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(11) | EP 4 528 051 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | PYLON WITH A CHROMATIC-GEOMETRICAL VISUAL SOLUTION, IN PARTICULAR A PYLON FOR AN OVERHEAD POWER LINE |
| (57) A pylon (1) for an overhead power line, comprising a shaft (2) having a longitudinal
axis of extension (A) and a side surface (3) extending around the longitudinal axis
of extension (A), the side surface having a coloration at least partially defined
by a first (RGB 1) and a second chromatic hue (RGB2), the side surface is at least
partially coloured according to a pattern comprising a first uniform portion (4) applied
on a lower portion (3a) of the side surface and entirely coloured with the first chromatic
hue; a second uniform portion (5) applied on an upper portion (3b) of the side surface
and entirely coloured with the second chromatic hue; a third transition portion (6)
arranged between the first (4) and the second uniform portion and defined by a plurality
of quadrangular elements (7) adjacent to each other and coloured with the first or
the second chromatic hue.
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[0001] The present invention relates to a pylon with a chromatic-geometric visual engagement solution, especially a pylon that can be preferably, but not exclusively, employed in high-voltage overhead power lines.
[0002] Such pylons for overhead power lines are known in the background art. In particular, in addition to lattice pylons, so-called "single-stem" pylons are also known, which comprise a single cylindrical, conical or prismoidal shaft. On the upper portion of the shaft, a pole-head is located, which can have different shapes, such as a "delta" shape, and on which one or more transverse brackets for anchoring the conductors are placed.
[0003] In long-distance electric power transmission, it is quite usual to place the pylons in the middle of woods, forests, or more generally in natural environments potentially having landscape value. Similarly, many pylons are located in anthropized areas and, therefore, have a strong interaction with the built-up area.
[0004] In view of the foregoing, considering that the observer's gaze is typically focused on the head portion, the latter, having a greater bulk than the shaft, could lead him or her to a negative perception of the infrastructure with respect to the surrounding landscape.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In this context, the technical task underlying the present invention is to propose a pylon, especially a pylon for an overhead power line, which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks of the known art.
[0006] In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide an overhead power line capable of drawing the observer's gaze more to the shaft than to the head and, consequently, mitigating the visual perception of the infrastructure in the context.
[0007] The stated technical task and specified objects are substantially achieved by a pylon, especially a pylon for an overhead electric power line, comprising the technical features set forth in one or more of the appended claims.
LIST OF THE FIGURES
[0008] Further features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the indicative, and therefore non-limiting, description of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment of a pylon for an overhead power line, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pylon for an overhead power line in accordance with the present invention;
- Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a detail of the shaft, of the pylon of Figure 1, in particular the third transition portion defined by a plurality of quadrangular elements;
- Figures 3 and 4 are schematic perspective views of the detail of Figure 2 during respective steps of a method in accordance with the present invention for defining the colour of the pylon of Figure 1;
- Figure 5 is a graph of a probability function employed in the method in accordance with the present invention for defining the colour of the shaft of the pylon of Figure 1;
- Figure 6 shows several examples of coloration schemes obtained through the method in accordance with the present invention as certain functional parameters change;
- Figure 7 shows two examples of flat-developed coloration schemes obtained through the method in accordance with the present invention; and
- Figure 8 shows three distinct examples of the pylon of Figure 1, each one having a different coloration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] Referring to the attached Figures, the reference numeral 1 indicates a pylon for an overhead power line in accordance with the present invention.
[0010] The pylon 1 comprises a shaft 2 having a longitudinal axis of extension "A" which, in use, is oriented along a substantially vertical direction. The shaft 2 comprises, at one end, a base 2a which can be anchored to the ground, and a top, called a pole-head in the jargon, and indicated herein by the reference numeral 2b.
[0012] One or more transverse brackets 20 for anchoring the conductors (the latter not shown) constrained thereto are placed on the pole-head 2b. As necessary, the conductors of the overhead transmission line can be constrained to the pole-head 2b in accordance with one of the Patents filed by the same Applicant, or according to another mode per se known to the person skilled in the art.
