AU9728901A

AU9728901A - Cantilever pole assembly

Info

Publication number: AU9728901A
Application number: AU97289/01A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Given Not
Original assignee: KILPATRICK GREEN Pty Ltd
Current assignee: United KG Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2000-12-22
Filing date: 2001-12-18
Publication date: 2002-06-27

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): KILPATRICK GREEN PTY LTD Invention Title: CANTILEVER POLE ASSEMBLEY The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 CANTILEVER POLE ASSEMBLEY This invention relates to a cantilever pole assembly and to a method of forming the pole assembly. The pole assembly according to the present invention has particular application in environments in which the pole is intended to take bending or shear forces, such as large power transmission line poles which support power transmission lines which carry high voltage and current.

Structural poles are used in a number of different environments. In most cases such poles are intended to transfer axial forces, with only minor bending forces considered in the design of the pole.

High voltage and current power transmission lines are normally supported by towers which generally include or comprise a lattice type structure. With the increasing number of power transmission towers which are required in 20 urban areas, attempts have been made to increase the aesthetics of the towers. Poles have been considered as a replacement for towers because the poles are generally smaller in size and are thought to be somewhat more aesthetically pleasing than conventional transmission line towers. However, the major problem with using poles for supporting power or transmission lines is that the pole will be required to take considerable bending forces because of the support of the transmission lines, rather than axial forces. Thus, conventional poles which are intended to transfer high axial forces are generally not suitable for use as transmission line poles.

The object of the present invention is to provide a cantilever pole assembly and components thereof which can be used in environments where the pole is intended to take bending forces, such as those caused by the support of high voltage and current power transmission lines, together with \relb files\homeS\Luisa\geep\Speci\Kilpatrick Green PR2315 Coalate.doc 17/12/01 3 a method of forming the pole assembly.

The invention, in a first aspect, may be said to reside in a cantilever pole assembly, including; a pier structure embedded in the ground, the pier structure including a socket assembly having a peripheral wall portion and a base which define a socket cavity, and an open end opposite the base; a pole having a first end located in the socket cavity couple the pole to the ground, the pole further including; a metal shell; and a concrete core within the metal shell, the concrete core extending for at least part of the entire length of the pole from the end of the pole which is received in the socket cavity, so that bending forces exerted on the pole are transmitted to the ground via the pier structure.

20 Preferably the pier structure includes reinforcing members embedded in the pier structure and extending into the socket cavity so that when the pole is located in the socket cavity the portion of the reinforcing members projecting into the socket cavity are embedded in the 25 concrete core of the pole to facilitate coupling of the pole to the pier structure.

Preferably the pole includes reinforcing members which are embedded in the concrete core of the pole, the reinforcing 30 members which project into the socket cavity engaging with the reinforcing members in the pole to further facilitate coupling of the pole to the pier structure.

Preferably the concrete core of the pole is poured into the pole after the pole is located in the socket cavity and the reinforcing members which are embedded in the pier and project into the socket cavity are engaged with the \\melb-files\home$\Luia\Keep\Speci\Klpatrick Green PR2315 Com1ete .doc 17/12/01 4 reinforcing members within the pole.

Preferably the pier structure includes reinforcing members, the said reinforcing members extending into the peripheral wall of the socket so as to reinforce the peripheral wall of the socket.

Preferably the space between the portion of the pole which is inserted into the socket cavity and the peripheral wall of the socket cavity is filled with a filler and sealing material.

Preferably the filler and sealing material is an epoxy grout filler with a sealant being applied on top of the grout to prevent ingress of water into the socket cavity between the pole and the peripheral wall of the socket.

Preferably the pole is formed in a plurality of sections and the sections are coupled together by a slip joint by 20 locating an end of one of the sections over the end of an adjacent section of the pole.

Preferably the pole tapers from an end of the pole which is received in the socket cavity, inwardly to an upper free 25 end of the pole.

