline is. (g) An upper coupling, similar in structure to the lower coupling, is attached to the hole for the upper bolt of the extension rod. The upper coupling prevents upward movement of the spacer and clamp. This action prevents the upward movement of the loop end of the clamping flange, and prevents the duct from floating. The upper coupling is generally located at an elevation near the top of the pipeline, where workers can easily access it without entering the ditch where it is located. located the duct. The pairs of holes for upper and lower bolts allow the upper coupling to be installed using the pair of bolt holes, which results in a tighter fit.

Accordingly, the main advantage of the present invention is to provide a duct anchoring apparatus that provides a flexible clamping flange that distributes the forces caused by the pipeline flotation more broadly over the duct, than would be possible with a rigid mooring element, and in this way the possibility of deformation of the duct is reduced.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it offers an innovative duct anchoring apparatus having a pivoting tie-down clamp for anchoring each end of the swivel flange, which pivots, if necessary, in order to reduce the tension in the flange. of mooring, and consequently to move incrementally the flexible clamping flange to reduce the possibility of deformation of the side of the duct.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel duct-anchoring apparatus having a spacer with a tubular body that can be placed on top of the tie-down clamp on the extension rod attached to the helical anchor, by snapping the tie-down clamp on site, while allowing workers to remain in a safe position above the pipeline and outside of any ditch related to pipelines.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it offers a duct anchoring apparatus having a tie clamp with a tubular body having a sleeve radially projected outwardly from the center of the tubular body and carrying one end of the clamping flange , which causes the duct anchor to move slightly or arch in response to particularly strong forces caused by pipeline flotation, in a direction away from the pipeline, rather than towards the pipeline, thereby decreasing the pipeline tendency. intense efforts to deform the pipeline.

DRAWINGS These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood with the following description, the claims and the attached drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is a front view of a version of the invention, having an optional spacer installed; FIG. 2 is a front view of a second version of the invention, which does not have an optional spacer installed; FIG. 3 is a somewhat enlarged view of the clamping flange, the clamping clamp of the optional spacer and the upper coupling; FIG. 4 is a somewhat enlarged view of the right anchor unit; FIG. 4A is a somewhat enlarged view of the clamping flange of the clamp and upper coupling; FIG. 5 is a side view of the mooring clamp; FIG. 6 is a side view of a helical anchor attached to an anchor picket.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the optional spacer; FIG. 8 is an orthogonal view of a coupling; FIG. 9A is a plan view of the mooring clamp; FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view of the tie-down clamp of FIG. 5, along lines 9B-9B; FIG. 9C is a cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 9B, of a second kind of mooring clamp; FIG. 9D is a side view of the clamp clamp of FIG. 9A in the direction of lines 9D-9D, showing a side view of the attached sleeve; FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling of FIG. 8 along lines 10-10; FIG. 11 is a plan view, somewhat reduced, of a helical anchor; FIG. 12 is a plan view, somewhat diagrammatic, of a version of the invention having the clamping flange installed perpendicular to the duct; FIG. 13 is a plan view, somewhat diagrammatic, of a version of the invention having the clamping flange installed slightly angled with respect to the duct; FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the tie-down clamp of FIG. 9A, along lines 14-14; FIG. 15 is a view of the version of the invention of FIG. 1 wherein the duct is applying considerable upward force to the clamping flange; FIG. 16 is a view of an alternative kind of coupling, having a hollow cylindrical body; FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling of FIG. 16, taken along lines 17-17; FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the tie-down clamp, without the duct being floating, as seen in FIG. 1; and FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the second clamp, when the duct is being forced upwards by the water, as seen in FIG. fifteen.

