US3509678A

US3509678A - Apparatus for supporting electrical components and method of making the same

Info

Publication number: US3509678A
Application number: US804335*A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lee J Dake
Original assignee: Joslyn Manufacturing and Supply Co
Current assignee: Joslyn Manufacturing and Supply Co
Priority date: 1968-12-10
Filing date: 1968-12-10
Publication date: 1970-05-05
Anticipated expiration: 1987-05-05

Description

May 5, 1910 Original Filed Feb. 27, 1967 AND v L. J. DAKE APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME 2 Sheets-Sheet l F I6. I I6. 3

A l4 INVE/V TOR LEE J. DAKE Afforn eys May 5, 1970 7 L. J. DAKE 3,509,673 APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Original Filed Feb. 27. 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I/VVE/VTOR LEE J. DAKE R By %dw ,mm,fizum &

A Horn e ys United States Patent US. Cl. 52-721 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for supporting electrical components from poles and the like, including a bracket attached to the pole having a pair of parallel vertical side plates and a spacer web joined therebetween forming the bottom of a beam pocket and sloping upwardly and outwardly of the pole. A support arm having an inner end supported in the pocket and extending upwardly and outwardly of the pole. The support arm is constructed of wood members laminated together and is tapered from a maximum dimension at the bracket to a minimum dimension at the outer end. The arm is curved along a neutral axis sloping upwardly and outwardly adjacent the bracket to approach a horizontal plane adjacent the outer end Whereon the electrical components are supported. The arm is secured to the bracket by a horizontal bolt extending through the side plates of the bracket and an upwardly extending bolt which passes through the spacer web and controls the angular relation of the arm with respect to the pole.

A method of making a pair of support arms comprising the steps of forming an elongated laminated wood beam having longitudinal side faces, bending the beam longitudinally to form curved longitudinal upper and lower edge faces extending transversely of the side faces, and cutting the beam after forming and bending along a path between said upper and lower edge surfaces diverging to- Ward one and away from the other between opposite ends of the beam to form a pair of curved tapered support beams.

This application is a continuation of United States patent application Ser. No. 618,663, filed Feb. 27, 1967 and now abandoned.

The present invention relates to a new and improved apparatus for supporting electrical components and the like and to a new and improved method of making the same. More particularly, this inveniton is concerned with anew and improved means for supporting electrical components, such as transmission lines and the like, from vertical poles or other supporting structures and is concerned not only in providing strong and reliable support means which will long withstand the elements of wind,

weather, and precipitation, but also one which is aestheticin appearance and does not blight the surrounding countryside.

In the past, such structures have included poles or towers either of steel or wood and numerous bracing members and cross arms, which, in many instances, are gross and unsightly, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved apparatus of the character described which not only is functionally improvedv but, in addition, is aesthetic in appearance.

When such structures are used for supporting high tension electrical transmission lines, one of the problems associated therewith is the possibility of flash-over from the high voltage lines to the various members making up the structure. Because of this, in many instances, wood has been preferred over metal. Many of the wood structures, however, have required extensive cross bracing and X-bracing in order to provide the necessary strength required for supporting the electrical transmission lines, especially when the lines are burdened with heavy accumulations of ice and snow and with wind loads. While Wood has better resistance to impulse flash-over than metal, it generally does not last as long as metal because of deterioration caused by wind and weather.

-Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved apparatus of the character described which is structurally sound, aesthetic in appearance, and which is able to withstand for long periods of time the deteriorating effects of wind and weather encountered.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved apparatus of the type described having improved damping characteristics to minimize the whipping or swinging oscillations of the wires carried thereby when heavy ice and snow loads and high wind are encountered.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved apparatus of the character described having improved resistance to impulse flash-over from the electrical components supported thereon to other portions of the apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved method of making the supporting apparatus of the present invention which is low in cost, relatively simple in operation and economical as far as the material required is concerned.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved method of the character described wherein the supporting apparatus produced is extremely strong, low in cost and, in addition, is aesthetic in appearance.

