CA1330158C - Support system for free standing poles or posts - Google Patents
Support system for free standing poles or postsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1330158C CA1330158C CA000609837A CA609837A CA1330158C CA 1330158 C CA1330158 C CA 1330158C CA 000609837 A CA000609837 A CA 000609837A CA 609837 A CA609837 A CA 609837A CA 1330158 C CA1330158 C CA 1330158C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- blades
- collar
- support
- installation
- instrument
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
- E02D—FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS; UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES
- E02D27/00—Foundations as substructures
- E02D27/32—Foundations for special purposes
- E02D27/42—Foundations for poles, masts or chimneys
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
- E02D—FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS; UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES
- E02D5/00—Bulkheads, piles, or other structural elements specially adapted to foundation engineering
- E02D5/74—Means for anchoring structural elements or bulkheads
- E02D5/80—Ground anchors
- E02D5/803—Ground anchors with pivotable anchoring members
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
- E04H12/00—Towers; Masts or poles; Chimney stacks; Water-towers; Methods of erecting such structures
- E04H12/22—Sockets or holders for poles or posts
- E04H12/2207—Sockets or holders for poles or posts not used
- E04H12/2215—Sockets or holders for poles or posts not used driven into the ground
- E04H12/223—Sockets or holders for poles or posts not used driven into the ground with movable anchoring elements; with separately driven anchor rods
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Architecture (AREA)
- Paleontology (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Piles And Underground Anchors (AREA)
- Earth Drilling (AREA)
- Tents Or Canopies (AREA)
- Invalid Beds And Related Equipment (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The invention relates to a method for installing subterranean supports for structures such as poles, posts and the like, and an apparatus therefor, which will permit such structures to stand free of any stays or guy wires and their associated anchors. The system comprises a support and an instrument for the installation of the support. The support preferably includes an upper and a lower collar assembly, each comprising a collar and a plurality of ground engageable blades pivotally connected thereto. In general, the collar assemblies are lowered into a hole in the ground and the installation instrument is utilized to extend the blades of the collars in a generally radial direction, causing the blades to penetrate the walls of the hole and thus securing the support therein.
The invention relates to a method for installing subterranean supports for structures such as poles, posts and the like, and an apparatus therefor, which will permit such structures to stand free of any stays or guy wires and their associated anchors. The system comprises a support and an instrument for the installation of the support. The support preferably includes an upper and a lower collar assembly, each comprising a collar and a plurality of ground engageable blades pivotally connected thereto. In general, the collar assemblies are lowered into a hole in the ground and the installation instrument is utilized to extend the blades of the collars in a generally radial direction, causing the blades to penetrate the walls of the hole and thus securing the support therein.
Description
SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR FREE STANDING POLES OR POSTS
The present invention relates to supports for partially embedded poles, posts, and the like, and in particular, to an installation system which will permit such structures to stand free of any stays or guy wire6 and their associated anchors.
When partially embedded poles or post6 are required to withstand vertical loading as well as lateral or horizontal forces, for example from cables, conductors, ice and wind, guy wires or stays are typically used to re6ist these forces and to support the poles. However, the use of stays or guy wires present some serious drawbacks: supports of thie type require wide areas for anchorage and thus, there i~ con6iderable 1088 of usable land: they are unsightly, especially in urban areas where they are in heavy use: and the numerous and large excavations ,~ required for anchor installation causes damage to the environment and to public and private property.
Also associated with the use of guy wire supports are high costs which arise from the acquisitions of public and private lega} permission for their installation, the necessity of u~ing alternate routes when guy wire anchorage of a pole is not permitted or possible in a chosen location, landscaping costs for reparations to property damaged by excavations, and costs for the nuaerous excavations themselves.
,il;~ . ,. :~ .:: .. ,::
The use of guy wire supports also increases the possiblity of the pole sustaining damage and, hence, the ~;~
equipment supported by it, in the event of a collision with the guy wire. Such an event could result in power blackouts, 1088 of "'~
; ' `~
street lighting, interruption of telephone and cable television service, and the 1088 of other public and private services.
Other methods and apparatuses for providing ffupport for embedded poles and posts have been devised ffuch as the anchor system shown and deffcribed in the United States Patent No.
4,269,010. The ~ystem comprises a plurality of anchors each having a tubular main ffleeve designed to engage the post. A disc member extends horizontally from a midlength position on the sleeve and upper and lower radial fin members extend from the sleeve to the outer circumference of the disc, being rigidly attached thereto.
In using such a 6ystem, it is necessary to form a hole in the ground having a diameter similar to that of the anchor, which is substantially greater than the diameter of the pole or post. For polea of a large diameter, the excavation of a substantially greater diameter hole may not be feasible. In addition, the bac~fill material adjacent the pole and above and below the anchors, even if compacted, may not attain the compactness of that of the surrounding earth and, therefore, may not be capable of providing the resistance necessary to withstand the forces which act on the pole.
The present invention overcomes the aforementioned ` ~ drawbacks by providing a support system which will permit pole or post structures to stand free of any stays or guy wires and their associated anchors.
Accordingly, there is provided a support installation ~ystem for the support of partially embedded poles or posts which is comprised of a support and the installation instrument therefor. The support includes a lower and an upper collar assembly, each comprising a collar and a plurality of ground engageable blades pivotally connected thereto. The installation instrument has a means to extend the blades of the collars in a generally radial direction.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for the installation of underground ~upports for poles and posts of the type including an upper and a lower collar assembly, each of which comprises a collar having a -plurality of ground engageable blades pivotally connected thereto. A hole of predetermined depth and diameter is drilled into the earth into which an installation instrument is inserted.
The installation instrument has associated therewith, means to ~ extend generally radially the blades of the collar assemblies by - rotation of the instrument. The lower collar assembly is louered ~` into the hole and the installation instrument is rotated to extend the blades of the lower collar into the earth. Similarly, the upper collar asse~bly is lowered into the hole and its blades -~ are extended by rotation of the installation instrument. The ~- 20 installation instrument is then removed, leaving the support ;~ firmly embedded. The pole or post may then be subsequently `~ installed within the support being positioned and aligned as ; requlred.
In using this support system, no excavation of the pole's location is required other than a hole slightly larger ; than the diameter of the pole, drilled to plant the pole or post in the ground us1ng standard drilling methods now in use. It requires no additional capital investment for existing pole : '"`, ~
: ~`'`'',' -in~tallation equipment. No specialized training is required by the workers or by engineers using this support system in pole structure design. If ever it becomes necessary to remove or relocate the pole, both the pole and the support can be easily removed and reused in another location.
Further features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment when taken in connection with the drawings wherein:
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a collar assembly;
Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional side elevation of the collar assembly shown in Fig. 1 along section lines 2-2; --; Fig. 3 is a side elevation illu~trating the installation instrument of the preferred embodiment;
Figs. 4 through 11 are various views which sequentially ~llustrate a method of installing the pole support;
Figs. 12A through 12C are views which illustrate the installation of a pole within the support and an adjusting and positioning means therefor; ~ `
Fig. 13 is a side view illustrating an alternate ~-method of installing the pole support.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, collar assembly 10 is shown comprising a generally cylindrical collar 11 and a plurality of ground-engageable blades 12 connected pivotally thereto by hinge ~:
means 13. The blades 12 are spaced at relatively equal intervals ~ ;~
along the outer periphery at one end 14 of collar 11. The blades 12 are rotatable about binge means 13 from an installation position Pl, wherein the blades are generally parallel to the ' . ~ ' _ 4 -:~
longitudinal axis of the collar, to a deployed position P2, wherein the blades are generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the collar. The blades 12 may be as numerous as desired, although three are shown, and they may be of any suitable shape or style. Depending on the configuration of blade 12, it may be necessary to cut suitable slots 16 in the collar 11 to permit a portion of the blade 12 to be received therein when the blade 12 is in its installation position Pl.
At the opposite end 15 of collar 11, there is a plurality of inwardly extending tabs 18 having radial slots 19 therein. The purpose of these tabs will be explained hereinafter.
The installation instrument 20 is shown in Fig. 3 and ;comprises a partially threaded deployment shaft 21 having at its lower end 22 a lower camming plate 24 and a camming plate bearing assembly 25. The installation instrument 20 further includes a blade actuating device 26 and a camming means such as upper camming plate assembly 27.
;~In its preferred embodiment, the blade actuating device 26 is comprised of a plurality of radially spaced finger pairs 31 ~ 20 rigidly attached to a cylindrical body member 30. Body member 30 ;~is hollow and has internal threads designed to engage with the .
threaded portion 28 of the deployment shaft 21. The diameter of threaded portion 28 is slightly greater than the diameter of the unthreaded portion 29, allowing the blade actuating device 26 to slide over the unthreaded portion 29 of the deployment shaft 21.
