US3350822A

US3350822A - Steel reinforcer for wooden poles

Info

Publication number: US3350822A
Application number: US488643A
Authority: US
Inventors: Nachazel John Stanley
Original assignee: CF AND I STEEL CORP
Current assignee: CF AND I STEEL CORP
Priority date: 1965-09-20
Filing date: 1965-09-20
Publication date: 1967-11-07
Anticipated expiration: 1984-11-07

Description

NOL 7. 1967 J. s. NAcHAzx-:L 3,350,822

STEEL REINFORGER FOR WOODEN POLES Filed Sept. 20, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 7, 1967 J. s. NAcHAzEL STEEL REINF'ORCER FOR WOODEN POLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 20, 1955 Za, Y

w//Mn/l a //////A my S mwa/@Mw ww T i M L5 A M United States Patent O M' 3,350,822 STEEL REINFGRCER FOR WOODEN POLES John Stanley Nachazel, Englewood, Colo., assigner to CF&I Steel Corporation, a corporation of Colorado Fried sept. 20, 196s, ser. No. 488,643 5 Claims. (Cl. 52-170) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A steel reinforcing member for utility poles, the member having a semi-cylindrical elongated shape with the lower end thereof terminating in two spaced points and having angular tapered surfaces for cont-rolling the path of movement of the member as it is driven into the ground adjacent to the utility pole.

This application is a continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 200,206, filed June 5, 1962, now abandoned for steel reinforcer for wooden poles.

This invention relates to reinforcing devices and more particularly to reinforcing devices suitable for insertion into the ground at the side of utility poles to insure their longer use or to strengthen old poles that have been subject to deterioration.

A wooden utility pole becomes weakened by decay at an area just below the earths surface much sooner than the remainder of the pole due to the accumulation of moisture in that area.

Various attempts at providing suitable reinforcing devices have been made, however, all have attendant disadvantages. One such attempt has been to place a short section of wooden pole in the ground and to clamp it next to the utility pole. The disadvantages of providing such a section are that this section will also decay, and that an additional hole must be dug.

Various types of metal reinforcers have been utilized that t ush against the pole. In order that a driving means be attached to such a reinforcer to facilitate penetration of the reinforcer into the ground, a separae driving head must be attached to the top of the reinforcer projecting outwardly thereby being adapted t0 receive a driving means.

Other reinforcing devices are provided with ends that taper to a point to facilitate penetration into the earth. As this type of reinforcing member is driven into the ground, the resistance of the dirt and rocks tends to force the member away from the desired penetration line which is normally along the longitudinal axis of the utility pole. Thus, depending upon the taper angle -that the point is cut, the member will either diverge from or converge toward the pole during penetration.

The present invention overcomes these disadvantages by providing a steel reinforcing member adapted to receive a driving means and adapted to be driven in the ground adjacent to the utility pole without penetrating therein. The reinforcing member of the present invention is semicylindrical and elongated. One feature is that the diameter of the reinforcing member is less than the diameter of the utility pole. Thus, the complete cross section of the member does not lit flush against the pole and its top edge is accordingly able to receive a suitable driving means.

Another feature of the present invention resides in the penetrating sections carried by the lower end of the reinforcing member, which comprises a major angular surface tapering downwardly toward the longitudinal edges of the reinforcing member and a minor angular surface tapering downwardly away from the longitudinal edges forming two points and a riding surface to prevent penetration of the points into the poles.

Patented Nov. 7, 1967 ICC One further feature of the present invention is the provision of a hole near the top of the reinforcer which can be used for attaching a hook or line to remove the reinforcing member or for attaching of a suitable driving means.

A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front View of the reinforcer of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of FIG. 1 taken at a right angle;

FIG. 3 is a top view of FIG. 1 after it is connected to a utility pole;

FIG. 4 shows the lower portion of the member after it is embedded in the earth;

FIG. 5 is a view of a reinforcing member af-ter it is connected to a utility pole; and,

FIG. 6v shows apparatus for driving the reinforcing member into the ground adjacent to a utility pole.

The improved reinforcing member, generally indicated by 1, is semi-cylindrical in cross section and elognated. It can be economically and advantageously formed from steel pipe cut in longitudinal halves. The diameter of the reinforcing member 1 is preferably less than the diameter of the pole, therefore, the complete cross section of the member does not fit flush thereto. The upper edge 2, arcuate in shape, of the member 1 contacts the pole only at its edges. The center portion of the upper edge 2 is thereby'set away from the pole providing a space between the pole and the reinforcing member 1. This forms a driving area 3 readily adaptable to receive a suitable driving means. Thus, the need of attaching a separate driving head between the driving means and the reinforcing member is eliminated. Furthermore, since the complete cross section of the reinforcing member does not t flush against the pole, it is not necessary that a large stock of different diameter reinforcing members be kept to accommodate different pole sizes. A hole 4 is provided to facilitate removal of the member 1 or for the attachment of a driving means.