DESCRIPTION Referring in particular to FIG. 1, a version of the duct anchoring device 10 constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention can be seen. The clamping flange 20 is located at the top of a pipeline, and is attached to a left anchor unit 11 and a similar right anchor unit 12. Each retainer flange has a left and a right loop, and is supported by a tie clamp 40 of an extension rod 120. A spacer optional 60 prevents the mooring clamp from moving vertically, and an upper coupling 80 prevents it from moving vertically the extension rod 120 is connected to an anchor rod 160 by means of a coupling means 100. The anchor rod it is attached to a helical anchor 140 which prevents the entire apparatus from moving vertically, even when the duct 500 tries to float due to the surrounding water, as seen in FIG. fifteen.

As can be seen in particular in FIGS. 4 and 6, a helical anchor 140 is used to anchor the anchoring apparatus 10 of the duct. The helical anchor 140 has the advantage that it can be inserted into the earth by means of heavy equipment of the known type, without having to remove the earth, and is very difficult to remove. The helical anchor 140 has a laminate body 141 having an outer edge 142 and an inner edge 143 attached to the anchor picket 160. In FIG. 4, an upper radial edge 144 and a lower radial edge 145 can be better seen. As seen in FIG. 4, there is an anchor picket 160 attached to the helical anchor 160. The preferred version of the anchor picket 160 has a solid steel body 161 with flat sides 162 and a square cross section. A lower portion 165 offers a wedge point 166 that slightly decreases the amount of energy needed to insert the anchor picket and helical anchor into the ground. An upper portion 163 of the body 161 provides a bolt hole that is used to attach the anchor bolt 160 to the lower coupling 100. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, a lower coupling 100 connects the anchor picket 160 to the extension rod 120. In the preferred embodiment, the structure of the lower coupling 100 and the upper coupling 80 is identical. The only difference between couplings 80 and 100 is their location. As can be seen in FIGS. 8 and 10, a coupling 80 has a square tubular body 81 with rounded corners. An upper end 82 having bolt holes 83 on opposite sides, and a lower end 85, which also has bolt holes 86 on opposite sides, allow the coupling to be joined, in the manner as illustrated in FIG. 1, by means of an upper bolt 84 and a lower bolt 86. An axial channel 88 has an incrementally larger cross-sectional area than the anchor picket 160 and the extension rod 120. The channel 88 should fit tightly against the picket of anchor 160 and against the extension rod 120, in order to reduce some of the tension existing on the bolts that is exerted to hold together the anchor picket, the lower coupling and the extension rod. In FIGS. 16 and 17 a second coupling class 180 can be observed. A round coupling 180 can be used to connect the anchor picket 160 to the extension rod 120 when the torque required to install the helical anchor 180 is less than normal , due to the soil conditions. The round coupling 180 has a tubular body 181 having a rounded cross section, as can be seen in FIG. 17. Both the upper end 182 and the lower end 183 have an internal threading 184. In applications where the round coupling 180, the lower portion of the extension rod 120 and the upper portion 163 of the picket rod are used. Anchor 160 must be threaded. The thread direction is chosen so that the connection between the extension rod 120, the round coupling 180 and the anchoring pin 160, each time tighten further as the helical anchor is turned in the direction that makes it go burying more deeply in the ground. As seen in FIG. 1, an extension rod 120 is connected to the upper extension 163 of the anchor picket 160, and bears the tie clamp 40, and, optionally, a spacer 60. In the preferred embodiment, the extension rod 120 is reconfigured by a solid steel body 121 with flat sides 122. As seen in FIGS. 18 and 19, an interior side 123 faces toward the duct 500. An exterior side 124 is directly opposite the duct and faces the opposite side thereof. An upper portion 125 has a bolt hole (not shown) for joining with an upper coupling 80. In the preferred version of the invention, a lower portion 127 has a bolt hole for connecting to a lower coupling 100. In a second embodiment of the invention, the lower portion 127 has a thread to accept a round coupling 180 threaded. A first class of tie