Each pair of fingers 31 consists of an upwardly and outwardly extending finger 31A and a downwardly and outwardly extending finger 31~. The radial distance to which the fingers 31A, 31B
` ~ 330 1 58 extend is slightly less than the inner diameter of the collar 11 and sufficient a6 to permit the tips 32 of the fingers 31A or 31B
to engage in a portion of the corresponding slots 19 of the inwardly extending tabs 18.
In order to remove dirt and other particulate matter which might accumulate on the threaded portion 28 of the shaft 21 and/or to prevent any such material from entering the blade actuating device 26 and jamming the screw action, it may be necessary to provide a seal, packing or similar device (not shown) at the upper and lower ends thereof.
The upper camming plate assembly 27 preferably comprises a hollow cylindrical body portion 33 separating an upper camming plate 34 and a collar bearing plate 35. A locking mechanism, not shown, i8 located within the body portion 33, and permits only the downward motion of the upper camming plate assembly 27 unless deactivated. Any suitable loc~ing mechanism may be used such as, for example, a spring loaded pin or ring aituated in the body portion 33 which would loc~ into a corresponding groove in the shaft 21 when the upper camming plate assembly 27 is slid down its unthreaded portion 29. The loc~ing mechanism allows the upper camming plate assembly 27 to be locked into position on the unthreaded portion 29 of the deployment , shaft~21 at a predetermined height. ~
At the upper end 23 of the deployment shaft 21, a means 36 is provided by which the shaft may be rotated manually or with :' ; ` power assistance.
~` While the preferred embodiment of the support is shown ` and described herein comprising an upper and lower collar .
., assembly, the invention is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, depending on the specific application, any number of collar assemblies may be employed, provided that the installation instrument and its associated components are suitably adapted.
The method for the installation of the pole or post support is illustrated sequentially in Figs. 4 through 11. A
standard 80il drilling instrument 40 is utilized to bore a hole 41 (Fig. 4) of a predetermined depth and diameter into the ground using known techniques. The deployment shaft 21, with the lower 10 camming plate 24 and the camming plate bearing assembly 25, is lowered as a unit into the hole 41 (Fig. 5) where it comes to rest on the bottom 42. A first or lower collar assembly lOA is lowered into the hole 41 with the blades 12 pointing downwardly and aligned in the direction specified by the work plan (Fig. 6).
A strapping 43 or other suitable temporary restraining means may be used to maintain the blades 12 in their installation position Pl. The collar assembly lOA comes to rest at or near the bottom 42 of hole 41 when the blades 12 contact the lower camming plate 24 as shown in Fig. 6. The blade actuating means 26 is then slid 20 down the unthreaded portion 29 of the deployment shaft 21. The shaft 21 is rotated in a first direction 45 by detachable rotation means 44 causing the internal threads of the blade actuating device 26 to engage with the threaded portion 28 of the deployment shaft 21. It may be necessary at this point to restrain the blade actuating device 26 from rotating with the shaft 21 in order to permit its axial translation downward towards the first collar assembly lOA until the tips 32 of the fingers 31B engage in tab slots 19 of the collar 11 (Fig. 7).
.,:,, ' :~' ~., ~``":` -- - . - ' . :. ' . . - ` , ' ' - ' ':': ' ': , ,, ' . ` : ' -` 1 330 1 58 The subsequent combination of the screw action on the blade actuating device 26 and the camming provided by the lower camming plate 24, results in the breakage of the strapping 43, if provided, and the extension of the blades 12 into the walls of the hole 41.
Figure 8 demonstrates how the blade actuating device 26 moves from the collar contact position 47 down near to the base of the hole 41, resulting in the blades 12 attaining their deployed position P2. The rotation means 44 may then be removed.
Although the rotation means 44 as shown in the drawings depicts a manually operated dual ratchet arm, the purpose could be served equally as well by appropriate power-assisted means.
A second or upper collar assembly lOB is lowered into the hole 41 with the blades 12 pointing upwardly and aligned in the direction specified by the work plan (Fig. 9). A strapping 43 or other suitable temporary restraining means may be used to maintain the blades 12 in their installation position Pl. The collar assembly 10~ comes to rest with the tips 32 of fingers 31A
engaged in tab slots 19 of collar 11 of the upper collar assembly lOB. The upper camming plate assembly 27 is slid down the deployment shaft 21 and i6 locked into position at a predetermined height. The shaft 21 is rotated in a second direction 46 by detachable rotation means 44 (Fig. 10). It is posAible that, depending upon the height at which the upper camming plate assembly 27 is locked, there may exist a distance between the initial point of contact of blades 12 and the upper camming plate 34. If this is the case, then the rotation of the ~haft 21 in the second direction 46 will result in the blade :~ :: : : : - .: : . : . ,. . . :
actuating device 26 moving upwards from its lovermost position 4B
bringing with it upper collar assembly lOB, until the blades 12 contact the upper camming plate 34. The subsequent combination of screw action on the blade actuating device 26 and the camming provided by the upper camming plate 34, results in the breakage of the strapping 43, if provided, and the extension of the blades ¦ 12 into their deployed position P2. The purpose of the collar bearing plate 35 i~ to prevent the collar 11 of the collar assembly lOB from surpassing the point at which the blades 12 become generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the collar 11, i.e., their P2 position. This purpose could be served equally as well b~ providing a means on the collar assembly lOB
to prevent the blades 12 from rotating more than 90 from their Pl position.
`A slight counter-rotation of the shaft 21, i.e. in the first rotation direction 45, disengages the tips 32 of fingers 31A from the tab slots 19 in the collar 11. Further rotation of the ~haft 21 in this direction 45 causes the finger pairs 31 to become misaligned with the tabs 18 of the secona collar assembly lOB, thus permitting removal of the entire installation tool 20 (Fig. 11).
When wooden pole or post structures are used, it may be necessary , depending upon load factors, to attach bearing plates 51, 52 (Fig. 12C) to the pole to prevent the collapse of the wood fibres at the points of contact with the lower and upper collar a~semblies lOA, lOB. In lluch case, one bearing plate 52 may be fitted to the pole 50 at the height of the upper collar assembly 10~ and another bearing plate 51 may be fitted to the foot of the '' ' ' ' ~ ',' :
_ g _ .:
7!
~ .. .- . . . ` . , ,. .- . ,.i , , . , ~ -, . -, , .. ., i, . ` -'.:
~ , , ~, , , ~ ~;,". -,i - ~- ,, ,. ;. ~ .~ ~;: .-.
~ ~ ` : -, ` . . - ~ , ~ : : - : ~ . , ., ,, ` , , ~ - , b ~
. ., . , . , , ., . , ,., , .. ,. ~, .
., -. . . .: ~
, - . : - - . .. . . " ~ . :~ ~ : -.... - .
pole 50 located at the lower collar assembly lOA level. These bearing plates 51, 52 are attached before the pole 50 is lowered into the hole 41. It should be noted that various methods may be used to enhance the useful load of wooden pole structures.
These, however, go beyond the scope of the present invention and, therefore, will not be discussed herein.
In order to ensure a proper fit, a plurality of adjustment wedges 53 and spacer bloc~ 54 are attached to the foot of the pole 50 prior to being lowered, 80 that the pole may 8it firmly inside the lower collar as~embly lOA (Fig~. 12A and 12B). Once the desired position of the pole 50 is obtained, the portion of the pole 50 at the level of the upper collar assembly lOB i8 locked into po~ition using a plurality of adju~table positioning wedge~ 55 and spacer blocks 54. The adjustable positioning wedges 55 have extensions 56 that are fixed in place at ground level and thus remain accessible if ever it becomes ; necessary to readjust the position of the pole 50. The hole 41 is then back-filled with any desired material, which may include the original soil, using standard refilling techniques.
`~ 20 In an alternate method of installing the support, the entire system, i.e. the collar assemblies lOA, lOB and the installation instrument 20, may be assembled at ground level and lowered as a unit into the hole 41, as shown in Fig. 13. In this arrangement, it is possible that the upper camming plate assembly 27 may not yet be locked into position since it may be prevented from sliding down the untl-readed portion 29 of the deployment shaft 21, to the predetermined height at which it is to be loc~ed, by the position Pl of the blades 12 of the upper collar ?
assembly lOB.
Rotation of the shaft 21 in a first direction 45 will cause the blade actuating device 26 to extend the blades 12 of the lower collar assembly lOA into the walls of hole 41 as described above. If not already locked into position, the downward displacement of the blade actuating device 26, and hence the upper collar assembly lOB, will be sufficient as to allow the upper camming plate assembly 27 to slide down on the unthreaded portion 29 of the shaft 21 until it locks into position at the predetermined height. Subsequent rotation of the shaft 21 in the opposite direction 46 deploys the blades 12 of the upper collar assembly lOB as described above and is illustrated in Fig. 10.
The removal of the installation instrument is also as described above.