To aid in penetrating the earth, the lower end of the reinforcing member 1 tapers downwardly and forms two pointed sections terminating in two points 5 and 6. Each pointed section is comprised of a major angular surface 7 which tapers downwardly in the direction toward the longitudinal edges of member 1 and a minor angular surface 8 which tapers downwardly away from the longitudinal edges 9. In the area of the intersection of the longitudinal edges 9 and the minor angular surfaces 8, a riding surface 10 is carried which prevents penetration of the points into the pole as described in detail with reference to FIGURE 4. By forming the minor angular surfaces 8 tapering downwardly away from the longitudinal edges 9, the points 5 and 6 are positioned away from the longitudinal edges 9y rather than at the point 11 (FIG. 2) where the major angular surfaces 7 would meet the longitudinal edges 9 if the minor :angular surface 8 were not formed.

A preferred method of forming the points 5 and `6, is to make a major V shaped angular cut from the center of the reinforcing member 1 tapering diagonally toward the longitudinal edges 9. The point 11 of intersection is trimmed by a second minor angular cut, preferably made at an angle of approximately 30 with the longitudinal edges 9. The intersection of the minor angular surfaces 8 and the major angular surfaces 7 created by the two cuts results in the formation of the two points 5 and 6.

FIG. 4 shows the details of the lower end of the reinforcing member. As the device is driven into the earth, obstructions such as rocks 12 are encountered. Because of the angle of the major angular surface 7, the reinforcing member 1 tends to take the path of least resist ance and moves over the rocks 12 in a direction generally designated by the arrow in FIG. 4. This movement is desirable in order to keep the reinforcing member 1 close to the pole. To avoid the possibility of the reinforc- `ing member 1 entering the pole should a rock 12 be encountered, as it is driven into the ground, the minor angular surface 8 is provided as hereinabove described, carrying the riding surface 10 in the area of the intersection of the minor angular surfaces t8 and the longitudinal edges 9 that will slide along the pole rather than enter it. Thus, the reinforcing member is kept close to the pole without the attendant disadvantage of entering the pole.

FIG. 5 illustrates a reinforcer of the invention after it has been driven into the ground. Suitable bands or straps are provided to anchor the upper portion of the reinforcing member of the pole.

FIG. 6 illustrates the preferred apparatus for driving the reinforcing member into the ground by means of an air hammer 13. Rope or chain 21 may be used to hold the reinforcing member in position against the pole While the driving apparatus is being positioned. The mounting rig shown includes a supporting shaft 14 adapted to be placed in the ground alongside the pole. The shaft is provided with a fork 15 at its upper end adapted to grip the pole. One end of a pulley hoist 16 is mounted on the fork 15 while the other end supports the air hammer 13. The air hammer 13 is further positioned by a second hoist 17. Ropes or chains 18 may be used to hold the air hammer 13 in position until the member 1 is driven into the ground. A special driving attachment 20 is then readily fitted on the driving area 3 of the reinforcing member 1 because of the difference in its diameter from the pole diameter. The air hammer 13 is then actuated to drive the reinforcing member into the ground.

It will be apparent that although the invention has been described in connection with a utility pole, it is not so limited, and is equally applicable supporting any type of embedded poles or posts such as fence posts or the like. The present invention could also be used to support uprooted trees.

Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

I claim:

1. A steel reinforcing member adapted to be driven into the ground adjacent a utility pole, said reinforcing member being semi-cylindrical and elongated, the upper portion of said member forming a driving area, the lower portion of said reinforcing member being cut to define a major angular surface tapered downwardly toward the longitudinal edges of the member and minor angular surfaces tapered downwardly away from said longitudinal edges thereby forming two points, and riding surfaces formed in the area of the intersection of the minor angular surfaces and the longitudinal edges.

2. The reinforcing m-ember of claim 1 wherein the cylindrical diameter of said member is less than the diameter of the utility pole, the said driving area positioned away from the pole thereby being adapted to accommodate a suitable driving means.

3. A steel reinforcing member for supporting utility poles adapted to be driven into the ground, said reinforcing member being elongated and semi-cylindrical, having a diameter less than the utility pole thereby forming a driving area at the upper edge adapted to receive a suitable driving means, the lower portion of said member being cut to define angular surfaces, one said surface tapered toward the longitudinal edge of said reinforcing member and other surfaces tapered away from said longtudinal edge forming riding surfaces whereby said reinforcing member can be driven into the ground in axial alignment with the pole without the point being embedded therein.

4. The reinforcing member of claim 3 wherein means are provided to secure the reinforcing member to the pole.

S. The reinforcing member of claim 4 wherein a means is provided for connection to a suitable driving means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,569,763 1/1926 Litter 173-132 X 1,811,899 6/1931 Spring 52-170 2,265,452 12/1941 Ruggieri 52-170 3,005,503 10/1961 Spickard 173--130 3,193,252 7/1965 Barrett 254-51 BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

DAVID I. WILLIAMOWSKY, Examiner.

A. M. C ALVERT, Assistant Examiner.