clamp 40 has a tubular body 41 having a sleeve 47 which is joined by a welded connection 44. The tubular body 41 has an upper portion 42 and a lower portion 43. An axial channel 44 goes along of the body 41, and it is open at both ends. As can be seen in FIGS. 18 and 19, the axial channel 44 has an inner top surface 45, and an inner bottom surface 46. As seen in FIG. 9A, the sleeve 47 provides a "C" shaped edge 49 that forms a channel 48 and an opening 50 through which the loop 22 or 23 of the clamping flange passes. The sleeve 47 has 2 side walls 55 separated by an intermediate wall 56, as seen in FIG. 9A. A pair of angled edges 51 and a horizontal edge 52 form a slotted bottom opening 53, as seen in FIGS. 9D and 18. As seen in FIGS. 9A-9C, 18 and 19, the clamp 40 will pivot around the extension rod 120. Accordingly, as can be seen in comparison with FIGS. 12 and 13, the tie-down clamps of the related left and right anchoring units 11 and 12 will tend to rotate so as to allow the clamping flange to be placed most directly between the clamps 40. Accordingly, if there were any movement of the duct or anchoring unit 11-12, the clamps 40 will pivot if necessary, in order to reduce the tension in the duct caused by the clamping flange 20. In FIGS. 4A and 9C a second kind of tie clamp 40 can be seen. This class is substantially similar to the first class, but the body 41 and the sleeve 47 are cast in one piece, instead of having a welded connection 54. clamping flange 20 passes over the upper portion 501 of the duct 500 and connects the clamp 40 of each anchoring unit 11, 12. A central portion 25 rests on the upper portion 501 of the duct 500, while the lateral portions 26 from flange 20 touch sides 503 of the duct. As can be seen in FIGS. 3-4A, the clamping flange 20 provides an elongate body 21 that terminates in a left loop 22 and in a right loop 23. Each loop is formed by means of a sewn connection 24. In the preferred embodiment, the flange 20 is made of a polyester reinforced material whose width is somewhat greater than that of the intermediate wall 56 of the sleeve 47 of the tie clamp 40, as seen in FIG. 12 and 13. As an alternative, other materials could be used, but should be chosen for their strength and their ability to resist water and abrasion.

Optionally, a spacer 60 having a tubular body 61 with a circular cross-section may be carried by the extension rod 120 between the clamp 40 and the upper coupling 80. When such a spacer is used, a Worker force down the tie clamp 40 so that it is in the position shown in FIG. 1. This work can be done remotely, in a safe position. For example, in the case where the duct is located in a trench, the worker can use the spacer, and thus does not have to enter the trench. The tubular body 61 of the spacer has a structure similar to that of an iron tube, and offers an upper portion 62 having an upper opening 63, and a lower portion 64 having a lower opening 65. The upper coupling 80 is attached to the pin hole of the upper portion 125 of the extension rod 120. Once attached to the extension rod, the spacer 60, if installed, and the tie clamp 40, can not be removed from the upper portion of the rod extension due to an upward movement of the duct 500. The duct anchoring apparatus 10 of the invention is used to prevent a duct from floating due to puddled water or moisture conditions, thereby avoiding pipeline displacement and stresses and damages related to it. To use the duct anchoring apparatus of the present invention, the left and right anchoring units, 11 and 12, are installed on opposite sides of a duct at intervals. A clamping flange 20 is attached to each anchoring unit and is passed over the top of the duct, whereby movement of the duct is prevented. To achieve this, generally the helical anchor and the anchor picket are inserted into the ground on both sides of a pipeline using known means. Then an extension rod may be attached to the upper portion of the anchor picket, and further bury the helical anchor until it is above the ground to the approximate desired length of the upper portion of the extension rod. If the duct is in a trench 510 like that of FIG. 1, it is generally desired to make visible as much as possible of the extension rod that was necessary so that the upper portion of the extension rod can be easily accessed by workers adjacent to the trench. If the pipeline is not in a trench, or if it is in a shallow trench, as in FIG. 2, then only a small portion of the extension rod is left protruding from the surface, as seen in that