NZ223190A - Pole support post - Google Patents

Description

22 3 1 9 0 i " "'p. 6 .C? \ It.--/ \ ! •••• \ \ — •• — I , .... .. i ■ ■ ••• ' ' I .f.flV ■ • ■ | i • - r ..... 1 Under the provisions of Regulation 23 {') the L£.'.Y:J?kXi.

Spec:;:cc:;cn. nrs be-on er:;e-<iated to 19 Initials Patents Form No. 5 NEW 2EALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION if ;aj^b88V \,,c .<lj B "A UTILITY POLE SUPPORT" WE, R.F.D. CONSULTANTS PTY. LTD., a company Incorporated under the laws of the State of Victoria, of 14 Collins Street, Melbourne in the State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia, hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- 22 3 1 9 0 A UTILITY POLE SUPPORT The present invention relates to a device and method for reinforcing utility poles and the like, and more particularly, to strengthening utility poles that have been weakened such as by weathering or corrosion.

Although the present invention will be described with particular reference to repairing rotted wooden utility poles such as wooden telegraph poles, power poles, light poles and the like, by providing additional support about the region of rotting by means of a supporting element attached to the pole, it is to be noted that the scope of the invention is not so limited and it may extend further so as to be applicable to providing support for any type of pole or similar structure whatever material the strucutre may be made form. Thus, the word pole as used in the present specification is not limited to utility poles but includes within its scope other structural elements, such as for example, poles used in foundations, towers, masts, stumps, pylons, pier supports and the like.

One problem associated with wooden utility poles that have been in the ground for long periods of time is that rotting takes place in the region of ground level, both above and below the surface of the ground. The remainder of the pole may be in good condition both above and below the rotted region of rot around about ground level. Although the pole is rotted at a small area only, it is structurally weakened and hence, must be repaired or replaced. To overcome the relative high costs, in terms of time, labour and material, of replacing the pole entirely, various attempts have been proposed in 22 3 1 9 order to repair or renovate the pole. Such attempts have not always been entirely satisfactory for a number of reasons associated with the cost, the degree of difficulty, length of time taken to perform the process and the like.

Therefore, it is an aim of the present invention to attempt to overcome at least some of the problems of prior art devices and methods by providing an elegantly simple support member for a method of repairing or renovating damaged poles.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a utility pole support member suitable for being securely connected to a utility pole or similar, including an elongate flange portion having a first surface for abutting against the pole in use and an elongate rib portion for providing strength to the pole, the flange portion being connected to the rib portion at respective edges of the flange and rib portions, the flange portion being provided with means for securely connecting the support member to the pole.

In one form of the invention the flanges are curved in accordance with the corresponding curvature of the pole.

In one embodiment, the support member has two flange portions, one located on either side of the rib portion and connected thereto. In another embodiment, the support member is symmetrical about a longitudinal axis extending lengthwise along the centre line of the rib portion. In another embodiment, the rib portion is substantially U-shaped and extends substantially perpendicularly from the extended common curved surface of the two flange portions.

The present invention will now be described by way of example with particular reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 3 i 9 0 FIGURE 1(a) illustrates a partial side elevation view of a utility pole located in the ground showing a rotted portion in the region of ground level; FIGURE 7 is a side view of an emodiment of the support member in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 8 is a front view of the embodiment shown in Figure 7; FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view of one form of the means to secure the support member to the pole above ground level; FIGURES 10(a) to (d) are a series of horizontal cross-sections of the pole showing the spatial relationship of the support member and pole at various distances along the length of the pole.

In Figure 1(a) there is shown a utility pole 2 having a top portion 4 in sound condition above ground level 6, a lower portion 8 in sound condition below ground level, and a middle portion 10 (denoted by the hatching) located about ground level as shown. The rot extends above and below ground level as shown.

Support member 12 is driven into the ground in the direction of arrow A by any suitable means such as a sledge hammer, pile driver or the like. In Figure 1(c), support member 12 which is shown as being driven into the ground to the required depth alongside pole 2 is securely fixed to the pole by a number of suitable fasteners such as bolts 14 above the ground level 6. Nine such fasteners which may be 3/4" bolts are normally used but it is noted that any number of fasteners may be used- Additionally, three stainless steel Gerard strappings 16 are located above ground level to securely fix the support member to the pole. The use of Gerard straps is optional.

