Pole reenforcement

Application filed October 3, 1929. Serial No. 397,020.

My. invention relates to a pole reenforcement, and more particularly to a reenforcement suitable for use in. reenforcing wooden ..:, poles such as those used for the support of 5 electrical conductors, telephone and . telegraph wires, and the like.

The useful life of . a. telegraph pole or the like is generally measured by the time required for the butt of the pole to rot, the '10 rotting proceeding much faster near the surface of the ground, owing to the fact that the pole is subjected to greater changes in moisture .at this point. The replacement of .,/ a pole is rather expensive and quite often 15 poles having rotted bases are reenforced by two or more metallic members set in the earth alongside the pole arid tightly clamped thereto.

In my co-pending application, filed so August 22, 1927, Serial No. 214,681, I have disclosed a pole reenforcemerit presenting a substantially smooth exterior surface on which there are no projecting parts, this . . .. reenforcement being adapted to be set into 25 the ground alongside the butt of a pole and to be clamped or secured' tightly thereagainst to strengthen the pole. In my prior application, rods are shown for clamping the .... reenforcing member to the pole, the ends of the rods passing through - the reenforcing member and being received within pockets formed in the walls thereof, there being nuts on the ends of the rods in. the pockets which may be reached from the exterior of the member in order to tighten the latter against the pole.

The· present -invention relates to a reenforcing member of somewhat the general . character of that disclosed in my co-pending 40 application and means is provided for clamping the member rigidly against the pole, the clamping means being carried gen. erally within the contours of the member, . the latter presenting a substantially smooth 45 exterior surface so that, there is little, if any, . tendency for a passing vehicle or the clothing of - a pedestrian to be caught' on the. reenforcing member, as is the case with prior - pole reenfo'rcements which are provided 50 with projecting bolt ends, webs, and the like.

Generally speaking, the present invention is an improvement over my co-pending application; particularly with regard to the means for clamping the reenforcing member against the exterior surfaces of the pole. _se

As object of the invention is to provide a form of clamping means which may be carried within the general contours of the reenforcing member and -by means of which the member, may be readily and quickly _eoclamped against the surface of ’the pole.

To these arid other ends, the invention consists in the novel features and combination of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed. _os

In the drawings, -

Fig. 1 is an elevatiorial view of a pole having reenforcing members according to my invention mounted on opposite sides thereof;’ ₇₀

Fig. 2 is a side view of the reenforcing member shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3—3 of Fig. 1, but on an enlarged scale; 75

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4—4 of Fig. I, but on an·enlarged scale; ’

Fig. 5 is an interior view of the upper / end of one of the reenforcing members, the so clamping means being removed;

Fig. .6 is a . cross-sectional view taken along line 6—6 of Fig. 2, but on an enlarged scale;

. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view similar to 85 Fig. 6, but showing a modification; and

Fig· 8 is a fragmentary view of a reenforcement showing the modification of Fig· 7.

Referring to the drawings in which I 90 have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the reference numeral 10 indicates, in .general, . a .-pole which,, although broken away, will be understood to' extend upwardly to any desired height and having 95 a butt extending a.: substantial -distance below the surface 11 of the earth.

Arranged on. opposite sides of pole 10 are reenforcing members 12 and 13, each of which is provided with longitudinally E/i

1,817,342 the earth around the pole may be. loosened enough so that the pole may be withdrawn, or a hole excavated around the pole to the depth to which the clamping means for the members is to extend. In any case, the re- ⁷⁰forcing members are assembled on the pole in proper relation to the weakest .portion thereof, or in' other words,, to that portion of the pole which is opposite the surface of the earth, whereupon the straps 29, 30, 31 75 and 32 are threaded'through the openings 33, 34 and 35.

