Tower Reinforcement Apparatus Using Vertical Flat Bars

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Monopole towers lack sufficient stability to support additional communication equipment and environmental forces, leading to the need for costly land acquisition or new tower construction.

Innovation Solution

The use of vertical flat bars mounted with one-sided bolts and joining plates to reinforce the tower, providing additional structural support and stability by distributing load and absorbing bending moments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If additional communication equipment is installed on existing towers, then the load capacity requirement increases, but the tower's structural stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload capacityVSAvoidtower stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The reinforcement system is segmented into multiple vertical flat bars distributed around the tower circumference, with each bar providing localized reinforcement. This segmentation allows the load to be distributed across multiple discrete reinforcement elements rather than concentrating stress in a single area, thereby increasing load capacity while maintaining tower stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flat bars are strategically positioned at specific locations on the tower where additional equipment will be mounted, providing localized reinforcement exactly where needed. This local quality approach strengthens the tower at critical load points without requiring complete tower replacement or extensive modifications to the entire structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If welding material overlay is used to reinforce the tower, then the structural strength improves, but the manufacturing complexity and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidinstallation ease
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The flat bars are designed as simple, inexpensive structural components that can be manufactured using standard metal forming processes. Rather than requiring complex welding procedures or specialized reinforcement structures, the invention uses straightforward metal bars that are easy to produce, transport, and install, significantly reducing manufacturing complexity and installation time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the traditional welding-based reinforcement method with a mechanical attachment system using flat bars secured to the tower. This substitution eliminates the need for complex welding operations, specialized equipment, and extensive skilled labor, while still providing adequate structural reinforcement through mechanical means.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS7849659B2Tower reinforcement apparatus and method
Publication Date: 2010.12.14 CROWN CASTLE USA INC
  • US7849659B2 patent drawing
  • US7849659B2 patent drawing
  • US7849659B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method and apparatus for creating a reinforced vertical multi-sided monopole tower for supporting equipment including a multi-sided monopole, a plurality of holes on three equally spaced sides of the multi-sided monopole tower and tower reinforcement apparatus mounted to the holes. The tower reinforcement apparatus includes bolts supporting a first flat bar and a second flat bar on each side of the tower. The upper end of the first flat bar abuts a lower end of the second bar and a plate is bolted over adjacent ends connecting the first and second flat bar such that the first and second flat bars are sandwiched between the plate and a side of the perimeter of the monopole.