GB2503425A

GB2503425A - Method and apparatus for replacing a pole or post, e.g. signpost or lamppost.

Info

Publication number: GB2503425A
Application number: GB1209364.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Denis Paul Thomas
Original assignee: Signpost Solutions Ltd
Current assignee: Signpost Solutions Ltd
Priority date: 2012-05-26
Filing date: 2012-05-26
Publication date: 2014-01-01
Also published as: GB201209364D0

Abstract

A method of replacing a hollow upright member such as a post or pole 10 , e.g. a signpost or lamppost, comprises cutting the original post substantially at ground level and fitting a replacement post 18 to the remaining in ground part of the post 10. The post 18 has a lower part 20 which is a sliding fit in the remainder of the post 10, and a main part of the same diameter as the post 10. The replacement post 18 is mounted to the original post 10 by filling the latter with a rapid setting mortar prior to introduction of the replacement post 18. A slot (42, Fig. 4) may be provided in the lower part of the replacement post which intended to be aligned with any electrical fittings extending into the remaining in ground part of the original post. The narrower lower part of the replacement post 18 may be formed by welding a tube to the bottom of a post.

Description

Replacement of an Upright Member This invention relates to a method of replacing a hollow original upright member, a new upright member usable in such a method, and a replacement upright member.

Upright members such as hollow posts are used in a wide range of situations, and particularly to mount signs such as road signs or other signs.

Conventionally such posts are mounted into the ground by digging a hole, locating a lower part of the post in the hole, and filling the hole with concrete.

This generally provides a very firm mounting of the post, but it can mean that a not insignificant amount of work and cost is involved if removal of the post is required, and particularly in breaking out the concrete and disposing of the old foundation.

It is often required to replace an existing sign post or similar. This may be due to damage to the original sign or post, which damage may be caused by an accident, vandalism or due to exposure to the elements over time.

Alternatively a sign or post may simply require replacement. It is generally necessary to wholly remove the old post and fully install a new post, or to locate a new post in a new location which may be adjacent to the old post, or remains of the old post.

Other upright members which may require replacement include lighting co'umns as may be used on road sides and elsewhere. Again these can regularly be damaged by collision with vehicles, or by other ways.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of replacing a hollow original upright member, the method including cutting the original upright member in situ at or adjacent ground level and removing the part of the upright member above the cut, lOcating a new upright member which has a lower part which is a sliding fit in the old upright member, with the lower part extending into the remaining part of the original upright member which extends into the ground, and the remainder of the new upright member upstanding therefrom.

A settable material may be provided in the remaining part of the original upright member, with the lower part of the new upright member being located into the remaining part of the original upright member prior to setting of the settable material, such that upon setting the settable material bonds the new upright member into the remaining part of the original upright member.

The settable material may be mortar, and may be a rapid setting mortar. Alternatively the settable material may be a rubber based material, or tar.

The new upright member may have a lower part of reduced diameter relative to the remainder of the new upright member. The lower part may be a sliding fit in the remainder of the new upright member, and the lower part may be mounted to the remainder of the new upright member, and may be mounted thereto by welding.

The depth of the remaining part of the original upright member may be measured prior to location of the lower part of the new upright member therein, and if necessary the length of the lower part of the new upright member may be reduced such that the lower end of the remainder of the new upright member substantially abuts against the top of the remainder of the original upright member.

One or more openings may be provided in the lower end of the new upright member to assist bonding thereof to the remaining part of the original upright member.

The upright member may be in the form of a post for mounting a sign, or a lighting column, and particularly a Street lighting column.

The upright members may be any of circular, square or rectangular cross section.

The new and/or original upright member may be made of any of aluminium, steel or fibre composite.

A longitudinal slot may be provided in the lower end of the new upright member, which slot is alignable with a hole in the remaining pal of the original upright member, to for instance enable a power cable to extend therethrough.

