GROUND ANCHOR FOR RIGIDLY SUPPORTING ABOVE GROUND STRUCTURE

ANCRAGE AU SOL ASSURANT UNE ASSISE RIGIDE A UNE SUPERSTRUCTURE

English Abstract

"GROUND ANCHOR FOR RIGIDLY SUPPORTING ABOVE GROUND
STRUCTURE"
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A ground anchor particularly for supporting a
satelite dish includes a frame formed from a plurality of
tubular arms which extend out to apexes of the frame in a
horizontal plane. Each apex is attached to a respective
ground anchor in the form of a screw flight coupled to a
shaft which can be screwed into the ground with the shaft
vertical together with a wedge member having a sleeve for
passing over the shaft and a plurality of fins extending
outwardly from the sleeve so that the wedge member can be
hammered onto the shaft into the ground at the surface to
prevent lateral shifting of the shaft. The coupling be-
tween the anchor and the frame is provided by a sleeve
which passes over the shaft into engagement with the wedge
and a scaffolding-type wrapping clamp which extends around
the tubular arm and around the sleeve so as to clamp the
arm to the sleeve at positions longitudinally adjustable
of the sleeve.

Claims

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CLAIMS:
(1) A ground anchor for rigidly supporting an
above ground structure comprising a plurality of anchor
members each for separately engaging the ground and a
frame defining a base having a plurality of spaced loca-
tions each for engaging a respective one of the anchor
members and coupling means for rigidly coupling each loca-
tion to its respective anchor member, each anchor member
comprising shaft means, a screw flight member arranged for
rotation with said shaft means whereby the shaft means and
screw flight member can be screwed into the ground with
the shaft in a substantially vertical orientation such
that a portion of the shaft remain exposed from the ground
and wedge means for driving into the ground at the exposed
portion of the shaft means said wedge means having fins
for preventing lateral shifting of the shaft means relative
to the ground.
(2) The invention according to Claim 1 wherein
the wedge means is separate from and slidable relative to
said shaft means.
(3) The invention according to Claim 1 wherein
the wedge means comprises a sleeve portion fro surrounding
the shaft means in slidable relation thereto and a plura-
lity of fins extending outwardly from said sleeve portion.
(4) The invention according to Claim 3 wherein
each fin comprises solely a flat substantially radially ex-

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tending plate.
(5) The invention according to Claim 4 wherein
the fins have a lower surface inclined inwardly and down-
wardly whereby the fins converge substantially to a point
at a bottom apex of said wedge means.
(6) The invention according to Claim 1 wherein
the coupling means is arranged to provide adjustment of
the location in a direction longitudinal of said respective
shaft means.
(7) The invention according to Claim 6 wherein
said coupling means comprises an external clamp means for
clamping said location to said respective anchor member in
side by side relation thereto.
(8) The invention according to Claim 7 wherein
said base include a plurality of arms extending outwardly
from a central position to a respective apex, each arm be-
ing tubular and wherein the coupling means comprises a
sleeve for passing over said shaft means at said exposed
end and releasible clamp means for wrapping around said
tubular arm and around said coupling means sleeve so as to
clamp said arm to said sleeve in a mutually at right
angles side by side relation whereby the position of the
arm relative to the sleeve can be adjusted longitudinally
of the sleeve.
(9) A ground anchor member for rigidly support-
ing an above ground structure comprising a frame having a

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planar base for lying substantially horizontal in an assem-
blied position, said base providing a plurality of arms ex-
tending outwardly from a central position to a respective
apex, a plurality of anchor members each comprising shaft
means and a screw flight member arranged for rotation with
said shaft means whereby the shaft means and screw flight
member can be screwed into the ground with the shaft in
a substantially vertical orientation such that a portion
of the shaft remains exposed from the ground, and coupling
means for rigidly coupling each arm at its apex to a re-
spective anchor member, each said coupling means being
arranged to provide adjustment of the respective arm longi-
tudinally of said respective shaft means.
(10) A ground anchor member for rigidly sup-
porting an above ground structure comprising a frame hav-
ing a planar base for lying substantially horizontal in
an assemblied position, said base including a plurality of
arms extending outwardly from a central position to a re-
spective apex, each arm being tubular, a plurality of
anchor members each for separately engaging the ground and
each comprising shaft means, a screw flight member arranged
for rotation with said shaft means whereby the shaft and
screw flight member can be screwed into the ground with
the shaft in a substantially vertical orientation and such
that a portion of the shaft remains exposed from the ground
and wedge means for driving into the ground at the exposed

