SHEAR RESISTANT UTILITY POLE AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REPAIRING A BROKEN UTILITY POLE
A utility pole (10) includes: a first pole section (12); a second pole section (14) separate from the first pole section (12); and, a spring (36) joining the first and second pole sections together such that the first pole section (12) may, under an application of force thereto, tilt relative to the second pole section (14).
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The present inventive subject matter relates to the support post arts. One particular application is found in conjunction with utility poles, and the specification makes particular reference thereto. However, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present inventive subject matter are also amenable to other like applications.
BACKGROUNDAs is known in the art, utility poles and other like support posts (e.g., flag poles, fence posts, mailbox posts, light posts, etc.) are susceptible to damage from a variety of forces. For example, natural forces like high winds have been known to break or otherwise knock over utility poles. Additionally, utility poles or the like may be damaged in a similar manner, e.g., when struck by a moving object such as an automotive vehicle.
Typical prior art approaches for dealing with a damaged or broken utility pole often involve replacing the damaged or broken pole with a new one. It is commonly desired that the new pole stand in the same place as the prior broken pole. For example, after a utility pole has been broken, often a stump or bottom end of the pole remains buried in or otherwise secured to the ground where the pole originally stood. Accordingly, the stump has to be dug-up or otherwise detached and removed from the location. Typically, the stump and the remainder of the broken pole are simply discarded even though each separate piece may be individually intact and/or otherwise structurally sound. As can be appreciated, however, this approach is often a time consuming and/or wasteful process.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to have an approach for repairing damaged or broken utility poles that is efficient and that does not waste otherwise reusable material. Moreover, it would be desirable to have a utility pole that is in the first instance resistant to damage or breaking.
Accordingly, a new and improved support post and/or a method and apparatus for repairing a broken support post is disclosed that overcomes the above-referenced problems and others.
SUMMARYIn accordance with one embodiment, a utility pole is provided. The utility pole includes: a first pole section; a second pole section separate from the first pole section; and, a spring joining the first and second pole sections together such that the first pole section may, under an application of force thereto, tilt relative to the second pole section.
In accordance with another embodiment, a method is provided for repairing a utility pole that has been broken into separate first and second pieces. The method includes: assessing the first and second pieces to determine if they are structurally sound; and, rejoining the first and second pieces together such that the first piece may, under an application of force thereto, tilt relative to the second piece.
In accordance with another embodiment, an apparatus is provided for joining together separate first and second support post pieces. The apparatus includes: a first collar adapted to be secured to the first support post piece; a second collar adapted to be secured to the second support post piece; and, a spring connected between the first and second collars such that the first support post piece secured to the first collar may, under an application of force thereto, tilt relative to the second support post piece secured to the second collar.
Numerous advantages and benefits of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe inventive subject matter may take form in various components and arrangements of components, and in various steps and arrangements of steps. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting. Further, it is to be appreciated that the drawings are not to scale.
For clarity and simplicity, the present specification shall refer to structural and/or functional elements, components and/or features that are commonly known in the art without further detailed explanation as to their configuration or operation except to the extent they have been modified or altered in accordance with and/or to accommodate the embodiment(s) presented herein.
With reference to
With reference to
Optionally, the utility pole 10 is made from wood, metal (e.g., steel aluminum, or other metal or metal alloy), fiberglass or any other suitable material known for constructing utility poles. Suitably, the utility pole 10 is cylindrical in shape (i.e., it has a circular cross-section), but alternately, it may have a square, octagon or any other appropriately shaped cross-section.
With reference to
As shown in
With reference to
Suitably, the spring assembly 30 which is used to rejoin the pieces 12 and 14 is designed and/or tailored for the particular application or type of utility pole 10 being repaired. For example, the first collar 32 is sized and/or shaped to fit snuggly around an outer periphery of the upper portion 12 of the utility pole 10, while the second collar 34 is sized and/or shaped to fit snuggly around an outer periphery of the stump 14. As shown in
With reference to
With reference again to
In one suitable embodiment, the spring 36 is constructed and/or otherwise arranged to have a desired amount of stiffness while still being sufficiently flexible and/or resilient. Optionally, the desired combination of stiffness, flexibility and/or resilience is achieved by selecting an appropriate material for construction of the spring 36 and/or forming the spring 36 with a suitable number of coils and/or suitable coil spacing. For example, as shown in
Suitably, the stiffness of the spring 36 is slightly lower than the fracture point for the utility pole 10. This eliminates needless flexing or movement of the pole 10 which may, e.g., unduly stress any wires supported thereby, while still allowing the pole 10 to flex or bend rather than break when a force is applied thereto, e.g., from high winds or the like. That is to say, under the application of force to the upper section or piece 12 of the pole 10, the flexibility of the spring 36 permits the upper section or piece 12 to tilt or otherwise move relative to the lower section or stump 14. Suitably, the spring 36 is also sufficiently resilient, so that when the force is no longer applied, the pole piece 12 returns to an upright position, i.e., substantially in-line or parallel with the lower pole section or stump 14.
Notably, the flexibility and/or resilience of the spring 36 provides a number of advantages. For example, as the upper section or piece 12 of the pole 10 tilts in the wind, the surface area of the pole 10 which is normal or perpendicular to the wind is significantly reduced, thus resulting in a significant reduction of the force acting on the pole 10 which could otherwise cause it to fail. Another advantage is realized, for example, in the case of automotive vehicle collisions with the pole 10. That is to say, the flexibility provided by the spring 36 installed in the pole 10 helps to dissipate some of the energy that would otherwise be absorbed by and/or directed into the automotive vehicle, thereby potentially reducing the damage done to the vehicle, or more importantly, to any occupants of the vehicle.