Certain advantages arise when installing the support in accordance with this method. Since the finger tips 32 are engaged in their appropriate slots 19 in the collars 11 when the unit i8 assembled at ground level, the need to align and engage the finger tips 32 in the slots 19 while the blade actuating device 26 is moving and is in the hole 41 where it might be difficult to see is eliminated. In addition, the presence of the upper collar device assembly lOB will prevent the blade actuating device 26 from rotating with the shaft 21 thereby avoiding the possibility of having to restrain its rotation by some other means. Such advantages may provide for shorter in~tallation times thus increasing productivity.
While a preferred embodiment has been shown and described having an upper and a lower collar assembly, the ., .. ~ . . . , .. , . - ~ . ~ . . .. - -. . - - , - - . - . - - -- invention is not necessarily limited thereto and variou~
modifications and substitutions may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention a~ defined in the c~ o.
'~
~.`,:~; ,' .
.
; ~
, ,~
' ':
. ~ ':
:.
~ 12 -: ` 1 330 1 58 ~UPPLEMENTARY DIBCLOBURE
Variations in the apparatus of the invention are described hereinbelow with particular reference to Figs. 14 to 17 of the drawings wherein:
Fig. 14 is a plan view of an alternate collar assembly;
Fig. 15 is an elevation of the collar assembly shown in Fig. 14, with the front collar half removed for clarity;
Fig. 16 is an elevation of an alternate installation instrument;
Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 17-17 in Fig. 16.
Referring to Figs. 14 and 15, an alternate support collar assembly 110 is shown comprising a generally annular collar 111 and a pair of ground-engageable blades 112 connected pivotally thereto. The collar 111 consists of two generally semi-cylindrical halves llla,lllb, each having a pair of opposed, radially inwardly extending flanges 113. The blades 112 are rotatable about pins 114 from an installation position Pl, wherein the blades are generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the collar, to a deployed position P2 (shown in phantom), wherein the blades 112 are generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the collar. The pins 114 also serve to connect the two collar halves llla,lllb together. The pins 114 have a central section of increased diameter about which the blades 112 pivot and end sections of reduced diameter which are insertable through holes provided in : 1330158 flanges 113. The central section also functions to space-apart the collar halves llla,lllb an appropriate distance. One end section of the pins 114 may be provided with a bolt head 115 while the opposite end section is threaded for receiving a nut 116 or, alternatively, both ends may be threaded and provided with nuts.
It will be apparent that, in employing collar assemblies such as those shown in Figs. 14 and 15 with the installation instrument shown in Fig. 3, the blade actuating device 26 would have to be replaced with a suitably configured ¦ actuator for cooperation with the alternate collar assemblies.
Such an actuator is described in general hereinbelow in conjunction with an alternate embodiment of the installation instrument.
The alternate embodiment of the installation instrument 120 is shown in Figs._~ and ~g. In general, the alternate installation instrument 120 is similar to the installation instrument 20 described above in that it comprises a deployment shaft 121, a blade actuating device or actuator 122, lower and upper cam assemblies 123,124, respectively, and means for causing the actuator 122 to be translated along a portion of the deployment shaft 121 between the cam assemblies 123,124. As shown, the deployment shaft 121 is hollow and has a concentric drive shaft 125 slidable therein. The drive shaft 125 is connected to the piston of a double-acting hydraulic cylinder 126 mounted at the top of the deployment shaft 121. The hydraulic cylinder 126 is connectable to a suitable hydraulic fluid supply device or pump (not shown) via supply ports 127.
In order to assist in supporting the installation instrument 120 .- ~:.
. ' ,' ~ ~
~ S~
and lowering it into a hole in the ground, an eye 118 may be provided at the top of the hydraulic cylinder 126.
The actuator 122 for use with the alternate collar assemblies comprises a cylindrical body 128 having a pair of opposed, radially outwardly extending members 129. Grooves 130 are provided in the upper and lower sides of the members 129 which act as bearing surfaces for the edges of the collar flanges 113 when the collars are appropriately positioned. The radial distance to which the members 129 extend is slightly less than the inner diameter of the collar 111 but sufficient so as to allow the edges of the collar flanges 113 to be received in grooves 130. The actuator 122 is attached to the drive shaft 125 by means of a cross-piece 131 which is slidable along a through slot 132 in the deployment shaft 121. The actuator 122 is fabricated in sections so as to permit easy attachment to and removal from the deployment shaft 121 and drive shaft 125. When such an actuator is to be employed in conjunction with the installation instrument depicted in Fig. 3, cross-piece 131 is not provided and the body 128 is internally threaded to mate with the externally threaded portion of the deployment shaft.
The upper cam assembly 124 is similar to the upper cam assembly 27 shown in Fig. 3, preferably comprising a hollow cylindrical body portion 133 separating an upper camming plate 34 and a collar bearing plate 135. The upper cam assembly is, in general, slidable along the deployment shaft 121 but a locking mechanism, not shown, located within the body portion 133 allows the upper cam assembly 124 to be selectively locked into position on the deployment shaft 121 at a predetermined height, preventing its translation during operation of the -- 15 -- ';
installation instrument 120. The lower cam assembly 123, which is similar in nature to the one shown in Fig. 3, includes a connection portion 136 and a lower camming plate 137, and is removably attached to the lower end of the deployment shaft 121.
The alternate installation instrument 120 functions in a similar manner as the installation instrument 20 in that it operates to translate the blade actuator along a portion of the shaft to force the collar assemblies against their respective cam means in order to extend the blades thereof into the surrounding soil. However, where the installation instrument 20 uses a screw mechanism to effect the translation of the actuator, the installation instrument uses a linear actuator, namely a hydraulic ram.
The alternate installation instrument is particularly suited to carry out the method described above in conjunction with Fig. 13, i.e. wherein the entire system is assembled at ground level -and lowered as a unit into the pre-drilled hole.
More specifically, the system is assembled such that the blades . .: .
112 of the lower collar assembly are pointing downwardly and in contact with the lower camming plate 137. A strapping or other ;~
suitable temporary restraining means may be used to maintain the blades 112 of the lower collar assembly in their vertical -position. The actuator 122 is positioned such that the grooves -~
,~ 130 on the lower sides of members 129 are resting on the~edges ~ -of the collar flanges 113 of the lower collar assembly while the upper grooves accommodate the collar flanges 113 of the upper collar assembly. A similar strapping might also be provided to -secure the blades 112 of the upper collar assembly in their installation position pointing upwardly. The upper cam assembly `,"`';'''.',,.: ''.'",.'"' 124 is locked onto the deployment shaft 121 at a predetermined distance from the lower camming plate 137, which distance will be generally the same as the distance from the bottom of the hole to the eventual vertical position of the upper collar assembly. Once the system has been lowered into the hole, the hydraulic cylinder 126 is actuated so that the actuator 122 is forced downwardly against the lower collar, thus causing the blades 112 to be cammed against the lower camming plate. This results in the breakage of the strapping and the extension of the blades 112 into the walls of the hole. Due to the configuration of the blade's camming edge, which is preferably curvilinear, and the manner in which the blades are cammed, the blades, in essence, pierce the surrounding earth with minimal deleterious effect on soil integrity. When the collar contacts the bottom of the hole, the installation instrument 120 will start to rise out of the hole. At this stage, the blades 112 will be extended sufficiently outwardly that the lower camming ¦ plate 137 will be capable of being extracted from the lower collar assembly. However, the rising of the installation instrument 120 is a indication that the installation of the lower collar assembly is complete and that the action of the hydraulic cylinder 126 should be reversed to commence the installation of the upper collar assembly.
Reversing the action of the hydraulic cylinder 126 causes the actuator 122 to be translated upwardly, eventually forcing the blades 112 of the upper collar assembly against the upper camming plate 134. This results in the breakage of the .
strapping, if provided, and the subsequent piercing of the blades 112 into the walls of the hole. A slight translation of ~ h , , ~ ' . : ~ . . . . . . .
the actuator 122 in the downward direction disengages the collar flanges 113 from the grooves 130 of the actuator members 129.
By rotating the installation instrument 120 slightly, the actuator members 129 become misaligned with the collar flanges 113 of the upper collar assembly, thus permitting removal of the entire installation instrument 120. The installation instrument -can therefore be utilized in subsequent applications. - -' ~
''"' '`','`" ....,', .. .
~; ~" :~
-~ - 18 -~ , ~ ~
The present invention relates to supports for partially embedded poles, posts, and the like, and in particular, to an installation system which will permit such structures to stand free of any stays or guy wire6 and their associated anchors.
When partially embedded poles or post6 are required to withstand vertical loading as well as lateral or horizontal forces, for example from cables, conductors, ice and wind, guy wires or stays are typically used to re6ist these forces and to support the poles. However, the use of stays or guy wires present some serious drawbacks: supports of thie type require wide areas for anchorage and thus, there i~ con6iderable 1088 of usable land: they are unsightly, especially in urban areas where they are in heavy use: and the numerous and large excavations ,~ required for anchor installation causes damage to the environment and to public and private property.
