Porthole Retrofit Apparatus for a Monopole Tower

• US 20110067322A1
• Filed: 09/21/2009
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Richard S. Taschek
• Original Assignee: Richard S. Taschek
• Inventors: Taschek, Richard S.
• Application Number:
  US12/563,188
• Publication Number:
  US 20110067322A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/79.7
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/003 Access covers or locks therefor

Abstract

An apparatus for the flameless retrofit of a monopole tower with additional portholes is presented. The apparatus includes a frame, a front plate, a back plate, and a plurality of fasteners. The frame has a through hole which defines a porthole allowing access to the interior of the monopole. The front plate has an opening which fits about the frame and is contoured to match the exterior surface of the monopole. The back plate has an opening shaped which fits about the frame. The back plate is fixed to the frame so that the frame extends from both sides of the back plate and through a crude opening cut into the monopole. The back plate is contoured to match the interior surface along the monopole. The front and back plates are disposed about the crude opening and attached to the monopole via the fasteners. Each fastener passes through holes mutually aligned along each of the front plate, monopole, and back plate. The apparatus and mechanical fastening means ensure the structural integrity of a monopole tower and completely avoid the need for welding methods during assembly onto the monopole.

Claims

1. An apparatus for retrofitting a porthole along a monopole tower comprising:

(a) a frame having a first opening which defines said porthole;

(b) a front plate having a second opening shaped so as to fit about said frame, said front plate contoured to match an exterior surface along said monopole tower;

(c) a back plate having a third opening shaped so as to fit about said frame, said back plate fixed to said frame so that said frame extends from both sides of said back plate and through a crude opening along said monopole tower, said back plate contoured to match an interior surface along said monopole tower; and

(d) a plurality of fasteners;

where said front plate and said back plate are disposed about said crude opening and attached to said monopole tower via said plurality of fasteners, each said fastener passing through holes mutually aligned along each of said front plate, said monopole tower, and said back plate.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said front plate and said back plate include at least one bend or curve matching the contour of said monopole tower.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said back plate is fixed to said frame via welding prior to installation onto said monopole tower.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

(e) at least one interlayer disposed between said front plate and said monopole tower and/or said back plate and said monopole tower.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said at least one interlayer is an adhesive.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said at least one interlayer provides an electrical short circuit between said monopole tower and said front plate, said back plate, said frame, and/or said plurality of fasteners.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said at least one interlayer provides a thermal short circuit between said monopole tower and said front plate, said back plate, said frame, and/or said plurality of fasteners.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said at least one interlayer provides a fluid barrier between said monopole tower and said front plate, said back plate, said frame, and/or said plurality of fasteners.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said crude opening is cut into said monopole tower via a mechanical device, a water jet, or a laser.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said front plate, said back plate, said frame, and/or said plurality of fasteners are comprised of a non-metallic composite with or without fiber reinforcement.

11. A method of retrofitting a porthole along a monopole tower comprising the steps of:

(a) cutting a crude opening into said monopole tower via a flameless method;

(b) inserting a frame into said crude opening, said frame having a first opening which defines said porthole, a back plate disposed about and fixed to said frame so that said frame extends from said back plate in two directions, said back plate bent and/or curved so as to contact and match an interior surface along said monopole;

(c) placing a front plate onto said frame, said front plate having a third opening so as to fit about said frame, said front plate bent and/or curved so as to contact and match an exterior surface along said monopole tower; and

(d) compressing said monopole tower between said front plate and said second plate via a plurality of fasteners.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said flameless method is performed via a mechanical device, a water jet, or a laser.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

(e) including an interlayer between said back plate and said monopole and/or said front plate and said monopole.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said interlayer provides a thermal short circuit between said monopole tower and said front plate, said back plate, said frame, and/or said plurality of fasteners.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said interlayer provides an electrical short circuit between said monopole tower and said front plate, said back plate, said frame, and/or said plurality of fasteners.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said interlayer provides a fluid barrier between said monopole tower and said front plate, said back plate, said frame, and/or said plurality of fasteners.