Method and apparatus for increasing the capacity and stability of a single-pole tower

Abstract

A support structure for use with an existing single pole tower and a method for supporting additional loading of the existing pole tower are disclosed. The single pole tower has a pole anchored to an existing foundation and supports a first load. The support structure has a number of sleeves surrounding the pole with a bottom sleeve anchored to a new foundation surrounding the existing foundation. Load transfer plates are disposed between the existing tower and sleeves and load transfer bolts extending through the sleeves are torqued against the load transfer plates for stabilizing the loaded tower. One or more additional loads may be attached to one of the sleeves.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A support structure for use with an existing single pole tower, said single pole tower comprising a pole anchored to an existing first foundation and supporting a first load, said structure comprising 
 a plurality of sleeves, each said sleeve comprising a plurality of polygonal sections,    and sections being joined such that    said plurality of sleeves surrounds said pole, and    a first one of said plurality of sleeves being anchored to a second foundation.    
     
     
         2 . The support structure of  claim 1 , wherein said existing tower includes a first base plate anchoring said tower to said first foundation, said first one of said plurality of sleeves comprising a second base plate overlying said first base plate and extending over said second foundation, said second base plate being anchored to said second foundation.  
     
     
         3 . The support structure of  claim 1 , wherein said second foundation comprises a new foundation that surrounds the said existing foundation.  
     
     
         4 . The support structure of  claim 1 , wherein said sleeves comprise a bent structural plate.  
     
     
         5 . The support structure of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of sleeves comprises at least a first section and at least a second section, each section comprising a plurality of polygonal vertical side.  
     
     
         6 . The support structure of  claim 5 , wherein each of said plurality of sleeves comprises at least twelve said polygonal vertical sides.  
     
     
         7 . The structural support of  claim 5 , wherein each of said polygonal sections comprise a first edge and a second edge, said first edge comprising a first bent vertical flange and said second edge comprising a second bent vertical flange.  
     
     
         8 . The support structure of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of said plurality of sleeves comprises a plurality of load transfer plates associated therewith for stabilizing the loaded tower.  
     
     
         9 . The support structure of  claim 8 , wherein each of said plurality of load transfer plates comprise a load bearing plate disposed adjacent to said pole and further comprising a plurality of bolts extending through said sleeves and bearing on said plate for distributing load on said tower.  
     
     
         10 . The support structure of  claim 8 , wherein said plurality of load transfer plates comprise radial spacing around a vertical axis of said sleeves.  
     
     
         11 . A support structure for use with an existing single pole tower, said tower comprising a pole anchored to an existing first foundation and supporting a first load, said support structure comprising, 
 a second foundation surrounding the existing foundation    a first sleeve anchored to a second foundation,    a second sleeve fixedly attached to said first sleeve, and    said first and second sleeves surrounding said pole and being associated with load transfer plates disposed between the pole and the sleeves for stabilizing the loaded tower.    
     
     
         12 . The support structure of  claim 11 , wherein said first and second sleeves are fixedly attached by a number ofjoinder sleeves.  
     
     
         13 . The support structure of  claim 11 , further comprising a second load fixedly attached to any of said sleeves.  
     
     
         14 . A support structure for use with an existing single pole tower, said tower comprising a pole anchored to an existing first foundation and supporting a first load, said support structure comprising, 
 a plurality of sleeves,    said plurality of sleeves surrounding said pole,    a first sleeve of said plurality of sleeves anchored to a second foundation, wherein    said second foundation surrounds said first foundation,    a second sleeve of said plurality of sleeves having a plurality of load transfer    plates associated therewith, and    said plurality of load transfer plates having bolts extending between said second    sleeve and said pole for stabilizing said loaded tower.    
     
     
         15 . The support structure of  claim 14 , wherein said second sleeve supports a second load.  
     
     
         16 . The support structure of  claim 15 , wherein said plurality of sleeves comprises one or more joinder sleeves positioned between said first sleeve and said second sleeve.  
     
     
         17 . A method for supporting additional loads on a single pole tower, wherein said single pole tower comprises a pole anchored to an existing first foundation and supporting a first load, said method comprising the steps of: 
 surrounding the first foundation with a second foundation,    positioning one or more sleeves around said pole,    anchoring said one or more sleeve to said second foundation, and    supporting said additional load on said one or more sleeves.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further including disposing load transfer plates between the pole and the sleeves and torquing load transfer bolts against the load transfer plates until the load transfer plates are snugly positioned against the existing tower.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said load transfer bolts are tightened against the load transfer plates to stabilize the loaded tower.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of attaching said first and said second sleeve by one or more joinder sleeves.