Briefly, the foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished by the provision of a new and improved apparatus for supporting electrical components, such as transmission lines from utility poles, towers andthe like including a bracket adapted to be attached to the pole and having a pair of parallel vertical side plates with a spacer web joined therebetween forming the bottom of a beam receiving pocket and sloping upwardly and outwardly from the pole. A support arm is provided with its inner end supported in the beam pocket and extending upwardly and outwardly of the pole, and the arm is fabricated of laminated wood members and is tapered from a maximum depth at the bracket to a minimum depth at the outer end where the electrical component is attached. The support arm is curved along a neutral axis sloping upwardly and outwardly adjacent the bracket and the axis gradually approaches the horizontal adjacent the outer end of the arm. The inner end of the arm is secured in the beam pocket by a horizontal bolt or pivot pin extending through the side plates of the bracket and an adjustable pin or bolt extends upwardly through the spacer web in the bracket and the inner end of the arm. This bolt is adjustable to control the angular relation between the arm with respect to the supporting pole and thereby position the outer end of the arm horizontally. Because the arm is constructed of laminated wood members and is curved and tapered as described, it is extremely strong and provides for better ing the beam longitudinally while the adhesive is setting to form curved longitudinal upper and lower edge faces. After the beam segment is so formed, it is cut longitudinally along a curved path between the curved upper and lower edges and the cutting path is offset from the neutral axis of the segment and diverges toward one and away from the other of the curved edge surface thereby forming a pair of curved and tapered support arms from the single curved beam segment.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed descriptionwhen taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of a new and improved apparatus for supporting electrical components and the like in accordance with features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary lateral elevational view showing a portion of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of FIG. 2 looking downward in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged lateral side elevational view of one of the support arm assemblies constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of the support arm assembly of FIG. 4 showing in enlarged detail a bracket means in accordance with the invention for securing the support arm to a supporting pole;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but with portions broken away to illustrate the mounting details of the support arm in the bracket means;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view looking downwardly on the inner end portion of the arm and bracket of FIG. 5; FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along the lines 8-8 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic view illustrating the method of the present invention used in fabricating or making the support arms of the apparatus.

Referring now, more particularly, to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a utility pole 10 on which are mounted a plurality of support arm assemblies 12 constructed in accordance with the features of the present invention. The support arm assemblies are especially adapted for supporting electrical transmission lines 14 but are useful for supporting other electrical components, such as trans formers, switches, and the like. As illustrated, the support arm assemblies 12 may be of different lengths in order to provide the proper spacing between the different electrical transmission lines 14 and the pole 10 and a single pole may provide support for a number of such support arm assemblies as required in a specific installation. The support arm assemblies are designed for functional utility and, in addition, are designed with aesthetic objects in mind and it can be seen from FIG. 1 that the pole and support structures thereon provide an overall appearance which is much more pleasing to the eye than prior structures of this type employing angular wood or steel X-braces, cross members, etc. The transmission lines 14 are supported at the outer ends of the support arm assemblies and for this purpose flexible insulator strings 16, forming no part of the present invention, are interconnected between the transmission lines 14 and the respective .arms. Eyebolts 18, or the like, are used for the purpose of connecting the upper ends of the insulator strings to the respective arms and the eyebolts extend upwardly through the vertical holes drilled in the arms adjacent their outer ends.

As best shown" in FIG. 4 of the drawings, each support arm assembly 12 includes a davit-type cantilever beam formed of laminated wood members curved about its longitudinal axis. The arm 20 is tapered from a maximum depth or vertical dimension at its inner end adjacent the pole to a minimum depth or vertical dimension at the outer end and the inner end of the arm is supported and connected to the pole 10 by means of a metal bracket 22.

Each bracket 22 includes a pair of vertically extending, spaced apart side plates or gussets 24 (FIGS. 4 through 8) having oppositely, outwardly extending, vertical flanges 26 along their inner ends (FIG. 7), which flanges are adapted to abut and bear against the outer surface of the pole 10. The side plates 24 are connected in spaced apart relation by means of a spacer web 28 or bottom plate welded or other joined to the inner faces thereof (FIGS. 4, 6 and 8). The spacer web 28 slopes upwardly and outwardly with respect to the pole 10 and forms the bottom wall of a support arm receiving pocket formed between the side plates 24 for accommodating the inner end of the r laminated wood support arm 20. Preferably, the respective side plates 24 are each provided with a plurality of small drain holes 24a spaced apart and positioned immediately above the upper surface of the spacer web to prevent water from accumulating in the arm receiving pocket.

The spacer web 28 is dimensioned so that the inside surfaces of the side plate 24 are spaced apart by a distance slightly greater than the lateral width of the arm 20 at its inner end so that the inner end of the arm can be easily inserted into the pocket of the bracket 22. In addition to the spacer web 28, the lower end portions of the spaced apart side plates 24 are interconnected and held in spaced apart relation by a vertical spacer member 30 (FIG. 6), which spacer is adapted to bear against the surface of the pole.

The bracket 22 is connected to the pole 10 at the desired height thereon by a plurality of bolts including a bolt 32 extending through an opening in the spacer 30 (FIG. 7) and a pair of bolts 34 which extend through vertically staggered holes in the respective mounting flanges 26 adjacent their upper ends. As best shown in FIG. 2, pairs of brackets 22 may be mounted on the pole 10 to extend outwardly in laterally opposed directions and, in this case only, one pair of bolts 34 and a bolt 32 are required to support both brackets.