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portion of the shaft means, said wedge means comprising a
sleeve for passing over the shaft in sliding relation there-
to and a plurality of fins extending outwardly from said
sleeve for preventing lateral shifting of the shaft means
relative to the ground, and coupling means for rigidly
coupling each arm at its apex to a respective anchor member,
each coupling means comprising a sleeve for passing over
said shaft means at said exposed end such that one end of
said coupling means sleeve abuts one end of said wedge
means sleeve and releasible clamp means for wrapping around
said tubular arm and around said coupling means sleeve so
as to clamp said arm to said sleeve in a mutually at right
angles side by side relation whereby the position of the
arm relative to the sleeve can be adjusted longitudinally
of the sleeve.
(11) A ground anchor for rigidly supporting an
above ground structure comprising an elongate shaft means,
a screw flight member arranged at a lower end of the shaft
means for rotation with said shaft means whereby the shaft
means and screw flight member can be screwed into the ground
with the shaft in a substantially vertical orientation such
that a portion of the shaft remains exposed from the ground
and wedge means for driving into the ground at the exposed
portion of the shaft means said wedge means comprising a
sleeve arranged to surround the shaft means for rotation
therearound and at least three fins for preventing lateral

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shifting of the shaft means relative to the ground, each
said fin being flat and extending outwardly from the sleeve
with an inner edge welded to the sleeve so as to engage the
sleeve along the full length of the fin and an outer edge
having a first portion parallel to the sleeve and a second
lower portion converging inwardly toward the bottom of the
sleeve.

Description

~352~
GROUND ANCHOR FOR RIGIDLY SUPPORTING ABOVE GROUND
STRUCTURE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a ground anchor for
rigidly supporting an above ground structure for example
a satelite dish or antenna.
Satelite dishes are becoming increasingly popular
for the individual householder who wants to receive various
television signals from satelites mounted in gestationary
orbit on the equitorial plane. In order to set the dish
in proper alignment to a satelite and also to scan the
dish from one satelite to the next a scanning arc can be
one
set so that the dish traverses from/satelite to the next.
Once this scanning arc has been set it is important that
it remain constant so that the dish can be accurately tuned
to a chosen one of the satelites. The scanning arc requires
therefore that the base of the dish which supports the
dish relative to the ground remains in constant position
regardless of any movement of the ground. Generally there
is provided therefore a post which is set vertical and
must remain vertical if the dish is to remain in its proper
scanning arc.
Of course simple inferior mounting arrangements
can be provided merely by placing the support on the ground
but this will quickly be found to be unsatisfactory in

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that the dish can easily move in the wind particularly
~ in view oE the large wind resistance of the larger dishes.
One obvious arrangement for overcoming the problem
; of movement is to simply mount the dish on a suitable sup-
port embedded in concrete in the ground.
This arrangement however is unsatisfactory in
that it is difficult and expensive to obtain sufficient
depth in the structure to avoid movement of the structure
caused by changes in moisture content of the soil or in
freezing of the soil. This is a particular problem in
colder climates where the ground is subject to freezing
over considerable depth during the winter months which
can often cause heaving of the ground at the upper levels
if the support is not buried to a sufficient depth.
It is one object of the present invention, there-
fore, to provide a ground anchor for supporting an above
ground structure which can be simply and inexpensively
mounted in the ground to suitable depth to prevent movement.
Although the anchoring arrangement is particularly
suitable for satelite dishes it can of course be used in
other circumstances where an above ground structure is
required to remain in fixed position relative to the ground.
According to the invention, therefore, there
is provided a method of forming a rigid anchor for an above
ground structure the method comprising screwing into the

