Device for ground anchoring of stay wires

Abstract

 A device for ground anchoring of stay wires, for example anchoring of steel wires used in connection with power pylons, which are attachable to a substantially eyeshaped member (7) arranged adjacent to an end portion of a support member, which is joined to an anchoring element dug down below a ground surface. According to the invention, the support member (2) is also arranged having an eyeshaped member (8) adjacent to the end portion intended to be located below a ground surface, co-acting with and attachable to a substantially washer shaped lock means (10) having an area exceeding the cross-sectional area of a through hole or groove taken up in an anchoring element through which the support member (2) is intended to extend and be attached. The lock means (10) is advantageously arranged with a groove shaped part open in one direction, having a width facilitating insertion of the support member (2) but which is smaller than the external dimensions of the eyeshaped member (8). Furthermore, the lock means includes advantageously a substantially L-shaped member (12), arranged having a free part extending over at least a portion of the groove shaped part in a substantially parallel relationship to the lock means (10) and in direction towards the open end portion of the groove shaped part, said free end portion being arranged having a width and a distance from the lock means (10) facilitating that same is inserted into the through hole of the eyeshaped member (8), and that a portion extending out from said hole is bent over towards or away from the lock means (10), thereby locking together the eyeshaped member (8) and the lock means (10) to an internally joined condition.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for ground anchoring of stay wires, for example as used for the anchoring of steel wires utilized in connection with power pylons.

[0002] Such ground anchoring is today normally achieved using a support member, having an eye-shaped member at one end portion, facilitating attachment of the stay wire, and having an externally threaded part at the opposed end portion for engagement with a nut. Such a support member may, for example, be used together with railway sleepers, in which a through hole has been taken up. The support member is inserted through said hole with the threaded portion as a first part, whereafter a washer-shaped member, and the nut, are attached at the opposed side of the sleeper. The sleeper with attached support member can thereafter be lowered into a hole taken up for this purpose, which thereafter is filled up again.

[0003] However, the above described known type of ground anchor has a number of disadvantages. Use of support members comprising a threaded end portion means that today existing standards relating to the thickness of galvanization below ground surface (215 µm) require galvanization of the threaded portion in two steps. This involves more work and thus higher costs, but also that existing standard can not always be fulfilled. A further disadvantage is that the screw thread constitutes the weak part of the support member, and that the support member must be dimensioned based on the tensile properties of the screw thread. When using support members in connection with railway sleepers, volume and transport weight will be large, and also from environmental and work point of view it is not desirable to handle same, since they are impregnated with creosote or salt. Handling support members with screw thread during winter conditions also involve problems, since same often lie outside before use and the screw thread can be filled with ice. The nut attached to the support member may thus be difficult to remove, and the ice can not be removed, e.g. by blows directed towards the ice from a hammer, since the screw thread may be damaged. Sometimes may also the nut, for example during transport. work itself loose and disappear with associated washer.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to disclose a device for ground anchoring which removes the disadvantages discussed above. Similar to the above discussed prior arrangement, it is intended to be dug down under the ground level, and the anchoring member may comprise of a sheet metal piece, a lump of concrete or a sleeper (railway sleeper). In difference to the known design, the support member used lacks a threaded end portion, intended to co-act with a nut, which makes it possible to obtain desired thickness of the galvanization in one operation only. Since the tensile properties of the anchoring is no longer related to the tensile properties of previously used screw thread, the support member can also be manufactured having smaller dimensions than previously possible. Previously mentioned handling problems during winter conditions do no longer exist, and attachment of the support member to the anchoring member can be carried out in a fast and simple fashion. A substantial advantage is obviously also that the transport weight per unit is reduced in relation to today known comparable alternatives, which weigh more and occupy a larger volume. The present invention thus facilitates transport of more units per pallet.

[0005] The device for ground anchoring of stay wires according to the present invention, for example used for anchoring steel wires utilized in connection with power pylons, which are attachable to a substantially eye-shaped member arranged adjacent to an end portion of a support member, is mainly characterized in that the support member also adjacent to the end portion intended to be located below a ground surface is arranged having an eyeshaped member, co-acting with and attachable to a substantially washer shaped lock means having an area exceeding the cross-sectional area of a through hole or groove taken up in an anchoring element through which the support member is intended to extend and be attached.

