Two-plate splice connection assembly

• US 6,957,518 B1
• Filed: 06/17/2003
• Issued: 10/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valmont Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Valmont Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Koch, Dan A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROBERTSON, TIARA S
• Application Number:
  US10/463,155
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: 527/261, 527/263, 527/264, 403/110, 403/188, 403/262, 403/312, 248/200, 248/300
• US Class Current: 52/849
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 3/30 Columns; Pillars; Struts not designed for end loading E04C3/02; posts, masts, as independent structures E04H12/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/403 Threaded clamping parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/5781 Bolted

Abstract

A two-plate splice connection assembly for connecting the lower end of an upper tubular pole member to the upper end of a lower tubular member which eliminates the need for having an individual positioned on the outside of the tubular pole member and an individual positioned on the inside of the tubular pole member when the splice plates are secured together.

Claims

1. A two-plate splice connection assembly for connecting the lower end of an upper tubular pole member to the upper end of a lower tubular pole member, the pole members having inner and outer surfaces, comprising:

the upper end of the lower pole member having a plurality of bolt openings formed therein, the lower end of the upper pole member having a plurality of bolt openings formed therein;

a substantially vertically disposed cover plate having an interior compartment and inner and outer ends;

a keeper plate positioned within said interior compartment of said cover plate inwardly of said outer end thereof;

a nut plate positioned within said interior compartment of said cover plate inwardly of said keeper plate;

said nut plate having a plurality of spaced-apart lower nut openings formed therein and a plurality of spaced-apart upper nut openings formed therein, each of which has nuts received therein;

said nut openings preventing the nuts therein from rotating;

a first splice plate mounted on said inner end of said cover plate;

said first splice plate having a plurality of spaced-apart lower bolt openings formed therein which are aligned with said lower nut openings in said nut plate and a plurality of spaced-apart upper bolt openings formed therein which are aligned with said upper nut openings in said nut plate;

said first splice plate being positioned adjacent said outer surface of said lower pole member so that said lower bolt openings in said first splice plate are aligned with bolt openings in said upper end of said lower pole member;

a second splice plate positioned in the interior of the lower pole member adjacent the inner surface thereof;

said second splice plate having a plurality of spaced-apart lower bolt openings formed therein which are aligned with said lower bolt openings in said first splice plate and having a plurality of spaced-apart upper bolt openings formed therein which are aligned with said upper bolt openings in said first splice plate;

a plurality of lower bolts extending through said lower bolt openings in said second splice plate, through bolt openings in said lower pole member and which are threadably connected to said lower nuts in said nut plate;

and a plurality of upper bolts extending through said upper bolt openings in said second splice plate, through bolt openings in said upper pole member and which are threadably connected to said upper nuts in said nut plate.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said first splice plate is attached to said cover plate by threaded connectors.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein a plurality of spacers are positioned between said keeper plate and said nut plate.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein a plurality of spacers are positioned between said nut plate and said first splice plate.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein said spacers are ring-shaped and sized so that said bolts and nuts may be received therein.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein a plurality of the two-plate splice connection assemblies connect the lower end of the upper pole member to the upper end of the lower pole member.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said nut openings in said nut plate are sized to permit said nuts to float therein while preventing rotation thereof.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said keeper plate prevents said nuts from moving outwardly with respect to said nut plate.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said first splice plate prevents said nuts from moving inwardly with respect to said nut plate.

10. A two-plate splice connection assembly for connecting the lower end of an upper tubular pole member to the upper end of a lower tubular pole member, the pole members having inner and outer surfaces, comprising:

the upper end of the lower pole member having a plurality of bolt openings formed therein, the lower end of the upper pole member having a plurality of bolt openings formed therein;

a substantially vertically disposed cover plate having inner and outer ends;

a nut plate operatively secured to said cover plate inwardly thereof;

said nut plate having a plurality of spaced-apart lower nut openings formed therein and a plurality of spaced-apart upper nut openings formed therein, each of which has nuts received therein;

said nut openings preventing the nuts therein from rotating;

a first splice plate operatively connected to said cover plate;

said first splice plate having a plurality of spaced-apart lower bolt openings formed therein which are aligned with said lower nut openings in said nut plate and a plurality of spaced-apart upper bolt openings formed therein which are aligned with said upper nut openings in said nut plate;

said first splice plate being positioned adjacent said outer surface of said lower pole member so that said lower bolt openings in said first splice plate are aligned with bolt openings in said upper end of said lower pole member;

a second splice plate positioned in the interior of the lower pole member adjacent the inner surface thereof;

said second splice plate having a plurality of spaced-apart lower bolt openings formed therein which are aligned with said lower bolt openings in said first splice plate and having a plurality of spaced-apart upper bolt openings formed therein which are aligned with said upper bolt openings in said first splice plate;

a plurality of lower bolts extending through said lower bolt openings in said second splice plate, through bolt openings in said lower pole member and which are threadably connected to said lower nuts in said nut plate;

and a plurality of upper bolts extending through said upper bolt openings in said second splice plate, through bolt openings in said upper pole member and which are threadably connected to said upper nuts in said nut plate.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein said first splice plate is attached to said cover plate by threaded connectors.

12. The assembly of claim 10 wherein a plurality of the two-plate splice connection assemblies connect the lower end of the upper pole member to the upper end of the lower pole member.

13. The assembly of claim 10 wherein said nut openings in said nut plate are sized to permit said nuts to float therein while preventing rotation thereof.

14. The assembly of claim 10 wherein a keeper plate is operatively connected to said cover plate which is positioned between said cover plate and said nut plate, said keeper plate preventing said nuts from moving outwardly with respect to said nut plate.

15. A two-plate splice connection assembly for connecting the lower end of an upper tubular pole member to the upper end of a lower tubular pole member, the pole members having inner and outer surfaces, comprising:

the upper end of the lower pole member having a plurality of bolt openings formed therein, the lower end of the upper pole member having a plurality of bolt openings formed therein;

a substantially vertically disposed outer splice plate having inner and outer ends;

a nut plate positioned inwardly of said outer splice plate which is operatively secured to said outer splice plate;

said nut plate having a plurality of spaced-apart lower nut openings formed therein and a plurality of spaced-apart upper nut openings formed therein, each of which has nuts received therein;

said nut openings preventing the nuts therein from rotating;

a keeper plate operatively secured to said first splice plate inwardly of said first splice plate;

said outer splice plate having a plurality of spaced-apart lower bolt openings formed therein and a plurality of spaced-apart upper bolt openings formed therein;

said keeper plate having a plurality of spaced-apart lower bolt openings formed therein which are aligned with said lower nut openings in said nut plate and a plurality of spaced-apart upper bolt openings formed therein which are aligned with said upper nut openings in said nut plate;

said first splice plate being positioned adjacent said outer surface of said lower pole member so that said lower bolt openings in said first splice plate are aligned with bolt openings in said upper end of said lower pole member;

a second splice plate positioned in the interior of the lower pole member adjacent the inner surface thereof;

said second splice plate having a plurality of spaced-apart lower bolt openings formed therein which are aligned with said lower bolt openings in said first splice plate and having a plurality of spaced-apart upper bolt openings formed therein which are aligned with said upper bolt openings in said first splice plate;

a plurality of lower bolts extending through said lower bolt openings in said second splice plate, through bolt openings in said lower pole member and which are threadably connected to said lower nuts in said nut plate;

and a plurality of upper bolts extending through said upper bolt openings in said second splice plate, through bolt openings in said upper pole member and which are threadably connected to said upper nuts in said nut plate.