Tower lifting stand system
AssigneeWalbridge Equipment Installation LLC
InventorsJoseph R. Margevicius, Marvin G. Wasmund, Andrew S. Oliver
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tower lifting stand system and method is provided for use in lifting a large structure such as a transmission tower that is used in our power grid. A lifting mechanism engages a structure connected to the tower which work together to lift the tower once the lifting mechanism has been activated. Once the tower is lifted, a vertical extension section can be installed thus lifting the tower, and its associated power lines, vertically a predetermined distance.
Claims19
A tower lifting system comprising:
- a portable transport device;
- a tower head structure configured to be attachable to a tower via a clamp mechanism;
- and
- a lift structure associated with the portable transport device arranged underneath the tower head structure and having a centerline in alignment with a centerline of the tower, the lift structure configured to lift the tower vertically relative to a ground surface, the lift structure including a vertically extendable lift member operable to extend lineally with the centerline of the tower and engage the tower head structure;
- wherein the lift member actuates the tower head structure and associated tower vertically lineally with the centerline of the tower relative to the ground surface from a first distance to a second distance greater than the first distance.
A method of conducting maintenance on a high voltage transmission tower comprising:
- placing a lifting mechanism under an electrical tower disposed on a ground surface;
- deploying at least one outrigger;
- installing a support structure on the tower;
- positioning the lifting mechanism beneath the support structure and aligning a centerline of the lifting mechanism with a centerline of the tower;
- activating the lifting mechanism to cause a member to vertically extend lineally with the centerline of the tower and receiving the member via the support structure;
- continuing to activate the lifting mechanism until the support structure and associated tower have been lifted a predetermined distance vertically above the ground surface;
- positioning a vertical extension under the tower and securing the vertical extension to the tower;
- and
- retracting the lifting mechanism.
A tower lifting system comprising:
- a portable transport device;
- an electrical tower having pre-existing wires such that a distance of the wires from a ground surface are a first dimension, the tower including a head stand with a receiver having an opening oriented toward the ground surface;
- a lift associated with the portable transport device disposed under the tower and operable to lift the electrical tower such that the distance of the wires from the ground surface are increased from the first dimension to a second dimension greater than the first dimension;
- the lift including a lifting stand positioned underneath the receiver and having a centerline in alignment with a centerline of the tower, the lifting stand including a hydraulic jack having an outer body and a plurality of telescoping sections operable to be hydraulically actuated by the hydraulic jack and to exert an upward force;
- and
- wherein an uppermost telescoping section of the hydraulic jack is operable to vertically extend lineally with the centerline of the tower to engage the receiver of the head stand and lift the tower and associated wires lineally with the centerline of the tower from the first dimension to the second dimension.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.