Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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IMPROVED POWER TRANSMISSION SUPPORT STRUCTURES
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to the art of structures for supporting high tension
power transmission lines and high tension substation structures.
BACKGROUND ART
Known structures for supporting high tension power transmission lines
present several problems. One problem arises because the structures are generally
made of inductive material, the induction caused by the high voltages in the
transmission lines decreasing the power carrying capacity of the system. Some
support structures are made of wood, but these structures are usually small and
expensive to maintain. Larger poles are typically made of steel, and these are
conductive and present the problem of induction and the risk of a short to ground.
Similar problems exist throughout the high tension inr~dsl~ucture~ for example, in the
structures used in substations.
The typical solution to these problems is to space the high tension lines from
the support structure by significant distances with large insulators. These insulators,
however, are expensive and require the structures themselves to be large as well.
Another solution that has been proposed is to make the support structure of
plastic materials that are not inductive. These structures have not been successful
because such structures having adequate strength are quite expensive. Further,
plastic towers are flexible, which makes them vulnerable to excessive vibration in
windy conditions. These vibrations are transmitted to the power lines causing them
2~ to break and resulting in often serious damage. Another drawback to the use of
plastics is that they degrade significantly in the harsh environment to which the
structures are exposed, particularly UV-radiation from the sun.
It has als~ been proposed to make utility poles of steel-reinforced concrete.
These poles are also very susceptible to the weather, particularly moisture, which
causes the steel to rust and degrade the concrete by spalling.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, the high tension support poles are made of
a composite material having physical and chemical properties that make it ideal for
this purpose. The material is a composite made of an inorganic cement and
5 inductively transparent glass fibers. This material is preferably that disclosed in
United States patent 4,921,222 (Mott).
The composite material utilized for the structures of the invention has a high
strength-to-weight ratio and high torsional rigidity. It is also non-corroding in a
variety of environmental conditions, and the exterior of this material may easily be
10 sealed whereby there is no significant absorption of water. These properties allow
the material to be used in harsh weather over extended periods of time. Electrically,
the material is transparent to electromagnetic helds of the frequencies employed in
high tension transmission and has high dielectric strength.
Because the high tension power poles and other such structures made of the
15 prefer,ed composite material are inductively transparent, fewer expensive insulators
are required to support a power line on the structure, and the poles may be smaller.
Moreover, because of the physical properties of the material, the poles will have a
very long life, which further reduces costs.
The support structures in accordance with the invention are preferably
20 manufactured in the form of poles by winding fiberglass under tension around a
mandrel while supplying the inorganic cement, to form a fiberglass winding in aninorganic-cement matrix. Poles such as this may be made in a variety of shapes
and sizes, depending on the number of transmission lines to be supported and theterrain. In one embodiment, a support pole is a single, elongated element tapered
25 from the bottom to the top having one or more cross pieces with insulators for
engaging the transmission lines. The support structures may, however, be of other
shapes, such as that of a tower having trusses constructed from individual pieces
made of the inorganic cement composite material.
When the support structure is in the shape of a pole, it may be attached to the
30 ground in any of several ways. In one embodiment, for example, the bottom portion
of the pole may simply planted in the ground. Preferably, the pole is orovided with a
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bottom flange for engaging a base structure, such as a concrete base that has been
installed previously. The flange is attached to the pole is any of several ways.
The cross pieces may be attached to the pole by any of several techniques.
In one embodiment, a tapered receptacle is formed in the composite material during
5 manufacture and a cross piece made of the same composite material is held in the
receptacle by grout, which is preferably expanding grout for ensuring a secure
connection.
An object of this invention is to provide an inductively transparent structure for
supporting high tension transmission lines.
Another object of this invention is to provide a support structure for high
tension transmission lines that is inexpensive and yet highly resistant to
environmental conditions.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a support structure for high
tension transmission lines that has superior physical strength.
1~ BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a side view of a tral,s",ission line support structure in accordancewith the invention.
Figure 2 is a partial cross section of the top of the structure shown in figure 1.
Figure 3 is a partial, enlarged view of the support structure shown in figure 1.
Figure 4 is a cross section of the lower end of a second embodiment of the
support structure shown in figure 1.
Figure 5 is a cross section of the lower end of a third embodiment of the
support structure shown in figure 1.
Figure 6 is a cross section of the lower end of a fourth embodiment of the
2~ support structure show in figure 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein an apparatus 2
for supporting high-tension power lines comprises a support structure 4 and linesecuring elements 6 made of inductively transparent, substantially continuous glass
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fibers and inorganic cements, such as those described in the afore",enlioned Mott
patent. The support structure shown in figure 1 is in the shape of a tapered pole and
is supported in the ground by placing a lower end of the pole in a hole in the ground.
The pole illustrated in figure 1 may be made by winding glass fibers under
5 tension about a tapered mandrel while supplying the inorganic cement. The mandrel
is then withdrawn after the composite material has cured and the line-securing
elements are added.
