Composite reinforced wood structural members

Abstract

A wood pole having a wood body defined by a stripped tree trunk is reinforced by strips of composite reinforcement wrapped helically around the wood body, wherein the reinforcement comprises parallel high strength filaments in a resin matrix. The thickness and/or number of layers of reinforcement can be varied along the length of the pole to best suit the loading to which the pole is to be subjected. The reinforcement also performs the functions of the prevention of rot, insect infestation and water absorption, which are conventionally performed by harmful materials such as creosote. An electrical conductor can extend the length of the pole, protected under the reinforcement, which is transparent to electromagnetic signals, to act as an antenna or as a ground wire. No-maintenance color, fire retardant and/or reflective elements can be mixed in with the resin during the reinforcing of the pole.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A reinforced wood pole comprising: 
 an elongated wood body defined solely by a core of a tree trunk; and    at least one layer of a strip of composite reinforcing material extending in a helix around and in engagement with the wood body, the helix defining adjacent convolutions in continuous contact the composite material comprising parallel continuous high tensile strength fibers extending throughout the strip, and a resin matrix encapsulating the fibers to define the strip.    
     
     
         2 . The reinforced wood pole of  claim 1 , wherein the fibers are nonmetallic.  
     
     
         3 . The reinforced wood pole of  claim 1 , wherein the pole has a top end and a 2 bottom end, and the reinforcing covers the entire pole, except the bottom end.  
     
     
         4 . The reinforced wood pole of  claim 1 , wherein the material of the wood body has a strength such that a wood body having a diameter of 4 inches has insufficient strength in itself to withstand a load of 7,000 pounds.  
     
     
         5 . The reinforced wood pole of  claim 1 , wherein the strip contains a first plurality of the fibers extending longitudinally in the strip and a second plurality of the fibers extending transversely in the strip, and said fibers of said first and second pluralities are glass fibers and comprise approximately 70% by weight of the strip.  
     
     
         6 . The reinforced wood pole of  claim 5 , wherein the strip extends helically around the pole at an angle of from about 5° to about 25°.  
     
     
         7 . The reinforced wood pole of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of layers of the strips.  
     
     
         8 . The reinforced wood pole of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the number of layers of the strips and the thickness of the strips decreases in a direction from the bottom of the pole to the top of the pole.  
     
     
         9 . The reinforced wood pole of  claim 8 , wherein the pole is secured in the ground, and the largest number of layers of the strips extends from the bottom of the pole to more than one-third the height of the pole above ground.  
     
     
         10 . The reinforced wood pole of  claim 1 , wherein all of the fibers of at least one of said strips extend transversely in the strip and generally longitudinally with respect to the elongate wood body.  
     
     
         11 . The reinforced wood pole of  claim 10 , wherein the fibers which extend transversely are glass fibers, and said glass fibers comprise approximately 70% by weight of said at least one strip of composite reinforcement material.  
     
     
         12 . The reinforced wood pole of  claim 10 , comprising a plurality of said layers, wherein all of the fibers of at least one of said strips extend longitudinally in the strip and generally circumferentially with respect to the elongate wood body.  
     
     
         13 . The reinforced wood pole of  claim 1 , further comprising an electrically conductive wire extending longitudinally under the composite reinforcing material, from the top of the pole to the bottom of the pole.  
     
     
         14 . The reinforced wood pole of  claim 1 , further comprising a barrier layer of a material defining a barrier against ultraviolet light, said barrier layer substantially covering the composite reinforcing material.