Hydraulic and earth engineering – Foundation – Columnar structure
Patent
1985-10-01
1987-10-06
Taylor, Dennis L.
Hydraulic and earth engineering
Foundation
Columnar structure
52514, 37 2R, 405216, 175394, E02D 3700
Patent
active
046979590
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to installing in-ground support footings around upstanding elongate objects such as structural poles, post, pilings and the like, to enhance structural integrity thereof, and more particularly to a novel method, apparatus and assembly for installing a cylindrical casing around subterranean and above-ground portions of an elongate object without the necessity for cutting, moving or otherwise disturbing the elongate object.
The present invention is directed to providing support footings for any type of existing ground-supported elongate object, however, the present invention is particularly suited for reestablishing adequate structural support to deteriorated or damaged utility poles and power transmission line towers. Utility poles are usually wooden, and may become structurally-weakened and inadequate to support utility lines, such as electrical power lines and telephone lines as well as transformers, etc.,--an obviously unsafe condition. Deterioration often occurs in utility poles after they have been disposed in the ground for several years, and "groundline rot" caused by moisture, insects and fungi, may extend in poles from just above the ground and thereinto up to two feet or thereabouts. The pole is essentially rotting around its ground-supported base and becomes structurally very weak, not only from a column standpoint but also in bending or shear strength.
Utility poles may also become split or fractured and structurally weakened after being struck by livestock (in rural areas) and/or vehicular traffic. Moreover, utility poles located along streets, highways, alleys or other thoroughfares are close to traffic and subject to being hit by automobiles and trucks, and thereby damaged.
Obviously, utility poles weakened by groundline rot or fracture present a dangerous situation which is to be avoided--and various techniques have been proposed and practiced to prevent weakened or damaged utility poles from becoming toppled.
The most basic technique involves replacement of a deteriorated or damaged utility pole with a new pole. This technique requires that the utility lines be disconnected from the top of the pole--resulting in discontinuance of service. The pole is then held by some type of grapple or other device, and is cut at its base. The pole is then removed, the underlying stump dug up, and a new pole is repositioned in the same hole from which the stump was removed, because the lines must be supported at the same general location, when reinstalled on the new pole. It can be appreciated that removal of the old pole and transport of the new pole for replacement are time-consuming and expensive steps in and of themselves. Furthermore, because of the nation's dwindling timber resources and environmental pressures, replacement poles are difficult to procure and expensive.
In an atttempt to answer the basic problems attendant with the replacement pole technique, it has been proposed to strengthen an existing, structurally-weakened pole by "stubbing" the pole and providing an in-ground support footing defined by a grout-filled casing. The "stubbing" technique requires that the weakened pole be held firmly adjacent its top by means of some type of boom assembly. The pole is then "stubbed" by cutting the pole off at its base or butt by means of a chain saw or other cutting device. The boom is then operated to hold and shift the pole to the side of the stump or "stub," and this may be difficult to do without disturbing the line connections. Next, an anchoring system is employed requiring a specialized apparatus including a rotatable driver mounted for rotating a casing over the stub. The casing is secured at its top edge to a rotatable driver, and the casing may be thought of as a large helical thread. The casing has a diameter greater than that of the pole and it is rotated and driven down around the stub for a predetermined distance, so that the casing surrounds the damaged area of the "stub," i.e., until the top of the casing is positi
REFERENCES:
patent: 108814 (1870-01-01), Moseley
patent: 405658 (1889-06-01), Campany
patent: 715362 (1902-12-01), Etheridge
patent: 1157444 (1915-10-01), Stewart
patent: 2133563 (1938-10-01), Parks et al.
patent: 2203881 (1940-06-01), Schwab et al.
patent: 2237383 (1941-04-01), Agostineto
patent: 2775428 (1956-12-01), Monthan
patent: 2897553 (1959-04-01), Gorrow
patent: 2926500 (1960-03-01), Hoppe
patent: 3307643 (1967-03-01), Ferri
patent: 3385070 (1968-05-01), Jackson
patent: 3594931 (1971-07-01), Yost
patent: 4033080 (1977-05-01), Fukushima
patent: 4068396 (1978-01-01), Langguth
Taylor Dennis L.
Utilitech, Incorporated
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for installing an in-ground support footing does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for installing an in-ground support footing, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for installing an in-ground support footing will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2114825