GB2449909A

GB2449909A - Method and apparatus for mounting a pole into the ground

Info

Publication number: GB2449909A
Application number: GB0710973A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Daniel Frederick Purton
Original assignee: Purton Sustainable Technologies Ltd
Current assignee: Purton Sustainable Technologies Ltd
Priority date: 2007-06-07
Filing date: 2007-06-07
Publication date: 2008-12-10
Anticipated expiration: 2027-06-07
Also published as: WO2008149112A2; GB0710973D0; GB2449909B; WO2008149112A3

Abstract

A method for mounting a pole into the ground including forming a hole in the ground using a hole forming means while inserting a mounting sleeve 20 into the hole formed; withdrawing the hole forming means and leaving the mounting sleeve 20 in the hole; affixing a shoe 21 to the pole and inserting the shoe 21 and pole into the mounting sleeve 20; and twisting the pole to engage at least one shoe projecting means into the ground. Also claimed is a pole mounting apparatus comprising a shoe adapted for attachment to a pole, the shoe including a projecting means being retractable in a retracted state and being operable to engage with the ground in a projecting state.

Description

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TITLE OF THE INVENTION

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING A POLE INTO THE

GROUND

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Filed of the Invention The present invention relates to a method, an apparatus and a kit of parts for mounting a pole or post into the ground.

2. Description of Related art

A first conventional technique for mounting a pole, for example a sign post, in the ground 12 is illustrated in Figure 1. First, a hole 13 is dug in the ground where a pole 10 is to be placed. A pole 10 is then placed in the hole 13 and the hole is back filled with concrete 11.

A problem with the above technique is that by digging a hole in the ground, the surrounding soil is disturbed and is allowed to relax. Before the hole is dug, the soil is compacted and reasonably stable; however, after digging, the surrounding soil becomes loose. Once the pole and concrete are placed in the hole, the 5Oi surrounding the concrete may not give satisfactory support and the pole may be insufficiently fixed in the ground.

Another problem is that if the pole needs to be changed or replaced, the pole and concrete must first be dug out, the new pole placed in the hole

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and fresh concrete filled in. This technique is also quite costly and time consuming and in addition, if the pole is replaced, old concrete is wasted.

A second conventional technique of mounting a pole in the ground is illustrated in Figure 2 In this coriventonal example, a pole 10 is driven into the ground 12 and the surrounding surface, and any gaps at the side of the pole, are filled with concrete 11. By not needing to dig the hole and simply driving the pole into the ground, this technique can save time as compared to the first conventional technique.

However, the second conventional technique suffers from other problems in that the pole can more easily be withdrawn by unauthorised persons as the pole has less weight and less side friction without the concrete mass, in addition, since concrete is used this suffers the same problems of cost and time for preparation and transportation.

There is a need for a technique and apparatus for mounting a pole in the ground that overcomes the above problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made with the aim of solving the above problems, and it iS an object of the present invention to provide a method for mounting a pole in the ground that is quicker, more sustainable by not involving concrete, is secured at the bottom to negate unauthorised withdrawal and enables a pole to be replaced conveniently, by providing a shoe attached to the bottom of the pole that includes retractable projecting means that are operable to engage with the ground when in a projecting state.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, a method is provided including the steps of: forming a hole in the ground using a hole forming means while inserting a mounting sleeve into the hole formed; withdrawing the hole forming means and leaving the mounting sleeve in the hole; affixing to the pole a shoe having at least one retractable shoe projecting means; Inserting the shoe and pole into the mounting sleeve; and twisting the pole to engage the at least one shoe projecting means into the ground.

Preferably the method further includes the steps of: affixing a collar to the top of the mounting sleeve, and affixing the collar to the pole, to provide rigidity and weather proofing to the assembly. Alternatively the step of twisting the pole attaches the pole to the top of the mounting sleeve by means of a bayonet mount.

Preferably the at least one shoe projecting means is a spike (but a flange or other projection could be used).

Preferably the hole forming means is an eccentric auger, and withdrawing the auger includes withdrawing the auger in concentric mode Alternatively the hole forming means may be a pile dnver.

Preferably the step of inserting the shoe and the pole into the mounting sleeve includes the step of removing a protective band from the shoe to release tension in at least one shoe tension means (such as a spring that forces the spike to project from the shoe) mounted in the shoe.