[0013] The shaft 2 has a side surface 3 extending around the longitudinal axis of extension "A". The side surface 3 has a coloration at least partially defined by a first chromatic hue RGB 1 and a second chromatic hue RGB2.
[0014] The side surface 3 comprises a lower portion 3a, an upper portion 3b, and an intermediate portion 3c arranged between the lower portion 3a and the upper portion 3b. In accordance with the present invention, the first chromatic hue RGB 1 is defined as the main background colour of the landscape behind the lower portion 3a, while the second chromatic hue RGB2 is defined as the main background colour of the landscape behind the upper portion 3b.
[0015] In accordance with the present invention, the side surface 3 is at least partially coloured according to a pattern. In particular, the pattern comprises a first uniform portion 4, which is applied on the lower portion 3a of the side surface 3. The first uniform portion 4 is entirely coloured with the first chromatic hue RGB 1.
[0016] The pattern also comprises a second uniform portion 5 applied on the upper portion 3b of the side surface 3. The second uniform portion 4 is entirely coloured with the second chromatic hue RGB2.
[0017] The pattern also comprises a third transition portion 6, which is arranged between the first 4 and the second uniform portion 5.
[0018] The zone of application of the chromatic-geometric visual engagement solution has the distinctive feature of being modulable in height by varying the position of the intermediate zone 3c depending on how, at the most significant points of visual fruition, the pylons are perceived by the observers with respect to the landscape background orography.
[0019] In particular, the third transition portion 6 is defined by a plurality of quadrangular elements 7 adjacent to each other. The quadrangular elements 7 can be individually coloured with the first chromatic hue RGB 1 or the second chromatic hue RGB2. The colour assignment to each quadrangular element 7 is carried out as part of a method for defining the colour of the pylon 1, which is also part of the present invention, and which will be illustrated in detail in a following part of the present description.
[0020] Referring in particular to Figure 8, especially with regard to the left pylon, the "Mirage" effect induced by the "light-dark" transition in pixelated form attracts the observer's eye downwards, engaging him in an attempt to codify the graphic solution, so that the vision of the pole-head gets lost, and the pylon itself appears much lower as a whole, although all three depicted poles have the same height.
[0021] In detail, each quadrangular element 7 has a lower side 7a, an upper side 7b, and a pair of side edges 7c. Preferably, the side edges 7c have the same length. The lower 7a and upper 7b sides are preferably parallel to each other. The lower side 7a can be longer than the upper side 7b, especially when the shaft 2 has a tapered shape, such as a frustoconical or prismoidal shape. Alternatively, in the case of a cylindrical or prismatic shape, the lower 7a and upper 7b sides of the quadrangular element 7 can be equal to each other.
[0022] With regard to the measures, each quadrangular element 7 has a height measured in parallel to the longitudinal axis of extension "A", and in particular corresponding to the distance between the lower side 7a and the upper side 7b. Such a height is variable, in particular between HMIN and HMAX, where HMIN and HMAX are appropriate fractions of the height of the third transition portion 6.
[0023] With regard to the organization and arrangement of the quadrangular elements 7, it is first worth noting that the third transition portion 6 of the pattern, which corresponds to the intermediate portion 3c of the side surface 3, is divided into two portions by a plane passing through the longitudinal axis of extension "A". At least one of said portions extends angularly by at least 180° with respect to the longitudinal axis of extension (A).
[0024] The geometric-chromatic-sequential organization of the quadrangular elements 7 of the first portion is at least partially repeated in that of the second portion. Advantageously, the geometric-chromatic pattern has thereby less recursiveness with respect to a 90° angular partition.
[0025] In more detail, each portion comprises a plurality of sectors 8, each one being defined by a column 9 of quadrangular elements 7. In detail, the sectors 8 are defined as angular partitions of the pattern 6 with respect to the longitudinal axis of extension "A". In other words, each sector 8 is defined by an arc (when the shaft 2 has a circular section) or by a flat side (when the shaft 2 has a polygonal section). By way of mere example, when the shaft 2 has a prismoidal shape, the side surface 3 comprises a plurality of flat faces, and each sector 8 is defined on a respective face. Alternatively, when the shaft 2 is circular- or conical-shaped, each sector 8 is defined by an arc having a predetermined width on the side surface 3.
