Guyed Mast Connection Apparatus with Modular Base Plate
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for connecting guyed towers to their foundations are prone to errors due to the need for precise angular placement and expertise, leading to increased costs, time, and potential damage during assembly and repair, especially with the heavy weight of these towers.
Innovation Solution
A connection apparatus featuring a base plate with anchorage holes, an angle determining tube, stiffener plate, treated cap plate, and beveled plate, allowing for easy and secure attachment of tower legs with adjustable angles and load distribution, using welding and anchorage rods for secure positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional foundation mounting methods are used for guyed towers, then the connection can be made, but the process requires precise angular placement, expertise, and complex calculations, leading to increased costs and time
Solution Approach 1:
The connection apparatus is divided into separate modular components: a base plate for foundation attachment, angle determining tubes for positioning, and tower leg connection elements. This segmentation allows each component to be independently manufactured and assembled, reducing the need for complex precision work during installation and decreasing mounting time while maintaining connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The base plate serves as an intermediary element between the foundation and the tower legs, providing a standardized interface that simplifies the connection process. The angle determining tubes act as intermediaries to establish precise angular relationships without requiring complex calculations during assembly, thereby reducing both time and expertise requirements while ensuring reliable connections.
2Manufacturing precision
If precise angular placement is required for foundation mounting, then the connection accuracy is improved, but the difficulty of obtaining correct angular surfaces increases cost and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The base plate and angle determining tubes are pre-manufactured with precise angular features and geometric relationships built into their designs. This preliminary action of precision manufacturing during production, rather than during site installation, shifts the complexity to the factory where standardized processes can ensure high precision at lower cost, while simplifying on-site assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The base plate design incorporates universal angular determination features that can accommodate various tower leg angles through the angle determining tubes. This multi-functionality allows a single standardized base plate type to serve multiple angular requirements, reducing the need for custom-fabricated angular surfaces for each specific application and thereby decreasing manufacturing complexity and cost.
3Ease of operation
If heavy guyed towers (15-20 tons) are lifted and mounted as entire assemblies, then the installation process is simplified, but even small errors can damage the foundation or connection parts due to impact
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the tower assembly into modular components (base plate, angle determining tubes, tower legs) that can be independently handled and assembled, the system reduces the impact risks associated with lifting and mounting entire heavy assemblies. The segmented components can be positioned and connected more carefully, reducing the likelihood of impact damage while maintaining installation simplicity through standardized connection procedures.
4Ease of repair
If repair procedures are performed for damaged foundations and connection parts, then the structure can be restored, but the process leads to great expenses and loss of time
Solution Approach 1:
The modular segmented design of the connection apparatus allows for easy replacement of individual damaged components without requiring repair of the entire structure. If a base plate or angle determining tube is damaged, it can be independently replaced with a new standardized component, significantly reducing both repair time and expenses compared to repairing entire heavy tower assemblies or concrete foundations.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a connection apparatus and foundation connection method developed in order to be used in guyed overhead line towers. The foundation connection method and connection apparatus mentioned above enables all the legs of a tower to be fixed onto a single base plate. According to the structure of foundation connection apparatus, the angle determining tubes welded to the base plate are capped with a welded treated cap plate which is connected to the bottom cone plate located at the ends of the legs of the towers by a pin. To provide angular rotation between the connection apparatus and the leg, the beveled plate is squeezed between the treated cap plate and the bottom cone plate.