Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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HYDRO POLE ANCHOR APPARATUS AND METHOD
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for anchoring poles, such as
utility poles,
and, in particular, for rehabilitating used poles.
Various types of earth anchors have been developed for poles or the like. An
example is the
pointed post support shown in United States Patent No. 4,271,646 to Mills.
This support has
a square recess on the top for receiving a post.
A similar post is shown in United States Patent No. 4,644,713 to Lehman.
Canadian Patent
No. 286,122 shows a detachable post anchor for use with highway marker posts.
This
includes a spike-like projection and a rectangular base with a pointed
projection.
While the prior art does reveal devices for mounting poles, it does not
adequately address the
problem of wooden utility poles which have become rotted at ground line. This
is a problem
frequently encountered in moist climates. As a result, the poles are usually
replaced and the
entire used pole is discarded despite the fact that the defect is chiefly at
the ground line.
Fresh poles, whether of wood, concrete, metal or other materials, are
relatively expensive.
There is also considerable labor involved in removing hydro or
telecommunication lines
from the used pole, erecting the new pole and reconnecting the lines and other
attachments.
It is an object of the invention to allow the reuse of wooden poles, such as
utility poles,
which have become weak at the ground line.
It is also an object of the invention to allow poles to be reused without
having to detach
hydro and communication lines from the pole, while the poles are being
rehabilitated.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus and method for
rehabilitating
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hydro poles which is economical and long-lasting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided an anchor for poles which
includes a member
having means for receiving a pole having a tapered end. There is means
connected to the
member for securing the member to a fixed surface. For example, the means for
receiving
may include a conical recess in the member.
There is also provided, according to the invention, a method of erecting
poles. One end of
a pole is tapered. The pole is erected and the one end of the pole is inserted
into a tapered
recess in an anchor.
There is also provided, according to a further aspect of the invention, a
method of
I 5 rehabilitating utility poles. The poles are severed at a point near the
ground line. One end
of the pole, which is adjacent to the point, is tapered. The one end of the
pole is inserted into
an anchor with a complementary tapered recess.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a top, front isometric view of a combination utility pole and
support system
according to an embodiment of the invention, the utility pole being shown in
fragment and
the support system being partly broken away; and
Fig. 2 is an exploded view of a support system for poles according to an
alternative
embodiment of the invention.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring first to Fig. 1, this shows a support system 10 for a utility pole
12. It should be
understood however that the invention is applicable to other types of poles or
the like. The
support system includes an anchor 14 which has a frusto-conical support member
16. The
member 16 has an internal frusto-conical recess 18 which serves as means for
receiving
tapered end 20 of pole 12. There is a flange 22 connected to bottom 24 of the
frusto-conical
member which is circular in shape in this embodiment. This serves as means for
connecting
the member 16 to a fixed surface.
In this particular example, the fixed surface is an upper surface 30 of an
anchor member 34
which is typically buried in the ground. The anchor member has a flange 36 on
its top 38
which is complementary in configuration to the flange 22 on the support member
16. Bolts
40 pass through complementary apertures in the two flanges to secure the
members 16 and
34 together.
Fig. 2 shows a support system 10.1 which is generally the same as the previous
embodiment.
The support member 16.1 is shown without a pole. Also, apertures 50 in flange
22.1 are
visible. In this case anchor member 34.1 is a concrete block. The actual size
would likely
be larger than illustrated. It has four spaced-apart anchor bolts 50 which
extend upwardly
from top surface 30.1. These pass through the apertures 50 in the member 16.1
and nuts are
applied to the ends of the bolts to secure the members together.
In use, the anchor system is typically employed to rehabilitate utility poles,
such as hydro
poles. These poles deteriorate most rapidly at ground level as is well known.
In the past the
usual approach has been to completely remove such rotted poles and replace
them with new
poles of wood, concrete or other materials. However the invention offers a
method for
rehabilitating utility poles which is much simpler and less expensive. First,
the pole can be
temporarily secured by various means, such as a feller buncher of the type
usually used for
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harvesting trees. These allow the utility pole to be clamped in an upright
position and
severed where desired. For example, a suitable unit is sold under the
trademark
UNIVER\SAW by Peninsula Design & Fabricating, Inc. of Stephenson, Michigan,
USA.
Once the preexisting pole has been secured in position and severed near ground
line, the stub
of the pole remaining in the ground can be excavated and removed. In its
place, a suitable
anchor member, such as either of the types disclosed above, can be positioned.
The bottom
end of the pole is tapered to the shape shown in Figure 1. This can be done
manually using
an ax, for example, or using a conical cutter similar to a large pencil
sharpener. This can
include a cage holding a mechanism like a pencil sharpener. It is mounted
vertically on a
turntable base which is hydraulically clamped to the bottom end of the pole.
When the
turntable rotates, a knife held at a suitable angle tapers the pole. Hydraulic
power may be
supplied by a small, portable gas-powered pump or connected by a quick
coupling to another
machine at the site.
The tapered end of the pole in inserted into frusto-conical member 16 or 16.1
and the
member is then secured to the anchor. Once this is completed, the pole can be
released and
is securely held in its original position. Holes may be drilled through the
member and lag
bolts inserted through the holes and into the pole if desired, for example if
the pole is in a
ravine and utility wires exert a lifting force on the pole.
The invention is also applicable to positioning new poles, rather than
rehabilitating existing
poles. In addition, other types of anchors can be utilized. For example, the
member 16 of
Figure 1 can be secured to a natural rock bluff by anchor bolts extending
trough the flanges
and into the rock of the bluff. In such cases excavation is not necessary to
locate utility
poles. Other man made anchors may be used such as preexisting concrete
foundations.
Optionally there may be a trough extending about the tops of recesses 18 and
18.1 to receive
a sealant such as a tar-like substance or caulking and wood preservative.
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It will be understood by someone skilled in the art that many of the details
described above
are by way of example only and are not intended to limited the scope of the
invention which
is to be interpreted to the following claims.
