US2163808A

US2163808A - Method of setting tower footings

Info

Publication number: US2163808A
Application number: US137303A
Authority: US
Inventors: Myron A Pithoud
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1937-04-16
Filing date: 1937-04-16
Publication date: 1939-06-27
Anticipated expiration: 1956-06-27

Description

June.27,1939. MAPITHO D 2,163,808

METHOD OF SETTING TOWER FOOTINGS Filed April 16, 19:57

flTTOR/VEY.

Patented June 27, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 METHOD OF SETTING TOWER FOOTINGS Myron A. Pithoud, Long Beach, Calif.

Application April 16, 1937, Serial No. 137,303

2 Claims.

This invention relates to the method of setting tower footings, whereby the various piers and the coupling member to which a leg of the tower is secured, are accurately set and spaced.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel method of setting tower footings which eliminates the use of large and cumbersome templets heretofore in use and which enable the contractor to quickly'and efiectively set the tower piers and the coupling member in each pier in the proper positions.

Still another object is to provide a method of setting tower footings, whereby each footing can be set separately, thereby reducing the amount of equipment necessary for excavation and setting.

An advantage of my method is that the tower footings can be set on rough contours where each footing is on a different elevation.

Still another advantage is the perfection in setting each footing, all human errors being reduced to a minimum.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description and the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating my method of setting tower footings.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the adjusting jig.

.Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the same.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the calibrated plate.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the same.

In setting the tower footings for structures such as power line towers and the like, the towers are spaced at fixed distances, these distances being determined by the engineer. The separate piers are set either in a square or in a rectangle and where the power line passes through rough or mountainous country, the various piers are seldom at the same elevation.

Heretofore a square or rectangular templet has been used to determine the position of the four piers and also the position of the coupling member which is set in each of the piers. It is obvious in rough terrain, a great difiiculty would be experienced in properly placing a long and cumbersome rectangular templet. My method and apparatus includes the following:

The central line of the transmission line is indicated at I. By measuring along the line I, a distance given on the engineers map, it is possible to accurately set the central point 2, over which the transit is positioned. The point 2 is the exact center of the square or rectangle formed by the four piers of the tower. When the transit is set on the point 2, a simple calculation will determine 5 the angle 3 and by turning this angle with the transit, the telescope will sight along the line 4 and will therefore bisect one corner angle of the square or rectangle. The distance along the line 4 can be calculated and thus the center of a pier 5 is actually determined. The other 3 piers are set in a like manner. It will be evident from the foregoing description that it is immaterial whether the piers are set at the same elevation or not. As long as a line can be sighted from the transit, setting at the center of the rectangle to each of the footings, it is possible to accurately set each of the footings. Thus the footings can be set, one at a time, which is advantageous, particularly where water conditions are encountered and it is necessary to pump out the excavation in order to set the concrete pier. Transmission towers are constructed of structural members and therefore a coupling member is embedded in the concrete of each of the piers 5 and the legs of the tower are bolted to this coupling member. The coupling member shown at 6 must be accurately positioned in the pier so that the base of the tower will be a perfect rectangle. An adjusting jig 1 includes two longitudinally adjustable fittings each of which includes a tube 8. which is bolted or otherwise removably attached at 9 to the coupling member 6. A second tube Ill is attached to the tube 8 by means of the screw II. The screw H is provided with left and right-hand threads which screw into the tubes 8 and HI respectively so that when the screw is rotated, the tubes will be adjusted longitudinally for the purpose of positioning the coupling members 6 as will be further described. A pin I2 is driven through the hole l3 in the tube It) and turns into the ground, thus anchoring the outer end of the tube. Plate M is bolted or otherwise removably attached to the coupling member 6 and this plate is calibrated 45 substantially as shown at l5 and by sighting through the telescope of the transit, the line 4 can be made to bisect the angle of the coupling member 6. The adjustment of the coupling member is accomplished by adjusting the screws I I in the two jigs at the direction of the man operating the transit. When the coupling member is in proper alignment and at a proper distance from the point 2, the concrete of the pier is allowed to set, thus fixing the coupling member. The other three piers and coupling members are set in the same manner. The jig I is removed from the coupling member after it is set, and is then moved to the next pier where the operation as previously described is repeated.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An adjusting jig for setting tower footings, comprising a coupling member adapted to be fixedly mounted in a tower footing, a pair of bars extending angularly from the coupling member, means securing each of the bars to the coupling member, means fixedly securing the outer end of each of the bars and means adapted to longitudinally adjust each of said bars, and a sighting plate removably mounted on the coupling memher, said plate having an indicating mark thereon adapted to be aligned with an alidade mounted within the confines of the tower footing.

2. An adjusting jig for setting tower footings, comprising a coupling member adapted to be fixedly mounted in each tower footing, an adjusting jig comprising a pair of arms extending angularly from the coupling member, means removably attaching the inner end of said arms to the coupling member, means fixedly securing the outer ends of the arms, each of said arms comprising a pair of tubes, a screw threaded into said tubes, said screw being adapted and arranged to longitudinally adjust said tubes whereby the coupling member is adjusted, and a sighting plate removably attached to the coupling member.

MYRON A. PITHOUD;