[0026] The angular width of each sector 8 is occupied by a single quadrangular element 7. Clearly, when the shape of the shaft 2 is tapered, the quadrangular elements 7 located at different heights will have different widths, however, at each height the width of the single quadrangular element coincides with the width of the respective sector 8. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the sectors 8 are equal to each other.
[0027] As mentioned above, also part of the present invention is a method for the geometric-chromatic-sequential organization of the quadrangular elements 7 of the pylon 1, which constitutes the object of the invention, as well.
[0028] In accordance with this method, preliminarily, a precursor of the pylon 1 without any coloration, but otherwise similar to the pylon 1 described above, is provided. Advantageously, this step can be carried out on a scale and/or virtual model of the pylon 1, and then replicated once it is actually implemented.
[0029] As mentioned above, the side surface 3 is divided horizontally into a lower portion 3a, an upper portion (3b), and an intermediate portion (3c), which is the one intended to receive the transition pattern 6; in particular, the intermediate portion 3c is partitioned in turn into two angular portions, each in turn being partitioned into a plurality of sectors 8.
[0030] A maximum height (HMAX) and a minimum height (HMIN) value that each quadrangular element 7 can have are then defined.
[0031] Next, the quadrangular elements 7 are sized and applied on the intermediate portion 3c of the shaft 2. In this step, for each sector 8 a random scaling parameter α ranging from 0 to 1 is generated. Then, the height of a quadrangular element 7 is calculated, in particular as the maximum value between the minimum height (HMIN) and the maximum height (HMAX) multiplied by the scaling parameter α.
[0032] Next, a quadrangular element 7 is defined by causing a lower side 7a to be coincident with the base of the sector 8 or with an upper side 7b of the last quadrangular element 7 placed within the sector 8. The upper side 7b is placed at a distance equal to the last calculated height from the lower side 7a.
[0033] The procedure is carried on until reaching a predefined height of a column 9 of quadrangular elements 7.
[0034] Once the number, size, and arrangement of the quadrangular elements 7 are defined, the respective coloration, i.e. the first chromatic hue RGB1 or the second chromatic hue RGB2, is applied to each quadrangular element 7 according to the following criterion.
[0035] First, for each quadrangular element 7, a first functional parameter k greater than zero is set, which is functional for the transition graphic effect to be obtained and adapted to affect the intensification of the RGB1 shade of the low quadrangular elements 7 and the RGB2 shade of the high quadrangular elements 7.
[0036] Figure 5 shows a graph of the calculation function of the chromatic definition parameter PRGB.
[0037] Then, the distance of the geometric barycenter d of the quadrangular element 7 from a base 9a of the respective column 9 is calculated.
[0040] It should be noted that the incremental modification of the functional parameter k affects the probability function PRGB leading to the intensification of the RGB1 shade on the low quadrangular elements and of the RGB2 shade on the high quadrangular elements, as illustrated in Figure 6.
[0041] Once the chromatic definition parameter PRGB is calculated, a random chromatic selection parameter β ranging from 0 to 1 is generated. The coloration of the quadrangular element 7 is then selected by applying the first chromatic hue RGB 1 if the chromatic definition parameter PRGB is less than or equal to the chromatic selection parameter β. If not, the second chromatic hue RGB2 is selected.
1. A pylon (1), especially a pylon for an overhead power line, comprising a shaft (2)
having a longitudinal axis of extension (A) and a side surface (3) extending around
the longitudinal axis of extension (A), the side surface (3) having a coloration at
least partially defined by a first (RGB 1) and a second chromatic hue (RGB2), characterized in that the side surface (3) is at least partially coloured according to a pattern, the pattern
comprising:
- a first uniform portion (4) applied on a lower portion (3a) of the side surface (3) and entirely coloured with the first chromatic hue (RGB 1);
- a second uniform portion (5) applied on an upper portion (3b) of the side surface (3) and entirely coloured with the second chromatic hue (RGB2);
- a third transition portion (6) arranged between the first (4) and the second uniform portion (5) and defined by a plurality of quadrangular elements (7) adjacent to each other and coloured with the first (RGB1) or the second chromatic hue (RGB2).
