Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
s2~3
CROSS REFERENCES TO PRIOR ART
U.S. patent No. 927,064 - Expansion Bolt. H.W.
~ower issued July 6, 1909.
U.S. patent No. 1,869,877 - Pole Fitting. ~0.
Austin issued August 2, 1932.
U.S. patent No. 2,183,551 - Hos2 Clamp. A.L. Dold
issued December 19, 1939.
U.S. patent No. 2,241,343 - F,xpansion Shell for
Machine Bolts. J. Fleaca issued May 6, 1941.
10U.S. patent No. 2,626,023 - Drill Post. E.B. Lear
issued January 20, 1953.
U.S. patent No. 2,642,768 - Rock Anchor. H.R.
Ogburn issued June 23, 1953.
U.S. patent No. 2,900,698 - Quick Acting Hose
Clamp. H.P. Zartler issued August 25, 1959.
U.S. patent No. 3,187,858 - Anchoring Device. N.H.
des Champs issued June 8, 1965.
; U.S. patent No. 3,413,693 - Clamping Collar. C.F.
Tonnelline issued December 3, 1968.
20U.S. patent No. 3,514,911 - Line Pole Rock Anchor
Brackets. R.N. Preradovich issued June 2, 1970.
U.S. patent No. 3,747,468 - ~nchor Bolt. J.W.
Jansen et al. issued July 24, 1973.
U.S. patent No. 3,993,341 - Deck Structure and
.
33~
Connector for BUi lding Construction. C~Ao sentley issued
~ovember 23, 1976.
~ .S. patent No. 4,160,614 - Expansion Shell Assem-
bly and Method Eor Combining Resin sonding and Mechanical
Anchoring of a Bolt in a Rock Formation. S.F. Koval issued
July 10, 1979.
U.S. patent No. 4,21~,858 - Tri-Anchor Rracket for
Poles. S. Legle~r i~s~ecl A~g~st 26, 1980.
U.S. patent No. 4,362,4~0 - Tubular Lost Borehold
Closure. 0.-~. Gllaesmann et al. issued December 7, 1982.
BACKGROUND OF rr~lE INVENTION
This invention relates to brackets for anchoring
poles such as hydro or telephone poles upright on the
ground ancl more particularly to brackets suitable for an-
choring poles in rocky, rugged terrain where the surfaces
on which the poles rest need not be horizontal or on ground
beneath which sewage or electrical conduits are located
where the location of the anchoring means for the brackets
is extremely restricted
I
Various brackets are known for maintaining poles
vertical on rocky ground. rrhe brackets are connected to
anchor bolts which are secured in holes drilled in the
ground adjacent to where the pole is to stand. U~S. patent
No. 3,514,911 to Preradovich and U.S. patent No. 4,218.858
.2~ 3
to Legler both referred to above, describe brackets suit-
able for -this purpose.
~ shortcoming of known brackets such as those
described in the patents referred to above is that they are
generally unsuitable where the holes in which the anchor
bolts are secured are inaccurately located. Should ~or
example those holes not extend exactly vertically downward
it is not possible to tighten the anchor bolts in the holes
except with the greatest of diE~iculty. Similarly if the
holes are not spaced apart from the poles an exact pre-
determined distance, the brackets cannot be secured in such
a way as to minimize lateral movement of the pole after the
pole is attached to it.
The reason why the holes must be accurately loc-
ated is because the brackets are held in position by elong-
ated bolts which extend downwardly through sleeves in the
brackets and into the holes. The bolts must be rotated in
order to fasten them in the holes. Should -the holes not be
accurately located the bolts must be bent to fit into those
holes. The greater the amount o~ bend the more difficult it
is to rotate the bolts.In fact it is altogether impossible
to rotate the bolts should the amount of bend be too great.
SUMMARY OF TilE INVE'NTION
It is an object o~ this invention to provide a
~Z~2~3
bracket which is suitable for supporting a pole in the most
rugged, rocky country where the unevenness and the nature of
the terrain makes it difficult if not impossible to drill
holes which are exactly vertical or which are accurately
placed in relation to the intended location of the pole.
