Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02884993 2015-03-16
Title
POLE GUIDE TOOL
Scope of the Invention
100011 This invention relates to a pole guide tool via which forces can be
applied to a
suspended pole to assist in locating the pole by manipulating the tool from a
location spaced
from the pole.
Background of the Invention
100021 Instances arise where a pole such as a hydro pole to be used to
support electrical
wires is to be hung vertically as suspended from a crane and moved to a
location in which the
pole is to be secured for use as, for example, impeded within a hole in the
ground.
100031 The present inventor has appreciated disadvantages which arise as
when a person
may attempt to engage the suspended pole with their hands and arms to move the
suspended
pole, notably, that dangerous situations may arise with the person adjacent to
the suspended
pole while the pole is being moved.
Summary of the Invention
100041 Accordingly, to at least partially overcome these disadvantages,
this invention
provides, in one aspect, a pole guide tool via which forces can be applied to
a suspended pole
by manipulating the tool from at least a partially spaced location from the
pole.
100051 In one aspect, the present invention provides a pole guide tube
comprising an
elongate tool rod having a distal first end adapted to be engaged by a user
and a second end
carrying a tool head,
100061 the tool head comprising a split ring defining an opening
therethrough,
100071 the split ring including a fixed ring section and a pivoting ring
section pivotally
mounted to the fixed ring section,
100081 the pivoting ring section spanning between ends of the fixed ring
section,
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[0009] the pivoting ring section pivotally movable between a closed
condition and an
open condition to permit a pole member to become received within or removed
from within
the split ring.
100101 Preferably, the fixed ring section has a first end and a second end,
the pivoting
ring section has a first end and a second end, and the pivoting ring section
spans between the
first end of the fixed ring section and the second end of the fixed ring
section.
100111 Preferably, a latching mechanism is included to latch the pivoting
hinge section in
the closed condition.
100121 Preferably, the split ring when in the closed condition provides an
interior surface
via which forces transmitted from the distal first end of the tool rod may be
applied to a pole
passing through the opening to urge the pole away from a user holding the
distal first end of
the tool rod or to urge the pole towards a user holding the distal first end
of the tool rod.
100131 In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of
guiding an elongate
pole having an upper end and a lower end and which poles is supported to hang
downwardly
from its upper end,
[0014] the method comprising providing a pole guide tool having an elongate
tool rod
with a distal first end and a second end, with the second end carrying a tool
head,
[0015] the tool head having an opening passing therethrough sized to permit
the pole to
pass freely through the opening without engaging the tool head,
100161 the method comprising locating the tool head to extend
circumferentially about
the pole,
[0017] lowering the pole axially through the tool head and applying forces
from the first
distal end of the tool rod to the pole by engagement of interior surfaces of
the tool head
about the opening with side surfaces of the pole by manipulating the distal
end of the tool rod
from a location spaced laterally from the pole.
Brief Description of the Drawings
100181 Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent
from the following description taken together with the accompanying drawings
in which:
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100191 Figure 1 is a schematic pictorial view of a pole guiding tool in
accordance with a
first embodiment of the present invention with a split ring of a tool head in
a locked and
closed condition with the split ring to be engaged about a pole shown in cross-
section;
[0020] Figure 2 is a schematic top view of the tool of Figure 1 with the
split ring of the
tool head in an open condition which permits the split ring to be engaged or
disengaged about
the pole shown in cross-section;
[0021] Figure 3 is a schematic pictorial view illustrating a method of use
of the pole
guide tool of Figure 1; and
[0022] Figure 4 is a schematic pictorial view of a pole guiding tool in
accordance with a
second embodiment of the present invention with a tool head about a pole shown
in cross-
section.
Detailed Description of the Drawings
100231 Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the tool guide 10 includes a tool rod
12 and a tool
head 14. The tool head 14 includes a tubular socket 16 and a split ring 20.
