US508078A

US508078A - Skeleton tower

Info

Publication number: US508078A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1893-11-07
Anticipated expiration: 1910-11-07

Description

(No' Model.) 2 Sheets-fsheet 8,1.

'A8-BAKER. SKELETON TOWER,

10.508,078. Patenteq'Nv. 7, 1888.

i lll 'W 2 sheets-sheetl 8.

A. 8.88888. SKELETON TOWER.

508,078.v v1188818888 Nov. 7, 1898.

in ,5 Ba 73er:

UNITED STATE-'s PATENT OFFICE.

ALLEN S. BAKER, OF EVANSIILLE, WISCONSIN.

sKELEToN TOWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNO. 508,078, dated November 7, 1893. A Application iiled January 23, 17893. Serial No. 459,486. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALLEN S. BAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Evansare adapted to 4other purposes, such as electric light towers and observation towers.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a tower for any of these purposes, which will possess t-he required strength and a minimum of material and consequent lightness and which will have but little wind surface, whereby the tower will be especially adapted for the uses to which it may be put. Another object of my invention is to make the Atower in sections, whereby it may be conveniently manufactured and transported and quickly and easily erected.

The principal novelty in the invention consists generally in providing a support or base, consisting of three or more'legs, in mounting on said` supports or legs a central vertical column sustained by the same and in strengthening said vertical column and legs in a novel and improved manner, as I shall hereinafter describe. A

In this specification I shall describe my invention as adapted for supporting wind-mills.

For a better comprehension of my invention attention is directed to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of myimproved tower, showing the same as being used as a wind-mill tower; Fig. 2 a perspective view of the same with thewind-mill removed; Fig. 3 a cross sectional view through the tower for the purpose of more clearly showing the various horizontal struts; Fig. 4 a vertical section through the struts; Fig. 5, a top view of Fig. 4, and'Fig. 6 is a detail view of the upper part of the tower.

In all of the above views, corresponding parts are designated by the same letters and `numerals of reference.

A A are the legs of the support or base of the tower. trated four of these legs as constituting said support but in small towers, or in towers calculated to resist slight lateral forces, it may be more economical to construct said support or base with three legs, not shown and on the 6c other hand, where special strength is desired, the said support or base may be provided with tive or more legs, also not shown it being understood, of course, that the number of legs for this support is entirely optional and in no wise bears on the spirit of myinvention. These legs fA A are made preferably of ordinary angle iron, whereby I obtain greatstrength with but little weight; they are provided at their lower ends Iwith anchors of any approved construc- 7o tion, whereby the support or base of the tower will be firmly and immovably retained in place. These legs converge toward eachother at the top and are firmly bolted to the lugs a of the heavy supporting collar 13, the

use of which will be presently pointed out. The said legs are prevented from spreading at their lower ends by tie rods b b which are bolted or otherwise secured to said legs.

The said legs are further prevented from 8o bending or buckling at their center by girts cc 0.17

t D is the main vertical column which bears within and is supported by the metallic sleeve B at the top of the support or base. 8 5

This vertical column is made preferably of heavy piping whereby I obtain great strength with but little weight, or it may have any approved cross-section. This column is preferably made in sections 1, 2 and 3, although a 9o greater or less number of sections may be used, according to the height which may be desired. Each of the sections 1 and 2 of the tower carries at its upper end a supporting sleeve c. The upper end of the section 3 95 of the tower, or when a greater orless num- .ber 0E sections are used, the top section otl the tower, carries a wind-mill. The 'section 2 of the column D is supported within and is sustained by the collar c of the secroo In the drawings I have illus- 55 tion 1, and the section 3 of the column D is supported by the collar c of the section 2, as will be understood from the drawings.

E E are struts, which extend horizontally out from the collar c from the upper end of section 1 of the column D, and said struts may be formed integral with said collar or may be screwed into receiving sleeves on said collar, or may be secured to said collar in any other suitable way. F F are similar but shorter struts which extends ont from the collar c at the top of the section 2 of the column DR These struts E and F are of the same number as the legs A and the outer end of each of the struts is arranged vertically over a particular one of the said legs.

G G are the main guys,one of which is bolted securely to one of the legs A near the ground and extends up through sleeves d d in the outer ends of the struts E and F, and is securely bolted to a heavy collar II secured at or near the top of the upper section of the main supporting column D Each of these main guys G may be continuous throughout, but I prefer to make t-hem also in sections, in which case the first section of the guys extends from the legs A to` the struts E, and the second section thereof from the struts E to the struts F and the third section thereof from the struts F to the collar H before inentioned. These guys l may be secured to the struts E and F in any suitable way, but I prefer to make the collars d d screw-threaded and to screw said guys therein, whereby they may be held securely in place. The attachment of said guys G to the collar Il may also be effected in anym well known way, but I prefer to extend them through small lugs e in said collar, and to provide said guys with nuts f at their ends, engaging against said lugs e. In this way the said nuts f may be tightened, whereby the said guys G can be given the proper amount of tension. The guys G extending from the lower ends of the legs A to a point at or near the extreme top of the supporting column D will eiectively brace said sup porting column against lateral forces, and in order that said supporting,l column may be effectively braced against crushing strains, to prevent buckling, I make use of truss rods, as I shall now describe.

I l are truss rods, which extend from the legs A A at about the point where the girts C are secured thereto, to the ends ot the struts E Ej being secured to said struts in any suitable way. The said girts C and the said truss rods I support said legs A at their central points and prevent them from buckling.

J J are truss rods which extend up from the apex of the support or base to the outer ends of the said struts Ef being secured thereto in any suitable manner, the lower ends of these truss rods J preferably extending through two lugs g formed on the supporting sleeve B between lugs a thereon. These truss rods J are provided at theirlower ends with nuts not shown which bear against said lugs g whereby the desired amount of tension may be given to said truss rods J.

