Leg for a self-supporting tower

Abstract

A leg for a self-supporting tower comprising a plurality of upstanding leg members having upper and lower ends. A plurality of vertically spaced-apart and horizontally disposed brace plates are secured to the leg members and extend therebetween. The brace plates have a pair of spaced-apart tie-off openings formed therein which enable a tower climber to tie-off the climber's safety harness thereto. The brace plates have an elongated wind load reducing slot formed therein between the tie-off openings. The leg is devoid of any diagonal braces extending between the leg members thereof thereby making it easier and safer for a climber to climb the tower.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a leg for a self-supporting tower. More particularly, this invention relates to a leg for a self-supporting tower with the leg including a plurality of upstanding, spaced-apart leg members which have a plurality of vertically spaced and horizontally disposed brace plates secured to and extending therebetween with each of the brace plates including a generally vertically disposed plate portion and with each of the plate portions having a pair of tie-off openings formed therein and an elongated wind load reducing slot formed therein.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many types of legs for self-supporting towers have been previously provided for use in supporting antennas, transmission lines, etc. Usually, each of the legs of the prior art self-supporting towers include a plurality of leg members having horizontally disposed and diagonally extending support braces in the form of pipes or rods extending between the leg member of each of the legs. Frequently, it is necessary for a person to climb the tower for repair or maintenance purposes and the existence of the diagonals on the leg members of the legs makes it difficult for the climber to climb the tower. Further, it is believed that the leg members of the legs of the existing self-supporting towers do not have an adequate means for a climber to tie-off his/her safety harness thereto if the climber must climb the tower.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

A leg for a self-supporting tower is disclosed comprising a plurality of upstanding spaced-apart leg members having upper and lower ends. A plurality of vertically spaced and horizontally disposed brace plates are secured to and extend between the leg members. Each of the brace plates includes a generally vertically disposed plate portion having upper and lower ends and opposite ends. The plate portions have a pair of horizontally spaced-apart tie-off openings formed therein as well as an elongated wind load reducing slot formed therein between the tie-off openings. Preferably, each of the brace plates has a channel-shaped cross section.

As a climber climbs the tower, the climber may tie-off his/her safety harness to the tie-off openings in the brace plates. The absences of diagonal members extending between the leg members of the leg of the tower make it easier and safer for the person to climb the tower.

It is therefore a principal object to provide an improved leg for a self-supporting tower.

A further object of the invention is to provide a leg for a self-supporting tower which does not include any diagonally extending braces which extend between the leg members of the leg.

A further object of the invention is to provide a leg for a self-supporting tower which includes a plurality of vertically spaced and horizontally disposed brace plates secured to and extending between the leg members of the leg with the brace plates having tie-off openings and a wind load reducing slot formed therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide a leg for a self-supporting tower which is lighter in weight, has fewer parts and requires less labor to produce than the prior art legs of self-supporting towers.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a self-supporting tower including three of the legs of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the brace plate portion of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial side view of the leg of this invention;

FIG. 4 is another side view of the leg of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the leg of this invention; and

FIG. 6 is a partial side view of the lower portion of the leg of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

The numeral 6 refers to a partially erected self-supporting tower which normally will be comprised of a plurality of tower sections 8 positioned on top of one another and secured thereto. Tower 6 may be tapered or non-tapered. The lowermost tower section 8 will be secured to a foundation or footing 9.

Each tower section 8 is shown to have three of the legs 10 of this invention. Since all of the legs 10 are identical, only a single leg 10 will be described. The drawings illustrate that the legs 10 are three-sided or triangular in cross-section but they could be four-sided as well.

The numeral 20 refers to a brace or brace plate which is secured to and which extends between the leg members 14, 16 and 18 in a vertically spaced-apart relationship and with the brace plates 20 being generally horizontally disposed. Brace plate 20 is preferably C-shaped in cross section as illustrated in FIG. 2 and includes an upper flange 22, lower flange 24 and plate portion 26 extending therebetween. Plate portion 26 is provided with a pair of tie-off openings 28 and 30 formed therein adjacent the ends 32 and 34 of the brace plate 20 as seen in FIG. 2. Preferably, the plate portion 26 of brace plate 20 includes a wind load reducing slot 36 formed therein between openings 28 and 30. The brace plates 20 are secured to the legs as seen in FIG. 1 so that the flanges 22 and 24 extend inwardly into the interior of the tower.