Dogs 38 are inserted through openings 41, 42, 43 and 44, the lower ends of the dogs resting in 'the sockets..37, while the inner so faces thereof bear against straps .29, 30,.31 and 32. Key members 40, which in this instance are of rod-like form, are now introduced-through the upper ends of T-shaped openings 41, 42, 43 and 44, whereupon a 85 croAV-bar or pinch bar is introduced successively in openings 41, 42, 43 > and 44 ·’and brought to-bear against the inner surface of wall 46 at 45, and then against the dogs 38 at 46 to force the latter inwardly against the 00 straps 29, 30, 31 and 32. As the straps 29, 30, 31 and 32 are drawn through openings 33 and 34 by the action-of the' dogs. 38 thereon, they'bind against the reenforcing members 4-2 arid island; force-them against the 95 surface of the pole 10 which they tightly embrace. Upon inward movement of dogs 38, key members 40 are'received successively in the notches 39 and bear against the inner surface of Avail 46'to hold the dogs 100 against outward movement away from the straps.

In Figs. 7- and 8 1 have shoAvn a modification in Avhich the rod-like keys 40 are-replaced by balls 49 introduced through open- 105 ings 50 in walls 53, balls 49 being· adapted to°be received in -sockets'51 in dogs 52 mid to bear against the -inner surfaces of Avails •53, the latter being unbroken from opening 50 to the opening 54, which not only serves no for the introduction of the dogs 52 into the reenforcing member but permits the introduction of the end of a pinch bar to force the clogs against the straps.

From the above description'of my inven- H5 tion, it will be readily seen that I have., provided a reenforcing member for a telegraph pole or the like presenting a‘ substantially smooth outer surface .with no .projecting parts, and which'may be readily and quick- 120 ly: clamped against the-side of-'a telegraph pole or the like, the clamping means being locked securely in place.

While -1' have 'shown and described· a preferred' embodiment' of my invention, it will 125 be understood that it is not to be limited to all the details shown, -but is capable, of modification and variation within the spirit of‘the invention-and the scope of the appended claims. . ¹³⁰ directed preferably parallel side walls 14 and 15 connected at their outer edges by a transversely extending wall 16, Avails 14, 15 and 16 forming a hollow shell substan5 tially U-shaped in cross-section throughout its length, with the opposite walls 14 and 15 forming the legs of the U, the terminal edges 17 and 18 of Avails 14 and 15 bearing against the surface of the pole. The 10 upper ends of the outer Avails of the reenforcing members 12and 43‘ curve iiHvardly as at 19 and 20, to form relatively flat upper ends, for a. purpose to be hercifiaftei· described. The lower ends of. reenforcing 15 members 12 and 13 cufve inwardly, as at'21 and 22, : and thence outwardly, as . at -23and 24, so that when the reenforcing members are driven ^! into the ground alongside the pole the loAver ends tend to move to20 wards and tightly embrace the butt of the pole. ,

Arranged at suitable intervals throughout the length of the reenforcing members' are inwardly facing pockets -25, -26,-27 and 28 25 into which preferably flexible metallic straps'29,'30, 31 and 32,pass from the exterior of: the reenforcing member, Avails 44 and 15 being provided with openings 33 and 34, the side walls. of , pockets .25, 26, 30 27 and 28 being provided with openings 35 through which the straps, pass. At the bottom of each of the pockets 25, 26, 27 and 28 are lugs 36 having sockets 37 in which the lower ends Of dogs 38 are re35 ceived, dogs 38 having their inner faces bearing against' straps 29, 30, 31. and 32 and being provided on their -opposite isides with a plurality of notches or indentations 39 in which key members 40-may be re40 ceived to hold the dogs tightly in place.

Opening to the exterior of reenforcing members 12 and 13 through walls 16 and into the pockets 25, 26, 27 and 28 are substantially T-shaped openings 41, _;42, 43:-and 44, 45 the upper ends of these openings providing for the ready introduction of keys 40, and the lower 6f these openings providing for the introduction of a pinch bar or crowbar, the loAver end of which may be brought 50 to bear against^: the inner surface of wall 16, as at 45, and against the dogs 38,-at 46, to force the latter inwardly against 'the straps 29, -30, 31' and 32. If desired, the reenforcing members may be reenforced by 55 one or more longitudinally directed webs 47 and transverse webs 48.

One, or more reenforcing members 42 or 13 may be driven into the . ground' alongside a pole in a position where they bear 60 tightly 'against, the pole. When used in this manner, the reenforcing members 42 and 13 provide a convenient means-for driving, while the relatively thin inwardly curved lower, portion of the members tends 65 to force the members toAvards the pole, or

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