Back to results
US 5,212,654 AGranted
Testing of poles
OwnerKrzysztof J. Deuarinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The residual strength of electricity poles is determined by the deflection of the poles under a pre-determined applied load. The load is applied by an extensible ram which has a foot secured to the base of the pole by a chain and a head plate with teeth which engages the sides of the poles. A preset hydraulic pressure is applied to the ram by a manual pump and the deflection if measured by strain gauges mounted on a support frame. The load deflection data are fed to a programmed computer which calculates the residual strength.
Claims23
A method for testing the residual strength of a pole, including the steps of:
- calculating a minimum allowable residual strength for the pole (at which the pole requires replacement) from a predetermined formula (e) or by a programmed calculator or computer;
- applying a preset load, corresponding to the minimum allowable residual strength, to the pole by pushing or pulling the pole above ground level;
- restraining the pole substantially at ground level using at least one of a chain, a cable and a ram;
- and
- observing if the pole fails under the applied load if the actual residual strength of the pole is below the minimum allowable residual strength.
2 more elements
Apparatus for testing the residual strength of a pole, comprising:
- calculator or computer means for calculating a minimum allowable residual strength M for the pole (at which the pole requires replacement) and thereby a corresponding load to be applied to the pole;
- means for applying the load to the pole by pushing or pulling the pole above ground level;
- means for measuring load applied to the pole comprising a load cell or gauge;
- and
- means for observing if the pole fails under the applied load if the actual residual strength is below the minimum allowed residual strength.
2 more elements
Apparatus for testing the residual strength of a pole, comprising:
- calculator or computer means for calculating a minimum allowable residual strength M for the pole (at which the pole requires replacement) and thereby a corresponding load to be applied to the pole;
- means for applying the load to the pole by pushing or pulling the pole above ground level;
- means for measuring load applied to the pole comprising a load cell or gauge;
- means for observing if the pole fails under the applied load if the actual residual strength is below the minimum allowed residual strength;
- and
- a vehicle;
- wherein a pneumatic or hydraulic ram is incorporated in a boom which is mounted on the vehicle, the boom has a distal end which engages the pole, and the means for applying the load to the pole includes the pneumatic or hydraulic ram;
- and
- wherein the load cell is provided on the boom and a computer on the vehicle resolves the load applied to the pole, measured by the load cell, into its horizontal and vertical components.
6 more elements
Apparatus for testing the residual strength of a pole, comprising:
- calculator or computer means for calculating a minimum allowable residual strength M for the pole (at which the pole requires replacement) and thereby a corresponding load to be applied to the pole;
- means for applying the load to the pole by pushing or pulling the pole above ground level;
- means for measuring load applied to the pole comprising a load cell or gauge;
- means for observing if the pole fails under the applied load if the actual residual strength is below the minimum allowed residual strength;
- and
- a vehicle;
- wherein a pneumatic or hydraulic ram is incorporated in a boom which is mounted on the vehicle, the boom has a distal end which engages the pole, and the means for applying the load to the pole includes the pneumatic or hydraulic ram;
- and
- wherein a chain or cable is connected to the vehicle to prevent excessive horizontal movement of the pole at ground level.
6 more elements
Apparatus for testing the residual strength of a pole, comprising:
- calculator or computer means for calculating a minimum allowable residual strength M for the pole (at which the pole requires replacement) and thereby a corresponding load to be applied to the pole;
- means for applying the load to the pole by pushing or pulling the pole above ground level;
- means for measuring load applied to the pole comprising a load cell or gauge;
- means for observing if the pole fails under the applied load if the actual residual strength is below the minimum allowed residual strength;
- and
- a vehicle;
- wherein a pneumatic or hydraulic ram is incorporated in a boom which is mounted on the vehicle, the boom has a distal end which engages the pole, and the means for applying the load to the pole includes the pneumatic or hydraulic ram;
- and
- wherein safety clamps are provided at the distal end of the boom to support the pole in both the horizontal and vertical directions should the pole fail under the applied load.