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Preferably to remove the pole the method includes the steps of: separating the collar from the pole; separating the collar from the mounting sleeve; twisting the pole, so as to release the spikes from the ground, and withdrawing the pole from the mounting sleeve S In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided that includes a shoe including at least one shoe projecting means, wherein the shoe is adaptable for attachment to a pole and the at least one shoe projecting means is retractable and has a retracted state and a projecting state in the projecting sate the shoe projecting means is operable to engage with the ground In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, a kit of parts is provided that includes the shoe according to the second aspect and a mounting sleeve. The mounting sleeve has an inside diameter large enough to allow passage of the shoe and a pole having the shoe attached thereto, when the at least one shoe projecting means is in the retracted state. The inside diameter is smaller than that of the at least one shoe projecting means when the shoe projecting means is in the projecting state.

Preferably the kit further includes a collar operable to be affixed to the top of the mounting sleeve and to the to the pole.

it may also include adhesive operable to affix the collar to the pole.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the invention, a pole is provided mounted in the ground. A mounting sleeve surrounds the pole, the mounting sleeve having a lower end A shoe is attached to the bottom of the pole, including at least one shoe projecting means extending outwardly from the shoe into the ground when below the lower end of the mounting sleeve. The at least one shoe projecting means is retractable to the inside of the shoe Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figures 1 and 2 are cross-sectional views illustrating conventional methods of mounting a pole in the ground.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a pole mounted in the ground in accordance with a preferred embodiment.

Figures 4A and 4B are a cross-sectional side view and an underside view, respectively, of the collar in accordance with a preferred embodiment.

Figure 4C is a top view of the shoulder of the mounting sleeve in accordance with a preferred embodiment.

Figure 5A is a plan view of a shoe in accordance with a preferred embodiment.

Figure 5B is a side view of a shoe in accordance with a preferred embodiment.

Figures 5C and 5D are diagrams showing the arrangement of the shoe projecting means in accordance with a preferred embodiment.

Figure 6 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the shoe projection means in accordance with an alternative preferred embodiment.

Figure 7 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the shoe projection means in accordance with another alternative preferred embodiment.

Figi.ire 8 is a cross-sectional view of a shoe affixed to the bottom of a pole in accordance with a preferred embodiment.

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the steps involved in mounting a pole into the ground in accordance with a preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments described below are in relation to a typical arrangement for mounting a pole into the ground, although it will be appreciated that other embodiments will fall within the scope of the appended claims.

1 5 Refemng to Figure 3, a mounting sleeve 20 is located in a hole in the ground and includes an integrally formed shoulder 20a, which is of the same material as the mounting sleeve 20. The mounting sleeve 20 and shoulder 20a may be made from a hard plastics matena! or may be metal. The mounting sleeve 20 has a shape of a lube (or hollow cylinder). The mounting sleeve 20 and shoulder 20a may be affixed to the ground using screws 47, or by any other suitable means. Inside the (hollow) mounting sleeve 20 is a pole 10. The pole 10 may be any standard pole or post, and may be formed from various materials such as metal, plastics or wood. Attachable to the bottom of the pole 10 is a shoe 21 (the shoe 2lis shown attached to the pole 10 in Figure 3). The shoe 21 has at least one spike 22 (or projecting means 22).

instead of spikes the shoe 21 may have flanges, or any other projecting means A collar 45 is attachable to the shoulder 20a of the mounting sleeve 20 by locating plugs 51, which are formed on the bottom of the collar 45, into holes 55 formed in the top of the shoulder 20a (see Figures 4A to 4C).

Alternatively, the collar 45 may be attachable to the shoulder 20a of the mounting sleeve 20 using sprung metal clips, or any other suitable means, so that it may be removed easily to facilitate rep] acement of the pole. The collar is attachable to the pole 10 using an adhesive 46 such as an epoxy resin or may be fastened using any other suitable means. The collar 45 includes a resin recess 50 for the epoxy resin (see Figure 4A) The collar 45 may be made of metal or a plastics matenal The collar 45 provides rigidity between the top of the mounting sleeve 20 and the pole 10 and seals the joint between the pole 10 and mounting sleeve 20. This makes the whole assembly very robust and resistant to corrosion and the environment. Alternatively, the pole may be firmly and rigidly attached to the shoulder 20a by means ofa bayonet mount instead of the collar 45 (nor shown).

