Truss Tower Leg Reinforcing System

Abstract

A reinforced triangular truss column having two vertical pipe reinforcing columns added to the three rods of the truss column is provided. Also provided is a method of reinforcing triangular truss columns comprising adding two vertical pipe reinforcing columns to a triangular truss column.

1 . A method of reinforcing a triangular truss column comprising:
 providing two generally vertical pipe reinforcing columns each having a first pipe reinforcing plate attached at the top of the column and a second pipe reinforcing plate at the bottom of the column;   attaching the first pipe reinforcement plate to a first existing plate of the triangular truss column;   attaching the second pipe reinforcement plate to a second existing plate of the triangular truss column;   connecting each vertical pipe reinforcing column to the truss column at one or more connection points along the pipe reinforcing column length.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pipe reinforcing columns are connected to the truss column using a band which surrounds the truss column and the pipe reinforcing columns. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the band is attached to the outside of the truss column. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the band is metal. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the band is bolted to one or more legs of the truss column. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pipe reinforcing columns are each connected to the truss column using a strap which is bolted to two legs of the truss column and spans one side of the triangular truss column. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pipe reinforcing plates are attached to the existing plate of the triangular truss column using bolts. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a pipe reinforcing column is hollow. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a pipe reinforcing column is solid. 
   
   
       10 . A reinforced triangular truss column comprising:
 a triangular truss column having three truss legs which attach together through leg splice plates, said triangular truss column having reinforcing columns along at least a portion of two sides of the triangular truss column, the top and bottom of each reinforcing column attached to the triangular truss column in the horizontal direction through a top pipe reinforcing plate and a bottom pipe reinforcing plate, and the reinforcing columns attached to the triangular truss column in the vertical direction with a generally horizontal band.   
   
   
       11 . The column of  claim 10 , wherein the top and bottom pipe reinforcing plate are each bolted to a leg splice plate of the triangular truss column. 
   
   
       12 . The column of  claim 10 , wherein each reinforcing column is attached to the triangular truss column with a metal strap which spans a side of the triangular truss column and which metal strap is bolted to two truss legs.