2. The pylon (1) of the preceding claim, characterized in that each quadrangular element (7) has a height measured in parallel to the longitudinal
axis of extension and a width measured substantially perpendicularly to the height,
the height of each quadrangular element (7) ranging from HMIN to HMAX, where HMIN
and HMAX are appropriate fractions of the height of the third transition portion (6).
3. The pylon (1) of the preceding claim, characterized in that the quadrangular elements (7) have substantially the same width measured at a predetermined
level along the longitudinal axis of extension (A).
4. The pylon (1) of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transition portion (6) is partitioned in two portions of zones by a plane passing
through the longitudinal axis (AA) and wherein one of said portions is at least 180°
and the pattern of said portion is totally or partially repeated in the second one.
5. The pylon (1) of the preceding claim, characterized in that each half-zone comprises a plurality of sectors (8), each one being defined by a
column (9) of quadrangular elements (7).
6. The pylon (1) of the preceding claim, characterized by comprising a prismoidal-shaped portion, the side surface (3) comprising a plurality
of flat faces at the prismoidal portion, each sector (8) being defined on a respective
face.
7. The pylon (1) of claim 5, characterized by comprising a circular- or conical-shaped portion, each sector (8) being defined on
the side surface (3) by an arc of predetermined extent.
8. The pylon (1) of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first chromatic hue (RGB1) is defined as the main background colour of the landscape
behind the lower portion (3a), the second chromatic hue (RGB2) being defined as the
main background colour of the landscape behind the upper portion (3b), the first chromatic
hue (RGB 1) being preferably darker than the second chromatic hue (RGB2).
9. A method for defining the coloration of a pylon (1) for an overhead power line, characterized by comprising the steps of:
- providing a pylon (1) for an overhead power line, comprising a shaft (2) having a longitudinal axis of extension (A) and a side surface (3) extending around the longitudinal axis of extension (A);
- partitioning the side surface (3) in a lower portion (3a), an upper portion (3b) and an intermediate portion (3c) and partitioning, in turn, said intermediate portion (3c) in two portions of zones, one of which of at least 180°, and in a plurality of sectors (8);
- defining a maximum height value (HMAX) and a minimum height value (HMIN) each quadrangular element (7) may take;
- sizing and placing the quadrangular elements (7);
- defining the coloration of each quadrangular element (7) by applying a first (RGB1) or a second chromatic hue (RGB2);
wherein the step of sizing and placing of the quadrangular elements (7) comprises for each sector (8) the sub-steps of:- generating a random scaling parameter (α) ranging from 0 to 1;
- calculating the height of a quadrangular element (7) as the maximum value between the minimum height (HMIN) and the maximum height (HMAX) multiplied by the scaling parameter (α);
- defining a quadrangular element (7) by causing a lower side (7a) to be coincident with the base of the sector (8) or, alternatively, with an upper side (7b) of the last quadrangular element (7) placed within the sector (8) and by placing the upper side (7b) at a distance from the lower side (7a) equal to the last calculated height;
- repeating the steps from generating the scaling parameter (α) to defining the quadrangular element (7) for each sector (8) until reaching a predefined height (L) of a column (9) of quadrangular elements (7).
10. The method of the preceding claim, characterized in that the step of defining the coloration of each quadrangular element (7) comprises the
sub-steps of:
- setting a first functional parameter (k) greater than zero,
- calculating the distance (h) of the barycenter (d) of the quadrangular element (7) from a base (9a) of the respective column (9);
- calculating a second functional parameter (x) according to the following formula
- calculating a chromatic definition parameter (PRGB) according to the formula
- generating a random chromatic selection parameter (β) ranging from 0 to 1;
- selecting the coloration of the quadrangular element (7) by applying the first chromatic hue (RGB 1) if the chromatic definition parameter (PRGB) is less than or equal to the chromatic selection parameter (β) or the second chromatic hue (RGB2) if not;
repeating the steps from generating the first functional parameter (k) to selecting the coloration of the quadrangular element (7) for each quadrangular element (7).