AU713848B2

AU713848B2 - Lightweight concrete poles

Info

Publication number: AU713848B2
Application number: AU55845/96A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Caswold Hickson Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-12-19
Filing date: 1996-06-07
Publication date: 1999-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 2016-06-07
Also published as: AU5584596A

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Details of Associated Provisional Application(s) No(s): CASWOLD HICKSON LEE Caswold Hickson Lee

INTELLPRO

Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level D, 308 Edward Street BRISBANE, QLD, 4000 (GPO Box 1339, BRISBANE, 4001) "Lightweight Hickson Lee" Australian Patent Application No. PN7195 filed 19 December 1995.

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 THIS INVENTION relates to poles, in particular but not limited thereto to poles for supporting electricity transmission or distribution lines, street lights, telephone lines, bill boards, wind turbines and the like.

Currently support poles are formed from metal, timber or concrete. These poles have inherent drawbacks.

Metal poles are generally heavy and costly to manufacture. Their weight adds to the costs of transportation. As these poles are electrically conductive additional insulations must be provided to insulate the power or telephone lines from the poles. They need frequent maintenance to prevent rust and corrosion.

10 Timber poles are relatively weak and are prone to attack by rot-producing fungi, termites and boring insects. They are relatively easily weathered.

Accordingly, they need to be replaced at a relatively short time. Their costs are increasing due to dwindling forested areas.

Concrete poles are heavy and therefore costly to transport. They are also 15 relatively weak in structure.

An object of the present invention is to overcome or at least reduce to some degree one or more of the prior art drawbacks.

In a broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a pole comprising a body of light weight high strength concrete, and the body being reinforced with a high tensile strength fibreglass material, The tensile strength of fibreglass is about four times that of steel. Objects made from fibreglass do not warp or twist and are non corrosive. They are so hard that cutting is done by diamond-coated blades.

Preferably the fibreglass material is in the form of bars or rods. The 3 bars/rods may be disposed spacedly within the concrete body. Advantageously the bars/rods are spaced in a circumferential direction and more preferably they are uniformly spaced.

The fibreglass bars/rods may be made by a pultrusion process. The bars/rods may be solid or hollow and may be coated with a layer of polyester resin.

The lightweight high strength concrete is preferably a structural lightweight concrete with a 28-day compressive strength in excess of 2,500 psi and an air-dry unit weight of 115 lb. per cubit foot or less.

t 10 The pole of the present invention is preferably a spun pole.

Advantageously it is also prestressed.

The poles of the present invention is therefore light but structurally strong.

Due to its light weight it is relatively easier to manoeuvre during installation and transportation costs are also reduced. Its structural strength ensures that the pole is durable and therefore requiring little maintenance work. It is inherently insect proof, in particular termite proof and weathers naturally.

Preferably the pole of the present invention is cylindrical or frustro-conical in shape. More preferably the pole has a circular lateral cross-section. However the applicant's invention embraces other cross-sectional shapes of the pole, including rectangular and polygonal.

The pole of the present invention can have a base at one end and a top at the opposite end. Advantageously the circumference of the pole decreases progressively from the base to the top. The decrement may be continuous or in steps.

4 The pole is conveniently provided with a channel or conduit for accommodating one or more cables/wires. The conduit or channel may be positioned anywhere within the pole, It is preferred that the conduit or channel extends longitudinally along the pole, Typically, the conduit/channel is coaxial with the centre axis of the pole, The conduit/channel may extend part way or fully through the pole. Advantageously the conduit/channel extends from the top to a position at or adjacent the section of the pole that will, in use, be beneath the ground level.

Two or more conduits/channels may be provided in the poles.

10 One or more openings in communication in the or each conduit/channel may be provided for allowing access to the or each conduit/channel for inspection or for inserting cables, wire, switches and the like. Conveniently a switch box is provided in one or the opening. An end cap or closure can be employed to cover each of the unused openings. The end caps/closures are 15 preferably made of flexible material such as plastic or rubber. But they can also be made of a rigid material.