K K are other truss rods extending preferably from the collar c at the top of the section l of the main supporting column D to the outer ends of the struts F, being secured to said struts and to said collar in any suitable way. Where more than three sections are used, the lower and intermediate sections are to be braced and supported by similar intermediate truss rods extending from their lower ends to the struts at their upper ends, as will be understood. It is not necessary to provide these intermediate truss rods for the support of the upper section of said main column D, for the reason that the said upper section will receive all necessary support from the main guys G, as will be understood.

The elements which I have just described constitute the principal features of my present invention, and a tower constructed in accordance with the above description can be used for any of the purposes I have before mentioned.

From an inspection of Fig. 1 the use of the various guys, trusses, rods and struts will be readily understood. By constructingthe base orsupportof inclined legs A, which are anchored to the ground, it will be immovably and securely held in place, and by making use of the ties, truss rods, and girts, the said base or support will be thoroughly and eectively rendered immobile. By means off the guys G the central supporting column D will be more thoroughly braced and supported against lateral resistance, and by means of the truss rodsfJ and K said supportingcolumn will be thoroughly and electively braced against compression orcrushin g strains which might tend to buckle it. rIhe said truss rods J and K and said guys i also tend to keep the sections of said centralcolumn D retained in place in the `supporting sockets B and 0. At the upper end and to one side of the supporting column D a cylindrical sleeve L is secured by means of a collar M and the said before mentioned collar II. This cylindrical sleeve L carries at its upper end any convenient form ot' wind-mill N, that shown being a well known form of reciprocating mill. The piston rod 7L of said mill extends down through said sleeve L and is constructed in the usual way. This piston rod h connects with the pump rod i which extends down parallel with the supporting column D and operates the pump O or any other machine. This pump rod works Within a guide j which is shown at the bottom of the supporting column D but any number of these guides may be used in the intermediate IOO IIO

lengths of the supporting column D" and' with power mills these guides j maybe used asjournal bearings for the upright shaft.

P is the operating wire of the wind-mill which extends up from the lever r, secured preferably to one of the legs A, passing through the hollow piston rod h and operating the necessary parts of the mill in any suitable way.

Q Q are steps by which the topof the tower may be reached; they are bolted or otherwise secured at suitable distances apart to said central column D or they may formy an integral part of said column.

R is an ordinary ladder which extends from the ground to the top.of the base or support adjacent 'to the lower' step Q S is a platform preferably constructed of wood in any suitable way, which is securely bolted or otherwise secured to the guys G and upright column D, near the'upper end of the tower. This platform S is reached from the ground by means of the ladder R and the steps Q, and from this platform the mill may be oiled or necessary work done.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new therein,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 'is as follows l. In a tower,thecombination of an upright column, supported at its lower end by'three or more legs; and guys attached to said legs at or near the bottom thereof, and to said col-V umn at or near the top thereof, substantially as described. f'

2.l In a tower, the combination of an upright column, supported' at its lower end by three or more legs; tie rods connected to the bottom of the legs; and guys attached to the legs at or near the bottom thereof, and to said column at or near the top thereof, substantially as described.

3. In a tower, the combination of an upright column, supported at its lower end by three or more legs; tie rods connected to the bottom of the legs; guysattached to said legs at or near the bottom thereof, and to said col-` umn at or near the top thereof; and steps attached to said upright column or forming a I or near the top of the column, secured to theV partthereof, substantially as described.

4. In a tower, the combination of an upright column, supported at its lower end by three or more legs, tie rods connected'to the bottom of the legs, g'uysattached lto said legs at or near the bottom thereof, and to said column at or near the top thereof and a platform at guy rods and column, substantially as described.'

5. Inja tower, the combination of an upright column, supported at its lower end by three or more legs; tie rods connected to the bottom of the legs; guys attached to said legs at or near the bottom thereof, and to said columnl at or near the top thereof; and anchors attached to the lower end of said legs and embedded in the ground, substantially as described.

6. In a tower, the combination of an upright column, supported at its lower end by three or more legs; tie rods connected to the bottom of the legs; guys attached to said legs at or near the bottom thereof, and to said column at or near the top thereof; said guys being in sections secured together by couplings, sub- `stant-iallyas described.

7. -In a tower, the combination of an upright column supported on three or more legs, said column being in sections, secured together by couplings, tie rods connected to the bottom of the legs; and guys attached to said legs at or near the bottom thereof, and attached to said column at or near the top thereof, substantially as described.

8l In a tower, the combination of an upright column supportedby three or more legs; tie rods connected to the bottom of the legs; guys attached to said legs at or near the bottom thereof; and to said column at or near the top thereof ;"and intermediate truss rods, J

,Kand struts E F for sustaining the column, substantially as described.

9. In a tower, the combination of an upright :column supported by three or more legs; tie ,rods connected to the bottom of said legs; guys attached to said legs at or -near the bottom thereof, and to said column at or near the 4topthereof; and girts C and truss rods I for supporting said legs, substantially as `described. f

l0. In a wind-mill tower, the combination of an upright 'column supported by `three or more legs, and bearing a wind-mill at its upper end; tie rods connected tothe bottom of the legs; guys attached to said legs at or near the bottom thereof, and'tosaidjcolumn at or near the top thereof; and guides or journals j attached to said column for the purpose mentioned, substantially as described.

ll. In a wind-mill tower, the combination of the vertical column D bearing a windmill on its upper end; legs A A for supporting said column; guys Gr Gr extend; ing from said legs to a point at or near the top of the column and through struts E E and F F extending out from intermediate points on said column; and intermediate tr'uss-rods J J and K K for the purposes mentioned, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiixmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALLEN s. BAKER.

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