Moreover the bracket may be used to support a pole where the
ground beneath it is occupied by a sewage .system or by
underground cables.
It is another object of this invention to provide
brackets which will support poles on ground which is not
level. Moreover wide latitude in the location and the or-
ientation of the holes is possible so that the holes can be
located primarily where the anchor bolts will be best se
cured and only secondarily where the pole is to stand.
These and other objects are accomplished by a
bracket for anchoring a pole vertically on a rock like
support surface comprising: a plurality of pole-mounts hav-
ing a base for resting on the support surface and a
h~
~2~2~33
vertically upwardly extending upright which contacts the
pole; clam~ing means for clamping the pole-mount to the
pole; a leg which extends downwardly from the pole-mount
for insertion into a hole which extends downwardly from the
support surEace, the leg including a sleeve, an inner
member and expandible means, the sleeve having an upper end
connectable to the base and extending downwardly therefrom,
the inner me~rnber being rnovable within and relative to the
sleeve, and when so moved causing lateral expansion of the
expandible means with resulting anchoring of the leg in the
hole.
DESCRIPTION OF T~IE DRAWINGS
The invention is described in detail with refer-
ence to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the bracket of
the invention in conjunction with a hydro or telephone
pole;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the bracket and pole;
Figure 3 is an elevation, partly in section, on
lines 3-3 of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is an explocded perspective view of the
components o:E the bracket of the invention;
Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in
section, of the components of the bracket in an assembled
state; ~29~3
Figure 6 is an other elevation, partly in section,
of the assembled components;
Figure 7 is an elevation, partly in section, of
tlle lower end of the bracket;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the bracket,
pole and a ratchet and socket extension used in the instal-
lation of the bracket;
Figure 9 is a perspective view o:E the components
of the bracket used for connection to the pole;
Figure 10 is a perspective view of a template used
in the attachment of the brac~et; and
Figures 11 and 12 are two plan views of the tem-
plate in conjunction with a pole.
Like reference characters refer to like parts
throughout the description of the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF T~IE PREFERRED EMBODIMENl'
With reference to Figure 1, the bracket of the
invention, generally 20, is shown in conjunction with a
hydro or telephone pole 22. The bracket includes a pole-
mount 24 and a pair of spaced clamps 26.
'rhe pole-mount is made up of a base 30 and an
upright 32. The base is vertically extending and has an
under surface 34 which rests on the ground or other support
333
surface for the pole. The upright has a yenerally ~ shaped
cross section and is made up of a central "eb 36 which
contacts the pole and two spaced flanges 38 which extend at
yenerally riyht anyles from the -two side edges of the web.
A number of vertically spaced reinforcing ribs 40 extend
between the flanyes.
With reference to Figure 1, each clamp 26 is made
tJp of a pair of bands 42ar b ~7hich are attached to the
exterior flanye walls ancl which extend circumferentially
around the pole. An aperture is formed in each band and a
link 44 extends between the bands and its ends pass throuyi
the apertures.
The bands may be attached to the pole-mounts by
welding or they may be bolted to them. Alternatively as
illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 9, the bands 43 pass
throuyh slots 48, 49 in the two flanges of the mount and
extencJ outwardly from opposite sides of the same mount.
Where the bands are so formed, they are free to slide
horizontally in the slots in the pole-mounts.
~1ith further reference to Fiyures 2 and 9, link 44
is in the form of a bent rod having a threaded enc] portion
44a. The opposite end 44b has a foryed offset head or hook
44b which is removably accommodated in a key-hole 45 formec1
in hand 43a. The threadecl end o~ the link i5 inserted in
~Z~3~33
the aperture formed in band 43b. A nut 50a prevents the
threaded end from beiny removed from the band. The key-hole
shape ensures that the rod will not be disconnected from the
band when assembled as illustrated in Figuré 2.