6 more elements
Apparatus for testing the residual strength of a pole, comprising:
- calculator or computer means for calculating a minimum allowable residual strength M for the pole (at which the pole requires replacement) and thereby a corresponding load to be applied to the pole;
- means for applying the load to the pole by pushing or pulling the pole above ground level;
- means for measuring load applied to the pole comprising a load cell or gauge;
- means for observing if the pole fails under the applied load if the actual residual strength is below the minimum allowed residual strength;
- and
- a vehicle;
- wherein a pneumatic or hydraulic ram is incorporated in a boom which is mounted on the vehicle, the boom has a distal end which engages the pole, and the means for applying the load to the pole includes the pneumatic or hydraulic ram;
- and
- wherein the load is further applied to the pole by a second hydraulic ram at ground level and a third hydraulic ram intermediate the distal end of the boom and the second hydraulic ram;
- the vehicle is supported on outriggers;
- and
- the oil pressure in the respective hydraulic rams is measured, where a fall in oil pressure under the applied load indicates failure of the pole.
9 more elements
Apparatus for testing the residual strength of a pole, comprising:
- calculator or computer means for calculating a minimum allowable residual strength M for the pole (at which the pole requires replacement) and thereby a corresponding load to be applied to the pole;
- means for applying the load to the pole by pushing or pulling the pole above ground level;
- means for measuring load applied to the pole comprising a load cell or gauge;
- means for observing if the pole fails under the applied load if the actual residual strength is below the minimum allowed residual strength;
- wherein the means for applying load to the pole includes a truss, a hydraulic ram mounted on the truss, a chain connected to the truss and a first location on the pole, and a hook connected to the truss and a second location on the pole, and wherein the hydraulic ram applies a load to the pole between the first and second locations;
- and
- a preset load R is measured on a load cell engaged by the truss.
4 more elements
Apparatus for testing the residual strength of a pole, comprising:
- calculator or computer means for calculating a minimum allowable residual strength M for the pole (at which the pole requires replacement) and thereby a corresponding load to be applied to the pole;
- means for applying the load to the pole by pushing or pulling the pole above ground level;
- means for measuring load applied to the pole comprising a load cell or gauge;
- means for observing if the pole fails under the applied load if the actual residual strength is below the minimum allowed residual strength;
- and
- a vehicle;
- wherein a pneumatic or hydraulic ram is incorporated in a boom which is mounted on the vehicle, the boom has a distal end which engages the pole, and the means for applying the load to the pole includes the pneumatic or hydraulic ram;
- and
- wherein the vehicle is supported on outriggers having respective load cells, the bending moment applied to the pole being calculated from the loads measured on the load cells and their respective distances from the pole such that the applied bending moment is set equal to or greater than a minimum required pole bending strength.
6 more elements
Apparatus for testing the residual strength of a pole, comprising:
- calculator or computer means for calculating a minimum allowable residual strength M for the pole (at which the pole requires replacement) and thereby a corresponding load to be applied to the pole;
- means for applying the load to the pole by pushing or pulling the pole above ground level;
- means for measuring load applied to the pole comprising a load cell or gauge;
- means for observing if the pole fails under the applied load if the actual residual strength is below the minimum allowed residual strength;
- and
- a vehicle;
- wherein a pneumatic or hydraulic ram is incorporated in a boom which is mounted on the vehicle, the boom has a distal end which engages the pole, and the means for applying the load to the pole includes the pneumatic or hydraulic ram;
- and
- wherein the boom is provided with jaws at its distal end to engage the pole with a substantially zero vertical applied load;
- the vehicle is supported by a pair of outriggers;
- a bending moment is applied to the pole due to the applied load, the bending moment being calculated by the formula R=k.times.M/d where the R is the measured applied load, d is the distance between the outriggers and k is a constant for the vehicle such that the applied bending moment is set equal to or greater than a minimum required pole bending strength;
- and
- wherein the load cell is provided on one of the outriggers.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.