APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FASTENING A COMPOSITE POLE TO THE GROUND

Abstract

The invention relates to a fastening element for fastening a hollow composite pole to the ground at a location where a slit-formed opening is present in the ground, wherein the fastening element has a lower end portion that is configured for being positioned in the slit-formed opening, wherein a conical portion of the composite pole is abutting a conical upper portion of the fastening element.

Claims

1. A method for fastening a composite pole for overhead power lines to the ground, the method comprising: inserting a fastening element into the ground, wherein the fastening element is configured such that insertion creates a slit-formed opening in the ground for the fastening element, and wherein the fastening element has a conical upper portion; and lowering the composite pole over the fastening element such that a conical lower portion of the composite pole abuts the conical upper portion of the fastening element.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising fixing the fastening element to the ground.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fastening element is inserted into the ground by drilling the fastening element into the ground.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fastening element is inserted into the ground by hammering the fastening element into the ground.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising fixing the composite pole to the fastening element.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the composite pole and the fastening element each comprise a flange connection, further comprising fixing the flange connections together to fix the composite pole to the fastening element.

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising fixing the composite pole to the fastening element such that the composite pole remains above the ground.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the fastening element remains above the ground when the conical lower portion of the composite pole abuts the conical upper portion of the fastening element.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising lowering the composite pole over the fastening element after the fastening element is inserted into the ground.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fastening element comprises a plurality of drill elements configured to be inserted into the ground and to create the slit-formed opening in the ground.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein inserting the plurality of drill elements into the ground causes the fastening element to rotate.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising hammering the fastening element to insert the fastening element into the ground.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising lowering the composite pole over the fastening element after the fastening element is hammered into the ground.

14. A method for making an apparatus for fastening a composite pole for overhead power lines to the ground, the method comprising providing a fastening element having a cylindrical shape extending between a lowermost end and an upper portion, the lowermost end of the fastening element being configured to be inserted into the ground, the upper portion of the fastening element corresponding to a lower portion of the composite pole such that the upper portion abuts the lower portion when the composite pole is lowered over the fastening element, wherein inserting the fastening element into the ground creates a slit-formed opening in the ground for the fastening element.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the lower portion of the composite pole is conical, further comprising providing the fastening element such that the upper portion of the fastening element is conical.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising providing a plurality of drill elements at the lowermost end of the fastening element, the plurality of drill elements being configured to create the slit-formed opening in the ground.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising providing the plurality of drill elements such that inserting the fastening element into the ground rotates the fastening element.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising providing the fastening element such that hammering the fastening element into the ground causes the plurality of drill elements to rotate the fastening element.

19. The method according to claim 16, further comprising providing the plurality of drill elements so as to be equally distributed about a center axis of the lowermost end of the fastening element.

20. The method according to claim 14, further comprising providing the fastening element so as to be fixable to the composite pole after the fastening element is inserted into the ground.

Description

BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] In the following is described examples of preferred embodiments and methods illustrated in the ac-companying drawings, wherein:

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a vertical section of a drill and a power drill during drilling of a slit formed opening in the ground according to the invention;

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a vertical section of a composite pole that has been moved into the slit formed opening that was drilled by use of the drill in FIG. 1;

[0028] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment where a fastening element has been moved into the slit formed opening that is drilled by the use of the drill shown in FIG. 1, and where the fastening element is fixed to the composite mast;

[0029] FIG. 4 shows another embodiment where the fastening element, at its lower portion, is equipped with drill bodies:

[0030] FIG. 5 shows a section IV-IV in FIG. 4; and

[0031] FIG. 6 shows in a larger scale a segment V-V in FIG. 5 of the lower portion of the fastening element and a drill body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0032] On the drawings, the reference numeral 1 denotes a drill that by the help of a power drill 2 is under displacement into the ground 4. The ground 4 may constitute for example rock, soil, or march, alternatively combination thereof.

[0033] The power drill 2 is typically aligned and is fixed to the ground 4 or another suitable, not shown device. There after the power drill 2 that may be electrically or hydraulically driven, displaces the drill 1 into the ground 4 while rotating the drill 1. Thus, a slit formed opening 6 is formed in the ground 4. The drill 1 is then removed from the slit formed opening 6.

[0034] A composite pole 8 that has been moved into the slit formed opening 6 is shown in FIG. 2. Additional fixing of the composite pole 8 to the ground 4 may be achieved by inserting grouting, fixing compound or other material (not shown) in between the composite pole 8 and the ground 4.

[0035] In an embodiment of the invention, shown in FIG. 3, a sleeve formed fastening element 10 is positioned in the slit formed opening 6. Additional fixing of the fixing element 10 to the ground 4 may be carried out as described for the composite pole 8. A composite pole 8 that is conical inside is placed about the fastening element 10 that has a conical upper portion 18, and moved against the fastening element until abutment is established.

[0036] In some cases, as when the ground 4 mainly constitutes suitable soil, the fixing element 10 may be forced into the ground 4 by hammering.

[0037] In a further alternative embodiment as shown in FIG. 4, the fastening element 10 is by its lower end portion 12 equipped with several drill elements 14. The section IV-IV in FIG. 5 shows a possible distribution of the drill elements 14 about the centre axis 16 of the fastening element 10. The drill elements may be made from material from the fastening element 10 or constitute other materials that is fixed to the fastening element 10.

[0038] A typical drill element 14 is shown in FIG. 6 where the drill element 14 that constitutes hard metal, is braced to the in use lower end portion lower end portion 12 of the fixing element 10.

[0039] The fixing element 10 shown in FIG. 4 is shown in two parts where in use an upper portion 18 that is fixed to the composite pole 8 is fixed to the in use lower portion 22 of the fixing element 10 by a flange connection 20. The lower portion 22 is here drilled into the ground 4.

[0040] It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of the verb “comprise” and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The article “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.