Structural reinforcement member and method of utilizing the same to reinforce a longitudinal section of an antenna support tower

Abstract

An assembly for reinforcing a longitudinal section of a pole, includes at least two load transfer rings formed by sleeve segments having radically opposed mating ends. The rings are adapted to fit onto the outer surface of the pole so as to circumferentially encompass the pole. The sleeve segments are connected at their ends by a nut and bolt assembly, wherein tightening of the nut and bolt assembly creates a radial clamping force to squeeze the load transfer rings onto the outer surface of the pole for holding the rings in fixed relation thereon. Elongated stiffener members are fixedly attached to the load transfer rings by a nut and bolt assembly or by welding. The load transfer rings may also be partially welded to the exterior of the pole if structural load bearing demands require additional capacity.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] This invention relates generally to the field of structural reinforcing and strengthening systems and more particularly to a novel and improved structural reinforcement assembly and method of utilizing the same to reinforce structures such as communication poles, cellphone and antenna towers on which antennas are mounted to allow more tenants to be added thus increasing tower efficiency and usage. [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art [0004] Current known structural reinforcing and strengthening systems and methods fall into four main categories. The first general category includes the use of welded stiffener plates. This design uses stiffener plates that are welded continuously directly to the exterior surface of the communications pole. This technique is very time consuming and risky as the heat caused by welding the stiffener plates to the exterior of the pole sometimes causes a fire on the inside of the communi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide a structural reinforcing system and method that is useful for structures such as communication poles that eliminates or lessens the fire danger to cabling run through the interior of such poles from welding.

[0010] It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a structural reinforcing system and method that is useful for structures such as communication poles to increase the tenant carrying capacity of the pole.

[0011] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a structural reinforcing system and method that is useful for structures such as communication poles that requires little to no welding.

[0012] It is an object of the present invention to provide a structural reinforcing system and method that is useful for structures such as communication poles that is modular in construction, easily upgraded, downgraded, relocated on the pole to meet changing needs, or even removed from the pole with little effort.

[0013] It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a structural reinforcing system and method that is useful for structures such as communication poles that is modular, provides standardized assembly elements for design ease, that is quickly shipped to pole sites and is economic in manufacture and purchase cost.

Problems solved by technology

This technique is very time consuming and risky as the heat caused by welding the stiffener plates to the exterior of the pole sometimes causes a fire on the inside of the communications pole by igniting the plastic covering the cables which are normally run through the hollow interior of the pole.

Thus while the overall opportunity for damage due to heating is lessened, the danger still exists at those spacer locations along the pole.

This technique is very time and labor consuming as the communications pole needs to be drilled at the site location by skilled workers in numerous locations to match the bolt pattern of the stiffener plate.

Errors made at the site are not easily remedied.

The benefit of this system is that there is no welding on the communications pole resulting in a less risky procedure, i.e., less likely to cause damage to the interior cabling due to weld heating, but it also creates the potential for environmental damage to the cabling in the pole interior due to the holes being drilled into the pole for attachment of the stiffener plates.

This recent technique has not been proven with the test of time.

While this technique eliminates the heating danger, there are serious concerns about the “fiberglass glued to steel construction” weathering several freeze-thaw cycles, especially in areas such as the Northeast and Midwest where such freeze-thaw cycles can be extreme and numerous in a single season.

This is, however, probably the fastest of the known systems to install.

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