Also associated with the use of guy wire supports are high costs which arise from the acquisitions of public and private lega} permission for their installation, the necessity of u~ing alternate routes when guy wire anchorage of a pole is not permitted or possible in a chosen location, landscaping costs for reparations to property damaged by excavations, and costs for the nuaerous excavations themselves.
,il;~ . ,. :~ .:: .. ,::
The use of guy wire supports also increases the possiblity of the pole sustaining damage and, hence, the ~;~
equipment supported by it, in the event of a collision with the guy wire. Such an event could result in power blackouts, 1088 of "'~
; ' `~
street lighting, interruption of telephone and cable television service, and the 1088 of other public and private services.
Other methods and apparatuses for providing ffupport for embedded poles and posts have been devised ffuch as the anchor system shown and deffcribed in the United States Patent No.
4,269,010. The ~ystem comprises a plurality of anchors each having a tubular main ffleeve designed to engage the post. A disc member extends horizontally from a midlength position on the sleeve and upper and lower radial fin members extend from the sleeve to the outer circumference of the disc, being rigidly attached thereto.
In using such a 6ystem, it is necessary to form a hole in the ground having a diameter similar to that of the anchor, which is substantially greater than the diameter of the pole or post. For polea of a large diameter, the excavation of a substantially greater diameter hole may not be feasible. In addition, the bac~fill material adjacent the pole and above and below the anchors, even if compacted, may not attain the compactness of that of the surrounding earth and, therefore, may not be capable of providing the resistance necessary to withstand the forces which act on the pole.
The present invention overcomes the aforementioned ` ~ drawbacks by providing a support system which will permit pole or post structures to stand free of any stays or guy wires and their associated anchors.
Accordingly, there is provided a support installation ~ystem for the support of partially embedded poles or posts which is comprised of a support and the installation instrument therefor. The support includes a lower and an upper collar assembly, each comprising a collar and a plurality of ground engageable blades pivotally connected thereto. The installation instrument has a means to extend the blades of the collars in a generally radial direction.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for the installation of underground ~upports for poles and posts of the type including an upper and a lower collar assembly, each of which comprises a collar having a -plurality of ground engageable blades pivotally connected thereto. A hole of predetermined depth and diameter is drilled into the earth into which an installation instrument is inserted.
The installation instrument has associated therewith, means to ~ extend generally radially the blades of the collar assemblies by - rotation of the instrument. The lower collar assembly is louered ~` into the hole and the installation instrument is rotated to extend the blades of the lower collar into the earth. Similarly, the upper collar asse~bly is lowered into the hole and its blades -~ are extended by rotation of the installation instrument. The ~- 20 installation instrument is then removed, leaving the support ;~ firmly embedded. The pole or post may then be subsequently `~ installed within the support being positioned and aligned as ; requlred.
In using this support system, no excavation of the pole's location is required other than a hole slightly larger ; than the diameter of the pole, drilled to plant the pole or post in the ground us1ng standard drilling methods now in use. It requires no additional capital investment for existing pole : '"`, ~
: ~`'`'',' -in~tallation equipment. No specialized training is required by the workers or by engineers using this support system in pole structure design. If ever it becomes necessary to remove or relocate the pole, both the pole and the support can be easily removed and reused in another location.
Further features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment when taken in connection with the drawings wherein:
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a collar assembly;
Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional side elevation of the collar assembly shown in Fig. 1 along section lines 2-2; --; Fig. 3 is a side elevation illu~trating the installation instrument of the preferred embodiment;
Figs. 4 through 11 are various views which sequentially ~llustrate a method of installing the pole support;
Figs. 12A through 12C are views which illustrate the installation of a pole within the support and an adjusting and positioning means therefor; ~ `
Fig. 13 is a side view illustrating an alternate ~-method of installing the pole support.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, collar assembly 10 is shown comprising a generally cylindrical collar 11 and a plurality of ground-engageable blades 12 connected pivotally thereto by hinge ~:
means 13. The blades 12 are spaced at relatively equal intervals ~ ;~
along the outer periphery at one end 14 of collar 11. The blades 12 are rotatable about binge means 13 from an installation position Pl, wherein the blades are generally parallel to the ' . ~ ' _ 4 -:~
longitudinal axis of the collar, to a deployed position P2, wherein the blades are generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the collar. The blades 12 may be as numerous as desired, although three are shown, and they may be of any suitable shape or style. Depending on the configuration of blade 12, it may be necessary to cut suitable slots 16 in the collar 11 to permit a portion of the blade 12 to be received therein when the blade 12 is in its installation position Pl.
At the opposite end 15 of collar 11, there is a plurality of inwardly extending tabs 18 having radial slots 19 therein. The purpose of these tabs will be explained hereinafter.
The installation instrument 20 is shown in Fig. 3 and ;comprises a partially threaded deployment shaft 21 having at its lower end 22 a lower camming plate 24 and a camming plate bearing assembly 25. The installation instrument 20 further includes a blade actuating device 26 and a camming means such as upper camming plate assembly 27.
;~In its preferred embodiment, the blade actuating device 26 is comprised of a plurality of radially spaced finger pairs 31 ~ 20 rigidly attached to a cylindrical body member 30. Body member 30 ;~is hollow and has internal threads designed to engage with the .
threaded portion 28 of the deployment shaft 21. The diameter of threaded portion 28 is slightly greater than the diameter of the unthreaded portion 29, allowing the blade actuating device 26 to slide over the unthreaded portion 29 of the deployment shaft 21.
Each pair of fingers 31 consists of an upwardly and outwardly extending finger 31A and a downwardly and outwardly extending finger 31~. The radial distance to which the fingers 31A, 31B
` ~ 330 1 58 extend is slightly less than the inner diameter of the collar 11 and sufficient a6 to permit the tips 32 of the fingers 31A or 31B
to engage in a portion of the corresponding slots 19 of the inwardly extending tabs 18.
In order to remove dirt and other particulate matter which might accumulate on the threaded portion 28 of the shaft 21 and/or to prevent any such material from entering the blade actuating device 26 and jamming the screw action, it may be necessary to provide a seal, packing or similar device (not shown) at the upper and lower ends thereof.
The upper camming plate assembly 27 preferably comprises a hollow cylindrical body portion 33 separating an upper camming plate 34 and a collar bearing plate 35. A locking mechanism, not shown, i8 located within the body portion 33, and permits only the downward motion of the upper camming plate assembly 27 unless deactivated. Any suitable loc~ing mechanism may be used such as, for example, a spring loaded pin or ring aituated in the body portion 33 which would loc~ into a corresponding groove in the shaft 21 when the upper camming plate assembly 27 is slid down its unthreaded portion 29. The loc~ing mechanism allows the upper camming plate assembly 27 to be locked into position on the unthreaded portion 29 of the deployment , shaft~21 at a predetermined height. ~
At the upper end 23 of the deployment shaft 21, a means 36 is provided by which the shaft may be rotated manually or with :' ; ` power assistance.
~` While the preferred embodiment of the support is shown ` and described herein comprising an upper and lower collar .
., assembly, the invention is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, depending on the specific application, any number of collar assemblies may be employed, provided that the installation instrument and its associated components are suitably adapted.
The method for the installation of the pole or post support is illustrated sequentially in Figs. 4 through 11. A
standard 80il drilling instrument 40 is utilized to bore a hole 41 (Fig. 4) of a predetermined depth and diameter into the ground using known techniques. The deployment shaft 21, with the lower 10 camming plate 24 and the camming plate bearing assembly 25, is lowered as a unit into the hole 41 (Fig. 5) where it comes to rest on the bottom 42. A first or lower collar assembly lOA is lowered into the hole 41 with the blades 12 pointing downwardly and aligned in the direction specified by the work plan (Fig. 6).
A strapping 43 or other suitable temporary restraining means may be used to maintain the blades 12 in their installation position Pl. The collar assembly lOA comes to rest at or near the bottom 42 of hole 41 when the blades 12 contact the lower camming plate 24 as shown in Fig. 6. The blade actuating means 26 is then slid 20 down the unthreaded portion 29 of the deployment shaft 21. The shaft 21 is rotated in a first direction 45 by detachable rotation means 44 causing the internal threads of the blade actuating device 26 to engage with the threaded portion 28 of the deployment shaft 21. It may be necessary at this point to restrain the blade actuating device 26 from rotating with the shaft 21 in order to permit its axial translation downward towards the first collar assembly lOA until the tips 32 of the fingers 31B engage in tab slots 19 of the collar 11 (Fig. 7).