When the links are so assembled, the links, the bands
and the pole-mounts together extend around the entire cir-
cumference oE the pole. The assembly restrains the pole from
movement and pole is thus anchored in position. There is no
need to use lag bolts to prevent the pole-mounts from turn-
ing with respect to the pole.
With reference to Figures 4 and 5, the pole~mount isshown in conjunction with the components which together form
a leg for anchoring the pole-mount to the ground. The leg,
generally 50, is made up of a sleeve 52, a camming plug 54
and an inner member or bolt, generally 56. A pair of hor-
izontally spaced paralled slots 58 are formed on the under
surface 34 of the pole-mount. The slots commence at the wall
32a of the upright 32 which faces the pole and extend at
generally right angles to that wall. The slots terminate at
a stop 60. The slots removably accommodate opposite edges of
a plate 62 which is attached to the upper wall of sleeve 52.
rrhe plate is loosely received in the slots so that, as
illustrated in Figure 3, the sleeve is free for limited
pivoting or rocking Erom side to side or forward or back
while remaining within the slots.
Connected to the lower end of the sleeve by, for
example, welding are circumferentially arranged segments
, 8
~', .,~
9~3
66, the outer diameter of which being the same as that of
the sleeve to which the segments are attached. A ~pace or
slot 67 is between adjacent segments. As illus-trated in
Figures 6 and 7, each segment is shaped in the form of an
wedge which opens upwardly and inwardly i.e. the wedge is
thinnest at its lower edge 66a and thickens upwar~ly. Those
.sec;ments constitute expandible means Eor engaying the wall
of the hole in which the sleeve is inserted. The way in
which they do so is described below.
Camminy plug 5~ serves to urge the segments 66 between
the slots outwardly or to e%pand. The plug has a frusto-
conical outer wall of the same slope as that of the inner
wall of the segments. A number of ribs 68 are Eormed on its
outer wall. The number o:E ribs is the same as the number of
slots 67. The width oE the ribs is slightly less than the
width of the slots and the ribs are so arranged that each
will fit into a separate slot. ~s a result the plug can be
positioned concentrically within the sleeve.
The outer diameter of the conical wall of the pluy
at its upper wall 70 is slightly greater than the inside
diameter of the segments. The conical wall of the plug
enlarges downwardly and, at its lower wall, its outer
diameter exceeds the inside diameter of the segments. The
outer diameter oE the ribs is the same ~rom the upper to
2~33
the lower walls oE the plug. ~ threaded bore 72 extends
along the longitudinal axis of the plug.
Bolt 56 has a shank 73 which removably passes
through an enlarged aperture 74 in base 30 and downwardly
through the sleeve. As illustrated in Figure 5, head 76 of
the bolt has an outer diameter which is larger than the
width of the aperture so that it cannot pass through the
aperture.
With reEerence to Figure 6 and 7, the lower por-
tion of ~he shank is threaded at 78 and those threads matethreadably with the threads in the bore of pl~g 54. The
ribs 68 of the plug are in the slots between segments 66
and will prevent the plug from rotating as the bolt is
rotated. Rotation of the bolt will accordingly cause the
plug to rise on the shank of the bolt Erom the position
shown in Figure 6 to the position shown in Figure 7t In -the
latter figure, the conical wall of the plug which contacts
the inside wall of the segments causes them to move radial-
ly outwardly of the longitudinal axis 80-80 of -the sleeve
and into contact with the wall 82 oE the hole in which the
sleeve is located.
Further upward movement of the plug causes the
segments to more firmly contact the inside wall Oe the hole
and to cause the sleeve to become rnore and more so]idLy
33
anchored in the hole.
With reference to Figure 8, bolt 56 is rotated by
oscillation o-f handle or ratchet 82 which is removably
connected to the upper end of a socket extension 8A. A
socket 86 at the lower end enyages the head oE the bolt and
causes it to rotate when the handle is oscillated.