In other applications, the stiffness of the spring 36 is optionally set to other values as desired for the effect or result being sought. For example, in the case of a mailbox post, the spring stiffness is optionally set slightly lower than the deformation point of the mailbox secured to the post. Such an arrangement potentially addresses the damage caused by snowplows or vandals striking the mailbox, insomuch as the mailbox would merely deflect out of the way with the flexing of the spring 36 as a result of the strike rather than be deformed or damaged.
While the above description refers to repairing broken utility poles and the like, it is of course contemplated that the spring assembly 30 is optionally installed in new poles in a similar manner prior to their deployment. In this way, the potential damage or breaking can be avoided in the first place. Additionally, while the present inventive subject matter has been shown herein by example repairing a pole 10 broken into only two pieces 12 and 14, a plurality of spring assemblies 30 may optionally be employed to likewise rejoin or secure together three or more pole pieces as the particular circumstances warrant.
In any event, it is to be appreciated that in connection with the particular exemplary embodiments presented herein certain structural and/or function features are described as being incorporated in defined elements and/or components. However, it is contemplated that these features may, to the same or similar benefit, also likewise be incorporated in other elements and/or components where appropriate. It is also to be appreciated that different aspects of the exemplary embodiments may be selectively employed as appropriate to achieve other alternate embodiments suited for desired applications, the other alternate embodiments thereby realizing the respective advantages of the aspects incorporated therein.
Additionally, it is to be appreciated that certain elements described herein as incorporated together may under suitable circumstances be stand-alone elements or otherwise divided. Similarly, a plurality of particular functions described as being carried out by one particular element may be carried out by a plurality of distinct elements acting independently to carry out individual functions, or certain individual functions may be split-up and carried out by a plurality of distinct elements acting in concert. Alternately, some elements or components otherwise described and/or shown herein as distinct from one another may be physically or functionally combined where appropriate.
In short, the present specification has been set forth with reference to preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the present specification. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.
Claims
1. A utility pole comprising:
- a first pole section;
- a second pole section separate from the first pole section; and,
- a spring joining the first and second pole sections together such that the first pole section may, under an application of force thereto, tilt relative to the second pole section.
2. The utility pole of claim 1, wherein the spring holds the first and second pole sections apart from one another such that adjacent ends of the first and second pole sections form a gap therebetween.
3. The utility pole of claim 1, wherein the spring is part of an assembly that also comprises:
- a first collar which secures a first end of the spring to the first pole section; and,
- a second collar which secures a second end of the spring to the second pole section.
4. The utility pole of claim 3, wherein at least one of the first and second collars is attached to their respective pole sections with one or more fasteners.
5. The utility pole of claim 3, wherein at least one of the first and second collars is attached to their respective pole sections by clamping around an outer periphery thereof.
6. The utility pole of claim 1, wherein a resilience of the spring returns the first pole section to an upright position substantially in-line with the second pole section when the application of force ceases.
7. The utility pole of claim 1, wherein a flexibility of the spring is set to permit tilting of the first pole section in response to the application of force just prior to a structural failure of the first pole section.
8. The utility pole of claim 1, wherein the second pole section is secured to a base.
9. A method of repairing a utility pole that has been broken into separate first and second pieces, said method comprising:
- (a) assessing the first and second pieces to determine if they are structurally sound; and,
- (b) rejoining the first and second pieces together such that the first piece may, under an application of force thereto, tilt relative to the second piece.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one end of the first and second pieces where the pole broke is rough, said method further comprising:
- smoothing out the end.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:
- applying a coat of protective material to the smoothed out end.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein smoothing out the end comprises:
- cutting off the rough portion of the end.
13. The method of claim 9, wherein the rejoining comprises:
- holding the first and second pieces spaced apart from one another such that adjacent ends of the first and second pieces form a gap therebetween.
14. The method of claim 9, wherein a spring rejoins the first and second pieces together.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the rejoining comprises:
- securing a first end of the spring to the first piece of the pole; and,
- securing a second end of the spring to the second piece of the pole.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first and second ends of the spring is secured to its respective piece of the pole via a collar and the securing comprises:
- attaching the collar to its respective piece of the pole with one or more fasteners.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one of the first and second ends of the spring is secured to its respective piece of the pole via a collar and the securing comprises:
- clamping the collar around an outer periphery of its respective piece of the pole.
18. An apparatus for joining together separate first and second support post pieces, said apparatus comprising:
- a first collar adapted to be secured to the first support post piece;
- a second collar adapted to be secured to the second support post piece; and,
- a spring connected between the first and second collars such that the first support post piece secured to the first collar may, under an application of force thereto, tilt relative to the second support post piece secured to the second collar.
19. An apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first collar, the second collar and the spring are formed as a unitary assembly.
20. An apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first collar, the second collar and the spring are formed as separate elements welded together.
Type: Application
Filed: May 12, 2006
Publication Date: Nov 15, 2007
Applicant: Lucent Technologies Inc. (Murray Hill, NJ)
Inventors: Stuart Goldman (Scottsdale, AZ), Richard Krock (Naperville, IL), Karl Rauscher (Emmaus, PA), James Runyon (Wheaton, IL)
Application Number: 11/382,968
International Classification: E02D 37/00 (20060101);