.,:,, ' :~' ~., ~``":` -- - . - ' . :. ' . . - ` , ' ' - ' ':': ' ': , ,, ' . ` : ' -` 1 330 1 58 The subsequent combination of the screw action on the blade actuating device 26 and the camming provided by the lower camming plate 24, results in the breakage of the strapping 43, if provided, and the extension of the blades 12 into the walls of the hole 41.
Figure 8 demonstrates how the blade actuating device 26 moves from the collar contact position 47 down near to the base of the hole 41, resulting in the blades 12 attaining their deployed position P2. The rotation means 44 may then be removed.
Although the rotation means 44 as shown in the drawings depicts a manually operated dual ratchet arm, the purpose could be served equally as well by appropriate power-assisted means.
A second or upper collar assembly lOB is lowered into the hole 41 with the blades 12 pointing upwardly and aligned in the direction specified by the work plan (Fig. 9). A strapping 43 or other suitable temporary restraining means may be used to maintain the blades 12 in their installation position Pl. The collar assembly 10~ comes to rest with the tips 32 of fingers 31A
engaged in tab slots 19 of collar 11 of the upper collar assembly lOB. The upper camming plate assembly 27 is slid down the deployment shaft 21 and i6 locked into position at a predetermined height. The shaft 21 is rotated in a second direction 46 by detachable rotation means 44 (Fig. 10). It is posAible that, depending upon the height at which the upper camming plate assembly 27 is locked, there may exist a distance between the initial point of contact of blades 12 and the upper camming plate 34. If this is the case, then the rotation of the ~haft 21 in the second direction 46 will result in the blade :~ :: : : : - .: : . : . ,. . . :
actuating device 26 moving upwards from its lovermost position 4B
bringing with it upper collar assembly lOB, until the blades 12 contact the upper camming plate 34. The subsequent combination of screw action on the blade actuating device 26 and the camming provided by the upper camming plate 34, results in the breakage of the strapping 43, if provided, and the extension of the blades ¦ 12 into their deployed position P2. The purpose of the collar bearing plate 35 i~ to prevent the collar 11 of the collar assembly lOB from surpassing the point at which the blades 12 become generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the collar 11, i.e., their P2 position. This purpose could be served equally as well b~ providing a means on the collar assembly lOB
to prevent the blades 12 from rotating more than 90 from their Pl position.
`A slight counter-rotation of the shaft 21, i.e. in the first rotation direction 45, disengages the tips 32 of fingers 31A from the tab slots 19 in the collar 11. Further rotation of the ~haft 21 in this direction 45 causes the finger pairs 31 to become misaligned with the tabs 18 of the secona collar assembly lOB, thus permitting removal of the entire installation tool 20 (Fig. 11).
When wooden pole or post structures are used, it may be necessary , depending upon load factors, to attach bearing plates 51, 52 (Fig. 12C) to the pole to prevent the collapse of the wood fibres at the points of contact with the lower and upper collar a~semblies lOA, lOB. In lluch case, one bearing plate 52 may be fitted to the pole 50 at the height of the upper collar assembly 10~ and another bearing plate 51 may be fitted to the foot of the '' ' ' ' ~ ',' :
_ g _ .:
7!
~ .. .- . . . ` . , ,. .- . ,.i , , . , ~ -, . -, , .. ., i, . ` -'.:
~ , , ~, , , ~ ~;,". -,i - ~- ,, ,. ;. ~ .~ ~;: .-.
~ ~ ` : -, ` . . - ~ , ~ : : - : ~ . , ., ,, ` , , ~ - , b ~
. ., . , . , , ., . , ,., , .. ,. ~, .
., -. . . .: ~
, - . : - - . .. . . " ~ . :~ ~ : -.... - .
pole 50 located at the lower collar assembly lOA level. These bearing plates 51, 52 are attached before the pole 50 is lowered into the hole 41. It should be noted that various methods may be used to enhance the useful load of wooden pole structures.
These, however, go beyond the scope of the present invention and, therefore, will not be discussed herein.
In order to ensure a proper fit, a plurality of adjustment wedges 53 and spacer bloc~ 54 are attached to the foot of the pole 50 prior to being lowered, 80 that the pole may 8it firmly inside the lower collar as~embly lOA (Fig~. 12A and 12B). Once the desired position of the pole 50 is obtained, the portion of the pole 50 at the level of the upper collar assembly lOB i8 locked into po~ition using a plurality of adju~table positioning wedge~ 55 and spacer blocks 54. The adjustable positioning wedges 55 have extensions 56 that are fixed in place at ground level and thus remain accessible if ever it becomes ; necessary to readjust the position of the pole 50. The hole 41 is then back-filled with any desired material, which may include the original soil, using standard refilling techniques.
`~ 20 In an alternate method of installing the support, the entire system, i.e. the collar assemblies lOA, lOB and the installation instrument 20, may be assembled at ground level and lowered as a unit into the hole 41, as shown in Fig. 13. In this arrangement, it is possible that the upper camming plate assembly 27 may not yet be locked into position since it may be prevented from sliding down the untl-readed portion 29 of the deployment shaft 21, to the predetermined height at which it is to be loc~ed, by the position Pl of the blades 12 of the upper collar ?
assembly lOB.
Rotation of the shaft 21 in a first direction 45 will cause the blade actuating device 26 to extend the blades 12 of the lower collar assembly lOA into the walls of hole 41 as described above. If not already locked into position, the downward displacement of the blade actuating device 26, and hence the upper collar assembly lOB, will be sufficient as to allow the upper camming plate assembly 27 to slide down on the unthreaded portion 29 of the shaft 21 until it locks into position at the predetermined height. Subsequent rotation of the shaft 21 in the opposite direction 46 deploys the blades 12 of the upper collar assembly lOB as described above and is illustrated in Fig. 10.
The removal of the installation instrument is also as described above.
Certain advantages arise when installing the support in accordance with this method. Since the finger tips 32 are engaged in their appropriate slots 19 in the collars 11 when the unit i8 assembled at ground level, the need to align and engage the finger tips 32 in the slots 19 while the blade actuating device 26 is moving and is in the hole 41 where it might be difficult to see is eliminated. In addition, the presence of the upper collar device assembly lOB will prevent the blade actuating device 26 from rotating with the shaft 21 thereby avoiding the possibility of having to restrain its rotation by some other means. Such advantages may provide for shorter in~tallation times thus increasing productivity.
While a preferred embodiment has been shown and described having an upper and a lower collar assembly, the ., .. ~ . . . , .. , . - ~ . ~ . . .. - -. . - - , - - . - . - - -- invention is not necessarily limited thereto and variou~
modifications and substitutions may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention a~ defined in the c~ o.
'~
~.`,:~; ,' .
.
; ~
, ,~
' ':
. ~ ':
:.
~ 12 -: ` 1 330 1 58 ~UPPLEMENTARY DIBCLOBURE
Variations in the apparatus of the invention are described hereinbelow with particular reference to Figs. 14 to 17 of the drawings wherein:
Fig. 14 is a plan view of an alternate collar assembly;
Fig. 15 is an elevation of the collar assembly shown in Fig. 14, with the front collar half removed for clarity;
Fig. 16 is an elevation of an alternate installation instrument;
Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 17-17 in Fig. 16.
Referring to Figs. 14 and 15, an alternate support collar assembly 110 is shown comprising a generally annular collar 111 and a pair of ground-engageable blades 112 connected pivotally thereto. The collar 111 consists of two generally semi-cylindrical halves llla,lllb, each having a pair of opposed, radially inwardly extending flanges 113. The blades 112 are rotatable about pins 114 from an installation position Pl, wherein the blades are generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the collar, to a deployed position P2 (shown in phantom), wherein the blades 112 are generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the collar. The pins 114 also serve to connect the two collar halves llla,lllb together. The pins 114 have a central section of increased diameter about which the blades 112 pivot and end sections of reduced diameter which are insertable through holes provided in : 1330158 flanges 113. The central section also functions to space-apart the collar halves llla,lllb an appropriate distance. One end section of the pins 114 may be provided with a bolt head 115 while the opposite end section is threaded for receiving a nut 116 or, alternatively, both ends may be threaded and provided with nuts.
It will be apparent that, in employing collar assemblies such as those shown in Figs. 14 and 15 with the installation instrument shown in Fig. 3, the blade actuating device 26 would have to be replaced with a suitably configured ¦ actuator for cooperation with the alternate collar assemblies.
Such an actuator is described in general hereinbelow in conjunction with an alternate embodiment of the installation instrument.
The alternate embodiment of the installation instrument 120 is shown in Figs._~ and ~g. In general, the alternate installation instrument 120 is similar to the installation instrument 20 described above in that it comprises a deployment shaft 121, a blade actuating device or actuator 122, lower and upper cam assemblies 123,124, respectively, and means for causing the actuator 122 to be translated along a portion of the deployment shaft 121 between the cam assemblies 123,124. As shown, the deployment shaft 121 is hollow and has a concentric drive shaft 125 slidable therein. The drive shaft 125 is connected to the piston of a double-acting hydraulic cylinder 126 mounted at the top of the deployment shaft 121. The hydraulic cylinder 126 is connectable to a suitable hydraulic fluid supply device or pump (not shown) via supply ports 127.