The split ring 20
includes a fixed ring segment or section 22 and a pivoting ring segment or
section 32. The
fixed ring section 22 is fixedly secured to the socket 16. The fixed ring
section 22 has a first
end 23 and a second end 24. The pivoting ring segment 32 has a first end 33
and a second
end 34.
[0024] A hinge structure 40 connects the first end 23 of the fixed ring
section 22 to the
first end 33 of the pivoting ring section 32 for pivoting about a hinge axis
41. The hinge
structure 40 includes a fixed bracket 42 fixedly secured to the first end 23
of the fixed ring
section 22 and a pivoting hinge bracket 43 fixedly connected to the first end
33 of the
pivoting ring section 32. A hinge pin 44 passes coaxially about the hinge axis
through
coaxially aligned openings in each of the hinge brackets 42 and 43.
[0025] A latch structure 50 releasably couples the second end 24 of the
fixed ring section
22 to the second end 34 of the pivoting ring section 32. The latch structure
50 has a fixed
latch bracket 51 secured to the second end 24 of the fixed ring section 22 and
a pivoting latch
bracket 53 fixed to the second end 34 of the pivoting ring section 32. As seen
in Figure 2
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circular openings53 and 54 are provided coaxially through each of the fixed
latch bracket 51
and the pivoting latch bracket 52 for removable receipt therein of a lynch pin
55.
100261 The fixed ring section 22 and the pivoting ring section 32
preferably are each
formed from a tube, preferably of metal, or a rod which is bent into the
desired shape so as
together form a two piece circular split ring which is disposed in a flat
plane which is normal
to the axis 41 of the hinge structure 40. Preferably, as well, each of the
openings 53 and 54
through the latch structure 50 is also coaxial about a latch axis
perpendicular to the plane
although this is not necessary.
[0027] With the lynch pin 55 removed, the pivoting ring section 32 may be
pivoted
about the hinge axis 41relative the fixed ring section 22 between a closed
condition shown in
Figure 1 and an open condition as shown in Figure 2. Preferably, the hinge
structure 40
journallingly supports the pivoting ring section 23 such that when the
pivoting ring segment
32 pivots to the closed condition, the fixed latch bracket 51 and the pivoting
latch bracket 52
will align in the flat plane, with both the pivoting ring section 32 and the
fixed ring section
22 lying in the plane, with a stop surface formed on the second end 24 of the
fixed ring
section 22 coming to abut and engage with a stop surface formed on the second
end 34 of the
pivoting ring section 32 locating the openings 53 and 54 through the two latch
brackets 51
and 52 coaxially aligned so as to permit easy manual insertion of the lynch
pin 55 to lock the
pivoting ring section 32 to the fixed ring section 22 in the closed condition.
100281 The particular nature of the lynch pin 55 is not critical, however,
preferably, the
lynch pin 55 has an enlarged head 56 which can readily be grasped and engaged
manually by
a workman using the tool 10 as, for example, under extreme winter conditions
as with thick
insulated mittens or gloves. Preferably, the head 56 of the lynch pin 55 may
be relatively
enlarged or carry a loop for easy engagement. Preferably, the lynch pin 55 may
be tethered
to the tool head 14 preferably by being secured by a flexible strap or wire 57
shown only on
Figure 2 securing the lynch pin 55 to the tool head 14 such that it will not
be lost if dropped
by a user.
100291 Preferably, the lynch pin 55 includes the head 56 for engagement by
a hydro
linesman manually and a shaft 58 which extends from the head 56 and is sized
to pass
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through the openings 53 and 54. The lynch pin 55 preferably may include a
catch member
which will engage the free end of the shaft away from the head in a frictional
manner to
prevent the lynch pin 55 from becoming disengaged from the latch brackets
other than when
not an insubstantial manual axial force is applied to the lynch pin 55.
