Apparatus and Method for Fastening a Composite Pole to the Ground

Abstract

A fastening element is for fastening a hollow composite pole to the ground at a location where a slit-formed opening is present in the ground. 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. A method is for fastening a hollow composite pole to the ground.

Claims

1. A fastening element for fastening a hollow composite pole for overhead power lines to the ground at a location where a slit-formed opening is present in the ground, the fastening element comprising a lower end portion that is configured for being positioned in the slit-formed opening, wherein the fastening element has a conical upper portion, wherein, in operational use of the fastening element, a conical portion of the composite pole is configured for moving over the conical upper portion of the fastening element until abutment with the fastening element is established.

2. The fastening element according to claim 1, wherein the lower end portion of the fastening element is circular for allowing the fastening element to be placed in the slit formed opening being circular.

3. The fastening element according to claim 1, wherein the fastening element at its lower end portion is equipped with drill elements.

4. The fastening element according to claim 3, wherein the drill elements comprise metal.

5. The fastening element according to claim 3, wherein the drill elements comprise ceramic material.

6. A method for fastening a hollow composite pole for overhead power lines to the ground, the method comprising: making a slit-formed opening in the ground; inserting the fastening element into the slit-formed opening, and moving the composite pole that is conical, over the fastening element until abutment is established.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the method comprises fixing the fastening element to the ground.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the method comprises making the slit-formed opening by drilling into the ground.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the method comprises making the slit-formed opening by hammering the fastening element into the ground.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein the method comprises providing the fastening element and drilling the fastening element into the ground.

11. The fastening element according to claim 2, wherein the fastening element at its lower end portion is equipped with drill elements.

12. The method according to claim 7, wherein the method comprises making the slit-formed opening by drilling into the ground.

13. The method according to claim 7, wherein the method comprises making the slit-formed opening by hammering the fastening element into the ground.

14. The method according to claim 7, wherein the method comprises providing the fastening element and drilling the fastening element into the ground.

15. The method according to claim 8, wherein the method comprises providing the fastening element and drilling the fastening element into the ground.

Description

BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] In the following is described examples of preferred embodiments and methods illustrated in the accompanying 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 pf 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 lover 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.