Pole Guide Tool

Abstract

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.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority and the benefit of 35 USC §119(e) to United States patent application Ser. No. 61/955,262 filed 19 Mar. 2014.

SCOPE OF THE INVENTION

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

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.

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

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.

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,

the tool head comprising a split ring defining an opening therethrough,

the split ring including a fixed ring section and a pivoting ring section pivotally mounted to the fixed ring section,

the pivoting ring section spanning between ends of the fixed ring section,

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.

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.

Preferably, a latching mechanism is included to latch the pivoting hinge section in the closed condition.

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.

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,

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,

the tool head having an opening passing therethrough sized to permit the pole to pass freely through the opening without engaging the tool head,

the method comprising locating the tool head to extend circumferentially about the pole,

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

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 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;

FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of the tool of FIG. 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;

FIG. 3 is a schematic pictorial view illustrating a method of use of the pole guide tool of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 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

Referring to FIGS. 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.

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.

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 FIG. 2 circular openings 53 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.

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.

With the lynch pin 55 removed, the pivoting ring section 32 may be pivoted about the hinge axis 41 relative the fixed ring section 22 between a closed condition shown in FIG. 1 and an open condition as shown in FIG. 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.

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 FIG. 2 securing the lynch pin 55 to the tool head 14 such that it will not be lost if dropped by a user.

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 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.

Referring to FIG. 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 FIG. 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.

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.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a method of use of pole guide tool 10 in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 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 FIG. 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 FIG. 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.

To assist in guiding the pole 70 in movement downwardly through and below the wires and into the hole in the ground, in FIG. 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.

FIG. 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 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.

FIG. 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 FIG. 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.

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.

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.

The pole guide tool 10 shown in FIG. 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. Pat. No. 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 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.

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.

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.

FIG. 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.

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.

Claims

1. A pole guide tool 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,

the tool head comprising a split ring defining an opening therethrough,

the split ring including a fixed ring section and a pivoting ring section pivotally mounted to the fixed ring section,

the pivoting ring section spanning between ends of the fixed ring section,

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.

2. A pole guide tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein 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.

3. A pole guide tool as claimed in claim 1 including a latching mechanism is included to latch the pivoting hinge section in the closed condition.

4. A pole guide tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein 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.

5. A method of guiding an elongate pole having an upper end and a lower end and which pole is supported to hang downwardly from its upper end,

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,

the tool head having an opening passing therethrough sized to permit the pole to pass freely through the opening without engaging the tool head,

the method comprising locating the tool head to extend circumferentially about the pole,

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.