Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1037!7Z7 ~
: - ' -:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Utility poles are subject to damage and deterioration,
so it is desirable to provide for convenient replacement thereof.
Hardware connections to distal ends of utility poles
represent expensive equipment and highly skilled workmanship per-
formed sometimes under hazardous conditions. Accordingly it is :
' .
~0377~7
, - .
desirable to replace utility poles in such a way as to avoid neces-
sity for reworking such hardware as well as interruptions of service
resulting therefrom. Convenient and inexpensive means also have
been desirable to alter the elevation and/or alignment of such hard-
ware relative the earth.
Availability of materials for utility poles and economics
relating thereto frequently dictate that a new pole be of a different
material from that of the existing utility pole which is being re-
placed.
BRIEF STATEMENT OF INVENTION
The present invention solves the stated problems and other
problems of the prior art in a useful, novel, unobvious and particu-
larly facile way. A method is presented for replacing an existing
; utility pole which pole comprises a proximal section having a bottom
end attached to the earth and a distal section having hardware there-
on, without dist~r~ ing the hardware. A new pole section is attached
to the earth. The distal section of the existing pole, with the
hardware intact thereon, is severed from the proximal section of the
existing pole. The distal section is then connected to pro~ect
from the new pole section.
The new pole section may have a length substantially the
same as the proximal section of the existing utility pole, whereby
the hardware will be restored to approximately its original eleva-
tion above the earth, or the new pole section may have a different
length from that of the proximal pole section, whereby the elevation
of the hardware may be chan~ed.
The proximal section may first be severed from the earth
--2--
- ~0377Z7
so as to leave a stump section protrudiny from the earth and so as
to define a bottom end of the proximal section. Then the proximal
section may be arranged vertically adjacent the stump section with
the bottom end of the proximal section on the earth for supporting
temporarily the distal section. During the severing of the distal
section from the proximal section and the connecting of the distal
section to the new pole section, the distal section is supported
independently for example by means of a crane.
The new pole section can be of any otherwise suitable
pole material as can be the existing pole. Preferably the new pole
section is of prestressed concrete and formed hollow so that (inter
alia) a connecting line between the distal section and the earth
may be provided therewithin to provide positive grounding to the
earth. Hydraulic jacking is a convenient way of removing the stump -
section and the hole vacated thereby (with or without augering) is
useful for implanting the new pole section therein.
Alternately the new pole section can be erected adjacent
the old pole and, after severing the distal section (with the hard-
ware thereon) from the proximal section of the old pole, the distal
section (with the hardware thereon) can be mounted on the new pole
section. Thereafter the proximal section of the old pole can be
removed.
Accordingly one object of this invention is to allow con-
venient, inexpensive, rapid and safe replacement of damaged or de-
teriorated utility poles.
Another object of this invention is to allow replacement
- of utility poles witkout having to rework hardware thereQn and with-
out interruption of service.
-` 1037727
Still another object of this invention is to provide for
convenient altering of the height and/or alignment of hardware on
utility poles.
Still another object of this invention is to accommodate
use of a same or an otherwise suitable different material for new
pole sections relative the material of the existing pole.
Still another object of this invention is to allow for
the proximal section first being severed from the earth so as to
leave a stump section protruding from the earth and so as to define
a bottom end of the proximal section. Then the proximal section
may be arranged vertically adjacent the stump section with the
bottom end of the proximal section on the earth for supporting
temporarily the distal section.
Still another object of this invention is preferably to
use new pole sections of prestressed concrete which are hollow and
which can accommodate therewithin a connecting line between the
distal section and the earth to provide positive grounding to the
earth.
Still another object of this invention is to allow hydrau-
lic jacking to remove the stump section, thereby providing a vacated
hole (with or without augering) for implanting the new pole section
therein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages
will appear more fully from accompanying drawings, viewed in con-
junction with a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of
.. . . .
the invention and with claims which follow. In the drawings the
1~37qZ7
same numerals refer to like elements throughout and
Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a damaged utility
pole held by means of a crane and being severed from the earth by
workmen.
Fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of the damaged pole
! with a bottom end on the earth in vertical alignment with a stump
section.
Fig. 3 is a schematic illustration of the stump section
being removed by means of a hydrualic jack.
Fig. 4 is a schematic illustration of inserting a new
pole section in the hole vacated by the stump section.
Fig. 5 is a schematic illustration of lashing the damaged
utility pole to the new pole section, severing a distal section with
hardware intact thereon and supporting the distal section by means
of the crane.
Fig. 6 is a schematic illustration of insertion of the
distal section of the damaged pole with the hardware intact thereon
into a socket atop the new pole section.
Fig. 7 i5 a schematic illustration of connection of the
distal section to the new pole section.
Fig. 8 is a schematic illustration of the completed opera-
tion with the new pole section haYing mounted thereon the distal
section of the old pole with the hardware intact thereon.
Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation view of a joint suitable
for connecting the new pole section to the distal section of the old
pole.
Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view of a suitable joint
taken along line 10-10 of Fig. 9.
_ - 5
_ . . .