[0030] Referring to Figure 2, in use, the pole guide tool 10 may be applied
to and
removed about a section of an elongate pole 70 by placing the split ring 20 in
an open
condition, that is, with the lynch pin 55 removed, pivoting the pivoting ring
section 32 to an
open condition as seen in Figure 2 and, in which open condition, the fixed
ring section 22
may be engaged circumferentially about the pole following which the split ring
20 is closed
with the pivoting ring section 32 moved to the closed condition and, in the
closed condition,
locked by manual insertion of the lynch pin 55.
[0031] The inside diameter of interior surfaces 71 of the closed split ring
20 is selected to
be larger than a largest diameter of the pole 70 to be guided. With the pole
70 passing
through the closed split ring 20, a hydro linesman may, by engaging a distal
end 60 of the
tool rod 12, apply forces to the tool rod 12 which will be transmitted to the
pole 70 within the
split ring 20 as, for example, to push the pole away from the linesman or to
pull the pole
towards the linesman.
100321 Figure 3 schematically illustrates a method of use of pole guide
tool 10 in
accordance with the present invention. Figure 3 schematically shows an
existing pair of
hydro wires 73 and 74 supported spaced horizontally from each other by cross
members 75
on existing poles 70 supported within holes 77 within the ground. Two such
poles 70 are
shown to support the two wires 73 and 74. As seen in Figure 3, it is desired
to install a new
vertical pole 70 between the two existing poles 70 with the new pole 70 to be
lowered
vertically between the two existing wires 73 and 74 and into a new hole 77 in
the ground. A
crane 78 has a flexible support cable 79 engaged to a first end 80 of the new
pole 70 to be
installed. The crane 78 lifts the new pole 70 to a height such that a lower
end 81 of the new
pole 70 is above the wires 73 and 74 as shown in a position indicated by the
pole in dashed
lines in Figure 3. From this position, the crane 78 lowers the pole 70
downwardly between
the two wires and towards a new hole 77 which has been dug in the ground.
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100331 To assist in guiding the pole 70 in movement downwardly through and
below the
wires and into the hole in the ground, in Figure 3, a hydro man 85 is
schematically shown in
three different positions, each holding a pole guide 10 in accordance with the
present
invention. As well, a vehicle 83 is schematically shown in two different
positions. Each
vehicle 83 carries a movable man-bucket 84 which can support at least one of
the hydro
linesman 85 with bucket 84 being adapted to be moved to different positions
horizontally and
vertically as may be desired. Both linesmen 85 within the buckets 84 are
manually holding
the pole guide tool 10 in accordance with the present invention with each
guide tool 10
disposed about the pole 70 while the pole is supported by the crane 78. The
linesman 85 in
the bucket 84 to the right of the wires guides the pole 70 above the wires 73
and 74 and has
assisted in initial guiding of the lower end 81 of the pole 70 shown in dotted
lines above the
wires 73 and 74 downwardly past the wires and between the wires 73 and 74 so
as to not
touch or catch on one of the wires. The linesman 85 in the bucket 84 to the
left of the wires
guides the pole 70 below the wires 73 and 74 and is assisting in guiding the
lower end of the
pole 70 downwardly below the wires 73 and 74. A third linesman 85 is
schematically shown
standing on the ground and is ready to guide the lower end 81 of the pole 70
into the hole 77.
Once the pole 70 is seated within the hole 77, one or more of the linesmen 85
may use their
pole guide tool 10 to assist the crane 78 in placing and holding the pole 70
in a vertical
position until, for example, fill such as gravel or concrete may be inserted
into the hole about
the pole 70 to support the pole 70 by the ground.
100341 Figure 3 shows conditions in which for the two linesmen 85 in the
buckets 84 the
pole guide tool 10 has the split ring 20 in the locked closed condition about
the pole 70, the
bucket 84 and the linesman 85 within the bucket 84 are spaced horizontally
from the pole 70
by approximately the length of the tool rod 12. Each linesman 85 in the bucket
84 can then
push or pull the pole 70 by pushing or pulling the pole with the interior
surface of the split
ring to assist in guiding the pole 70 while suspended vertically by the crane
78.