Figures 2 and 3 illustrate one method for attaching the line-securing elements
to the support structure. In this embodiment, the line securing element 6 comprises
10 a cross beam 8 that supports an insulator 10, the transmission line itself (not
illustrated) being attached to the insulator 10.
Figure 3 illustrates the connection between the cross beam 8 and the support
structure 4. A receptacle 12 in the shape of two truncated cones placed back-to-back is first made from the inductively transparent inorganic cement composite
15 material. For exal"plc, the glass may be wound on a cardboard mandrel of the
desired shape or a collapsible mandrel of that shape. The receptacle is then made
a part of the support structure by winding it into the composite material duringmanufacture of the support structure. The crossbeam 8 is wound with known
techniques except that a central section 14 is enlarged to provide an exterior shape
20 similar to the interior of the receptacle. The maximum outside diameter of the cross
beam 8 is just less than the smallest inside diameter of the receptacle to allow the
cross beam to be inserted into the receptacle. The cross beam is secured to the
receptacle by filling the gap 16 with grout, which preferably expands as it cures, to
hold the cross beam securely to the support structure 4. Other means may be used25 to secure the cross beam to the support structure, such as by providing threaded
holes for bolting the two parts together. As well, other prior art structures may be
used in combination with the components made of inductively transparent
composites. For example, a wood crossbeam, and metal parts, such as bolts or
brackets that are small and induct only insignificantly may be employed.
Figure 2 illustrates one technique for holding a insulator 10 to the cross beam
8. The insulator includes a shaft 18 that has the insulator at one end and is
... . T
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threaded at the other for receiving a nut. The shaft p~sses through holes that have
been drilled in the cross beam 8. The end of the cross beam may also be filled with
grout or cement 20 by placing a plug of foam 22 in the end of the beam and pouring
the grout in the end. This will seal the end of the beam and allow the nut to be5 tightened without damaging the beam.
Figures 4 through 6 illustrate several techniques for attaching the support
structure to the ground. The embodiments of these figures attach the support
structure to a base that has previously been secured to the ground, whereas the
embodiment shown in figure 1 simply places the bottom of the pole in a hole in the
10 ground. In the embodiment in figure 1, it may be desired to fill the bottom portion of
the pole with cement or the like to provide added weight to the pole and to cap the
end of the pole against entry of moisture, etc. As well the top of the pole should be
capped. Further, because a pole made of the disclosed composite n)at~rials may
have characteristics different from those of normally used poles, it may be desirable
15 to add weight to other parts of the pole to adjust these characteristics.
Figure 4 illusllates an embodiment where a cylindrical sleeve 24 having a
flange 26 attached thereto, as by welding, is placed in the lower end of the support
structure. As noted above, the preferred method of constructing the support
structure is by winding on a mandrel, and this results in the support structure's being
20 hollow. Thus, the cylindrical sleeve can be placed inside the support structure such
that the flange can be attached to a base 28 having threaded studs 30 by nuts 32.
A gap 34 between the sleeve and the inside of the pole is filed with grout to hold the
pole to the sleeve. The sleeve shown to be a right cylinder, but it may be tapered or
otherwise configured to provide desired flexure characteristics, for example, to25 match those of the pole and prevent development of stress points.
Figure 5 shows an embodiment wherein a sleeve 36 is secured to the exterior
of the pole 4. This sleeve is attached to a flange 26, which is bolted to the base 28
as shown in figure 4. The gap 38 is filled with grout.
Figure 6 illustrates yet another embodiment wherein the lower end of the pole
30 is tapered such that it narrows toward the end and is provided with a conical sleeve
40. The sleeve 40 is used as a mandrel during winding and the pole is provided with
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an increased number of circumferential windings to provide increased hoop strength
~ in this area. Also, the sleeve 40 may be provided with a rough exterior to provide
increased gripping with the interior of the pole. The sleeve 40 is provided with a
bottom plate 42 having a central hole and a nut 44 aligned with the hole and welded
5 to the plate. The bottom portion of the pole is received in an outer sleeve 46, which
is secured to a flange 26 and supported by a conical shoulder 48, which is secured
to the outer sleeve at its upper edge and also to the flange 26. The plate 42 is held
in the outer sleeve by a bolt 50, which pulls the conical bottom part of the pole into
the conical sleeve 46 to secure the pole to the flange. It will be appreciated that this
10 is a quite secure arrangement because tension forces on the pole are resisted by
the strength of the inwardly tapered bottom part of the pole. Because this part is
provided with extra hoops, it is very strong and, thus, is capable of resisting such
forces.
It will be appreciated that a unique support structure for supporting high tension lines
15 has been described. Because the structure is not inductive, the losses in the lines
will be greatly reduced, and the spacing between the lines can be smaller. As well,
the poles are stiffer than other non-inductive structures and are more resistant to
environmental conditions. Modifications within the scope of the appended claims will
be apparent to those of skill in the art.