In order to assist in supporting the installation instrument 120 .- ~:.
. ' ,' ~ ~
~ S~
and lowering it into a hole in the ground, an eye 118 may be provided at the top of the hydraulic cylinder 126.
The actuator 122 for use with the alternate collar assemblies comprises a cylindrical body 128 having a pair of opposed, radially outwardly extending members 129. Grooves 130 are provided in the upper and lower sides of the members 129 which act as bearing surfaces for the edges of the collar flanges 113 when the collars are appropriately positioned. The radial distance to which the members 129 extend is slightly less than the inner diameter of the collar 111 but sufficient so as to allow the edges of the collar flanges 113 to be received in grooves 130. The actuator 122 is attached to the drive shaft 125 by means of a cross-piece 131 which is slidable along a through slot 132 in the deployment shaft 121. The actuator 122 is fabricated in sections so as to permit easy attachment to and removal from the deployment shaft 121 and drive shaft 125. When such an actuator is to be employed in conjunction with the installation instrument depicted in Fig. 3, cross-piece 131 is not provided and the body 128 is internally threaded to mate with the externally threaded portion of the deployment shaft.
The upper cam assembly 124 is similar to the upper cam assembly 27 shown in Fig. 3, preferably comprising a hollow cylindrical body portion 133 separating an upper camming plate 34 and a collar bearing plate 135. The upper cam assembly is, in general, slidable along the deployment shaft 121 but a locking mechanism, not shown, located within the body portion 133 allows the upper cam assembly 124 to be selectively locked into position on the deployment shaft 121 at a predetermined height, preventing its translation during operation of the -- 15 -- ';
installation instrument 120. The lower cam assembly 123, which is similar in nature to the one shown in Fig. 3, includes a connection portion 136 and a lower camming plate 137, and is removably attached to the lower end of the deployment shaft 121.
The alternate installation instrument 120 functions in a similar manner as the installation instrument 20 in that it operates to translate the blade actuator along a portion of the shaft to force the collar assemblies against their respective cam means in order to extend the blades thereof into the surrounding soil. However, where the installation instrument 20 uses a screw mechanism to effect the translation of the actuator, the installation instrument uses a linear actuator, namely a hydraulic ram.
The alternate installation instrument is particularly suited to carry out the method described above in conjunction with Fig. 13, i.e. wherein the entire system is assembled at ground level -and lowered as a unit into the pre-drilled hole.
More specifically, the system is assembled such that the blades . .: .
112 of the lower collar assembly are pointing downwardly and in contact with the lower camming plate 137. A strapping or other ;~
suitable temporary restraining means may be used to maintain the blades 112 of the lower collar assembly in their vertical -position. The actuator 122 is positioned such that the grooves -~
,~ 130 on the lower sides of members 129 are resting on the~edges ~ -of the collar flanges 113 of the lower collar assembly while the upper grooves accommodate the collar flanges 113 of the upper collar assembly. A similar strapping might also be provided to -secure the blades 112 of the upper collar assembly in their installation position pointing upwardly. The upper cam assembly `,"`';'''.',,.: ''.'",.'"' 124 is locked onto the deployment shaft 121 at a predetermined distance from the lower camming plate 137, which distance will be generally the same as the distance from the bottom of the hole to the eventual vertical position of the upper collar assembly. Once the system has been lowered into the hole, the hydraulic cylinder 126 is actuated so that the actuator 122 is forced downwardly against the lower collar, thus causing the blades 112 to be cammed against the lower camming plate. This results in the breakage of the strapping and the extension of the blades 112 into the walls of the hole. Due to the configuration of the blade's camming edge, which is preferably curvilinear, and the manner in which the blades are cammed, the blades, in essence, pierce the surrounding earth with minimal deleterious effect on soil integrity. When the collar contacts the bottom of the hole, the installation instrument 120 will start to rise out of the hole. At this stage, the blades 112 will be extended sufficiently outwardly that the lower camming ¦ plate 137 will be capable of being extracted from the lower collar assembly. However, the rising of the installation instrument 120 is a indication that the installation of the lower collar assembly is complete and that the action of the hydraulic cylinder 126 should be reversed to commence the installation of the upper collar assembly.
Reversing the action of the hydraulic cylinder 126 causes the actuator 122 to be translated upwardly, eventually forcing the blades 112 of the upper collar assembly against the upper camming plate 134. This results in the breakage of the .
strapping, if provided, and the subsequent piercing of the blades 112 into the walls of the hole. A slight translation of ~ h , , ~ ' . : ~ . . . . . . .
the actuator 122 in the downward direction disengages the collar flanges 113 from the grooves 130 of the actuator members 129.
By rotating the installation instrument 120 slightly, the actuator members 129 become misaligned with the collar flanges 113 of the upper collar assembly, thus permitting removal of the entire installation instrument 120. The installation instrument -can therefore be utilized in subsequent applications. - -' ~
''"' '`','`" ....,', .. .
~; ~" :~
-~ - 18 -~ , ~ ~
Claims (32)
1. A support installation system for the subterranean support of poles or posts, comprising:
support means including a lower collar assembly and an upper collar assembly, each of said collar assemblies comprising a generally cylindrical collar having an axial throughbore adapted to receive therethrough a pole or post to be supported, each collar having a plurality of ground engageable blades pivotally connected thereto and initially in a non-ground engaging installation position; and a removable installation instrument comprising a deployment shaft carrying a blade extending means, said installation instrument being positionable to extend through said axial throughbores in said upper and lower collars, said blade extending means including deploying means engageable with said upper and lower collars and operable to cause said blades to extend, thereby to deploy said blades generally radially of their corresponding collars, said installation instrument being removable from said throughbores after installation to leave said collars in position to receive and support poles or posts.
support means including a lower collar assembly and an upper collar assembly, each of said collar assemblies comprising a generally cylindrical collar having an axial throughbore adapted to receive therethrough a pole or post to be supported, each collar having a plurality of ground engageable blades pivotally connected thereto and initially in a non-ground engaging installation position; and a removable installation instrument comprising a deployment shaft carrying a blade extending means, said installation instrument being positionable to extend through said axial throughbores in said upper and lower collars, said blade extending means including deploying means engageable with said upper and lower collars and operable to cause said blades to extend, thereby to deploy said blades generally radially of their corresponding collars, said installation instrument being removable from said throughbores after installation to leave said collars in position to receive and support poles or posts.
2. A support installation system claimed in claim 1, wherein said blades are pivotally between said installation position wherein said blades are generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said collars, and a deployment position, wherein said blades are generally perpendicular to said axis of said collars.
3. A support installation system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said blade extending means further comprises a camming means, said deploying means including means for forcing said blades against said camming means to deflect said blades from said installation position to said deployment position.
4. A support installation system for the subterranean support of poles or posts, comprising:
a support including a lower and an upper collar assembly, each of said collar assemblies comprising a generally cylindrical collar having an axial throughbore adapted to receive therethrough a pole or post to be supported, each collar having a plurality of ground engageable blades pivotally connected thereto, said blades being pivotable between an installation position wherein the blades are generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said collars and a deployment position wherein said blades are generally perpendicular to said axis of said collars; and an installation instrument comprising a deployment shaft positionable through said axial throughbores and including a threaded portion and an unthreaded portion, said threaded portion of said shaft being of greater diameter than said unthreaded portion, said instrument further including camming means and blade extending means carried by said deployment shaft, said blade extending means being operable to force said blades against said camming means to deflect said blades from said installation position to said deployment position.
a support including a lower and an upper collar assembly, each of said collar assemblies comprising a generally cylindrical collar having an axial throughbore adapted to receive therethrough a pole or post to be supported, each collar having a plurality of ground engageable blades pivotally connected thereto, said blades being pivotable between an installation position wherein the blades are generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said collars and a deployment position wherein said blades are generally perpendicular to said axis of said collars; and an installation instrument comprising a deployment shaft positionable through said axial throughbores and including a threaded portion and an unthreaded portion, said threaded portion of said shaft being of greater diameter than said unthreaded portion, said instrument further including camming means and blade extending means carried by said deployment shaft, said blade extending means being operable to force said blades against said camming means to deflect said blades from said installation position to said deployment position.
