Base Connection For Utility Poles

Abstract

A base connection for metal utility poles in which a plurality of anchor bolts extend upwardly from a concrete foundation each having a levelling collar adjustably mounted thereon. Pole connecting tubes are received in cutout portions in the lower end of the pole and are secured to the pole by welds extending along the contiguous regions between the connecting tube and the cutout portions of the pole. The pole is supported on the anchor bolts with each pole connecting tube supported on a levelling collar on each anchor bolt and connected thereto by means of a locking cap.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a base connection for utility poles or the like. More particularly, the invention relates to a base connection for a tubular metal pole such as would be used for supporting power lines that transmit high voltage electricity. The base connection of the invention is more broadly applicable to use in supporting other pole-like members, such as electric light poles, traffic signal poles, cooling towers or the like.

Poles of the indicated type may be higher than 200 feet and have, in the past, been provided with base connections in which the poles are welded to a flat base plate. However, these prior base connections have proved unsatisfactory because of failures that occur at the weld. In the case of high voltage transmission lines, the falling of one of the poles may cause some or all of the other poles in the line to fall, possibly causing injury or damage. At the least, major supplies of power will be lost for an indefinite time. Utility companies have in the past preferred lattice work towers over pole towers for supporting high voltage transmission lines, because of their inherent low cost. However, the lattice work towers require considerably more room because of their base dimension and are unsightly. These two negative features have made use of transmission poles more and more desirable in this space and esthetic conscious time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention there is provided a base connection for a utility pole which involves a strong weld arrangement for safely supporting the pole. The base connection is constructed so that a connecting tube or member is welded to the pole in a manner providing a weld area which is spread over a very large area and is subject to less stress than the previous base plate type of weld. Another feature of the base connection in accordance with the invention is that it includes means for plumbing the pole during the erection procedure.

Briefly stated, the base connection in accordance with the invention comprises a plurality of anchor bolts embedded in the foundation and extending upwardly therefrom. The pole has a plurality of axially extending cutout portions in its lower end and a plurality of connecting members received in the cutout portions and secured to the pole by welds located in axially extending regions whereat the cutout portions and the connecting members are contiguous. Means are provided for securing each of the connecting members to an associated anchor bolt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view in elevation of a base connection in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a detail view of a portion of the base connection in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, there is provided a concrete foundation 10 on which there is supported a utility pole 12 at its lower end. The pole 12 is made of a conventional tapered eight-sided tubular steel construction and, by way of example, may be higher than 200 feet.

The base connection in accordance with the invention comprises eight anchor bolts 14 embedded in the foundation 10 and arranged in a cluster with each anchor bolt 14 extending vertically upwardly from the top of the foundation 10 as is shown in FIG. 1. Each anchor bolt 14 is threaded at its upper end as indicated at 16.

There are provided eight members for connecting the pole 12 to the eight anchor bolts 14, such members taking the form of connecting tubes 18. Each of the connecting tubes 18 fits into a rectangular cutout portion 20 provided in the lower end of the wall of the pole 12. Cutout portions 20 are circumferentially equally spaced at the corners of the pole 12. The connecting tubes 18 are secured to the pole wall by welding along the contiguous regions between the connecting tubes 18 and the axially extending edges of the cutout portions 20. These weld regions are best shown in FIG. 3. Preferably, the welding comprises fillet welds 22 on the inside and the outside of the pole wall extending axially the full length of the cutouts 20 in the regions whereat the cutouts 20 and the connecting tubes 18 are contiguous. It will be apparent that since these welds 22 extend along the pole axis and are spread over a substantial area, they are capable of withstanding considerable stress.

Means are provided for mounting the connecting tubes 18 securely onto the anchor bolts 14 which are arranged in a cluster so as to receive the same. To this end, an annular levelling collar 30 is threadedly mounted onto the threaded portions 16 of the anchor bolts and is constructed and arranged to support the lower end of an associated connecting member 18 as is shown in FIG. 3. A tubular locking cap 32 is associated with each anchor bolt 14 and serves to lock the associated connecting tube 18 and levelling collar 30 together in a secure manner as is shown in FIG. 3. Thus, each locking cap 32 has a threaded portion adapted to engage external threads 19 on the connecting tube 18 and an abutment portion 34 adapted to abut against the lower end of the levelling collar 30. As will be apparent from FIG. 3, the internal diameter of the tubular locking cap 32 is such that it is freely movable relative to the anchor bolt 14 associated therewith.