Preferably a plurality of step irons are formed on the pole, the step irons including an intermediate section which passes through the pole and, at least some of the 30 intermediate sections of step irons being embedded in the :concrete core of the pole to provide additional reinforcement to the pole, and generally u-shaped step portions coupled to the intermediate portions so as to form steps to enable a work person to climb the pole.

Preferably the pole includes a top cover plate having a vent hole for providing access to the interior of the pole \\melb.files\homeS\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Kilpatrick Green PR2315 Complete.doc 11/12/01 5 from the top of the pole and a hole cover for closing the vent hole.

Preferably the cover plate has a support post for supporting an earth wire of a power transmission line system.

Preferably the pole also supports a number of power line support elements for supporting the power transmission lines of the power transmission line system.

The invention also provides a cantilever pole for a cantilever pole assembly, the cantilever pole including; a metal shell; a concrete core in the metal shell extending for at least part of the length of the metal shell; and reinforcing within the metal shell for reinforcing the concrete core to prevent slippage of the concrete core relative to the metal shell when the pole is 20 subjected to bending forces.

The reinforcing in the metal shell may comprise any one or more of the following types of reinforcing; longitudinal shear resisting steel reinforcing, such as shear studs or the like which are connected to the steel shell or other reinforcing members which perform this function which are connected to the steel shell; tensile reinforcement such as y-bars; and ties which resist bursting such as circular metal ties.

Preferably the metal shell is formed in a plurality of sections and the sections are coupled together by a slip joint by locating an end of one of the sections over the end of an adjacent section of the pole.

Preferably a plurality of step irons are formed on the \\melbfiles\home$\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Kilpatrick Green PRZ315 Coaplete.doc 17/12/01 6 pole, the step irons including an intermediate section which passes through the pole and, at least some of the intermediate sections of step irons being embedded in the concrete core of the pole to provide additional reinforcement to the pole, and generally u-shaped step portions coupled to the intermediate portions so as to form steps to enable a work person to climb the pole.

Preferably the pole includes a top cover plate having a vent hole for providing access to the interior of the pole from the top of the pole and a hole cover for closing the vent hole.

The invention also provides a pier structure for a cantilever pole assembly, the pier structure including; a concrete pier for embedding in the ground; a socket assembly formed at an upper portion of the pier for receiving a pole of the cantilever pole assembly, the socket including a peripheral wall and a S:..oi base, the peripheral wall and base defining a socket cavity, the socket cavity having an open end opposite the 30 base for enabling the pole to be inserted into the socket :cavity.

Preferably the pier structure includes reinforcing members embedded in the pier structure and extending into the socket cavity so that when the pole is located in the socket cavity the portion of the reinforcing members projecting into the socket cavity are embedded in the concrete core of the pole to facilitate coupling of the \\melb-files\ho$eS\Lusa\Keep\Speci\Kilpatrick Green PR2315 Completedoc 17/12/01 7 pole to the pier structure.

The invention also provides a method of forming a pole assembly including; forming a pier structure having a pier embedded in the ground and a socket including a peripheral wall and a base which define a socket cavity and an opening opposite the base; forming reinforcing in the pier structure so that the reinforcing projects into the socket cavity; locating a pole having a metal shell in the socket cavity so that the reinforcing which projects into the socket cavity extends into the metal shell; and pumping concrete into the metal shell so that the 20 concrete accumulates within the metal shell and forms a concrete core in the metal shell, the concrete core surrounding the reinforcing which is embedded in the pier and extends into the socket cavity so the reinforcing is embedded in the concrete core to facilitate coupling of the 25 pole to the pier structure.

0 Preferably concrete is pumped into the metal shell so that S: I the concrete core is formed in the pole for part of the length of the pole.

Preferably reinforcing is provided within the concrete shell so that the additional reinforcing is embedded in the concrete core.