5. A support installation system for the subterranean support of poles or posts comprising:
a support comprising a lower and an upper collar assembly, each assembly comprising a generally cylindrical collar having an axial throughbore adapted to receive a pole or post therethrough and having a plurality of ground engageable blades pivotally connected thereto, said blades being pivotable between an installation position, wherein said blades are generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said collar, and a deployment position, wherein said blades are generally perpendicular to said axis of said collar, and an installation instrument insertable through said axial throughbores of said upper and lower collars, said instrument comprising a partially threaded deployment shaft having blade extending means comprising camming means and means engaging said deployment shaft for forcing said blades against said camming means to deflect said blades from said installation position to said deployment position, when said installation instrument is positioned through said axial throughbores, said installation instrument being removable from said throughbores after deployment of said blades.
a support comprising a lower and an upper collar assembly, each assembly comprising a generally cylindrical collar having an axial throughbore adapted to receive a pole or post therethrough and having a plurality of ground engageable blades pivotally connected thereto, said blades being pivotable between an installation position, wherein said blades are generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said collar, and a deployment position, wherein said blades are generally perpendicular to said axis of said collar, and an installation instrument insertable through said axial throughbores of said upper and lower collars, said instrument comprising a partially threaded deployment shaft having blade extending means comprising camming means and means engaging said deployment shaft for forcing said blades against said camming means to deflect said blades from said installation position to said deployment position, when said installation instrument is positioned through said axial throughbores, said installation instrument being removable from said throughbores after deployment of said blades.
6. A support installation system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said means for forcing said blades against said camming means comprises a blade actuating device being engageable with a threaded portion of said shaft, whereby rotation of said shaft causes said blade actuating device to move linearly along a longitudinal axis of said shaft.
7. A support installation system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said blade actuating device is engageable with said collar assemblies.
8. A support installation system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said blade actuating device comprises a plurality of fingers extending outwardly from a generally cylindrical body member, and wherein said collars further comprise a corresponding plurality of inwardly extending tabs with radial slots therein, each of said fingers including a finger tip adapted to be received in a portion of said slot of said corresponding tab.
9. A support installation system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the radial distance to which said fingers extend is less than the inner diameter of said collars.
10. A support installation system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said camming means comprises a lower and an upper camming plate assembly corresponding to said lower and upper collar assemblies.
11. A support installation system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said lower camming plate assembly comprises a lower camming plate and a camming plate bearing assembly, said camming plate bearing assembly being rigidly attached to said deployment shaft.
12. A support installation system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said upper camming plate assembly comprises a hollow cylindrical body portion having an upper camming plate and a collar bearing plate connected thereto, said body portion being slidable on said unthreaded portion of said deployment shaft.
13. A support installation system as claimed in claim 12 further comprising a locking means by which said upper camming plate assembly may be locked into a predetermined position against translation on said unthreaded portion of said deployment shaft.
14. A support installation system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said installation instrument further comprises means by which said deployment shaft may be rotated.
15. A support installation system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said blade actuating device comprises a generally cylindrical body member having attached thereto a plurality of outwardly and upwardly extending fingers and a plurality of outwardly and downwardly extending fingers, and wherein said upper and lower collar assemblies each further comprise a corresponding plurality of inwardly extending tabs with radial slots therein; each of said upwardly extending fingers including a finger tip adapted to be received in a portion of said slot of said corresponding tab on said upper collar assembly, and each of said downwardly extending fingers including a finger tip adapted to be received in a portion of said slot of said corresponding tab on said lower collar assembly.
16. A support installation system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said upwardly extending fingers are selectively and lockingly rotatable relative to said downwardly extending fingers.
17. A support installation system for the subterranean support of poles or posts comprising:
support means including at least one collar assembly, said at least one collar assembly comprising a generally cylindrical collar having an axial throughbore adapted to receive a pole or post therethrough, and having a plurality of ground engageable blades pivotally connected thereto, and an installation instrument comprising a deployment shaft having blade extending means associated therewith, said installation instrument being positionable through said throughbore of said at least one collar and when so positioned being operable to extend said blades generally radially of said at least one collar, said installation instrument being removable from said throughbore after radial extension of said blades whereby said collar assembly can receive and support a pole or post.
support means including at least one collar assembly, said at least one collar assembly comprising a generally cylindrical collar having an axial throughbore adapted to receive a pole or post therethrough, and having a plurality of ground engageable blades pivotally connected thereto, and an installation instrument comprising a deployment shaft having blade extending means associated therewith, said installation instrument being positionable through said throughbore of said at least one collar and when so positioned being operable to extend said blades generally radially of said at least one collar, said installation instrument being removable from said throughbore after radial extension of said blades whereby said collar assembly can receive and support a pole or post.
18. A method for the installation of underground supports for poles and posts, of the type comprising an upper and a lower collar assembly each including a collar having a plurality of ground engageable blades pivotally connected thereto, and utilizing an installation instrument of the type comprising means to extend generally radially the blades of said collar assemblies by rotating said instrument, comprising the steps of:
boring a hole of predetermined depth and diameter into the earth;
assembling on said installation instrument said upper and lower collar assemblies to form a unit;
lowering said unit into said hole;
rotating said installation instrument in a first direction to extend the blades of said lower collar assembly into the earth;
rotating said installation instrument in a second direction to extend the blades of said upper collar assembly into the earth; and removing the installation instrument.
boring a hole of predetermined depth and diameter into the earth;
assembling on said installation instrument said upper and lower collar assemblies to form a unit;
lowering said unit into said hole;
rotating said installation instrument in a first direction to extend the blades of said lower collar assembly into the earth;
rotating said installation instrument in a second direction to extend the blades of said upper collar assembly into the earth; and removing the installation instrument.
19. A method for installing poles and posts using a support installation system of the type comprising a support and an installation instrument, the support including an upper and a lower collar assembly each having a plurality of ground engageable blades pivotally connected thereto, the support further including pole positioning and adjusting means and the installation instrument having means to extend generally radially the blades of the collar assemblies, the method comprising the steps of:
boring a hole of predetermined depth and diameter into the earth;
assembling on said installation instrument said upper and lower collar assemblies to form a unit;
lowering said unit into said hole;
actuating said blade extending means of the installation instrument to extend the blades of said lower collar assembly into the earth;
actuating said blade extending means of the installation instrument to extend the blades of said upper collar assembly into the earth;
removing the installation instrument;
lowering said pole or post into the hole and through the support collars;
adjusting and positioning the pole or post using the pole positioning and adjusting means; and back-filling the remaining portion of the hole.
boring a hole of predetermined depth and diameter into the earth;
assembling on said installation instrument said upper and lower collar assemblies to form a unit;
lowering said unit into said hole;
actuating said blade extending means of the installation instrument to extend the blades of said lower collar assembly into the earth;
actuating said blade extending means of the installation instrument to extend the blades of said upper collar assembly into the earth;
removing the installation instrument;
lowering said pole or post into the hole and through the support collars;
adjusting and positioning the pole or post using the pole positioning and adjusting means; and back-filling the remaining portion of the hole.
20. A method for the installation of underground supports for poles and posts, of the type consisting of an upper and a lower collar assembly each comprising a collar having a plurality of blades pivotally connected thereto, and utilizing an installation instrument, said installation instrument comprising a deployment shaft having associated therewith upper and lower cam means and actuator means engageable with said deployment shaft for forcing said blades of said lower and upper collar assemblies against said respective lower and upper cam means upon rotation of the deployment shaft to deflect said blades generally radially outward; the method comprising the steps of:
boring a hole of predetermined depth and diameter into the earth;
inserting said deployment shaft into the hole, said deployment shaft having said lower cam means attached thereto;
lowering said lower collar assembly into the hole;
engaging said actuator means on said deployment shaft;
rotating said deployment shaft to extend the blades of the lower collar assembly into the earth;
lowering said upper collar assembly into the hole;
lockingly engaging said upper cam means on the deployment shaft;
rotating the deployment shaft to extend the blades of the upper collar assembly into the earth; and removing the installation instrument.
boring a hole of predetermined depth and diameter into the earth;
inserting said deployment shaft into the hole, said deployment shaft having said lower cam means attached thereto;
lowering said lower collar assembly into the hole;
engaging said actuator means on said deployment shaft;
rotating said deployment shaft to extend the blades of the lower collar assembly into the earth;
lowering said upper collar assembly into the hole;
lockingly engaging said upper cam means on the deployment shaft;
rotating the deployment shaft to extend the blades of the upper collar assembly into the earth; and removing the installation instrument.