Preferably, the base plates 20 are constructed of a suitable steel material with the ends thereof being welded to the respective leg members in the vertically spaced-apart fashion illustrated in FIG. 1. When a climber must climb upwardly on the tower for repair or maintenance, the climber may step on the brace plates 20 and may also grasp the brace plates 20 above the climber as he or she climbs upwardly on the tower. The openings 28 and 30 in the brace plates 20 provide a convenient means for the climber to tie-off the climber's safety harness. The absence of diagonal braces extending between the leg members 14,16 and 18 makes it easier and safer for the climber to climb the tower. The slots 36 in the brace plates 20 reduce the wind load on the tower.

As seen in the drawings, the lower end of each of the leg members 14,16 and 18 have a pad 40 secured thereto. The pads 40 on the lowermost tower section 8 are secured to the footing 9 in conventional fashion. As also seen in the drawings, the upper end of each of the leg members 14, 16 and 18 have a pad 42 secured thereto. The pads 42 on the lower tower section 8 are secured to the pads 40 on the lower section thereabove in conventional fashion. The legs 10 are interconnected by braces 44 secured thereto and extending therebetween as seen in FIG. 1.

Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes all of its stated objectives.

Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.

Claims

1. A self-supporting tower, comprising:

a plurality of upstanding, spaced-apart tower legs having upper and lower ends;

each of said tower legs including spaced-apart first, second and third upstanding leg members having upper and lower ends;

a plurality of vertically spaced and horizontally disposed brace plates secured to and extending between said first and second leg members;

a plurality of vertically spaced and horizontally disposed brace plates secured to and extending between said second and third leg members;

a plurality of vertically spaced and horizontally disposed brace plates secured to and extending between said first and third leg members;

each of said brace plates including a generally vertically disposed plate portion having upper and lower ends and opposite ends;

at least some of said plate portions having at least one tie-off opening formed therein to enable a tower climber to selectively attach the climber's safety harness thereto.

2. The self-supporting tower of claim 1 wherein all of said plate portions have a tie-off opening formed therein.

3. The self-supporting tower of claim 1 wherein at least some of the plate portions have a pair of horizontally spaced-apart tie-off openings formed therein.

4. The self-supporting tower of claim 1 wherein all of said plate portions have a pair of horizontally spaced-apart tie-off openings formed therein.

5. The self-supporting tower of claim 1 wherein at least some of said plate portions have an elongated wind load reducing slot formed therein.

6. The self-supporting tower of claim 1 wherein all of said plate portions have an elongated wind load reducing slot formed therein.

7. The self-supporting towers of claim 3 wherein at least some of said plate portions have an elongated wind load reducing slot formed therein between said tie-off openings.

8. The self-supporting towers of claim 4 wherein at least some of said plate portions have an elongated wind load reducing slot formed therein between said tie-off openings.

9. The self-supporting tower of claim 1 wherein said brace plates have a channel-shaped cross-section.

10. A tower leg for a self-supporting tower with the tower legs and towers having upper and lower ends, comprising:

first, second and third upstanding leg members having upper and lower ends;

a plurality of vertically spaced and horizontally disposed brace plates secured to and extending between said first and second leg members;

a plurality of vertically spaced and horizontally disposed brace plates secured to and extending between said second and third leg members;

a plurality of vertically spaced and horizontally disposed brace plates secured to and extending between said first and third leg members;

each of said brace plates including a generally vertically disposed plate portion having upper and lower ends and opposite ends;

at least some of said plate portions having at least one tie-off opening formed therein to enable a tower climber to selectively attach the climber's safety harness thereto.

11. The self-supporting tower of claim 10 wherein all of said plate portions have a tie-off opening formed therein.

12. The self-supporting tower of claim 10 wherein at least some of the plate portions have a pair of horizontally spaced-apart tie-off openings formed therein.

13. The self-supporting tower of claim 10 wherein all of said plate portions have a pair of horizontally spaced-apart tie-off openings formed therein.

14. The self-supporting tower of claim 10 wherein at least some of said plate portions have an elongated wind load reducing slot formed therein.

15. The self-supporting tower of claim 10 wherein all of said plate portions have an elongated wind load reducing slot formed therein.

16. The self-supporting towers of claim 12 wherein at least some of said plate portions have an elongated wind load reducing slot formed therein between said tie-off openings.

17. The self-supporting towers of claim 13 wherein at least some of said plate portions have an elongated wind load reducing slot formed therein between said tie-off openings.

18. The self-supporting tower of claim 10 wherein said brace plates have a channel-shaped cross-section.