Preferably the additional reinforcing includes at least one step iron which extends through the metal shell and has an intermediate portion within the metal shell which embeds in \\melb-f iles\homeS\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Kilpatick Green PR2315 Compete.doc 17/12/01 8 the concrete core.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 is a view of a cantilever pole assembly according to the preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a view of part of the assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a detailed view of the circled part labelled III of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a view showing a manner in which a concrete core is formed in the pole of the pole assembly; Figure 5 shows part of the pole according to the preferred embodiment; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view through the pole showing the formation of step irons and additional reinforcing; Figure 7 is a more detailed view of the circled 20 part of Figure 6 labelled VII; Figure 8 is a view of the top of the pole according to the preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 9 is a plan view of the top of the pole; and 25 Figure 10 is a view of a cover plate used on top of the pole according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

0 With reference to Figure 1 a pole assembly 10 is shown 30 which includes a pole 12 and a pier structure 14.

The pole 12 is formed from a metal shell 13 such as steel and is provided with a reinforced concrete core as will be described in more detail hereinafter. As is apparent from Figure 1, the pole 12 tapers from the end of the pole which is received in the pier structure 14 to top end 18 of the pole. The pole has a plurality of step irons 20 which \\melb-files\home$\Luisa\Keep\SPeci \Kilpatrick Green PR2315 Con~lete.doc 17/12/01 9 extend along the length of the pole so that a workman can climb the pole is necessary. The step irons will be described in more detail hereinafter.

Cantilever pole assemblies 10 of the type according to the preferred embodiment of this invention, are typically large structures intended to carry significant bending forces which are created by the power transmission lines which the pole 12 supports. Typically the pole 12 can be in the order of 35m in height and the lower end of the pole can have a diameter of about Im.

The pole 12 is formed from a number of sections in a technique which is well known and therefore need not be described in detail herein. Suffice it to say that each section is cut or stamped from steel sheet so as to have a generally flat truncated triangular shape, and each sheet is then rolled to form a cylindrical configuration which 0 tapers from one end to the other end. A seam is formed 20 where two free edges of the sheet abut after rolling by welding the free edges together.

to* S.e The sections may be connected together by welding or, according to the preferred embodiment, by a slip joint as shown in Figure 5 where an end 12a of one section 12' of the pole 12 slides over end 12b of another section 12'' of the pole 12. Such slip joints are also well known and therefore need not be described in further detail herein.

S

30 Figure 2 shows more detail of the pier structure 14. The pier structure 14 is preferably formed on site but, could be formed in a factory and transported to the site of the cantilever -pole assembly. The pier structure 14 includes a pier section 30 which is formed by digging a hole of the required size, such as a depth of say 3m, locating reinforcing 32 within the hole and then forming form work above ground level so as to define a socket 34 which will \\melb_files\home$\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Kilpatrick Green PR2315 Complete.doc 17/12/01 10 have peripheral wall 36 a base wall 38 and an open end opposite the base wall 38. Concrete is then poured so that it fills the hole up to the base 38 and into the form work to define the peripheral wall 36. The frame work may then be removed to leave the socket 34 which has the socket cavity 42, the peripheral wall 36 and the base 38 as well as the open end Preferably the length of the socket section 36 is about im to 1.2m and upper surface 39 of the peripheral wall 36 tapers away from the shell 13 so any water which collects on the upper surface 39 tends to drain away from the socket 42 rather than towards the socket 42.

As is shown in Figure 2 additional reinforcing 50 in the form of 16-Y bars starters is also arranged within the hole so that that reinforcing will be embedded in the concrete when the concrete is poured to form the pier 30 and the socket 34. The reinforcing 50 extends up to the socket 20 cavity 42 adjacent the peripheral wall 36 of the socket 34.

The plates of steel from which the sections 13' of the .shell 13 are formed may have additional reinforcing in the form of shear studs welded to the surface of the plates 25 which will be on the interior of the pole when rolled.

Additional reinforcing may also be provided within the shell 13 either before or after rolling of the shell of the pole 12.

