Lightweight line tower kit
First Claim
1. A kit for the assembly at an erection site of a lightweight modular power line tower or the like load supporting structure comprising:
- a plurality of factory prefabricated elongated generally tubular tower units formed primarily of a strong lightweight material including at least one ground supportable unit and at least one other unit;
means for securing said tower units rigidly together in axially aligned relation at the erection site, the securing means comprising a plurality of couplings adapted to secure said tower units in abutting end to end relationship with the couplings overlapping portions of the length of the tower units adjacent their abutting ends when assembled, means for securing the couplings to portions of the tower units, and at least one column of teeth formed along the length of each coupling and matching teeth formed along the portions of the tower units; and
means for securing insulated power line support means to a climbable one of said tower units.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a kit of low cost, light weight, corrosion resistant components, including a plurality of extruded members, certain ones of which components are factory preassembled into climbable and unclimbable tower units selected one of which are adapted to be rigidly connected end-to-end by overlapping couplings into a tower at an installation site to support a power line or other load. The couplings and the overlapping surfaces of the tower units have teeth that mesh to lock the couplings in place. The tower is specially suitable for erection in confined areas to heights in excess of one hundred feet to support power conductors. A number of components are selectively attachable to the tower in a wide variety of ways to support high tension insulators in suspension and/or cantilever fashion and to anchor guy cabling to the tower.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A kit for the assembly at an erection site of a lightweight modular power line tower or the like load supporting structure comprising:
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a plurality of factory prefabricated elongated generally tubular tower units formed primarily of a strong lightweight material including at least one ground supportable unit and at least one other unit; means for securing said tower units rigidly together in axially aligned relation at the erection site, the securing means comprising a plurality of couplings adapted to secure said tower units in abutting end to end relationship with the couplings overlapping portions of the length of the tower units adjacent their abutting ends when assembled, means for securing the couplings to portions of the tower units, and at least one column of teeth formed along the length of each coupling and matching teeth formed along the portions of the tower units; and means for securing insulated power line support means to a climbable one of said tower units. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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19. A kit for the assembly at the erection site of a lightweight modular power line tower or the like load supporting structure comprising:
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a plurality of factory prefabricated elongated generally tubular tower units formed primarily of a strong lightweight material including at least one ground supportable unit and at least one other unit; means for securing said tower units rigidly together in axially aligned relation at the erection site; and a foundation unit comprising a tube adapted to be anchored in the ground in an upright position and a plurality of upright angle irons secured to the upper end of the tube and adapted to receive one end of the ground supportable unit in an upright position.
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27. A lightweight modular power line tower comprising:
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a foundation module buried in the ground at an installation sight; an axially elongated first tower module having an imperforate outer surface; means for removably securing the first tower module to the foundation module to extend upwardly from the ground; an axially elongated second tower module having an open outer surface, the first and second modules being in end to end abutting relationship; coupling means overlapping and interlocking with portions of the length of the first and second modules thereby removably securing the second tower module to the first tower module to extend upwardly therefrom in axial alignment, the coupling means being interlocked by a column of teeth along its length that mesh with teeth on the modules; at least one electrical insulator; and means for attaching the electrical insulator to the second tower module. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A kit for the assembly at the erection site of a lightweight modular power line tower or the like load supporting structure comprising:
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a plurality of factory prefabricated elongated generally tubular tower units formed primarily of a strong lightweight material including at least one ground supportable unit and at least one other unit; means for securing said tower units rigidly together in axially aligned relation at the erection site; base anchorage means for said ground supportable tower unit comprising an elongated tubular member adapted to be buried upright; plate means attached crosswise at the upper end of the tubular member; a plurality of upright angle members arranged in a ring with one end secured to said plate means; and fastener means adapted to clamp said angle members to said ground supportable tower unit.
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35. A kit for the assembly at an erection site of a lightweight modular power line tower or the like load supporting structure comprising:
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a plurality of factory prefabricated elongated generally, tubular tower units formed primarily of a strong lightweight material including at least one ground supportable unit and at least one other unit, said tower units including a plurality of members extruded from aluminum and coextensive in length with said tower units, means for holding said extruded members rigidly to one another, fastener means comprising threaded nuts and bolts adapted to connect the tower units end to end, openings passing through the extruded members to receive the bolts, and groove means in said extruded members opening inwardly at the openings and sized to seat and hold the nuts against rotation; a plurality of couplings adapted to secure said tower units in abutting end to end relationship with the coupling overlapping portions of the length of the tower units adjacent their abutting ends when assembled, openings passing through the couplings to receive the bolts; and means for securing insulated power line support means to the other tower unit. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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Specification