J ~ ~
03772~7
DESCRIPTIO~ OF PREFERRE:D EMBODIMENT
As seen in the drawings, and more particularly by viewing
Figs. 1-8 in se~uential order, a method is illustrated for replac-
ing a damaged or deteriorated utility pole (generally designated 11)
and having a proximal section 12 attached to the earth 13 and a
distal section 14 having hardware 15 thereon and on which utility
wires 16 are strung. Replacement of the pole 11 does not require
disturbing of the hardware 15 and it can be accomplished readily
without any interruption of service.
The sequence of operations begins in Fig. 1 wherein a
damaged area of the utility pole 11 is shown at 17. A crane boom
18 (usually mounted on a maintenance truck, a cherry picker crane
or the like) is connected to the pole 11 by means of a sling 19.
The shown boom 18 of a maintenance truck is also equipped with an
auger 21. Men 22 and 23 are shown with a hand saw 24 for severing
the pole 11 at 25 to leave a stump section 26 and a bo-ttom end 27
of the proximal section 12.
The bottom end 27 of the proximal section 12 is placed by
means of the boom 18 on the earth 13 upright next to the stump sec-
tion 26 as shown in Fig. 2. The stump section 26 is of sufficient
height to allow the workmen 22, 23 a convenient level 25 at which
to work in sawing the pole 11. However, it is desirable that the
stump section 26 not be so tall that the utility wires 16 cannot
accommodate temporary change in elevation of the hardware 15. If
the pole is made of a material other than wood; such as prestressed
concrete, steel, aluminum or the like; some other suitable means can
be employed for severing the proximal section 12 from the earth 13.
--~ 103772'7
The nex-t operation as shown in Fig. 3 is -to remove the
stump section 26 from the earth 13. Toward this objective a hydrau-
lic jack generally designated 28 is convenient. The jack 28 is
mounted on suitable supports 29 adjacent the stump section 26 and
a ram 31 is fastened to the stump section 26 by means of a taut
chain 32. With the stump section 26 fastened thusly to the ram 31,
a hydraulic piston (not shown) in a cylinder 33 is pressurized via
a line 34 so as to extract the stump section 26 from the earth 13
leaving a hole 35. Of course other tools may be employed for
extracting the stump section 26 depending on convenience, avail-
ability, safety and other factors. When the stump section 26 is
extracted, the hole 35 resulting therefrom affords a convenient and
logical receptacle for a new pole section 36. The hole 35 may need
augering and if so this usually can be attended to by the auger 21
with which maintenance trucks are conveniently provided. Alter-
nately the new pole section may be inserted in a new hole.
The new pole section 36 is shown in Fig. 4 inserted in the
hole 35 from which the stump section 26 was extracted. The new pole
section 36 is provlded at its upper end 37 with a socket connector
generally designated 38. It is then convenient to lash the proximal
section 12 of the old pole 11 to the new pole section 36 by means
of a rope 39 shown in Fig. 5. With the boom 18 connected to the
distal section 14 of the old pole 11 and with the proximal section
12 of the old pole 11 attached to the new pole section 36 as has been
mentioned, a workman 22 severs the distal section 14 of the old pole
11 from the proximal section 12 at 41, all as shown in Fig. 5.
Then as shown in Fig. 6 the boom 18 lowers a lower end 42 of the
--7--
`` ~0377*7
distal section 14 of the old pole 11 into the socket connector 38
on the upper end 37 o E the new pole section 36. The workman 22
guides the distal section 14 of the old pole 11 into the socket
connector 38 on the upper end 37 of the new pole section 36 as
' 5 shown in Fig. 7. Guy lines attached to the distal section 14 may
,I be used for plumbing from the ground. The workman 22 completes the
connecting by tightening bolts 49 and filling the joint with a
sealant 44. I~he workman 22 uses conventional means for supporting
himself at the distal section 14. Accordingly a resulting composite
new pole generally designated 45 results as shown in ~ig. 8 which
is composed of the new pole section 36 from which is connected
the distal section 14 of the old pole 11 with its hardware 15 still
' intact thereon and still connected to its utility wires 16.
A wide variety of connectors 38 may be used for mounting
the distal sec~ion 14 of the old pole 11 onto the new pole section
36. These connectors may also provide for the distal section 14
to be replaced at a later date. Where the new pole section 36 is
made of steel, aluminum, prestressed concrete or fiber reinforced
resin; the socket connector 38 is conveniently shop formed integ-
rally on the upper end 37 of the new pole section 36. These new
pole sections may also be other than round in cross section. The
shown socket connector 38 include,s a sleeve 46 mounted on the upper
end 37 of the new pole section 36 by means of bolts 43 and nuts 47.
Centering sleeves 48 are provided as shown in Figs. 9 and 10 and
lower end 42 of the distal section 14 is secured in place by some
of the bolts 49. Thereafter the joint is filled with a suitable
sealant 44 such as grout, polyurethane foam or the like. Hollow
space 51 can accommodate an electrical connection between the distal
' S '~J.;`~ n 14 and t he earth 13- 103~
; It will be apparent to those sXilled in manufacture and
erection of utility poles that wide deviations may be made from
the shown embodiment without departing from a main tl~eme of inven-
tion delineated in claims which follow.
''',.' ~ ' ~
' ': : -
.' ' .:
: '
~; . - .,
_g_ - ' .
' . '