Figure 3 shows a more detailed view of the circled part of Figure 2 in which the peripheral wall 36 of the cavity 34 is shown. The peripheral wall 36 is provided with reinforcing in the form of Y-36 bars 58 and 60 which engage with 42-Y rectangular tie bars 70 which are arranged around the circumference of the peripheral wall 36. Hoop tie bars 72 engage with the bars \\melb-files\homeS\Luisa\Kep\Speci\Kilpatrick Green PR2315 Complete.doc 17/12/01 11 As can be seen in Figure 3, the bars 58 and 60 which engage with the bars 70 and 72 project down below base 38 into the pier 30 of the pier structure 14.

As is shown in Figures 2 and 3, the steel shell 13 of the pole 12 is located in the cavity 34 so that the shell 13 sits over the reinforcing 50 which projects up into the cavity 42 (and which can be seen in Figure 2 but is not shown in Figure 3).

As best shown in Figure 4 (which for ease of illustration does not show the reinforcing in the pier structure 14 of shell 13) when the pier structure 14 is poured a cast pipe and elbow 90 is arranged within the pier 14 and which communicates with the cavity 42 of the socket 36. The pipe 90 is intended to be connected to a concrete pump for the pumping of concrete into the shell 13 to form a concrete core 15 within the post 12.

20 Thus, in order to complete formation of the post 12 after the shell 13 has been located in place in the cavity 42, i concrete is pumped from a concrete pump through the pipe and elbow 90 so as to fill the interior of the shell 13 to form a reinforced concrete core within the shell 13. The 25 concrete core 15 extends for part of the entire length of .the post 12 up to, for example, the level marked L in Figure 1. The pumping of the concrete into the shell 13 embeds the reinforcing material which has been provided in the shell within the concrete to thereby reinforce the concrete core Preferably the concrete which is used to form the core is a high early strength shrinkage limited high strength concrete.

The reinforcing 50 which is embedded in the pier structure 14 and which extends up into the shell 13 is therefore \\melb-files\homeS\Luia\Keep\Speci\Kilpptrick Green PR2315 Complete.doc 17/12/01 12 embedded in the concrete core 15 so as to further facilitate coupling of the post 12 to the pier 14. Bending forces which are applied to the post 12 are therefore transmitted to ground via the socket 34 and pier 14 of the pier structure. The reinforcing within the shell 13 prevents slippage of the concrete core 15 relative to the steel shell 13 to thereby enable bending forces to be transmitted through the post 12 to the pier structure 14 and to the ground.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the post assembly 10 is intended to form a power transmission line cantilever pole which supports a transmission line system which will include a large number of high voltage and current power transmission line. The power transmission lines can be supported by any suitable support assembly connected to the pole 12 such as the support elements 51 shown in Figure 1.

ee 20 As previously mentioned, the pole 12 includes step irons which enable a workman to climb to the top of the pole if necessary. Figures 6 and 7 show the step irons 20 in further detail. With reference to Figure 6, the step irons are formed from an intermediate section 21 which extends 25 completely through the shell 13 so that free ends 23 project beyond the shell 13. Generally u-shaped bars are connected to the free ends 23 by turn buckle couplers 27 so as to form the step irons The intermediate portions 21 which are arranged within the shell 13 provide additional reinforcing where those intermediate members are embedded in the concrete core pumped into the shell 13.

Figure 6 also shows details of the additional reinforcing provided in the shell 13. That additional reinforcing includes the aforementioned shear studs 75 which can be \\melb.files\homeS\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Kilpatrick Green PR2315 Completedoc 17/12/01 13 welded onto the internal surface of the shell 13 as well as 16-Y bars 77 which extend in the longitudinal direction of the shell 13 and Y-12 ligs 79 which extend circumferentially within the shell 13 and which join the bars Figure 8 shows a view of the top of the pole 12. The top of the pole 12 is provided with a flange 81 which projects inwardly into the shell 13. As best shown in Figure 9 the flange 81 has a plurality of holes 83 into which bolts (not shown) are welded and which project upwardly from the flange 81. A cover plate (best shown in Figure 10) is provided on the flange 81. The cover plate 85 has holes 87 which register with the bolts on the flange 81 and nuts 89 (see Figure 8) screw onto the bolts so as to secure the cover plate 85 in place.

