WO1989002962A1

WO1989002962A1 - Pole support device

Info

Publication number: WO1989002962A1
Application number: PCT/AU1988/000375
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Keith Knight
Original assignee: Eltek Holdings Pty. Ltd.
Priority date: 1987-09-23
Filing date: 1988-09-23
Publication date: 1989-04-06

Abstract

A pole support device (2) comprising an upper socket portion (6) and a lower portion (4), the lower portion (4) being buried in the ground adjacent to a pole (18) to be supported, the upper portion (6) receives the lower end of a pole which has been severed just above ground level. The upper portion includes a frusto-conical surface (8) for supporting the lower end of the cut pole and fixing means are provided to fix the cut end of the pole to the upper portion (6).

Description

POLE SUPPORT DEVICE

This invention relates to a pole support device particularly but not exclusively for use in supporting wooden utility poles which have become degraded at or below ground level.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple but effective pole support device which can be used to support utility poles and avoid the cost and labour involved in a complete replacement of a pole. A further object of the invention is to provide a method of strengthening a pole.

According to the present invention there is provided a pole support device comprising an elongate element having an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion being adapted for burying in the ground adjacent to a pole to be supported, the upper portion including a pole receiving socket which includes a pole support surface therein and fixing means to affix the socket to the pole. In use of the device, the degraded, pole is cut at or near ground level and the lower portion of the support device is buried adjacent to the butt of the pole or in the hole left if the butt is removed. Soil is back-filled in the hole and compacted around said lower portion so that it is firmly buried in the ground. The lower end of the pole is then placed in the socket and affixed to the socket thereby effectively replacing the lower end of the pole.

The fixing means by comprise bolts which extend diametrically through the socket portion and through the pole. It is preferred that the ends of the bolts are located in cup-shaped members which include flanges which, in use, bear against the outer surface of the socket portion.

The invention also provides a method of supporting a pole comprising cutting the pole at ground level or pre-determined distance above ground level, locating a pole support device in the ground adjacent to the location of the pole, placing the lower end of the pole in a socket portion of the pole support device and fixing the lower end of the pole to the socket portion.

The method preferably includes the step of placing a filler medium between the socket portion and the pole to fill gaps which exist between these parts. Preferably, the fill medium is water resistent. Preferably further, the material comprises a mixture of sand and bitumen.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pole support device of the invention, Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-section through the device,

Figure 3 is an underside view of the device,

Figure 4 is a plan view of the device,

Figure 5 illustrates the use of the device with a wooden pole.

Figure 6 is a fragmentry sectional view of part of the arrangement of Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a sectional view along the line 7-7,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view through part of the arrangement shown in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view through a modified form of the invention.

. Figure 10 is a perspective view of part of the arrangement shown in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a schematic sectional view showing a pole reinforced by the device illustrated in Figure 9 and.10.

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken along the line 12-12.

Figure 13 is a schematic sectional view through a further modified form of the invention.

Figures 1 to 4 illustrate a pole support device 2 o the invention. The device comprises a lower tubular portion 4 and an upper socket portion 6. As best seen in Figure 2, the upper end of the portion 4 has slits and is flared outwardly to provide a frusto-conical face 8 near the base of the socket portion 6. The lower end of the socket portion 6 includes an annular plate 10 which is welded to the side of the tubular portion 4 so as to securely connect together the portions 4 and 6. The socket portion 6 includes an upper pair of openings 12 located at diametrically opposite sides of the portion 6. The portion 6 also includes intermediate and lower pairs of openings 14 and 16, which are radically off-set relative to the openings 12.

Figures 5 to 8 illustrate the use of the device 2 of the invention for supporting a utility pole 18, the utility pole having a degraded lower end. The pole is supported by a crane (not shown) or the like and then is cut preferably at about 300 millmetres above ground level 20. The buried end of the pole can be removed so that the lower portion 4. of the device 2 can be inserted in that hole. Alternatively a new hole can be bored adjacent to the buried end of the pole to receive the portion 4. In either case the hole is back-filled and compacted so as to firmly bury the lower portion 4 in the ground. It is preferre that the lower portion 4 is of the order of 2.3 metres in length so that its lower part will be buried by about 2 metres.

