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US 10,294,687 B2Granted
System for coupling together segments of a utility pole, and a utility pole assembly comprising the same
AssigneeValmont West Coast Engineering Ltd.
InventorsTed Brockman, Zoltan Banyi, Ioan Giosan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is provided a utility pole assembly including a utility pole. The utility pole includes a plurality of pole segments. A first said pole segment includes a flange and an end portion extending outwards from the flange. A second said pole segment is shaped to fit about the end portion. The second said pole segment having a distal end and including a flange adjacent to said distal end of the second said pole segment. The assembly includes at least one longitudinally-extending guide pin connectable with a first one of the flanges. The guide pin is at least partially extendable through a second one of the flanges.
Claims20
A utility pole assembly comprising:
- a utility pole including a plurality of pole segments, a first said pole segment having an outer diameter, the first said pole segment including a flange having an inner diameter generally equal to the outer diameter of the first said pole segment, and the first said pole segment including a tapered end portion, the tapered end portion extending through the flange and the flange being welded to the first said pole segment thereafter, and a second said pole segment having an outer diameter, the second said pole segment including a flange having an inner diameter generally equal to the outer diameter of the second said pole segment, and the second said pole segment having a distal end, the flange of the second said pole segment extending about and being welded to said distal end of the second said pole segment, each said flange having at least one alignment aperture extending therethrough;
- and
- at least one longitudinally-extending alignment member, the at least one longitudinally-extending alignment member having a threaded portion and including an elongate shaft coupled to and extending outwards from said threaded portion, the threaded portion of the at least one longitudinally-extending alignment member being shaped to threadably engage the alignment aperture of a first one of the flanges and the elongate shaft of the at least one longitudinally-extending alignment member being extendable through the alignment aperture of a second one of the flanges, whereby the second said pole segment is shaped to extend about the end portion of the first said pole segment, align relative to the first said pole segment via the at least one longitudinally-extending alignment member so as to lock orientation of the second said pole segment relative to the first said pole segment, and thereafter slip fit to the end portion of the first utility pole segment such that the second utility pole segment fully receives the end portion of the first utility pole segment and the flanges abut each other.
A method of connecting together a first utility pole segment to a second utility pole segment, the method comprising:
- extending a tapered end portion of the first utility pole segment through a first flange and thereafter coupling the first flange to a side of the first utility pole segment;
- positioning a second flange adjacent to a distal end of the second utility pole segment and thereafter coupling the second flange to a side of the second utility pole segment;
- coupling at least one longitudinally-extending alignment member to one of the flanges;
- positioning the second utility pole segment about the end portion of the first utility pole segment;
- aligning the second utility pole segment relative to the first utility pole segment via the at least one longitudinally-extending alignment member so as to lock orientation of the first pole segment relative to the second pole segment;
- slip fit connecting the second utility pole segment to the end portion of the first utility pole segment such that the second utility pole segment fully receives the end portion of the first utility pole segment and the flanges abut each other, the at least one longitudinally-extending alignment member being sufficiently long to lock said orientation of the second said pole segment relative to the first said pole segment before the taper of the slip-fit connection engages;
- and
- coupling the flanges of the utility pole segments so aligned slip fit together via one or more fasteners.
5 more elements
A utility pole assembly comprising:
- a utility pole including a plurality of pole segments, a first said pole segment having a tapered end portion and including a flange through which the end portion extends, the flange coupling to, extending perpendicular to, and extending outwards from a side of the first said pole segment, and a second said pole segment including a flange adjacent to a distal end thereof, the flange of the second said pole segment coupling to, extending perpendicular to, and extending outwards from a side of the second said pole segment;
- and
- at least one longitudinally-extending alignment member, the at least one longitudinally-extending alignment member having a threaded portion and including an elongate shaft coupled to and extending outwards from said threaded portion, the threaded portion of the at least one longitudinally-extending alignment member being shaped to threadably engage the alignment aperture of a first one of the flanges and the elongate shaft of the at least one longitudinally-extending alignment member being extendable through the alignment aperture of a second one of the flanges, whereby the second said pole segment is shaped to extend about the end portion of the first said pole segment, align relative to the first said pole segment via the at least one longitudinally-extending alignment member so as to lock orientation of the second said pole segment relative to the first said pole segment, and thereafter slip fit to the end portion of the first utility pole segment such that the second utility pole segment fully receives the end portion of the first utility pole segment and the flanges abut each other.
A utility pole assembly comprising:
- a pair of pole segments, each including a flange having at least one fastener aperture and at least one alignment aperture;
- and
- an alignment member having a threaded portion and including an elongate shaft coupled to and extending outwards from said threaded portion, the threaded portion of the alignment member being shaped to threadably engage the alignment aperture of a first one of the flanges and the elongate shaft of the alignment member being extendable through the alignment aperture of a second one of the flanges so as to align the fastener apertures of the flanges, the pole segments so aligned being shaped to couple together thereafter in part via a slip fit connection, with the flanges being positioned to abut each other upon the pole segments connecting together via said slip fit connection;
- and
- at least one said fastener extendable through said fastener apertures of the flanges so abutting to further couple together the pole segments.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.