Tue spikes 22 can be in a retracted state or in a projected state. Figure 5A shows how twisting the shafi of the pole 10 allows the spikes 22 to extend into the projected state. In Figure 5A the pole 10 is shown being twisted in an anti-clockwise direction to release the spikes 22 However, the spikes 22 may be arranged to extend by twisting the pole 10 in a clockwise direction. In the projected state, the spikes 22 extend from the shoe 21 into the ground and hold the shoe and pole firmly in place.

In the retracted state, as shown in Figure Sc, the spikes 22 do not S project (or protrude) from the shoe 21. A protective band 52 (see Figure 9C) may be used to hold the spikes 22 in the retracted state.

In Figure 5D the spikes 22 are shown in the projected (or extended) state. The spikes 22 are shown to be mounted on pivots 23, and attached to spnngs 24 (shoe tension means 24), which force the spikes 22 to move about their respective pivots 23 and project from the shoe The spikes 22 are shown to rotate about the pivot 23 in the clockwise direction, but alternatively they may rotate in the anti-clockwise direction. The spikes 22 are preferably made from metal, but any other strong resilient material may be used. The springs 24 do not necessanly need to extend the spikes 22 to their fullest I S extent, rather, all that is necessary is to extend the spikes 22 far enough for them to engage with the ground (soil) and thus be forced to extend and further penetrate the ground (soil) when the pole lOis twisted. The springs 24 may be coiled metal springs, but alternatively could be any other suitable means to provide the necessary force, e.g. a leaf spnng, a horseshoe spnng, or a length of elastic. The number of spikes 22 attached to the shoe 21 may be one or greater. Preferably there are at least three or four spikes to provide ngid support in at least two directions.

Figure 6 shows an arrangement of the spikes 22 in an alternative embodiment. The shoe is shown upside down. In this embodiment the spikes 22 are curved and attached to the underside of the shoe 21 by respective hub portions 22a mounted on pivots 23 and held in place by locking pins 25. The spnngs in this arrangement are helical springs 24 each fitted inside its respective hub portion 22a around the pivot 23. In this arrangement, the action of the spikes is less likely to become clogged-up with earth and mud since the mechanism is more open, and should prove to be more reliable. The spikes 22 may have a chamfered edge (not shown), which helps to force the spikes 22 into the retracted state when withdrawing the shoe 21 through the mounting sleeve 20. For simplicity, only two spikes are shown in Figure 6, but it will be appreciated that three or four is the preferred number.

Figure 7 shows an arrangement of the spikes in another alternative embodiment. In this embodiment the spikes 22 are curved and attached to the shoe 21 by pivots 23. A flexible cushion 40 (shoe tension means) is used to force the spikes 22 into the projected state. The spikes 22 are shown in three positions. In position I the spikes 22 are in the retracted state and push against, and deform, the flexible cushion 50. The spikes 22 are held in position I by either the protective band 52 or the sides on the mounting sleeve 20. Once the spikes 22 clear the bottom edge of the mounting sleeve 20 they are forced to project from the shoe by the flexible cushion 40 pushing against them, as shown in position II. Once the pole 10 has been turned the spikes 22 fully extend into the ground, as shown in position Ill. The spikes 22 may

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have a chamfered upper edge (not shown), which helps to force the spikes 22 into the retracted state when withdrawing the shoe 21 through the mounting sleeve 20.

Figure 8 shows how the shoe 20 may be attached to the pole 10. The pole 10 may have a hollow bottom, or the pole 10 may be hollow throughout.

Inserted into the hollow bottom of the pole 10 is an engaging portion 28 of the shoe 21. This has formed at its centre a tapenng hollow cut-out, with its widest part uppermost. Surrounding the tapenng hollow cut-out are two upwards projecting halves (separated by slits -not shown) or three or more upwards projecting fingers. Inside the tapering hollow portion is a wedge 29 with a shape corresponding to that of the tapered hollow portion but having a slightly larger diameter. The wedge 29 is attached to a bolt 30 which extends through to the other side of the shoe 21 and is terminated with a nut 31. By tightening (turning) the nut 31, the bolt 30 is pulled axially out from the pole 10 and in turn the wedge 29 is pulled axially out from the pole 10. The wedge 29 contacts the sides of the tapering hollow portion, and forces the halves of the tapering hollow portion (or the three or more fingers) radially outwards (in a horizontal direction) to contact the inside of the hollow portion at the bottom of the pole 10. By progressively tightening the nut 31, the shoe 31 will be firmly attached to the bottom of the pole 10. By reversing the direction of the nut 31 the shoe may be removed from the pole 10 and may be re-used In another embodiment the shoe may be pre-fixed to the pole with adhesive.

