SADDLE BAG Technical Field

The present invention relates to a saddle bag comprising cells filled therein with materials such as soil, gravel, sand etc. as the weight and placed on the pipeline for preventing the pipelines such as oil, gas, water, etc. from losing the stability thereof and moving with internal and external factors.

Prior Art

In the prior art, this structure referred to as the "saddle bag" in industry generally consists of 1 , 2 or 4 cells. Mentioned cells are filled therein with materials such as sand, gravel, soil, etc., carried to and placed on the pipeline. In the bag filling and carrying operations, the bag is lifted from the ground by being gripped from the high strength handles referred to as strap.

The bag placed on the pipeline transfers the load of the material disposed therein to the pipeline and fulfills its function. The load per cell increases as the number of cells of the bag decreases. Thus, the bags should be produced from high strength fabrics. To ensure a high strength, fabrics with a weight of approximately 500 g/m ² are used. This is a situation increasing the costs.

Although the belts comprise a higher strength as compared to that of the fabrics, they are used only during the carrying. In the prior art, straps are sewn to the fabric. Therefore, the load carried by them is directly transferred to the fabric. This situation causes the fabric to rip away from the stitches. Therefore, in the long run the carrying capacity of the bag depends on the carrying capacity of the fabric, not the belt. This is a factor reducing the lifetime of the product.

The saddle bags comprising less number of cells consist of larger cells. In large cells, homogeneous distribution of the materials inside the bag during filling is difficult.

The patent application CN201651546U entitled as "Pipeline stabilization ballasting bag" is encountered during the prior art patent search performed on the subject matter. Following is stated in the abstract of the patent application: "The utility model discloses a pipeline stabilization ballasting bag, which comprises a left load bag and a right load bag that are respectively arranged at the left side and the right side of a pipeline, wherein mentioned load bags are connected with each other by a connecting belt. The invention intends to provide stability by applying a load on the pipeline." However, in this application, solutions related with the aforementioned disadvantages are not disclosed. Moreover, mentioned load bags consist of a single cell. This situation presents a challenge during filling as well as during carrying.

Another patent application encountered during the prior art patent search performed on the subject matter is the application CN202371297U entitled as "Pipeline counter weight bag." Here, the load bags on the right and left side of the pipeline are comprised of cells. Although some disadvantages are eliminated in this manner, a solution for the aforementioned disadvantages regarding the deformation of the cell fabric is not provided.

In conclusion, the presence of the aforementioned problems and insufficiency of the existing solutions made the development in the respective technical field necessary.

Objects of the Invention

The present invention relates to a saddle bag developed for eliminating the aforementioned disadvantages and bringing new advantages to the respective technical field.

The main object of the saddle bag according to the present invention is; to keep carrying capacity of the cell independent from the fabric strength ; as a result, to achieve a higher carrying capacity by using a lighter fabric. This objective is achieved by not sewing the cell belts -used for lifting during filling and carrying the bag- to the fabric. Thus, load carrying capacity of the bag becomes equal to the load carrying capacity of the cell straps. Therefore, the product cost is reduced.

Another object of the saddle bag according to the present invention is to enable the cell belts to be fixed in the horizontal plane and to be movable in the vertical plane while passing through the tunnels sewn on the cells. Structures such as plastic clips, tapes, cords, etc. connected to the cell performing the same function as mentioned tunnels can also be used.

Another object of the saddle bag according to the present invention is to connect the cell belts, by means of connection belts at a point close to the center of gravity of the cell, for preventing the tunnels -sewn to the cell body- from damaging the fabric by transferring the horizontal loads thereto. Another object of the saddle bag according to the present invention is to protect unity of the bag during filling by means of strap belts sewn on the cell and cell belts. Sewing the strap belt to the cell does not constitute any disadvantage since it is not provided with any load carrying function other than the filling.

Another objective of the saddle bag according to the present invention is to prevent the cell belts from entanglement and slipping around the cells during filling and carrying. This objective is achieved by means of tunnel pieces sewn on the cells, and the loops disposed at the lower portion providing unity of the saddle bag.

Another object of the present invention is to enable the amount of load per cell to be reduced as compared to the existing applications, thanks to using preferably at least four cells. Thus, the bags can be produced using lighter fabric. Therefore, the product cost is reduced. In addition, increasing the number of cells results in homogeneous distribution of the load inside the cells.

To achieve aforementioned objectives, the present invention relates to a saddle bag providing stability of the pipelines by being placed thereon, and comprising cells filled therein with granular materials, and at least one vertical cell strap per cell for carrying mentioned cells. The main character of the present invention is that it carries the load of the cell without having the cell belt being sewn to the cell fabric.