One or more arms may be removably secured to the pole. The or each arm may be adapted for supporting a street light or for supporting transmissions lines or cables.

Preferably the or each arm is L-shaped. One end of the or each arm is adapted for supporting a street light and the opposite end is removably secured to the pole, Conveniently the opposite end is secured over the top of the pole.

The or each arm may also be T-shaped. The stern part of the T is adapted to be removably secured to the pole, while either ends of the cross part of the or each T-shaped arm are adapted for supporting street lights.

The or each arm may be a cross arm for supporting transmission lines or cables or street lights.

The L-shaped or T-shaped arm may also be adapted to support street lights.

The pole of the present invention can also be adapted to support a solar panel and/or a bill board. The panel and/or bill board may be in addition to the street lights or transmission lines described earlier.

In order that the present invention can be more readily understood and be put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and wherein:- Figure 1 illustrates a support pole according to the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the pole shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates a power line pole with three cross arms;

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15 Figure 4 illustrates a power line pole with two cross arms; Figure 5 illustrates a pole according to the present invention and the pole is provided with a switch box; Figure 6 illustrates a street light pole for a single light fitting; Figure 7 illustrates a street light pole for two light fittings; Figure 8 illustrates the pole of the present invention adapted to support a solar panel; and Figure 9 illustrates poles of the present invention adapted to support a bill board.

Referring initially to Figure 1 and 2, there is shown a support pole according to the present invention. The pole 10 has a slight frusto-conical shaped body 12 which has a base 14 and a top 16. The diameter and therefor the circumference of the pole 10 decreases progressively from the base 14 to the top 16. A conduit 18 is provided in the body 12 and positioned coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the body 12 and it extends from a position 20 which is slightly above the base 14 to the top 16. In the Figure 1 example, openings 22 are provided at either ends of the conduit 18. Each opening 22 is covered with an end cap or closure 24 which is made of rubber to prevent water and insect entry. Only end cap 24 at the top of the body 12 is shown. In use, the end and S° 10 closure caps are removed for insertion of wires or cables into the conduit 18 through openings 22. If desired, each of the end or closure cap 24 can be provided with resealable holes or slots (not shown) for the wires or cables, and the openings are again covered after insertion of the wires or cables. The pole may be supported by the dirt or concrete at its lower section which is below T. 15 ground level 24.

The body 12 of the pole 10 are reinforced with six spacedly arranged :°ooo° fibreglass rods 26 which are made of high tensile strength fibreglass material and by a pultrusion process.

Figures 3 to 9 show the pole 10 of Figures 1 and 2 adapted for different applications.

As shown in Figure 3, the pole 10 is adapted to support three cross-arms for power lines and/or telephone/cable television lines.

In Figure 4, the pole 10 is adapted to support two cross-arms instead of three cross-arms shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 shows a pole 10 provided with a switch box 32 in an opening 22.

The switch box 32 is for switching one or more electrical items supported on the pole Figure 6 shows a pole 10 of the present invention adapted to support a street light 34. The street light 34 has an L-shaped arm 36. The short section of the arm 36 is removable fitted over the top end 16 of the pole 10 and the free end of the long section of the arm 36 has a light fitting 38 removably secured thereto. The arm 36 is either hollow or has a conduit therein for wire connections to the light fitting 38.

10 Figure 7 shows the pole 10 of the present invention adapted to support a street light 34 which has a T-shaped arm 42 supported on the pole 10. A light fitting 38 is removably secured to each free end of the cross section of the arm 42.

A solar cell panel 40 may be mounted to the pole 10 as shown in Figures S. 15 6 to 8, for supplying power to items such as street lights, bill boards, devices for monitoring power/telephone line conditions, etc.

Figure 9 shows a bill board 44 supported on spaced poles 10 according to the present invention.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the present invention, many variations and modifications thereto will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as herein set forth.