In order to secure the inner end of the laminated support arm 20 within the pocket of the bracket 22, the side plates 24 are provided with vertically extending slots 24b (FIG. 5) and a horizontal pivot pin or bolt 36 is provided to extend through the slots in the side plates and the support arm at a point along its neutral axis spaced outwardly of its inner end adjacent the poles. When the bolt 36 is tightened, the side plates 24 are forced against the opposite sides of the support arm 20 and aid in preventing the arm from rocking about the bolt.

In order to further secure the arm 20 in the bracket 22 and angularly adjust the arm with respect to the pole 10, there is provided a bolt 38 which extends upwardly through an opening in the spacer web 28 and through the inner end of the support arm 20 inwardly of the horizontal bolt 36. The angular relation between the arm and the pole is controlled by adjusting a pair of nuts 38a on the bolt 38 and accordingly the outer end or tip of the arm 20 can be raised or lowered as desired. For example, when the arm is heavily loaded at its outer end, the nuts 38a can be tightened up to take care of the increased deflection at the end of the arm caused by the heavy load. Once this adjustment has been made, the horizontal bolt 36 and nut are tightened to press the side plates 24 firmly against the sides of the arm and help restrain the inner end thereof against pivotal movement about the axis of the horizontal bolt. In most instances, however, the nuts 38a will be tightened sufficiently to force the underside of the arm tightly against the upper surface of the spacer web 28.

wood strips 21 which are laminated together with waterproof adhesive to form a laminated beam segment as shown in FIG. 9. Adhesive material is applied to the upper and lower surfaces of the individual wood strips 21 and the strips are firmly pressed together while the adhesive is setting. While the strips are pressed together and during the period when the adhesive is setting, the beam segment (FIG. 9) is subjected to bending longitudinally thereof to provide the desired curvature, as shown in FIG. 9. When the adhesive has fully set, clamping and bending pressure is released and the beam segment that has been formed has a permanent curvature therein, as shown in FIG. 9, and is of substantially uniform rectangular cross section throughout its length.

In accordance with the present invention, the curved beam segment that is shown in FIG. 9 is constructed with a length L along its lower edge surface and the lower edge surface is curved to conform to a cylindrical segment having a radius of generation R. The cylindrical segment is generated about a horizontal axis laterally transverse with respect to the beam segment and spaced remotely below the curved undersurface. Consequently, the beam segment includes a curved upper edge surface concentric with respect to the lower surface and having a radius of curvature equal to R-|-D wherein D is the depth of the uncut beam segment. In practice, the length L of the beam segment is generally about one half the radius of R, and this ratio produces arms that are strong as well as aesthetic in appearance. The curved beam segment (FIG. 9) is then cut longitudinally thereof along a curved path indicated by the letter A in order to form a pair of

support arms

20 and 20 The cutting path A extends between opposite ends of the beam segment and conforms to a segment of a cylinder having a radius of generation which is greater than the radius of curvature of the lower edge surface L but smaller than the radius of curvature of the upper edge surface U. The axis of generation of the cylindrical segment defined by the cutting path A is parallel to the common axes of generation of the cylindrical segments of the upper and lower edge surfaces of the beam segment but is offset therefrom to be closer to one end of the beam segment than the other. The amount of this offset is selected so that the beam segment is divided in a manner as shown wherein the cutting path A at one end of the beam segment is spaced a distance D from the upper edge surface U and a distance D from the lower edge surface L and at the opposite end of the beam segment is spaced by the distance D from the lower edge surface L and by the distance D from the upper edge surface U. Accordingly, after the cut is made along the path A, the beam segment is severed into two pieces forming a pair of

support arms

20 and 20 which are almost identical to one another. The thicker or deeper ends of the respective arms are then trimmed off by cutting along the lines B and B to complete the formation of the pair of support arms from the single laminated beam segment.

The pair of

support arms

20 and 20 thus formed from the single beam segments (FIG. 9) are tapered along their length between a maximum dimension at their inner ends along the cuts B to a minimum dimension at their outer ends represented by the distances D The radius of curvature of the respective arms of the pair is slightly different, but the difference is relatively small because the depth of the beam segment D is relatively small in comparison with the radius of curvature R.

The support arms 20 formed by the method described are not only graceful in appearance but are extremely strong and relatively low in cost. Relatively little material is wasted in the fabrication of the arms and the tapered and curved upper and lower edge surfaces thereof provide for the most economical use of material for the strength required of the arms to support loads. Specifically, the largest bending moment on a cantilever-type beam is at the inner end and, accordingly, the arms 20 are constructed with a maximum section modulus in this region. The bending moment decreases progressively outward toward the free end of a cantilever beam and the section modulus of the supports 20 likewise is decreased progressively outward from the inner end to a minimum value at the outer end.