[0006] According to the invention, the lock means is advantageously arranged with a groove shaped part open in one direction, having a width facilitating insertion of the support member but which is smaller than the external dimensions of the eyeshaped member. Furthermore may a preferably substantially L-shaped member be arranged having a free part extending over at least a portion of the groove shaped part in a substantially parallel relationship to the lock means and in direction towards the open end portion of the groove shaped part, said free end portion being arranged having a width and a distance from the lock means facilitating that same is inserted into the through hole of the eyeshaped member, and that a portion extending out from said hole is bent over towards or away from the lock means, thereby locking together the eyeshaped member and the lock means to an internally joined condition.

[0007] An example of prior art, as well as a non-restricting example of an embodiment for ground anchoring according to the present invention, will be more fully described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a view of how ground anchoring is accomplished with today known technique, serving as an example of prior art;

Fig. 2 shows a view of a support member according to the present invention, which does not include previously known threaded end portion;

Fig. 3A shows a plan view of an example of a washer-shaped member according to the present invention, co-acting with the support member shown in Fig. 2;

FIGS. 3B and 3C show side views of the washer-shaped member shown in Fig. 3A, viewed as indicated by B-B and C-C in Fig. 3A, and with an enlarged cross-sectional view included in Fig. 3C;

Fig. 4 shows a plan view of an anchoring plate according to the present invention;

Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the anchoring plate shown in Fig. 4 at the line V-V;

Fig. 6 shows schematically a first step during the connection operation for the elements shown in Figs. 2 - 5;

Fig. 7 shows schematically a second step of the connection operation; and

Fig. 8 shows schematically a final step of the connection operation.

[0008] With reference to the previously mentioned example of prior art, Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an anchoring member 1 indicated with broken lines, e.g. a railway sleeper, through which a support member 2 extends. During mounting, the support member 2 is moved through the anchoring member 1 until a threaded end portion 3 protrudes from the side opposed to the side from which insertion is performed, whereafter at least one washer 4 and a nut are applied. In the shown example of an embodiment, a larger washer-shaped member 6 has also been included between the washer 4 and the anchoring member 1, intended to result in a larger pressure contact surface, but same can be excluded in many cases. When the shown unit has been placed dug down under the ground surface, a stay wire can be attached in a conventional fashion to an eyeshaped member 7, arranged at the free end portion of the support member 2 (opposed to the threaded end portion 3).

[0009] In the following description of an example of an embodiment according to the present invention, same reference numerals as in Fig. 1 are being used for elements having the same function.

[0010] With reference to Fig. 2, it is shown how the support member 2 advantageously is modified according to the present invention. Said support member 2 has, as previously known, a first end portion with an eyeshaped member 7 for the attachment of a stay wire, but in difference to known techniques, an eyeshaped member 8 is also arranged at the second end portion. It is obvious, that such an arrangement in a simple way can be surface treated, e.g. by means of galvanization, and with desired thickness of coating. There are also other advantages, which will become apparent from the following description.

[0011] The support member 2 described with reference to Fig. 2 can be used in conjunction with, for example, a plate shaped anchoring member 9 and an associated lock washer 10, which in a speedy and simple fashion facilitate connection with the eyeshaped member 8 of the support member 2. An example of such an anchoring will now be more fully explained by the description of these two means co-acting with the support member.

[0012] Said lock washer, in its entirety denominated 10, is shown in Figs. 3A - 3C, and includes four tongues 11, 11', 11", 11"' extending as pairs in a first direction away from two in relation to each other opposed edge portions at an originally substantially square sheet metal member. Furthermore, a substantially L-shaped and central member 12 is also formed from said sheet metal member, thereby creating a through groove, extending slightly passed the centre of the member. As disclosed in the figures, both the tongues 11, 11', 11", 11"' and the L-shaped member 12 are thus created by a punching operation from the sheet metal member, i.e. by use of suitably designed press tools, the lock washer 10 can be completely manufactured by one or two press operations.

[0013] A basic example of a plate shaped anchoring member 9 is shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the outer configuration of which may obviously be arranged as desired. The plate shaped anchoring member 9 is arranged having four holes 13, 13', 13", 13"' having an internal relationship adapted to the tongues 11, 11', 11", 11"'. Furthermore, a centrally located through groove 14 is also arranged, having an extension exceeding the width of the eyeshaped member 8. As shown in Fig. 4, the groove 14 is arranged longitudinally displaced towards one side in relation to the centre of the as pairs arranged holes 13, 13', 13", 13"'. The shorter extension of the groove 14 from said centre is arranged to correspond, or slightly exceed, the outer diameter of the support member 2, whereby same can be located substantially central in the groove 14 when the eyeshaped member 8 has been moved through the groove 14.