The invention further provides a new upright member with a lower part of reduced diameter usable in a method according to any of the preceding ten paragraphs.

The invention still further provides a replacement upright member with a lower part of reduced diameter which is of a size to slidingly fit within an original upright member.

The original upright member may be substantially the same diameter as the remainder of the replacement upright member.

An upper part of the lower part of the upright member may slidingly locate in a lower part of the remainder of the replacement upright member, and may be mounted thereto, for instance by welding.

The replacement upright member may be any of circular, square or rectangular cross section.

The replacement upright member may be made of any of aluminium, steel or fibre composite.

A longitudinal slot may be provided in the lower end of the new upright member, which slot is alignable with a hole in the remaining part of the original upright member, to for instance enable a power cable to extend therethrough.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side view showing a method of replacing an upright member according to the invention in progress; Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1 once the method has been completed; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a first replacement post usable in the method illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic front view of a second replacement post usable in the method illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2; and Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view along the line A-A of Fig. 4.

Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings show a method of replacing a hollow upright member such as a circular section post 10 which can be used for instance to mount a road sign or other signs. The original post 10 has been mounted in the ground in a concrete foundation 12. It has been required to replace the originaipost 10, and the following method has been used.

The ground 14 around the original post 10 has been dug away, and the original post 10, substantially at ground level, has been cut using a manual pipe cutter or otherwise. The top part of the post 10 as shown by the dotted line 16 is then removed.

A first replacement post 18 is provided of a similar diameter to the original post 10. The replacement post 18 includes a lower part 20 which is in the form of a length of tube which is a sliding fit in the remainder of the post 18. The lower part 20 is mounted in the lower end of the post 18 by welding and extends there from. One or more holes 22 may be provided through the lower part 20.

To fit the replacement post 18 in the remains of the original post 10, the length of the remaining part 24 of the post 10 in the ground is measured. If the length of the lower part 20 extending from the remainder of the replacement post 18 is longer than the length of the remaining part 24 of the original post 10, then the lower part 20 can be cut to size such that the bottom of the remainder of the replacement post 18 can abut against the top of the remaining part 24.

The remaining part 24 of the original post 10 is filled with a rapid setting mortar, and the lower part 20 is located therein such that the mortar bonds the lower part 20 to the remainder of the original post 10. The holes 22 aid the bonding there between, and allow mortar to flow there through.

The ground around the remainder of the original post 10 can be returned to its original condition, as shown in Fig. 2. A post then with the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 is provided. In some instances it may be required to fit a cover over the top of the remainder of the original post 10, and such a cover is shown by the broken line 26 in Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 and 5 show a second replacement post 30. The post 30 is of a type usable to support a sign, light fittings, traffic lights or otherwise which are electrically powered. The post 30 has an upper cylindrical part 32 extending upwardly from a wider base part 34. The upper part 32 is mounted on the base part 34 by welding.

The base part 34 defines a hollow housing 36with an opening 38 which can be closed by a door or cover, which door or cover may be removable. The housing 36 may locate electrical controls or connections, and permits servicing or maintenance thereof through the opening 38.

A cylindrical lower part 40 extends downwardly from the base part 34, and is mounted thereto by welding. The lower part 40 is of a size to slidingly fit within a remaining part of an original post. A longitudinal slot 42 extends upwardly from the lower end of the lower part 40 for a part of the length thereof. The slot 42 is alignable with an opening or openings in the remaining part of an original post, to enable for instance electrical cables to extend thereto to power a sign, traffic lights or the like mounted initially on the original post, and now on the replacement part 30.

Again the lower part 40 can be reduced in length if required dependent on the depth of the remaining part of the original post.

There is thus described a method of replacing upright members which involves considerably less work than a conventional arrangement of having to break out the original upright member from the concrete. Furthermore new concrete is not required, thus saving in costs and time in installing the new post. This means that this method can be applicable in a wide range of situations.

