Centrifugally cast pole and method

• US RE45,329 E1
• Filed: 05/07/2014
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tom Waugh
• Original Assignee: Tom Waugh
• Inventors: Waugh, Tom W.
• Primary Examiner(s): WENDELL, MARK R
• Application Number:
  US14/272,076
• Time in Patent Office: 251 Days
• Field of Search: 527/361, 527/264, 527/212, 527/221, 527/362, 527/323
• US Class Current: 52/850
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 13/02 of elongated solid or hollow bodies, e.g. pipes, in moulds rotating around their longitudinal axis
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 13/023 the longitudinal axis being horizontal
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 13/12 Controlling, supervising, specially adapted to centrifugal casting, e.g. for safety reasons controlling or regulating in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/181 with power actuated adjustment, e.g. with position memory
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/185 adjustable by axial displacement, e.g. telescopically B62D1/183, B62D1/187, B62D1/19 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/24 the supporting parts consisting of metal
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 3/32 of metal E04C3/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/24 Steering systems, e.g. steering rods or columns in general B62D
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 29/001 adjustable for alignment or positioning
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 29/02 Sliding-contact bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 29/123 using elastic means
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/02 in the case of sliding-contact bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 43/02 Assembling sliding-contact bearings

Abstract

Herein disclosed is a centrifugally cast pole having a substantially uniform wall thickness along the long axis of the pole. During centrifugal casting, molten metal is poured inside a rotating, tapered mold. As chilled liquid is poured over the outside of the rotating mold, the metal forms, or paints, to the contour of the mold interior creating a metal pole. By precisely controlling casting gyrations such as the spin, travel, pitch, and yaw of the rotating mold and the calibration and physical mechanisms of the casting machine, hollow, tapered, tubular metal poles are produced with previously unknown uniformity of wall thickness. The controlling principles, designs, and mechanisms of this centrifugal casting method enable wall uniformity to extremely high tolerances. By extension, the ability to precisely control the metal volume painted inside the mold allows, as a design choice, wall thickness variation in any embodiment if so desired.

Claims

1. A centrifugally cast, hollow pole comprising:

an elongated, hollow, conically tapered pole member which is formed by centrifugal casting so as to have a substantially uniform wall thickness throughout the long axis of said pole member, said pole member comprising a plurality of asymmetric pimples extending away therefrom, that is formed by centrifugal casting.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, said pole member having a variable outside cross-sectional dimension that varies perpendicularly to said pole member'"'"'s long axis.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, said pole member having a first end and a second end, said first end having an end cap.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, said pole member having a first end and a second end, said second end being flanged.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, said pole member having a first end and a second end, said first end having a slip joint with an internal cross-sectional dimension sufficient to allow said first end of said pole member to slidably receive the second end of another said pole member.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is manufactured from a castable material.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, said castable material is selected from the group comprised of ductile iron, cast iron, steel or aluminum.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, said pole member including a panel to allow access to the hollow interior of said pole member.

9. A centrifugally cast, hollow pole comprising:

an elongated, hollow, conically tapered pole member which is formed by centrifugal casting so as to have a substantially uniform wall thickness throughout the long axis of said pole member, said pole member comprising an outer surface comprising a plurality of pimples extending away therefrom, said plurality of pimples are formed during the centrifugal casting of said member.

10. A centrifugally cast, hollow pole comprising:

an elongated, hollow pole member having a tapered outer diameter with a first end and a second end, the first end having a smaller outer diameter than the second end, wherein the hollow pole member is formed by centrifugal casting such that it has a substantially uniform wall thickness from a first location adjacent the first end to a second location adjacent the second end, and wherein a wall thickness at the second end is larger than the wall thickness between the first and second locations, the hollow pole member further comprising a running ring that extends outward from the second end, and a plurality of asymmetric pimples extending away from an outer surface of the pole member.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a slip joint located along a portion of an inner diameter of the second end, the slip joint being configured to slidably receive the first end of another said pole member.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the pole member is formed from a castable metallic material.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said castable metallic material is selected from the group consisting of ductile iron, cast iron, steel and/or aluminum.