~2~ 80
ground an anchor having an elongate shaft carrying a screw
- flight which engages the ground to screw the shaft down-
wardly into the ground and applying a ~edge member having
portions extending laterally from the shaft to the shaft
at a position such that the wedge member extends into the
ground adjacent the surface thereof.
According to the second aspect of the invention
there is provided an anchor member comprising an anchor
having an elongate shaft and a screw flight by which the
shaft can be screwed into the ground and a wedge member
for attachment to the shaft such that portions of the wedge
member extend laterally from the shaft.
According to a third aspect of the invention
there is provided an anchor assembly comprising a plurality
of anchors each having an associated wedge member as explained
above and a framework having a polygonal base for inter-
connecting the anchors arranged at the apexes of the polygon
and means for attaching the base to the anchors.
In the preferred arrangement there are three
such anchors and associated wedge members. The anchors
can firstly be screwed into the ground through a jig which
locates the shaft and retains it vertical as the screw
flight is screwed into the ground. Then the wedge member
is applied to the portion of the shaft extending out of
the ground and the wedge is forced into the ground to sur-

~ ~:3~;i28~
round the shaft and retain the upper portion of the shaft
- against lateral movement relative to the ground.
Preferably the wedge member comprises a tube
or sleeve for closely surrounding the shaft and the number
of radial wings extending outwardly from the tube. The
wings act to hold the shaft against lateral movement relative
to the soil. The wings can converge to a point at the
bottom of the tube or sleeve so that the wedge member can
simply be hammered onto the shaft and into the ground.
With the three shafts and associated wedge members
fixed in position the above ground framework can be attached
to the upstanding portion of the shafts for example by
pipe couplings o the type commonly used in scaffolding
arrangements. The framework can then of course be levelled.
The arrangement also allows the depth of the
anchor to be adjusted as required. Thus if an anchor at
one apex of the triangle or polygon en%ages a substantial
obstacle and thus remains projecting above the ground by
a greater length than the remaining shafts, the wedge member
can still be applied to the shaft to the required depth
by again hammering over the shaft and then the excessive
amount of the shaft can be cut off so as to provide three
or more vertical shaft portions extending upwardly from
the ground sufficiently just to receive the framework.
One embodiment of the invention will now be des-

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cribed in more detail in conjunction with the accompanying
~ drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an anchor
assembly in position in the ground supporting a vertical
shaft above the ground for receiving a satelite dish.
Figure 2 is a side elevational view taken at
right angles to the view of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the assembly of Figure
1. _
In the drawings like characters of reference
indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.
The assembly comprises three separate anchors
11 arranged at the apexes of an equilateral triangle as
shown in Figure 3 and supporting a central shaft 1 for
receiving a satelite dish of conventional construction.
Each anchor 11 comprises a shaft 3 which may
be tubular as required depending upon the dimensions employed
in accordance with sound engineering practice. The shart
3 is of substantially the length required to provide a
suitable anchoring depth in the soil conditions prevailing
in the area concerned and receives at its lower end a screw
flight 2 mounted on a stub shaft 12 by nut and bolt con-
nections 4. The shaft 12 and screw flight 2 is a commercial
item which can be purchased for example from Dominion Bridge
of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The screw flight is available in

~2;~
varying diameters for varying conditions and can, as known,
- be used to screw the flight and the accompanying shaft
into the ground by rotation of the shaft 3 by suitable
and available equipment as will be known to one skilled
in the art.
Normally such anchors are used in an inclined
direction to provide an anchor for a cable for example
for supporting poles for power lines and the like.
However in this case the shafts 3 are located
by a jig which is effectively a plate with holes at the
required locations and are screwed vertically into the
ground to the required depth. Such a depth can be of the
order of 5 ft. depending of course on soil conditions but
this depth can vary within wide limits. Should one of
the anchors engage a substantial obstacle for example large
rock, the rock can act to retain this anchor in the required
position and therefore it is not necessary to relocate
the whole equipment and the anchor can be screwed to the
maximum depth possible and then left with part of the shaft
3 extending above the shaft 3 of the two other anchors.
A wedge member comprises a tube or sleeve 13
which can sliding receive the shaft 3 and which is consider-
ably shorter than the shaft 3. Attached to the tube 13
is a plurality of radially extending wings 7. As shown
there are three such wings 7 arranged at 120 spacing and