figure. Once the helical anchor, the anchor picket and the extension rod are installed on each side of the duct, the clamping flange 20, which has each loop 22 and 23 attached to a clamp 40, is placed on the part of the duct 500 and the tie clamps are put in place with the extension rods 120 passing through the axial channel 44 of the tie clamps 40, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. If the portion of the extension rod 120 extending beyond the end of the tie clamp is too small, then an upper coupling 80 can be installed, as seen in FIG. 4, together with the lower bolt / nut 87. However, if the portion of the extension rod extending past the end of the tie clamp is somewhat larger, then the upper bolt / nut 84 can be used to join the upper coupling 80 to extension rod 120, as seen in FIG. 4A. The use of the upper bolt 84 results in a larger portion of the upper coupling 80 hanging below the bolt hole in the upper portion 125 of the extension rod. However, if the portion of the extension rod that extends past the end of the tie-down clamp is quite long, then a spacer 60, of a suitable length, should be installed on the upper portion of the extension rod, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, before joining the upper coupling 80. The use of a spacer allows workers to attach the upper coupling 80 from afar, and in a relatively safe manner. After the spacer has been installed, the person installing them must decide whether the upper pin holes 83 or the lower pin holes 86 are to be used to join the upper coupling. In case there was water present, as seen in FIG. 15, the duct could float, and as a result produce an upward force on the clamping flange 20. If this force were sufficient, it could cause the clamp clamps 40 to move from a relaxed position, as seen in FIG. . 18, to a stressed position, as seen in FIG. 19. In the tensioned position, the inner upper surface 45 of the axial channel 44 of the clamp 40 is forced against the inner side 123 of the extension rod 120, and the inner bottom surface 46 of the axial channel 44 of the clamp mooring 40 is forced against the outer side 124 of the extension rod. The tension position, where the extension rod 120 is slightly inclined away from the duct, tends to be a result of the dimensions of the sleeve, and of the radially projecting position outwardly of the sleeve taken from the axial channel 44 of the tie-down clamp 40. As a result, the tension rod may bow somewhat, when it is under tension, as seen in FIG. 15. As a result of bowing outward (away from the duct) of the extension rod, spacers and other physical elements, the sides 503 of the duct 500 are not nicked by the duct anchoring apparatus. The previously described versions of the present invention have many advantages, among which is included a flexible clamping flange that distributes more broadly the forces caused by the flotation of a pipeline, throughout the pipeline, than the elements of the pipeline do. rigid mooring, and thereby reduces the possibility of the pipeline deforming. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it constitutes an innovative duct anchoring apparatus having a pivoting clamping bracket which supports each end of the clamping flange and which pivots if necessary in order to reduce the stress exerted on the clamping flange, and thus, consequently, incrementally move the flexible clamping flange to reduce the possibility of deformation of the duct. Yet another advantage of the present invention is the fact that an innovative duct anchoring apparatus is provided having a spacer with a tubular body that can be placed on top of the lashing clamp on the extension rod of a helical anchor, thus forcing to the mooring clamp to stay in place, while allowing workers to remain safe above the pipeline and out of any ditch ducts. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it offers an innovative duct anchoring apparatus having a tie clamp with a tubular body having a sleeve projecting radially outward from the center of the axial channel through the tubular body and It has one end of a clamping flange. Such a sleeve causes the pipe anchor picket or the extension rod to move slightly or to bow in response to special intense stresses caused by the pipeline floating in a direction away from the pipeline. As a result, the tendency of the intense efforts to deform the duct decreases, because the intense ascending efforts of the duct cause the duct anchoring apparatus to move away from the side of the duct instead of approaching it.