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With reference to Figures 9A to 9F, a method of mounting a pole 10 into the ground according the embodiment will be descnbed. As shown in Figure 9A an auger 60 (hole forming means 60) is used to form a hole in the ground while inserting the mounting sleeve 20 into the hole formed before the soil can relax. Preferably, the auger 60 is an eccentric auger. Alternatively, instead of an auger, a pile driver, or any other suitable means for creating the hole, may be used. The use of a pile dnver may be preferred if the soil is soft.

The mounting sleeve 20 may be pu]led, or drawn, down into the hole by the auger. Once the sleeve 20 is fully inserted into the hole the auger 60 is withdrawn and an oversize hole 51 is formed at the base, as shown in Figure 9B. If an eccentric auger is used, the auger may be withdrawn in the concentric mode.

As shown in Figure 9C, the pole 10, with shoe 21 attached thereto, is inserted into the top of the mounting sleeve 20 If fitted, the protection band 52 is removed to release the spikes 22 from the retracted state; although since the shoe 21 is within the top of the mounting sleeve 20 the spikes 22 are not able to fully extend The pole 10 and shoe 21, are then inserted to the full depth of the mounting sleeve 20 and hole.

As shown in Figure 9D, once the pole 10 and shoe 21 are fully inserted into the mounting sleeve 20, and the shoe 21 clears the bottom (lower) edge of the mounting sleeve 20, the spikes 22 will be forced to project from the shoe 21 by the action of the springs 24 (shoe tension means 24). The spikes 22 will extend and engage the soil to a certain extent depending upon the force applied by the springs 24. The pole 10 is then rotated so as to fttlly extend the spikes 22 into the ground soil and force the spikes 22 into the projected state, as shown in Figure 9E.

Once the spikes 22 are in the projected state, the collar 45 is placed around the pole 10, and attached to the shoulder 20a of the mounting sleeve 20. The collar 45 is then attached to the pole 10 using a resin adhesive 46 (see Figure 9F).

To replace a pole 10, if it becomes damaged, or needs replacing for any other reason, the following, procedure may be used. First the collar 46 is removed by releasing it from the pole 10 by removing adhesive 46, and releasing it from the shoulder 20a of the mounting sleeve 20. Next the pole is twisted in the opposite direction to which it was twisted when being installed, so as to retract the spikes 22 and force them into the retracted state.

The pole 10 may then be pulled out from the mounting sleeve 20 and a replacement pole 10 fitted in its place according to the steps described above.

The shoe 21 may be removed from the old pole and attached to the new pole, or the new pole may have a new shoe already fitted.

The embodiments described above provide the advantage that the soil is not allowed to relax since the mounting sleeve 20 is inserted as the hole is being made by the pile driver or auger 60. Because of this, a firm, sturdy method of mounting a pole in the ground has been described that will be very resilient to external effects, i.e. wind and rain, and should last a long time.

In addition there is no need to use concrete, which would require a contractor mixing, or awaiting delivery of ready-mixed concrete, thus saving time and money. The pole may be mounted into the ground easily and quickly with the minimal of additional tools, and may be accomplished by a single contractor in a short time.

In addition a pole mounted in the ground can easily be removed if it becomes damaged, or removed for any other reason, by simply removing the collar, twisting the pole and withdrawing it. Again this process could be accomplished by a contractor quickly and with minimal equipment.

To replace a pole, it is only necessary to remove the old pole, fix the shoe (either the old one or a new one) to the new pole and then insert this according to the method above. This allows for the replacement of poles to be achieved with minimal equipment and may be performed in a matter of minutes. In addition the process does not require significant on-site quality control as this is achieved through the use of power equipment and pre-formed items. This would lead to saving in costs and time in the mounting of poles, but also the time and expense in training contractors to carry out the process.

In addition the new process may be more environmentally friendly since old concrete is not wasted each time a new pole is fitted, and the shoes can be detached from the old poles and reused on the new replacement pole.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will be appreciable that various modifications and alterations might be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. The invention should therefore be measured in terms of the claims which follow,

Claims

1. A method for mounting a pole (10), comprising the steps of: forming a hole in the ground using a hole forming means (60) while inserting a mounting sleeve (20) into the hole formed; withdrawing the hole forming means (60) and leaving the mounting sleeve (20) in the hole; affixing a shoe (21) to the pole (10) and Inserting the shoe and pole into the mounting sleeve; and twisting the pole (10) to engage at least one shoe projecting means (22) into the ground.