The cover plate 85 has a vent hole 91 which can be closed by a vent cover 93. The vent hole 91 allows access to be 20 gained to the interior of the pole 12 so that additional concrete can be pumped in through the top of the pole if :necessary or, a vibrating machine or compacting machine can be inserted in the pole to settle the concrete core which is pumped into the shell 13.

.The cover plate 85 also carries a post 99 which is intended to support an earth wire of the transmission line system supported by the pole 12.

Since modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention may readily be effected by persons skilled within the art, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment described by way of example hereinabove.

\\melb_files\homeS\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Kilpatrick Green PR2315 Complete.doc 17/12/01

Claims

1. A cantilever pole assembly, including; a pier structure embedded in the ground, the pier structure including a socket assembly having a peripheral wall portion and a base which define a socket cavity, and an open end opposite the base; a pole having a first end located in the socket cavity couple the pole to the ground, the pole further including; a metal shell; and a concrete core within the metal shell, the concrete core extending for at least part of the entire length of the pole from the end of the pole which is received in the socket cavity, so that bending forces exerted on the pole are transmitted to the ground via the pier structure.

2. The pole of claim 1 wherein the pier structure 20 includes reinforcing members embedded in the pier structure and extending into the socket cavity so that when the pole is located in the socket cavity the portion of the reinforcing members projecting into the socket cavity are embedded in the concrete core of the pole to facilitate 25 coupling of the pole to the pier structure.

3. The pole of claim 1 or 2 wherein the pole includes reinforcing members which are embedded in the concrete core of the pole, the reinforcing members which project into the socket cavity engaging with the reinforcing members in the pole to further facilitate coupling of the pole to the pier structure.

4. The pole of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the concrete core of the pole is poured into the pole after the pole is located in the socket cavity and the reinforcing members which are embedded in the pier and project into the \\melb-files\homeS\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Kilatrick Green PR2315 Completedoc 17/12/01 15 socket cavity are engaged with the reinforcing members within the pole. The pole of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the pier structure includes reinforcing members, the said reinforcing members extending into the peripheral wall of the socket so as to reinforce the peripheral wall of the socket.

6. The pole of claim 5 wherein the space between the portion of the pole which is inserted into the socket cavity and the peripheral wall of the socket cavity is filled with a filler and sealing material.

7. The pole of claim 6 wherein the filler and sealing material is an epoxy grout filler with a sealant being applied on top of the grout to prevent ingress of water into the socket cavity between the pole and the peripheral wall of the socket.

8. The pole of any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the pole is formed in a plurality of sections and the sections are coupled together by a slip joint by locating an end of one of the sections over the end of an adjacent section of 25 the pole.

9. The pole of any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the 9* pole tapers from an end of the pole which is received in the socket cavity, inwardly to an upper free end of the pole. The pole of any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein a plurality of step irons are formed on the pole, the step irons including an intermediate section which passes through the pole and, at least some of the intermediate sections of step irons being embedded in the concrete core of the pole to provide additional reinforcement to the \\melbf iles\homeS\Luia\Keep\Speci\Kilpatrick Green PR2315 Complete.doc 17/12/01 16 pole, and generally u-shaped step portions coupled to the intermediate portions so as to form steps to enable a work person to climb the pole.

11. The pole of any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the pole includes a top cover plate having a vent hole for providing access to the interior of the pole from the top of the pole and a hole cover for closing the vent hole.

12. The pole of claim 11 wherein the cover plate has a support post for supporting an earth wire of a power transmission line system.

13. The pole of any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the pole also supports a number of power line support elements for supporting the power transmission lines of the power transmission line system.