21. A method for installing poles and posts using a support installation system of the type comprising a support and an installation instrument, said support including a lower and an upper collar assembly each having a plurality of ground engageable blades pivotally connected thereto, said support further including pole positioning and adjusting means, said installation instrument including a deployment shaft having associated therewith lower and upper cam means and means engageable with said deployment shaft for forcing said blades of said lower and upper collar assemblies against said respective lower and upper cam means to deflect said blades of said collar assemblies generally radially, the method comprising the steps of:
boring a hole of predetermined depth and diameter into the earth;
inserting into said hole said deployment shaft having said lower cam means attached thereto;
lowering said lower collar assembly into said hole;
engaging said blade forcing means on said deployment shaft;
actuating said blade forcing means to extend said blades of said lower collar assembly into the earth;
lowering said upper collar assembly into said hole;
actuating said blade forcing means to extend said blades of said upper collar assembly into the earth;
removing said installation instrument;
lowering said pole or post into said hole and through said support;
adjusting and positioning said pole or post into proper position using said pole positioning and adjustment means; and back-filling the remaining portion of said hole.
boring a hole of predetermined depth and diameter into the earth;
inserting into said hole said deployment shaft having said lower cam means attached thereto;
lowering said lower collar assembly into said hole;
engaging said blade forcing means on said deployment shaft;
actuating said blade forcing means to extend said blades of said lower collar assembly into the earth;
lowering said upper collar assembly into said hole;
actuating said blade forcing means to extend said blades of said upper collar assembly into the earth;
removing said installation instrument;
lowering said pole or post into said hole and through said support;
adjusting and positioning said pole or post into proper position using said pole positioning and adjustment means; and back-filling the remaining portion of said hole.
22. A support installation system for the subterranean support of a pole or post comprising:
a support and an installation instrument;
said support including a lower and an upper collar assembly, each of said collar assemblies comprising a generally cylindrical collar having a plurality of ground engageable blades pivotally connected thereto and having an axial throughbore adapted to receive said pole or post therethrough; and said installation instrument being removably insertable through said throughbores and including deployment means movable with respect to said collars of said collar assemblies and being operable to extend the blades of each of said collars generally radially of said installation instrument, said installation instrument being thereafter removable from said throughbores to leave said collars in place to receive and support said pole or post.
a support and an installation instrument;
said support including a lower and an upper collar assembly, each of said collar assemblies comprising a generally cylindrical collar having a plurality of ground engageable blades pivotally connected thereto and having an axial throughbore adapted to receive said pole or post therethrough; and said installation instrument being removably insertable through said throughbores and including deployment means movable with respect to said collars of said collar assemblies and being operable to extend the blades of each of said collars generally radially of said installation instrument, said installation instrument being thereafter removable from said throughbores to leave said collars in place to receive and support said pole or post.
23. A support installation system for the subterranean support of poles or posts comprising a pair of support collar assemblies and an installation instrument for installing the collar assemblies within a hole, each of said collar assemblies comprising a generally annular collar having a plurality of ground engageable blades pivotally connected thereto, said installation instrument comprising a deployment shaft and means associated with the deployment shaft for extending the blades of the collar assemblies generally radially outwardly so as to penetrate the walls of the hole when the installation instrument is positioned through the collars, said installation instrument being thereafter removable from said throughbores to leave said collars in place to receive and support said pole or post.
24. The support installation system of claim 23, wherein the means for extending the blades of the collar assemblies comprises upper cam means and lower cam means carried by the deployment shaft, an actuator engageable with at least a portion of each of the collar assemblies, and means for causing the actuator to be selectively translated axially along a portion of the deployment shaft so as to force the blades of each of the collar assemblies against their respective cam means thereby extending the blades radially outwardly.
25. The support installation system of claim 24, wherein the upper cam means includes a collar bearing plate for preventing over extension of the blades of the upper collar assembly.
26. The support installation system of claim 25, wherein the upper cam means further includes means for locking the position thereof with respect to the deployment shaft.
27. The support installation system of claim 26, wherein the upper and lower cam means are rotatable around the deployment shaft.
28. The support installation system of claim 24, wherein the deployment shaft has an externally threaded portion and an unthreaded portion, the actuator is internally matingly threaded, and that the means for causing the actuator to be selectively translated comprises rotational drive means for selectively rotating the deployment shaft.
CLAIMS SUPPORTED BY THE
SUPPLEMENTARY DISCLOSURE
CLAIMS SUPPORTED BY THE
SUPPLEMENTARY DISCLOSURE
29. The support installation system of claim 24, wherein the deployment shaft is substantially hollow and that the means for causing the actuator to be selectively translated comprises a hydraulic cylinder connected to a source of fluid under pressure, a drive shaft slidable within the deployment shaft and being actuated by the hydraulic cylinder, and cross-piece means for connecting the actuator to the drive shaft through slots in the deployment shaft.
30. The support installation system of claim 24, wherein the annular collars each comprise a pair of generally semi-cylindrical halves each having opposed, radially inwardly extending flanges connected and spaced-apart by pin means and that the blades are pivotally supported on the pin means and between the flanges.
31. The support installation system of claim 30, wherein the actuator is provided with radially outwardly extending members having grooves disposed in the upper and lower sides thereof, and in that the engagement of the actuator with the portion of the collar assemblies consists of the grooves engaging respective pairs of collar flanges.
32. The support installation system of claim 23, wherein the edges of the blades which are cammed have a curvilinear configuration so that the blades, when extending, generally pierce the walls of hole.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US07/465,352 US5108068A (en) | 1989-08-30 | 1990-01-16 | Support system for free standing poles or posts |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAPCT/CA92/00177 | 1992-04-27 | ||
| PCT/CA1992/000177 WO1993022511A1 (en) | 1992-04-27 | 1992-04-27 | Support system for free standing poles or posts |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1330158C true CA1330158C (en) | 1994-06-14 |
Family
ID=4172928
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000609837A Expired - Fee Related CA1330158C (en) | 1989-08-30 | 1989-08-30 | Support system for free standing poles or posts |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0600890B1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU659152B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1330158C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69221732T2 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1993022511A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2449909B (en) * | 2007-06-07 | 2009-07-08 | Purton Sustainable Technologie | Method and apparatus for mounting a pole into the ground |
| CN109898527B (en) * | 2019-02-28 | 2020-12-15 | 广西交通设计集团有限公司 | Bamboo-root-shaped interlocking anchor bar pile and construction method for reinforcing unstable rock slope |
| CN112726588B (en) * | 2020-12-28 | 2022-05-17 | 广东电网有限责任公司佛山供电局 | Anchoring pile |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE231278C (en) * | ||||
| US4269010A (en) * | 1979-11-21 | 1981-05-26 | Glass Carl R | Multi fin post anchor system |
| AU570500B2 (en) * | 1983-09-14 | 1988-03-17 | Gearhart Australia Limited | Earth anchor member |
| US4843785A (en) * | 1986-06-26 | 1989-07-04 | Secure Anchoring & Foundation Equipment, Inc. | Anchoring and foundation support apparatus and method |
| GB8807649D0 (en) * | 1988-03-31 | 1988-05-05 | Price L M | Improvements relating to post supports |
-
1989
- 1989-08-30 CA CA000609837A patent/CA1330158C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1992
- 1992-04-27 DE DE69221732T patent/DE69221732T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1992-04-27 AU AU16632/92A patent/AU659152B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1992-04-27 EP EP92908954A patent/EP0600890B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1992-04-27 WO PCT/CA1992/000177 patent/WO1993022511A1/en active IP Right Grant
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0600890B1 (en) | 1997-08-20 |
| DE69221732T2 (en) | 1997-12-18 |
| AU1663292A (en) | 1993-11-29 |
| AU659152B2 (en) | 1995-05-11 |
| DE69221732D1 (en) | 1997-09-25 |
| EP0600890A1 (en) | 1994-06-15 |
| WO1993022511A1 (en) | 1993-11-11 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US7377723B2 (en) | Systems and methods for the installation of earth anchors | |
| US6352390B1 (en) | Apparatus for lifting and supporting a foundation under tension and compression | |
| US5108068A (en) | Support system for free standing poles or posts | |
| US5139368A (en) | Method of underpinning existing structures | |
| US4697959A (en) | Method and apparatus for installing an in-ground support footing around an upstanding elongate object | |
| US5797704A (en) | Pier foundation and method of installation | |
| EP3662111B1 (en) | System for anchoring a pile or jacket and corresponding method | |
| US7621098B2 (en) | Segmented foundation installation apparatus and method | |
| US7517175B2 (en) | Method for maintaining seawalls | |
| US20040071511A1 (en) | Apparatus and method of supporting a structure with a pier | |
| CA1330158C (en) | Support system for free standing poles or posts | |
| EP0725886A1 (en) | Device and method for augering a conical hole in solid media | |
| US3962837A (en) | Apparatus for expandably engaging the walls of an earthen hole | |
| CN113338325A (en) | Cylindrical column base node | |
| JP3782180B2 (en) | Support structure using sheet piles for earth retaining bells | |
| CN214697667U (en) | Embedded formula cat ladder in well of environmental protection | |
| KR20230147778A (en) | Hydraulic cylinder, stabbing system including the hydraulic cylinder, and method for installation of offshore jacket structure using the stabbing system | |
| GB2591129A (en) | Jack assembly for use in propping systems | |
| WO2008002308A2 (en) | Methods, systems and apparatus for maintaining seawalls | |
| JPS645159B2 (en) |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLA | Lapsed |