The lower end of the pole is then placed in the socket portion 6, as shown in Figure 6. The lower periphery 22 of the pole will engage the frusto- conical face 8 inside the socket and provide a stable support platform for the hole.The frusto-conical face centres the pole in the socket portion so that their respective axes will be substantially colinear. Timber wedges 24 can be placed between the pole and the upper edge of the socket portion 6 so as to temporarily hold the pole 18- in the correct position relative to the support portion 2. Bores are then drilled through the lower end of the pole for receipt of bolts 26, 28 and 30 which pass through the openings 12, 14 and 16 and the bores. The bolts firmly secure the pole to the socket portion 6. The annulare space between the lower end of the pole and the socket is preferably filled with a strong waterproof filler material. In this respect it is preferred that a mixture of sand and bitumen be used to fill this space. This mixture is waterproof and also contributes to the strength of the connection between the lower end of the pole and the socket portion 6. The wedges 24 and the crane supporting the pole may then be removed.

Figure 8 shows the preferred manner of mounting the bolt 26 relative to the socket portion 6. The mounting is the same at both ends and also the same for the other bolts 28 and 30. The arrangement includes a cup-shaped member 32 which is about the same diameter as the opening 12. The member 32 has an annular flange 34 which bears against the outer face of the socket portion 6. The pole 18 is formed with a stepped bore the wider portion 36 of which receives the inner end of the cup-shaped member 32. The narrower portion 38 of the bore receives the stem of the bolt 26, as shown. It is preferred to provide a washer 40 between the head of the bolt and the end wall 42 of the cup-shaped member 32. Figure 8 also illustrates part of an annular body 44 of fill material between the pole 18 and the socket portion 6. In carrying out the invention, it is not necessary to disconnect power lines from the pole 18. Of course the shaft of the pole needs to be supported by a crane or the like whilst the device 2 of the invention is being used to replace the lower end of the pole.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the socket portion 6 is about 400 millimetres in diameter, has a wall thickness of about 4 millimetres and is about 1000 millimetres long. The annulare plate 10 preferably has a thickness of 6 millimetres. The tubular portion 4 is about 255 millimetres in diameter, has a wall thickness of 6.4 millimetres and is about 2300 millimetres long. The tubular portion 4 and socket portion 6 can both be formed from galvanised steel or alternatively be made from corrosion resistent steel.

Many modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For instance, it would be possible to use a single tubular member to function as both the socket member 6 and lower portion 4. In this case the diameter would preferably be 400 millimetres. The frusto-conical face 8 would need to be provided on the inner surface of the tube such as by welding an appropriately shaped ring inside the tube.

Figures 9 - 12 show diagrammatically this form of the invention. In this arrangement, the support device 50 comprises a steel tube 51, of constant width, its upper portion constituting the socket portion 6 of the previous embodiment. The bottom of the socket portion 6 is defined by a frusto-conical face 8 which comprises the inner face of a collar 52 mounted on the inside of the tube 51. In the illustrated arrangements, a number of bolts 53 project radially inwardly and provide support for the top edge of the collar 52. In addition the top edge can be welded to the inner face of the tube 51.

The pole 18 is cut as before and located so that its lower end rests on the face 8. A number, preferably 5,of wedge bars 54 are then placed in the socket portion 6 between the tube and the pole 18. The bars 54 include hook portions 55 which engage the upper edge of the socket portion 6, as best seen in Figure 9. The bars 54 include upper and lower wedge plates 56 and 58 which project inwardly towards the pole 18. The arrangement includes wedge members 60 which are inserted between the pole 18 and the wedge plates 56 and 58. Each wedge member 60 comprises a base plate 62 with an upturned lower edge 64 to facilitate insertion between the bars 54 and the pole 18. The wedge members 60 have wedge faces 66 which are complementary to those of the wedge plates 56 and 58. In use the bars 54 are inserted in the tube 51 so as to be equally spaced about the perimeter of the pole, as seen in Figure 12.