In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, mentioned saddle bag comprises at least four cells. A cell comprises at least one cell belt. For the versions comprising two or more cell belts, at least one connection belt connects the cell belts to each other.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, loops disposed at an equal distance from the center of gravity, for passing cell straps therethrough, exists.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there exists at least one carrying belt, which passes through opposing cell belts and provides the connection.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one strap belt -connected from one end to mentioned cell belt and connected to mentioned cell from the other end which is used during cell filling is provided. Figures Facilitating the Understanding of the Invention

Figure 1. Three dimensional view of an alternative embodiment of the saddle bag according to the present invention.

Figure 2. The view separately illustrating the elements forming the saddle bag according to the present invention.

Figure 3. Three dimensional view of a cell of the saddle bag according to the present invention.

Description of Part References

1. Cell

2. Cell belt

3. Tunnel

4. Connection belt

5. Loop

6. Carrying belt

7. Strap belt

8. Connection piece

9. Filling Skirt

10. Flap

a. stitching region

b. strap belt - cell stitching region

c. strap belt - cell belt stitching region

100. Saddle bag

Detailed Description of the Invention

In this detailed description, preferred embodiments of the saddle bag (100) according to the present invention are described only for a better understanding of the subject without constituting any restrictive effect. In Figure 1 , the three dimensional view of an alternative embodiment of the saddle bag (100) according to the present invention is illustrated. Mentioned saddle bag (100) is formed by connecting a plurality of cells (1) to each other using cell connection pieces (8). As the weight, materials such as soil, gravel, sand, etc. are filled into mentioned cells (1). Cells (1), for carrying thereof, are surrounded by two vertical rows of cell belts (2) on the outer portions. Mentioned cell belts (2) are not sewn to the cells (1). Thus, the cells (1) can be carried without damaging the cell (1) fabric. In addition, the cell belts (2) being horizontally fixed during carrying facilitates the carrying process. This is provided by the tunnels (3) sewn to the cells (1) on the seam region (a). The cell straps (2) are passed through the tunnels (3) disposed on the outer surface of the cells. Thus, horizontally fixed and vertically movable cell belts (2) are provided. Mentioned tunnels (3) are preferably pieces of fabric. Structures such as plastic clips, tapes, cords, etc. connected to the cell (1) performing the same function as mentioned tunnels (3) can also be used.

Tunnels (3) restrict the horizontal movement of the cell belts (2). In the restriction of the horizontal movement of the cell belts (2), mentioned tunnels (3) are supported by connection belts (4) and loops (5). Thus, since the horizontal loads are not exerted on the tunnels (3), possibility of fabric damage is eliminated. Mentioned connection belts (5) and cell belts (2) are connected to each other at a point close to the center of gravity of the cell (1). Mentioned loops (5) are disposed on the base portions of the cells (1). Thanks to mentioned loops (5), uniform sharing of the load is provided by keeping the cell belts (2) at an equal distance from the center of gravity of the cell (1). Carrying belts (6) are provided at the upper portion of the cell belts (2). Mentioned carrying belts (6) provide connection by being passed through two opposing cell belts (2).

In Figure 3, a three dimensional view of a cell (1) of the saddle bag (100) according to the present invention is illustrated. Strap belts (7) are connected at the upper inner portions of the cell belts (2). Mentioned strap belts (7) are sewn to the cell (1) at point b and to the cell belts (2) at point c. Strap belts (7) maintain the cell (1) and cell belts (2) connected to each other during filling, prevent the cell (1) to slip downwards and protect the unity of the cell. Strap belts (7) does not have any load carrying function other than the filling. Thus, sewing thereof does not constitute any disadvantage.

The cells (1) -when with the filling skirts (9) are in open position- are attached to the filling station filled with sand, gravel or soil therein by being lifted from the cell belts (2). The filling station is provided with discharge hoppers corresponding to the number of cells (1). To carry out a proper filling, the filling skirt (9) is passed through the discharge hopper of the filling station. The cells (1) being filled do not slip downwards and lose its form thanks to the strap belts (7). After the filling is completed, cell belts (2) of the saddle bag (100) released back to the ground are separated from the filling station. It is puckered from the filling skirt (9) and the flap (10) is closed. Mentioned flap (10) is the enclosing cover used for providing full sealing when the portions of the cells for filling purposes are closed by being puckered.

After the filling operation, saddle bag (100) is lifted from the carrying belts (6) by means of a sling, crane or hoist. During the lifting, the cell belts (2) transfer the load thereon to the carrying belts (6). Meanwhile, since both carrying belts (6) and cell belts (2) are not sewn to the cells (1), no tear or deformation takes place on the fabric forming the cells (1). Likewise, carrying belts (6) and cell belts (2) are not sewn to each other. They are interconnected by being fitted to each other. The saddle bag (100) lifted from the carrying belts (6) are released on the pipeline.

The saddle bag (100) is produced from polypropylene and/or polyethylene raw materials with high UV resistance. Mentioned cell (1), cell belts (2), tunnel (3), connection belts (4), loop (5), connection piece (8), strap belts (7) are made of fabric and high strength belt materials produced preferably from polypropylene and/or polyethylene raw materials. However, they can also be made of different materials exhibiting the required strength.