Composite Pole Structure for Grid Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional support structures for electrical grids and overhead contact lines face issues with weight, corrosion, conductivity, and flexibility, particularly as pole size increases, leading to material inefficiencies and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A composite pole structure is assembled from multiple smaller diameter vertical poles connected by horizontal brackets, providing enhanced strength and flexibility while minimizing material usage and eliminating electrical leakage, with the brackets spaced at least ten times the pole diameter apart.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a single large-diameter pole is used to increase strength, then the pole can support higher loads, but the weight increases and material efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides a single large-diameter pole into multiple smaller-diameter poles (typically three) arranged in a triangular configuration. Each pole carries a portion of the total load, and the combined structure achieves the required strength while using less material and weighing less than a single equivalent pole would require.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines multiple smaller poles with horizontal brackets to create a unified structural system. The brackets connect the poles at strategic heights, creating a composite structure that behaves as a single unit with enhanced load-bearing capacity, distributing stresses across all components.
2Stability of the object's composition
If pole diameter is increased to reduce sway, then structural stability improves, but material usage increases and cost rises
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the structure into multiple thinner poles rather than one thick pole, the invention achieves comparable or superior stability through the distributed geometry. The triangular arrangement and horizontal brackets create a rigid framework that resists sway effectively while using less total material.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-dimensional (one pole) to a multi-dimensional structure (multiple poles connected in three-dimensional space). The horizontal brackets add spatial dimensions to the structure, creating bracing effects that enhance stability without requiring increased material in any single element.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional metal or wooden poles are used, then manufacturing is simple, but corrosion and rot problems occur requiring maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs composite material construction for the poles, combining materials with high strength-to-weight ratios and superior corrosion and rot resistance. These composite poles maintain structural integrity in harsh environments without the degradation issues affecting traditional metal or wooden poles, eliminating the need for protective coatings or chemical treatments.
Solution Approach 2:
The horizontal brackets are designed as sacrificial aluminum components that can be easily replaced if corroded, while the main composite poles have long service lives. This strategy protects the critical load-bearing elements while allowing replacement of less critical connection components.
4Strength
If steel poles are used for strength, then load-bearing capacity is high, but electrical conductivity creates safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses composite material poles that are inherently non-conductive, eliminating the electrical conductivity hazard associated with metal poles. These composite materials maintain high mechanical strength while providing natural electrical insulation, enhancing occupational safety in electrical grid applications without requiring additional insulation layers.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to above-ground supporting structures suited for use in electrical grids, in the support of rail transport overhead contact lines, in lighting arrangements and corresponding applications. Instead of using a single pole of a large diameter, a structure is assembled from several, essentially vertical poles (1) of a smaller diameter and horizontal brackets (5) connecting the poles. The structure provides significantly better properties in terms of strength and flexibility relative to the single pole.