14. A cantilever pole for a cantilever pole assembly, 20 the cantilever pole including; a metal shell; a concrete core in the metal shell extending for at least part of the length of the metal shell; and reinforcing within the metal shell for 25 reinforcing the concrete core to prevent slippage of the concrete core relative to the metal shell when the pole is subjected to bending forces. S S The pole of claim 14 wherein reinforcing in the metal shell may comprise any one or more of the following types of reinforcing; longitudinal shear resisting steel reinforcing, such as shear studs or the like which are connected to the steel shell or other reinforcing members which perform this function which are connected to the steel shell; tensile reinforcement such as y-bars; and ties which resist bursting such as circular metal \\melb_files\homeS\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Kilpatrick Green PR2315 Complete.doc 17/12/01 17 ties.

16. The pole of claim 14 or 15 wherein the metal shell is formed in a plurality of sections and the sections are coupled together by a slip joint by locating an end of one of the sections over the end of an adjacent section of the pole.

17. The pole of any one of claims 14 to 16 wherein a plurality of step irons are formed on the pole, the step irons including an intermediate section which passes through the pole and, at least some of the intermediate sections of step irons being embedded in the concrete core of the pole to provide additional reinforcement to the pole, and generally u-shaped step portions coupled to the intermediate portions so as to form steps to enable a work person to climb the pole.

18. The pole of any one of claims 14 to 17 wherein the pole includes a top cover plate having a vent hole for providing access to the interior of the pole from the top of the pole and a.hole cover for closing the vent hole.

19. The pole of claim 18 wherein the cover plate has 25 a support post for supporting an earth wire of a power transmission line system. The pole of any one of claims 14 to 19 wherein •the pole also supports a number of power line support elements for supporting the power transmission lines of the power transmission line system.

21. A pier structure for a cantilever pole assembly, the pier structure including; a concrete pier for embedding in the ground; a socket assembly formed at an upper portion of the pier for receiving a pole of the cantilever pole \\melbfiles\home\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Kilpatrick Green PR2315 Complete.doc 17/12/01 S II 18 assembly, the socket including a peripheral wall and a base, the peripheral wall and base defining a socket cavity, the socket cavity having an open end opposite the base for enabling the pole to be inserted into the socket cavity.

22. The pier structure of claim 21 wherein the pier structure includes reinforcing members embedded in the pier structure and extending into the socket cavity so that when the pole is located in the socket cavity the portion of the reinforcing members projecting into the socket cavity are embedded in the concrete core of the pole to facilitate coupling of the pole to the pier structure.

23. The pier structure of claim 21 or 22 wherein the pier structure includes reinforcing members, the said o*o. reinforcing members extending into the peripheral wall of the socket so as to reinforce the peripheral wall of the socket.

24. A method of forming a pole assembly including; forming a pier structure having a pier embedded in the ground and a socket including a peripheral wall and a base which define a socket cavity and an opening opposite 25 the base; forming reinforcing in the pier structure so that the reinforcing projects into the socket cavity; locating a pole having a metal shell in the •socket cavity so that the reinforcing which projects into the socket cavity extends into the metal shell; and pumping concrete into the metal shell so that the concrete accumulates within the metal shell and forms a concrete core in the metal shell, the concrete core surrounding the reinforcing which is embedded in the pier and extends into the socket cavity so the reinforcing is embedded in the concrete core to facilitate coupling of the pole to the pier structure. \\melb_files\homeS\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Kilpatrick Green PR2315 Comrlete.doc 17/12/01 0 19 The method of claim 24 wherein concrete is pumped into the metal shell so that the concrete core is formed in the pole for part of the length of the pole.

26. The method of claim 24 or 25 wherein reinforcing is provided within the concrete shell so that the additional reinforcing is embedded in the concrete core.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the additional reinforcing includes at least one step iron which extends through the metal shell and has an intermediate portion within the metal shell which embeds in the concrete core. Dated this 18th day of December 2001 KILPATRICK GREEN PTY LTD By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and 20 Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia o *0 a \\melb-files\home\Luia\Keep\Speci\Kilpatrick Green PR2315 Compleie.doc 17/12/01