[0014] The above discussed plate shaped anchoring member 9, and previously described lock washer 10, are attached to the support member 2 and the eyeshaped member of same in the following manner.

[0015] As an initial operation, the eyeshaped member 8 is moved through the groove 14 in the plate shaped anchoring member 9, as illustrated in Fig. 6, in which the direction of travel is indicated by an arrow. The support member 2 is thereafter moved in the groove 14 to a substantially central position in relation to the surrounding holes 13, 13', 13", 13"', and the support member 2 is simultaneously rotated approximately 90° in relation to the position taken up during the movement of the eyeshaped member 8 through the groove. The eyeshaped member 8 should now be located at such a distance from the anchoring member 9 that the lock washer 10 can be moved to the position shown in Fig. 7 (with the direction of movement indicated by an arrow). In this position, the portion of the support member 2 adjacent to the eyeshaped member 8 is located in the groove 14, and the free end portion of the L-shaped member 12 is arranged extending through the hole of the eyeshaped member 8.

[0016] By thereafter moving the lock washer 10 (and the eyeshaped member 8) to a more adjacent position in relation to the anchoring member 9, the tongues 11, 11', 11", 11"' will take up a position extending through the holes 13, 13', 13", 13"', whereafter the tongues 11, 11', 11'', 11''' and the free end portion of the L-shaped member 12 by means of strokes from a hammer, a small sledge hammer or similar are bent to positions locking the anchoring member 9 and the lock washer 10 together, and also locking the eyeshaped member 8 to the lock washer (Fig. 8).

[0017] The unit thus joined can thereafter be lowered into a hole taken up for this purposes and extending below the ground surface, which thereafter is refilled with the free end portion of the support member 2 with associated eyeshaped member 7 located extending upwards from the ground surface, utilized for conventional attachment of a stay wire.

[0018] The above described embodiment utilizes a plate shaped anchoring member 9, which obviously can be adapted with regard to configuration and size to existing load demands.

[0019] It is obviously also within the scope of the invention to utilize the above described method for attachment of a support member 2 having eyeshaped members 7, 8 at each end portion with regard to other types of anchoring means, e.g. concrete lumps, sleepers or similar. In such anchoring cases may, for example, previously described anchoring member 9 be arranged having a smaller area, and thus serve as a co-acting member with previously described lock washer. The area of the co-acting member is arranged sufficiently large to prevent passage through the hole taken up in utilized anchoring member for through passage of the support member 2 with the eyeshaped member 8 which is intended to be joined to the lock washer 10.

[0020] As an alternative embodiment, such a hole in utilized anchoring member may also be arranged as a through groove, whereby a member co-acting with the lock washer can be excluded. When mounting the lock washer 10, same is rotated together with the eyeshaped member 8 in relation to the through groove, the L-shaped member 12 is bent over as previously described, and the tongues 11, 11', 11", 11"' directed towards the anchoring member can be left directed towards utilized anchoring member, in order to facilitate penetration into same.

[0021] In those cases where the tongues 11, 11', 11", 11"' are intended to penetrate an anchoring member, same can obviously also be arranged to ease penetration into the anchoring member, e.g. arranged pointed.

[0022] Important features for all embodiments within the scope of the present invention are thus use of a support member 2 having an eyeshaped member 7, 8 adjacent to each end portion, and the interaction of same with a lock washer 10 having a groove shaped part with a width which preferably slightly exceeds the cross-sectional diameter of the support member 2. As a further major feature is the lock washer 10 arranged having a preferably L-shaped member 12, having the free and in relation to the plane of the lock washer 10 substantially parallel part arranged to extend through an eyeshaped member 8 when same is arranged extending across the groove shaped part. The free end of the part extending through the eyeshaped member 8 can hereby when made subject to, for example, strokes, be bent over and thereby prevent separation of lock washer 10 and support member 2.

[0023] Advantageously, the lock washer 10 may also include means 11, 11', 11", 11"' extending towards a utilized anchoring member, said means 11, 11', 11", 11"' arranged to grip into, or facilitate interlocking with, the anchoring member.