2. The method of claim 1, further compnsing the steps of: 1 5 affixing a collar (45) to the top of the mounting sleeve (20); and affixing the collar to the pole (10).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one shoe projecting means (22) is a spike.

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4. The method of claim 1, wherein the hole forming means (60) is an eccentric auger.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of withdrawing the hole forming means (60) includes withdrawing the auger in concentric mode.

6 The method of claim 1, wherein the hole forming means (60) is a pile dnver.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of inserting the shoe (21) and the pole (10) into the mounting sleeve includes the step of removing a protective band (52) from the shoe.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein removing the protective band releases tension in at least one shoe tension means (24) mounted in the shoe (21).

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one shoe tension means (24) IS includes a spring.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one tension means (24) forces the shoe projecting means (22) to project from the shoe (21)

II. The method of claim 1, wherein the shoe projecting means (22) is located on a pivot.

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12. The method of claim 2, wherein the mounting sleeve (20) has a shoulder (20a) that affixes to the collar (45).

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the collar (45) is removably affixed to the shoulder (20a) of the mounting sleeve (20).

14. The method of claim 2, wherein the collar (45) is affixed to the pole (10) using a resin adhesive (46)

1 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of withdrawing the hole forming means (60) leaves an enlarged hole (51) at a base of the hole.

16. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of: separating the collar (45) from the pole (10); separating the collar (45) from the mounting sleeve (20); and twisting the pole (10) and withdrawing the pole (10) from the mounting sleeve (20).

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of twisting the pole (10) releases the projecting means (22) from the ground, whereby the pole can be removed.

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18. The method of claim 1, wherein the step oftwistingthe pole (10) also attaches the pole (10) to the shoulder (20a) by means of a bayonet mount.

19. A pole mounting apparatus, comprising: a shoe (2 1) including at least one shoe projecting means (22); wherein the shoe (21) is adapted for attachment to a pole (10) and the at least one shoe projecting means (22) is retractable and has a retracted state and a projecting state, in the projecting sate the shoe projecting means (22) being operable to engage with the ground.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one shoe projecting means (22) is a spike.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 9, wherein the shoe includes a protective band (52), wherein removing the protective band (52) from the shoe releases tension in at least one shoe tension means (24) mounted in the shoe (21).

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the at least one shoe tension means (24) includes a spnng Lu

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the at least one tension means (24) forces the shoe projecting means (22) to project from the shoe (21).

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24 The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the shoe (21) includes at least one shoe tension means (24) to force the shoe projecting means (22) to project from the shoe (21).

25 The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the shoe projecting means (22) is located on a pivot (23) so as to be rotatable about the pivot (23) from the retracted state to the projecting state.

26 The apparatus olclaim 19, wherein twisting the pole (10) retracts the projecting means (22) into the retracted slate, whereby the pole can be removed from the ground.

27. A kit of parts comprising: the shoe (21) of claim 20; and a mounting sleeve (20); wherein: the mounting sleeve (20) has an inside diameter large enough to allow passage of the shoe (21) and a pole (10) having the shoe attached thereto, when the at least one shoe projecting means (22) is in the retracted state; and the mounting sleeve (20) has an inside diameter smaller than that of the at least one shoe projecting means (22) when the at least one shoe projecting means (22) is in the projecting state.

28. The kit of claim 27, further comprising: J0. 20 a collar (45) operable to be affixed to the top of the mounting sleeve (20) and to the to the pole (10).

29. The kit of claim 27, further compnsing: adhesive (46) operable to affix the collar to the pole (10).

30. The kit of claim 27, wherein the pole (10) and shoe (21) are operable to be inserted into the mounting sleeve (20) and by twisting the pole (10) the at least one shoe projecting means (22) become forced into the projecting state, 1 0 whereby the at least one projecting means (22) engages with the ground.

31. A pole mounted in the ground having: a mounting sleeve (20) surrounding the pole (10); and a shoe (21) attached to the bottom of the pole, including at least one shoe projecting means (22) extending outwardly from the shoe (21) into the ground; wherein the at least one shoe projecting means (22) is retractable to the inside of the shoe (21).

32. The pole of claim 31, further compnsing a collar (45) affixed to a shoulder (20a) of the mounting sleeve (20) and the pole (10).