This invention is usable in a wide range of situations. For instance the invention may be used with posts to mount road signs or other signs, traffic lights or other signal indicators, or a lighting column such as a street lighting column.

A number of other modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance a different material may be used to bond together the original and new upright members, and this material could be a rubber based material or tar. A different formation could be provided at the lower end of the new upright members. The new and/or original upright member may be made of any of aluminium, steel or fibre composite.

Whilst endeavoring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method of replacing a hollow original upright member, the method including cutting the original upright member in situ at or adjacent ground level and removing the part of the upright member above the cut, locating a new upright member which has a lower part which is a sliding fit in the old upright member, with the lower part extending into the remaining part of the original upright member which extends into the ground, and the remainder of the new upright member upstanding therefrom.
2. A method according to claim 1, in which a settable material is provided in the remaining part of the original upright member, with the lower part of the new upright member being located into the remaining part of the original upright member prior to setting of the settable material, such that upon setting i--15 the settable material bonds the new upright member into the remaining part of LI) the original upright member.
3. A method according to claim 2, in which the settable material is mortar.
4. A method according to claim 3, in which the settable material is a rapid setting mortar.
5. A method according to any of the preceding claims, in which the new upright member has a lower part of reduced diameter relative to the remainder of the new upright member.
6. A method according to claim 5, in which the lower part is a sliding fit in the remainder of the new upright member.
7. A method according to claims 5 or 6, in which the lower part is mounted to the remainder of the new upright member.
8. A method according to claim 7, in which the lower part is mounted to the remainder of the new upright member by welding.
9. A method according to any of the preceding claims, in which the depth of the remaining part of the original upright member is measured prior to location of the lower part of the new upright member therein, and if necessary the length of the lower part of the new upright member is reduced such that the lower end of the remainder of the new upright member substantially abuts against the top of the remainder of the original upright member.
10. A method according to any of the preceding claims, in which one or more openings is provided in the lower part of the new upright member to assist bonding thereof to the remaining part of the original upright member. C')i--15
11. A method according to any of the preceding claims, in which the upright member is in the form of a post for mounting a sign, or a lighting 0 column, and particularly a street lighting column.
12. A method according to any of the preceding claims, in which the upright members are of circular, square or rectangular cross section.
13. A method according to any of the preceding claims, in which the new and/or original upright member is made of any of aluminium, steel or fibre composite.
14. A method according to any of the preceding claims, in which a longitudinal slot may be provided in the lower end of the new upright member, which slot is alignable with a hole in the remaining part of the original upright member, to for instance enable a power cable to extend therethrough.
15. A new upright member with a lower part of reduced diameter usable in a method according to any of the preceding claims.
16. A replacement upright member with a lower part of reduced diameter which is of a size to slidingly fit within an original upright member.
17. A replacement upright member according to claim 16, in which the original upright member is substantially the same diameter as the remainder of the replacement upright member.
18. A replacement upright member according to claims 16 or 17, in which an upper pad of the lower part of the upright member slidingly locates in a lower part of the remainder of the replacement upright member.
19. A replacement upright member according to claim 18, in which the upper part of the lower part of the upright member is mounted to the lower co part of the remainder of the replacement upright member. i-15LU
20. A replacement upright member according to claim 19, in which the O upper part of the lower part of the upright member is mounted to the lower part of the remainder of the replacement upright member.
21. A replacement upright member according to any of claims 16 to 20, in which the replacement upright member is of circular, square or rectangular cross section.
22. A replacement upright member according to any of claims 16 to 21, in which the replacement upright member is made of any of aluminium, steel or fibre composite.
23. A replacement upright member according to any of claims 16 to 22, in which a longitudinal slot is provided in the lower end of the new upright member, which slot is alignable with a hole in the remaining part of the original upright member, to for instance enable a power cable to extend therethrough.
24. A method of replacing a hallow original upright member, the method being substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
25. A replacement upright member substantially as hereinbefare described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
26. Any navel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims. C')LU