~rhe soc~et extension is prevented From rocking or
swaying when it is being rotated by means of pair of arms
88 which apply an inward pressure against diameterically
opposite sides of an enlarged portion of the socket exten-
sion. The ends of the arms remote from the socket extension
are attached to tabs 90 which fit snugly into the space
between the ~ands 42 and the pole. The tabs can be with-
drawn from the space and the socket and socket extension
are removed after the bolt has been tightened sufficiently
to anchor the sleeve in the hole.
rA7ith reference to Figure 10, a template, generally
92, facilitates the location of the holes to be drilled
where the pole is to be anchored by means of three brack-
ets. ~he template consists of three sleeves 94, 96 and 98.
S]eeve 94 consiste of a lower segment 94a oE outside dia~
meter slightly less than the diarneter oE the hole which is
to be drilled and an upper segrnent 9~b of greater diameter.
The other two sleeves 96, 98 have uniEorm cross-sections
z9~33
thLo~3~lolt t;l~?ir l~ni3t~ls.
~ n expandible ari~ lO0 extends between sleeves 94
and 96 and a like arm 102 extends between sleeves 94 and
98. As illustrated the loncJituclinal axes oE both ar~s are
oriented at right angles to ti7e Longit~(lina~ axes 0~ the
sleeves and the angle between the axes oE the arms is
approxi~ncltely 60 de~rees.
A s~ud 10~ extends inward Ero(n each .qleeve. The
length oE tile stud determines the distance f)f the hole ~rom
the pole in tne manner desc~ihecl below.
Arm 100 consists of a hollow rectangular first
sectioll lOOa which is attached to sleeve 94. ~ second
rectangular section lOOb is connected to sleeve 96 and is
slidingly received in the hollow interior of section lOOa.
sy .neans of set screw 106 the two sections can be locked
together in any desired position~ The position of sleeve 94
relative to sleeve 96 can accordingly be increased or
decreased~
The construction of arm 102 is the same and its
length can likewise be a-]justed by ineans of set screw 108.
Figures 11 and 12 illustrate the manner in which
the template can be used to locate the position of the
holes which In~st be drilled in the ground. First a hole is
drilled beside the place where the pole is to stand. Sec-
.Z~ 33
ondly while the pole is resting horizontally on the ground
the template is placed beside the lower end of the pole
such that the pole is between its arms as illustrated in
those Fic;ures. Thirdly the two set screws are loosened to
allow t'ne length of the arms to be adjusted until the studs
lO~band lO~ccontact the outside wall of thepoleportion.
~he template is then separated from the pole by moving it
to the end of the pole.
The lower segment of sleeve 94 is then insertecl
into the hole that was drillecl in the ground. ~'he upper
secJment which has an outside diameter greater than the
cross-section of the hole will remain on top of the hole.
Two more holes are then drilled uSincJ the other two sleeves
as guides. The three holes will be correctly located ac-
cording to the size of the pole.
In Figure 12 the pole has a smaller outside dia-
meter than the pole illustrated in Figure 11 and the length
of arms lO0 and 102 are correspondingly shorter to reflect
the smaller diameter.
The holes which are drilled must have a cross-
sectional area slightly greater than that of the outside
wall of the sleeves so that the sleeves can be easily
inserted into the holes~ After the holes have been drilled
and before the pole is moved into position Eor anchoring,
13
~?J~Z~33
one sleeve is attached to a pole-mount by inserting its
plate 62 into slots 58 so that the sleeve and mount are
connected as illustrated in Figure 5.
~ olt 56 is then inserted downwardly through the
aperture 74 of the pole-mount and through the central bore
of the sleeve and while the sleeve and the mount are out-
slde the hole the plug is turned onto the lower encl of the
bolt anc] the bo]t is rotated until the upper ends o~ its
ribs are just ~,~ithin slots 6~ of the sleeve. The assembly
is then inserted into the hole.
The pole is then raised by some suitable means
such as hy a mobile crane and is positioned upright beside
the pole-mount. The other two pole-mounts are then con-
nected to the legs in the manner described above and are
placed in position adjacent to the other two holes. The
three mounts must be at the same level and shims may be
used foc this purpose. The three pole-mounts are then
interconnected by means of clamp 26.