A lower row of the wedge members 60 is then located so as to respectively co-operate with the lower wedge plates 58. The base plates 62 of the wedge members 60 bear against the pole 18, as shown in Figure 9. Downward force can then be applied (by a hammer or the like) to the wedge members 60 in order to drive them downwardly so that they are strongly wedged between the pole and the plates 58. Thereafter an upper row of wedge members 60 can be wedged in position against the upper wedge plates 56. The mounting is then completed by a resilient strip 68 which is placed about the top of the socket 6 and the pole 18. It is preferred to provide a groove 70 in the bars 54 so as to assist in holding the resilient strip 68 in place, as seen in Figure 9.

It may be desirable to include means on the wedge members or wedge plates to resist lateral displacement of the wedges relative to the plates. Figure 10 shows one such arrangement where the wedge plate 56 is formed with a central guide 72 which is received within a central longitudinally extending recess (not shown) in the wedge face 66 of the wedge members 60.

Figure 13 shows a further modified form of the invention. This arrangement is similar to that illustrated in Figure 9 and 12 except that inflatable rings 80 are used to clamp the pole 18 in the socket portion 6 of the tube 51 instead of the wedge members. The rings 80 are formed of relatively strong synthetic or natural elastomeric material and are positioned on the lower end of the pole 18 before it is placed in the socket portion 6. They are then inflated to a relatively high pressure with air or water so that expansion thereof will tend to firmly hold the pole 18 in the socket portion 6, as required.

Many further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A pole support device (2) comprising an elongate element having an upper portion (6) and a lower portion (4), the lower portion being adapted for burying in the ground (20) adjacent to a pole (18) to be supported, the upper portion (6) including a pole receiving socket which includes a pole support surface (8) therein and fixing means (26,28,30,56,58,60,80) to affix the socket to the pole.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fixing means by comprise bolts (26,28,30) which extend diametrically through the socket portion (6) and through the pole (18).

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the ends of the bolts (26,28,30) are located in cup-shaped members (32) which include flanges (32) which, in use, bear against the outer surface of the socket portion (6).

4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said pole support surface (8) is generally frusto-conical.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the lower portion (4) is cylindrical and is of smaller diameter the upper portion (6) and wherein the upper end of the lower portion (4) is splayed outwardly to form said- frusto-conical surface.

6. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the upper portion (6) and lower portion (4) comprise parts of an integral tube (51) .

7. A device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said surface (8) is provided by a collar (52) mounted on the interior of the tube (51).

8. A device as claimed in claim 1 including a plurality of wedges (60) which fix the pole (18) relative to the upper portion (6).

9. A device as claimed in claim 8 including wedge bars (64) interposed between the inner surface of the upper portion (6) and the wedges (60).

10. A device as claimed in claim 9 wherein the wedge bars include inclined plates (56,58) which are generally complementary to inclined faces (66) of the wedges.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the plates (56,58) and inclined faces (66) include interengageable projections (72) and recesses to prevent lateral displacement of the wedges (60).

12. A device as claimed in any one of claims 9, 10 or 11 wherein the wedge bars (54) include hooks (55) ^"to permit suspension of the bars from the upper edge of the upper portion (6) .

13. A device as claimed in claim 12 including sealing means for sealing the top edge of the upper portion (6) to the pole (18).

14. A device as claimed in any preceding claim including a body (44 ) of fill material between the upper portion (6) and the pole (18).

15. A device as claimed in any preceding claim including expansible rings (80) interposed between the pole (18) and the upper portion (6).

16. A method of supporting a pole comprising cutting the pole at ground level or pre-determined distance above ground level, locating a pole support device in the ground adjacent to the location of the pole, placing the lower end of the pole in a socket portion of the pole support device and fixing the lower end of the pole to the socket portion.

17. A method as claimed in claim 17 wherein the pole support device comprises a device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15.