Below ground level there is shown a spike 18 driven obliquely into the pole by movement of a cleat 20 in accordance with corresponding movement of the support member in the direction of 22 3 19 0 arrow A. As the support member is securely fixed to the top portion 4 and the lower portion 8 which are both in sound condition/ the pole is reinforced about the rotted section 10, and thus is servicable for an extended period.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 7 to 9, the support member 42 has a top portion 44 and a lower portion 46. Top portion 44 comprises two flanges 48 located on either side of a rib 50 in a similar manner to that of support member 12 described earlier. Apertures 52 are provided in flanges 48 at pre-selected locations for fixing the support member to the pole. One such method of fixing is shown in Figure 9 and comprises a ferrule 54 of an outside diameter slightly less than the diameter of the apertures 52.

Ferrule 54 is located through aperture 52 and is also received in a rebate or cutout 56 located in the outer surface of the pole. A bolt 58 is passed through a bore 59 located in the pole so secure the ferrule in place in the aperture so as to firmly secure the pole support to the pole.

The lower portion 46 of the support member has two flanges 60, one located on either side of centrally placed rib 62 in a similar manner to that described for the top portion 44. However, flanges 60 and rib 62 taper from a point about midway along with length of the support member corresponding to the thickness and width of flanges 48 and rib 50 to a very much reduced width and thickness at the tip of the pole support located at the end of lower portion 46. In this embodiment there is no securing means located on the lower portion since the force of the substrate pushing against the rib and flanges of the lower portion keeps the pole support hard against the pole when in the substrate and accordingly provides additional support for the pole to overcome the weakness caused by the damaged or weakened portion. 22 3 1 9 0 It is to be noted from Figure 10(a) that when three similar pole supports are used to repair a pole, the supports can be arranged equidistant around the pole so that three bolts only may be used to secure the six flanges. In this arrangement three bores are drilled through the pole along diameters of the pole so that the head of one bolt engages one flange of one support member while the nut applied to the other end of the bolt engages a flange of another member as illustrated.

It is to be noted that any number of similar support members may be used to reinforce a single pole depending on circumstances such as the size of the pole, its weakness, and the size of the support members. Also the size and profile of the flange portions and of the rib portions may be altered in accordance with circumstances such as the number of support members used, their size, weight and the like.

The described arrangement has been advanced merely by way of explanation and many modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which includes every novel feature and combination of novel features herein disclosed. 22 3 1 9 0

Claims (9)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A utility pole support member suitable for being securely connected to a utility pole including at least one elongate flange portion having a first surface for abutting against the pole and an elongate rib portion for providing strength to the support member, said support member being provided with means for securely connecting the support member to the pole said means comprising a ferrule which in use extends into an aperture in the flange portion and into a rebate in the pole and a bolt which passes through the pole, the head of the bolt being located within the ferrule.

2. A pole in combination with at least two-support members as defined in claim 1 said support members being driven into the ground on opposite sides of the pole and wherein a pair of ferrules on opposite sides of the pole are connected together by a bolt which passes through the pole.

3. A pole as claimed in claim 2 wherein each support member has two of said apertures located in respective first and second flanges, each with respective ferrules and wherein at least two bolts are provided to connect together ferrules which are diametrically opposed relative to the pole.

4. A pole as claimed in claim 3 wherein there are three support members equispaced about the pole.

5. A pole as claimed in claim 4 wherein each support member has a plurality of said apertures in a first group in an upperpart of the top portion thereof and a plurality of said apertures in a second group thereof located in a lower part of said top portion. i5.

A method of repairing a pole using at least two support members as claimed in claim 1 comprising the steps of driving said support members into the ground at opposite sides of the pole such that the - 8 - 223190 flange portions are adjacent to the pole and the rib project outwardly therefrom, drilling a hole through the pole and between the apertures in the flanges on opposite sides of the pole, forming rebates in the pole beneath the apertures, inserting ferrules in the rebates, inserting a bolt through the hole so that respective ends of the bolt are located in respective ferrules, and tightening the bolt so that the flanges are firmly clasped against xhe pole.

7. A utility pole support member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A pole when strengthened by the method of repairing a pole according to claim 6.

9. A method of repairing a pole substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. B. - - Attorneys for the Applicant