The three mounts rnay then be anchored by tighten-
ing the bolts connected to each by means oE the socketassembly 82, 84 and 86 with resulting stabilization and
anchoring oE the pole in an upriqht position. Should the
wall of the holes crumble, the mounts will not he satis-
Eactorily anchored. In such case, the mounts must be moved
~9
2~
to a new location where they can be properly anchored.
Once the pole-mounts are properly anchored, grout-
ing oE the holes is not necessary since the strenqth of the
installation depends only on the jamming action of the
segments in the holes.
With reEerence to ~iyure 3, it will be observed
that the ground on which the pole is moun~ed is not horiz
ontal and the hole in which one leg is located is not
vertical. All that is required is that the pole-mounts be
anchored in the ground by means of legs 50. When the pole
is to be mounted on uneven ground the pole-mounts should be
shimmed up with rocks so that the bands of the clamps are
horizontal. After the pole is clamped to the assembly, the
shims may be removed since the pole is supported by the
pole-mounts and legs and not by the weight of the pole on
the ground. BackEilling or grouting of the holes in which
the legs are located are not necessary.
Since the bracket of the invention does not re-
quire any grout or cement to maintain it in position, the
bracket may be removed after use. To do so, the pole must
be held upright by means of, for example, a crane and the
three bolts must be loosened. As the bolts are loosened,
the bolt head will move upward from the base of the brack-
et. ~ sharp blow to the bolt head ~ill move the bolt down-
21~;~93~
ward and release the camming plug from the segmen-ts 66 oE
the sleeve. The entire assembly can then be lifted easily
from the hole.
The bracket Oe the invention is desiyned to allow
for variations in the size of the outer diameter of the
pole. As illustrated in Fiyuee 4, aperture 74 in the base
oE the pole-rnolJnt is elongated and allows the pole-rnount to
be moved hackward and Eorward to accommodate poles oE
larger or srnaller diameter. In addition by reason of the
elongated apertures, the leg to which the pole i, attached
need not ~e vertical. The aperture allows the bolt whicl-
passes through it to be oriented in different directions.
Figure 3 illustrates this.
The clamp can likewise accommodate poles of diEf-
erent diameters. As illustrated in Figure 2, the effective
length of each link can be changed by means of the nut
which is turned on its threaded end portion. By advancing
the nut toward the hook, for example, the effective length
of the link is shortened. When the link is in the assembly
illustrated in Figure 2, the area bo~nded by the links and
bands is red~ced as the efEective length oE the links is
reduced.Conversely the area is increased so that a pole Oe
larger diameter can be accornmodated simply by increasing
the effective lenyth of each link in the assembly.
16
Z~3~3
In the event that tlle links cannot be lengthened
sufficiently to accommodate a large pole all that is neces-
sary is to substitute longer links for the e~isting links
in the assembly of links and bands.
It will be understood from the foregoing that the
pole-mount oE the invention will accommodate all sizes of
poles normally encountered in practice as will the bands of
the clamp. The only component that may not accommodate
poles oE all .sizes is the link. For that reason it is
advisable on a job site to stock links of different sizes.
~lowever because of the adjustability of the links very few
different sizes of links are necessary.
In general it is preferable for the pole-mounts
which support a pole to be about 120 degrees apart. ~owever
this is not essential. Where the terrain makes this impos-
sible the design of the clamps is such that the spacing
between adjacent pole-mounts can be adjusted according to
the spacing between pole-mounts. It is not necessary that
the effective length of the linlcs in an assembly of links
and bands be the same.
Preferably the pole-mount and the camming plug are
cast in malleable iron and the clamps and the remaining
components of the legs are formed of galvanized steel.
It will be understood of course that modifications
33
can be made in ~he preferred embodiment described herein
wit'nout departing from the scope and p~rview of the invent-
ion as defined in the appended claims.
18
.. . .. . . ... . .. .