Further strength is provided because of the curvature of the support arms 20 with the neutral axis thereof extending upwardly and outwardly of the pole 10 and gradually approach a horizontal plane at the outer end of the arm. The arms 20 are especially strong because of the laminated construction and it has been found that arms constructed of wood rather than metal have better characteristics for dampening the vibrations of the electrical lines 14 when the lines are caused to whip and sway during periods of high wind. The use of wood arms of the type described rather than metal also affords better protection against flashover from the electrical lines to the pole structure or other members and the brackets 22 are thus well insulated from the lines 14 or other electrical components supported at the outer ends of the support arms.

After fabrication as described, the support arms 20 may be covered with coating materials such as plastic resins or films which increase the resistance of the wood against Weathering and accordingly increase the useful life or period of service before replacement is required.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to a single embodiment thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that fall Within the spirit and scope of the principles of this invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Apparatus for supporting electrical components from poles and the like comprising, bracket means adapted to be mounted on said pole, cantilever arm means supported at the inner end by said bracket means and extending outwardly of said pole for supporting said electrical components adjacent the outer end thereof, said bracket means comprising a pair of spaced-apart, vertical side members having oppositely outwardly extending vertical flanges along the inner edges adapted to bear against the surface of said pole, a transverse spacer web between said side members forming a bottom wall extending outwardly of said pole and sloping upwardly from the inner end, said side members and said web forming a U-shaped, upwardly opening beam pocket for receiving the inner end portion of said arm means, each of said side members including portions projecting above and below said spacer web, said beam pocket having a bottom wall formed by said spacer web and sidewalls formed by upper portions of said side members, said side members tapering from a maximum vertical dimension adjacent said flanges along said inner edges to a minimum vertical dimension adjacent the outer ends, outwardly of said pole, first horizontal fastening means extended through said side members and said inner end portion of said arm means, and second fastening means extending up wardly through said spacer web and said inner end portion of said arm means, said second fastening means being spaced between said first fastening means and the inner end of said arm means for adjusting the angular relation between the arm and pole.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said arm is tapered from a cross section having a maximum depth adjacent said inner end and to a minimum depth cross section adjacent said outer end.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 'wherein said arm includes curved upper and lower surfaces converging toward one another adjacent said outer end and spaced apart a maximum distance adjacent said inner end.

4. Apparatus for supporting electrical components from poles and the like comprising, bracket means adapted to be mounted on said pole, arm means supported by said bracket means and extending outwardly of said pole for supporting said electrical components adjacent the outer end thereof, said bracket means comprising a pair of spaced-apart, vertical side members having oppositely outwardly extending flange along their inner edges adapted to bearagainst the surface of said pole, and a and outwardly of said pole, said beam having a curved neutral axis approaching a horizontal plane adjacent its outer end and gradually tapered from a maximum vertical dimension adjacent said bracket means to a minimum at the outer end thereof, first fastening means extending upwardly through said spacer web and said inner end portion of said beams for securing said beam to said bracket means, and second fastening means extending transversely through said side members and said inner end portion of said beam.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said beam is substantially rectangular in cross section and said individual wood members thereof are substantially rectangular in cross section with the larger surfaces thereof laminated to one another.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said first fastening means includes bolt and nut means for adjusting the angular relation of the neutral axis of said beam adjacent said inner end thereof with respect to said pole.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said beam is pivotal about said second fastening means in response to tightening and loosening of said nut means.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said beam includes curved upper and lower surfaces converging toward one another adjacent the outer end thereof.

9. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said beam includes a lower surface conforming to an arcuate segment of a cylinder, said cylinder having a horizontal longitudinal 'axis of generation spaced below said beam.

10. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said beam includes an upper surface conforming to an arcuate segment of a cylinder having a horizontal longitudinal axis of generation spaced below said beam and a radius greater than the radius of curvature of said lower surface.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 211,177 5/1968 Dake 26-12 761,020 5/1904 Tuteur 287-20.95 1,843,454 2/1932 Manson 248-221 2,176,450 10/1939 Barnett 28720.94 X 2,750,142 6/1956 McKee 248-221 X 2,770,846 11/1956 Findleton 287-20.95 X 2,980,214 4/1961 Petersen 52-697 2,990,590 7/1961 Graveley 28720.94 3,196,990 7/1965 Handley 52-731 3,299,586 1/1967 Hockaday 52-697 X FOREIGN PATENTS 422,765 1/ 1935 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES The Washington Post, Friday, May 6, 1966, p. A2, the power line tower at the left of photograph.

ALFRED C. PERHAM, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.