extending outwardly from the tube without any angular pro-
- jections. Thus the wedge member effectively comprises
just the wings 7 which extend outwardly to engage the ground.
Approximately the lower half of each wing 7 is chamfered
inwardly to form a point at the bottom of the tube 13 so
that the wings can be driven into the ground. This can
best be achieved by passing a pipe length over the upper
end of the shaft 3 and resting it on top of the tube 13
in end abutting relationship and then applying hammer force
to the end of the pipe length to drive the tube 13 and
wings7into the ground. Since the wings/are symmetrical
and there are no angular projections the wings 7 can be
simply driven into the ground and there is no turning force
and no resultant lateral force to shift the position of
the shaft 3. It is of course necessary to remove the jig
from the shaft 3 before applying the wedges but the wedges
do not in practice materially affect the position of the
shaft 3 and therefore it remains in position for receiving
the framework of the post 1.
When driven into position slightly beneath the
surface of the ground, the wedge members can be bolted
to the shaft 3 by bolts 10 so as retain the position.
With an anchor of the order of 5 ft. in length,
the wedge can be of the order of 1 ft. in depth with wings
7 of the order of 10 in. to 1 ft. in width. This means

~3~ 8(~
that the shaft 3 is anchored against vertical movement
~ by the screw flight 2 which is positioned sufficiently
deep to prevent movement on heaving of the upper layer
of soil. Lateral movement of the upper end of the shaft
3 is prevented by the engagement of the wings 7 with the
soil surrounding the upper end. Any upward heaving of
the upper layers of soil can slip by the wings 7 and thus
does not affect the vertical position of the shaft 3.
The lateral position of each shaft 3 and thereof of the
total structure is held fixed by the wedge members and
therefore there is no working of the shafts 3 in the ground
caused by wind pressure on the satelite dish supported
on the post 1.
Effectively therefore the wedge members only
control lateral movement of the surface but without their
presence bending of the shafts 3 could occur and movement
of the soil around the shafts thus allowing the post 1
to tilt from the vertical. Since the wedge members are
not fixed to the shafts 3 their positi.on can be adjusted
so as to take up the required position just beneath the
surface of the ground regardless of the position to which
the screw flight 2 has been screwed.
With each anchor fixed in position as explained,
the pipe length against which the hammering force is applied
can be removed and a further sleeve 8 slipped over the

~Z;3~ 8~
g
exposed portion of the shaft 3 into engagement with the
- upper face of the sleeve 13 of the wedge member. At this
point the exposed portions of the shaft 3 can be cut to
length if required so that effectively the same amount
of the shaft 3 projects above the sleeves 8 to provide
a pleasing appearance and to accommodate the varying depth
to which the screw flights 2 have been screwed.
The ~ramework for the post 1 comprises three
tubes 14 welded to the bottom of the post and extending
radially outwardly therefrom at right angles thereto so
as to lie in a horizontal plane~ In addition the posts
14 are interconnected by bracing members 1511ying again
in the horizontal plane of the base of the post 1. Finally
upwardly inclined bracing members 16 extend from a position
at the mid-height of the post 1 to substantially the outer
end of the supports 14. This provides a rigid structure
for retaining the post 1 in a vertical orientation. The
supports 14 can be coupled to the sleeves 8 by scaffolding
coupling members of the friction fit t~pe. Various coupling
arrangements can be used by the preferred arrangement is
known as a"Rota-lock"which can be obtained commercially
for example from Up-Right Scaffolds Limited of Winnipeg,
Manitoba. Such a device comprises a wire loop which couples
the hori~ontal member 14 to the vertical member 8 by looping
around each of the members twice. Such a device can be

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slid onto one end of each of the members into the required
position and then can be tightened into position by jacking
apart either the members themselves or the interconnection
between one of the loops and one of the members. The jacking
member is not shown in the drawings but such an arrangement
will be well known to one skilled in the art. Thus the
framework can be accurately levelled so that the supports
14 are properly positioned in a horizontal plane by adjust-
ing one or two of the couplings 15. When adjusted the
post 1 stands in a vertical direction and will remain in
that direction regardless of normal movement of the earth
and regardless of working of the structure caused by gust-
ing winds.