Advantageously, the tool rod 12 is of a length that the bucket 84 and the
linesman 85 within
the bucket 84 or a linesman on the ground are provided with an added measure
of safety and
horizontal distance from the pole which may swing or may inadvertently be
dropped or
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shifted disadvantageously by the crane 78. The pole 70 is free to slide
vertically downwardly
through each split ring 20, since the split ring 20 has a larger diameter than
a diameter of the
pole 70 and thus the vertical downward movement of the pole 70 does not apply
or transfer
forces to the pole guide tool 10 or the linesman 85.
100351 Figure 3 is merely illustrative. The linesman 85 in the bucket to
the left of the
wires and the linesman on the ground are both shown under the crane 78 and
this should be
avoided for safety. Only one or more of the linesmen 85 with the pole guide
tool 10, shown
on Figure 3, may be needed, however, simultaneously engaging the pole with a
plurality of
the pole guide tools 10 can advantageously assist in stabilizing a pole 70.
100361 Preferably, for initial engagement of the split ring 20 about the
pole, with the pole
70 held in a relatively safe and stable position by the crane 78, the linesman
85 within the
bucket 84 may manipulate the bucket 84 to be horizontally close enough to the
pole 70 that
the linesman 85 can manually engage and disengage the lynch pin 55 for locking
and
unlocking and coupling and uncoupling of the split ring 20 about the pole.
100371 Preferably, with the lynch pin 55 removed, the linesman 87 may hold
the tool rod
12 in an orientation that will have the pivoting ring section 32 either pivot
about the axis 41
from the closed condition to the open condition or from the open condition to
the closed
condition due to the weight of the pivoting ring section 32 and its relative
position to the axis
41. For example, with the lynch pin 55 removed and the split ring 20 in the
closed condition,
if the plane of the split ring 20 is tipped such that the pivoting ring
section 32 is lower than
the fixed ring section 22, there will be a tendency of the pivoting ring
section 32 to pivot
towards the open condition.
100381 The pole guide tool 10 shown in Figure 1 preferably has the tool
head 14 formed
as a separate element from the tool rod 12. The tool rod 12 may be, for
example, a known
rod which is used by hydro linesmen for various applications such as, for
example, the
extendable rod or tool disclosed by U.S. Patent 3,980,409 to Turner. The tool
head 14 is
preferably adapted to be removably engaged on the tool rod 12 as, for example,
by the tool
rod 12 having its remote end 62 engaged within a hollow cylindrical opening
within the
socket 16 and, for example, locked therein by a spring pin 63 carried on the
tool rod 12
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extending outwardly through an opening on the socket 16 in a known manner.
Various other
methods for coupling and uncoupling of the tool head 14 to the tool rod 12 may
be provided
without departing from the spirit of this invention.
100391 The tool head 14 preferably has a split ring 20 as illustrated in
preferred
embodiments, however, various other arrangements could be provided.
Preferably, the tool
head 14 extends about the circumference of the pole and does not prevent axial
movement of
the pole relative to the tool head 14.
100401 Preferably, the tool head may be formed from metal, more preferably,
from
aluminum tubing, however, any materials or combination of materials may be
used. The tool
rod 12 preferably is adapted to not conduct electricity and may be preferably
made from
plastic or carbon fiber materials although metal could be used or any
combination.
100411 Figure 4 illustrates another arrangement of a tool head 90 which
comprises a
staff-like hook 91 attached to a socket 91. The hook has an opening 92 on one
side of
sufficient size to permit a pole 70 to pass into the opening 93 of the hook
91. The hook 91
has a distal arcuate portion 93 with an arcuate interior surface 94 which can
engage a pole to
pull a pole towards a user and a proximate arcuate portion 95 with an arcuate
interior surface
96 which can engage a pole to push a pole away from the user.
100421 Many different variations and modifications of tool heads will now
occur to
persons skilled in the art. For a definition of the invention, reference is
made to the
following claims.
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