Claims

4- 8 THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:- 1. A pole comprising a body of light weight high strength concrete, and the body being reinforced with a high tensile strength fibreglass material therein, wherein the body is a structural lightweight concrete having a 28-day compressive strength in excess of 2,500 psi and an air dry unit weight of 115 lb. per cubit foot or less. 2. The pole according to Claim 1 wherein the fibreglass material is in the form or bars or rods. 3. The pole according to Claim 2 wherein the bars or rods are disposed 10 spacedly with the body. 4. The pole according to Claim 3 wherein the bars or rods are uniformly '0 spaced. The pole according to Claim 3 or 4 wherein the bars or rods are spaced circumferentially.
6. The pole according to any one of Claims 2 to 5 wherein the bars or rods are made by a pultrusion process.
7. The pole according to any one of Claims 2 to 6 wherein the bars or rods are 06 hollow.
8. The pole according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein the pole is a spun and/or prestressed pole.
9. The pole according to any one fo Claims 1 to 8 wherein the body is cylindrical in shape. The pole according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein the body is frustro- 9 conical in shape.
11. The pole according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the body has a circular lateral cross-section.
12. The pole according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the body has a rectangular of polygonal lateral cross-section.
13. The pole according to any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the body has a base at one end of the pole and a top at the opposite end of the pole. oO 14. The pole according to claim 13 wherein the circumference of the pole decreases progressively from the base to the top. 10 15. The pole according to claim 14 wherein the circumference decreases continuously or in steps.
16. The pole according to any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein at least one conduit or channel is provided within the body for accommodating one or more o cables/wires.
17. The pole according to claim 16 wherein the at least one conduit or channel is coaxial with the centre axis of the pole. o 18. The pole according to one of claims 16 to 17 wherein one or more openings are provided along the body and the one or more openings provide access to the •oo or each conduit or channel.
19. The pole according to claim 18 wherein the or each opening is closed with a closure or cap means. The pole according to claim 19 wherein the closure or cap means is flexible or rigid. 1
21. A street light comprising a pole according to any one of claims 1 to wherein one or more arms are removable supported on the pole and each arm is adapted to support a light fitting.
22. The street light according to claim 21 wherein each arm is L-shaped, an end of the arm being removably supported on the top of the pole and the opposite end of the arm being adapted to removably secure the light fitting.
23. The street light according to claim 21 wherein each arm is T-shaped, the .stem section of the arm being removably supported on the top of the pole and the ends of the cross section of the arm being adapted to each removably securing a light fitting. o 24. A power/telephone/cable television line support comprising a pole according to any one of claims 1 to 23, and one or more cross arms being spacedly supported along the pole.
25. The support according to claim 24 wherein insulator means are provided OSSS one each cross arm.
26. The support according to claim 24 or 25 wherein each cross arm is adapted to support power/telephone/cable television lines.
27. The pole according to one of claims 1 to 20 or the street light according to S one of claims 21 to 23 or the support according to one of claims 24 to 26 wherein a solar cell panel is provided on the pole for supplying power to electrical items.
28. A billboard comprising an advertising board supported on at least one pole according to one of claims 1 to N 29. The billboard according to claim 28 and comprising an advertising board 1 lil_; wherein the advertising board is supported on two spaced poles. The billboard according to claim 29 wherein one or more solar cell panels are provided on the or each pole for supplying power to the advertising board.
31. A pole substantially as described with reference to any one of Figures 1 to 9.
32. A power/telephone/cable television pole substantially as described with reference any one of Figures 3 to S, 33. A street light substantially as described with reference to any one of Figures .6 to 7. 10 34. A solar cell panel support pole substantially as described with reference to Figure 8.
35. A billboard substantially as described with reference to Figure 9. DATED this 19th day of October 1999 **go CASWOLD HICKSON LEE ~By his Patent Attorneys INTELLPRO