Although the present invention has been described in a very detailed manner and with reference to the referred versions, other versions are also possible. For example, the upper coupling and the spacer elements could be combined to be a single element or assembly containing a plurality of different lengths of the combined element. Additionally, although the bolts are the preferred method for attaching the extension rod and the anchor picket to the lower coupling, and for attaching the upper coupling to the extension rod, another type of fasteners can also be used. Also, the anchor picket and the extension rod can be combined in some applications, thereby eliminating the need for a lower coupling. Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions set forth in this document. With adjustment - to the United States Patent Laws, the document has been described in a more or less specific language as far as the methodical characteristics are concerned. However, the invention is not limited to the specific features described, since the means described in this document consist of the preferred ways of carrying out the invention. Accordingly, the invention is claimed in any of its forms or modifications with the appropriate scope of the claims, appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS n device for anchoring ducts, consisting of: (a) left and right anchoring units, each anchoring unit consisting of: (a) [a helical anchorage, buried in the bracket anchoring means for securing the anchoring unit with respect to the ground; (b) an anchoring stinger, extending vertically from [helical anchorage] the anchoring means, the anchoring stitch having a lower portion attached to the [helical anchor] anchoring means and an upper portion; (c) a tie-down clamp, having a tubular body with an axial channel through which passes the upper portion of the anchor picket, the tubular body having a sleeve attached; Y (d) a top coupling, attached to the upper portion of the anchor picket; Y (b) a clamping flange having left and right loops and a central portion, the left loop being attached to the clamp sleeve of the left clamping unit, and the right loop attached to the clamping sleeve of the clamping clamp of the left clamping unit. the right anchoring unit, passing over the duct the central portion of the clamping flange. An apparatus for anchoring ducts, consisting of; (a) left and right anchoring units, each anchoring unit consisting of: (a) [a helical anchor, buried in the ground] anchoring means for securing the anchor unit with respect to the ground; (b) an anchoring stinger, extending vertically from [helical anchorage] the anchoring means, the anchoring stitch having a lower portion attached to the [helical anchor] anchoring means and an upper portion; (c) a lower coupling attached to the upper portion of the anchor picket; (d) an extension rod, which extends vertically from the lower coupling, the extension rod having a lower portion attached to the lower coupling, and an upper portion; (e) a tie-down clamp, having a tubular body with a channel through which the upper portion of the extension rod passes, the tubular body having a sleeve attached; Y (f) a top coupling, attached to the upper portion of the extension rod; Y (b) a clamping flange having left and right loops and a central portion, the left loop being attached to the sleeve of the clamping bracket of the left anchoring unit, and the right loop attached to the sleeve of the clamping flange of the left clamping unit. the right anchoring unit, passing over the duct the central portion of the clamping flange. The duct anchoring apparatus of claim 2, which comprises, in addition to: (a) spacing means, carried by the extension rod between the clamping flange and the upper coupling, to allow the workers to join the upper coupling from afar. The duct anchoring apparatus of claim 3, wherein the spacing means consist of: (a) a spacer, having a tubular body, carried by the extension rod between the tie clamp and the top coupling. An apparatus for duct anchoring that consists of: (a) left and right anchoring units, each anchoring unit consisting of the following: (a) a helical anchor, which can be buried in the ground; (b) an anchoring stinger, which extends vertically from the helical anchor, the anchoring stitch having a lower portion attached to the helical anchor, and an upper portion, further comprising the anchoring stinger of the following: (a) a top bolt hole in the upper portion; Y (b) a lower wedge point at the end of the lower portion. (c) a coupling, attached to the upper portion of the anchor picket; (d) an extension rod, which extends vertically from the lower coupling, the extension rod having a lower portion attached to the lower coupling, and an upper portion; (e) a tie-down clamp, having a tubular body with a channel through which the upper portion of the extension rod passes, further comprising the tie-down clamp of the following: (a) a sleeve, attached to the tubular body of the tie clamp, having a channel with an upper opening and a lower slotted opening; (f) a top coupling, attached to the upper portion of the extension rod; Y (g) a spacer, carried by the extension rod between the tie clamp and the top coupling, comprising a tubular body having upper and lower openings; Y (b) a clamp flange having left and right loops and a central portion, the left loop being attached to the clamp sleeve of the left anchor unit, and the right loop attached to the clamp sleeve of the clamp the right anchoring unit, passing over the duct the central portion of the clamping flange.