The mounting of a pole 12 onto the anchor bolt 14 in the concrete foundation 10 comprises the preliminary steps of sliding a locking cap 32 onto each of the anchor bolts 14 and then threading levelling collars 30 onto each of the anchor bolts 14. The levelling collars are adjusted to a level condition. The pole 12 is preliminarily prepared by having the pole connecting tubes 18 welded thereon at the cutout portions 20. The pole 12 is then placed onto the anchor bolts 14 with each connecting tube 18 being supported on a leveling collar 30 of an associated anchor bolt 14. The locking caps 32 are then brought into threaded engagement with the threaded portions 19 at the lower end of each connecting tube 18 and are adjusted to lock each of the connecting tubes 18 onto the anchor bolt 14 in the position shown in FIG. 3. Each of the anchor bolts 14 is then checked to be certain that all of the levelling collars 30 are flush with the lower end of an associated connecting tube 18. If not, suitable adjustment of the levelling collar 30, and the locking cap 32, are made to achieve the flush condition shown in FIG. 3.

It will be noted, if desired, the levelling collars can be adjusted to a condition which provides a slight lean to the pole 12. This condition is desirable in some applications.

It will be apparent that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the size and number of the anchor bolts will vary according to the load to be supported. Also, the distance that the connecting tubes extend into the pole wall and the size of these connecting tubes is determined by the load conditions.

Claims

I claim:

1. A base connection for a pole-like member supported on a foundation comprising a plurality of vertically extending anchor bolts embedded in the foundation and extending upwardly therefrom, said pole-like member having a plurality of axially extending cutout portions in the lower end thereof, a plurality of members for connecting said pole-like member to said anchor bolts, each of said connecting members being received in an associated cutout portion in contiguous relation and being secured to said pole-like member by welds located in axially extending regions whereat said cutout portions and said connecting members are contiguous, each of said connecting members having a lower portion extending downwardly from the lower end of said pole-like member, and means interconnected between said lower portion of each connecting member and an associated anchor bolt for securing each of said connecting members to an associated anchor bolt.

2. A base connection according to claim 1 wherein said means for securing said connecting members to said anchor bolts comprises a leveling collar adjustably mounted on each of said anchor bolts and locking means associated with each anchor bolt and engageable with said lower portion of an associated connecting member for holding the same fixedly on an associated leveling collar.

3. A base connection according to claim 2 wherein each locking means associated with each anchor bolt includes a collar adjustably engaging said lower portion of an associated connecting member and having an abutment portion arranged to contact an associated leveling collar to lock said connecting member in position on said anchor bolt.

4. A base connection according to claim 1 wherein said pole-like member comprises an elongated tubular pole and said cutout portions are spaced circumferentially around said pole.

5. A base connection according to claim 4 wherein each of said connecting members has a tubular configuration and said cutout portions in said pole form rectangular cutouts in the lower end of the pole wall adapted to receive an upper portion of said connecting member to provide a pair of axially extending contiguous portions, said welds being located along said pair of contiguous portions.

6. A base connection according to claim 5 wherein said means for securing said connecting members to said anchor bolts comprises a leveling collar adjustably mounted on each of said anchor bolts and locking means associated with each anchor bolt and engaged with said lower portion of an associated connecting member for holding the same with its lower end supported on said leveling collar associated therewith.

7. A base connection according to claim 6 wherein each locking means associated with each anchor bolt includes a collar adjustably engaging said lower portion of an associated connecting member and having an abutment portion arranged to contact an associated leveling collar to lock said connecting member in position on said anchor bolt.

8. A base connection according to claim 6 wherein said tubular pole is eight sided, said cutout portions being located at the corners of the pole wall.

9. A base connection according to claim 7 wherein said tubular pole is eight sided, said cutout portions being located at the corners of the pole wall.

10. A base connection according to claim 5 wherein each of said welds comprises a fillet weld on the inside and on the outside of the pole wall.