[0024] The anchoring member may alternatively include a through groove or a substantially cylindrical hole through which the eyeshaped member 8, intended to be joined to the lock washer, can pass through. In case a through groove is used, the groove shaped part of the lock washer 10 is advantageously arranged in a crosswisely extending relationship when in mounted position. As a further modification, the possibility to arrange the eyeshaped member 8 having a width exceeding the width of the groove can be mentioned, and such a modification facilitates a different extension for the free end portion of the L-shaped member 12 in relation to the groove. Such a width for the eyeshaped member 8 may also facilitate that said L-shaped member 12 is excluded, e.g. by arranging means fixing the lock washer 10 and the support member 2 in a joined condition in relation to the anchoring member, for example by means of previously described co-acting means 11, 11', 11", 11"' and 13, 13', 13", 13"' respectively.

[0025] The above discussed features and modifications are only intended to disclose that previously described and shown example of an embodiment according to the invention obviously can be modified in a number of different ways within the scope of the inventive thought and the following claims.

Claims

1. Device for ground anchoring of stay wires, for example anchoring of steel wires used in connection with power pylons, which are attachable to a substantially eyeshaped member (7) arranged adjacent to an end portion of a support member, characterized in, that the support member (2) also adjacent to the end portion intended to be located below a ground surface is arranged having an eyeshaped member (8), co-acting with and attachable to a substantially washer shaped lock means (10) having an area exceeding the cross-sectional area of a through hole or groove taken up in an anchoring element through which the support member (2) is intended to extend and be attached.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in, that the lock means (10) is arranged with a groove shaped part open in one direction, having a width facilitating insertion of the support member (2) but which is smaller than the external dimensions of the eyeshaped member (8).

3. Device according to anyone of claims 1 and 2, characterized i n, that a substantially L-shaped member (12) is arranged having a free part extending over at least a portion of the groove shaped part in a substantially parallel relationship to the lock means (10) and in direction towards the open end portion of the groove shaped part, said free end portion being arranged having a width and a distance from the lock means (10) facilitating that same is inserted into the through hole of the eyeshaped member (8), and that a portion extending out from said hole is bent over towards or away from the lock means (10), thereby locking together the eyeshaped member (8) and the lock means (10) to an internally joined condition.

4. Device according to anyone of claims 1 - 3, characterized in, that the washer shaped lock means (10) has towards the anchoring means directed means (11, 11', 11", 11"'), arranged to engage with the anchoring element and thereby prevent a relative rotary movement of the washer shaped means (10) in relation to the anchoring element.

5. Device according to anyone of claims 1 - 4, characterized in, that the anchoring element comprises of a plate shaped anchoring member (9) having a through groove (14) with a width and an extension facilitating through insertion of the eyeshaped member (8) and adjacent part of the support member (2).

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in, that the plate shaped anchoring member (9) is arranged having one or a number of through holes or grooves (13, 13', 13", 13"'), wherethrough a corresponding number of tongue shaped means (11, 11', 11", 11"') extending from the washer shaped lock means (10) are arranged to be inserted, after insertion being arranged to facilitate bending over in direction towards the plate shaped anchoring member (9) and thereby lock same together in an adjacent position to the washer shaped lock means (10).

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in, that said holes or grooves (13, 13', 13", 13"') and co-acting tongueshaped means (11, 11', 11", 11"') are arranged having such a configuration and position in relation to the through groove (14) arranged in the plate shaped anchoring member (9) and the groove arranged in the washer shaped lock means (10) that said grooves (14) take up not coinciding longitudinal extension directions when the tongueshaped means (11, 11', 11", 11"') are arranged extending through co-acting holes or grooves (13, 13', 13", 13"').

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in, that said configuration is arranged in such a way, that the support member (2) is located in an adjacent position to the closed end portion of the groove shaped means, and preferably also adjacent to an end portion of the through groove (14) in the plate shaped anchoring member (9).

9. Device according to anyone of claims 5 - 8, characterized in, that said plate shaped anchoring member (9) comprises of a member co-acting with the washer shaped lock means (10), intended to be located below a ground anchoring member such as a lump of concrete, a sleeper or similar, having a through hole through which the support member (2) can be arranged extending.

10. Device according to anyone of claims 1-9, characterized in, that the washer shaped lock means (10) comprises of a preferably square or rectangular plate shaped member, that the corner portions of same by means of a partly cutting press operation are utilized to create four in a first direction from the plane of the lock means (10) extending tongueshaped means (11, 11', 11", 11"'), and that a preferably substantially L-shaped member (12) is formed from the material removed during a press operation in order to form a grooveshaped means.

Drawing