Member tilting method and apparatus

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to removing and/or replacing elongate generally vertical members, such as utility poles, trees, etc., and, include a tilting apparatus having a lower support member pivotally coupled to a lower support member, two or more elongate member couplers positioned to secure the elongate member to the upper and lower support members, and an actuator coupled to the upper and lower support members to control pivotal movement of the upper support member relative to the lower support member and tilt the upper portion of the elongate member.

1 . An elongate member tilting apparatus, comprising
 A lower support member having one or more elongate member couplers positioned to secure the lower support member to a lower portion of the elongate member;   An upper support member having one or more elongate member couplers positioned to secure the upper support member to an upper portion of the elongate member;   A pivotal connection between the lower support member and the upper support member, the pivotal connection having a generally horizontal pivot axis about which the upper support member and the lower support member pivot; and   An actuator coupled to the upper support member and the lower support member, wherein the actuator controls pivotal movement of the upper support member about the pivot axis to tilt the upper portion of the elongate member.   
   
   
       2 . The elongate member tilting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tilting apparatus is compression based such that the upper support member pivots about the horizontal pivot axis towards the lower support member in an acute angular fashion. 
   
   
       3 . The elongate member tilting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is adapted to tilt the upper support member to a first angle desired by a user to facilitate elongate member replacement. 
   
   
       4 . The elongate member tilting apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first angle is in the range of 5 degrees to 30 degrees. 
   
   
       5 . The elongate member tilting apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first angle is in the range of 18 degrees to 22 degrees. 
   
   
       6 . The elongate member tilting apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the actuator is adapted to tilt the upper support member about the pivot to a point beyond the first angle to a desired second angle. 
   
   
       7 . The elongate member tilting apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the desired second angle is between 80 and 110 degrees from the generally upright position. 
   
   
       8 . The elongate member tilting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes:
 a first actuator removably coupled to the upper support member and the lower support member and adapted to tilt the upper support member to the first angle; and   wherein a second actuator is removably coupled to the upper support member and the lower support member and adapted to tilt the upper support member past the first angle.   
   
   
       9 . The elongate member tilting apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first actuator includes a turnbuckle and the second actuator includes a hydraulic cylinder. 
   
   
       10 . The elongate member tilting apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a movement control member coupled to the first actuator and the lower support member and which limits the movement of the upper support member to the first angle. 
   
   
       11 . The elongate member tilting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the member couplers include a cradle adapted to support a portion of a cross sectional profile of the elongate member. 
   
   
       12 . The elongate member tilting apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the cradle is laterally adjustable to accommodate different elongate member cross sectional profiles. 
   
   
       13 . The elongate member tilting apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the cradle is a v-block with an angular gullet region. 
   
   
       14 . The elongate member tilting apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the cradle is has a radiused bottom portion of the gullet region. 
   
   
       15 . The elongate member tilting apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the cradle includes gripping members on a face of the cradle adapted to engage the elongate member to resist movement of the elongate member in the cradle. 
   
   
       16 . The elongate member tilting apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the couplers further comprise retaining members adapted to adjustably couple to the cradle and secure the elongate member to the tilting apparatus. 
   
   
       17 . The elongate member tilting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the member couplers are pivotally coupled to the upper support member and the lower support member such that they pivot about an axis parallels to an elongate axis of the respective upper and lower support member. 
   
   
       18 . The elongate member tilting apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a stabilizer coupled to the lower support member and adapted to engage the ground to provide additional lateral support. 
   
   
       19 . The elongate member tilting apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the stabilizer is removably coupled to the lower support member and is adapted to couple to extenders that engage the ground. 
   
   
       20 . The elongate member tilting apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 A first brace having a first brace first end and a first brace second end, the first brace first end pivotally coupled to an upper portion of the upper support member;   A second brace having a second brace first end and a second brace second end, the second brace first end being pivotally coupled to a lower portion of the lower support member; and   wherein the actuator has a first end pivotally coupled to the upper support member and the lower support member at the pivotal connection, and a second end pivotally coupled to first brace second end and the second brace second end; and   wherein actuation of the actuator causes tilting of the upper portion of the elongate member.   
   
   
       21 . The elongate member tilting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate member is tension based and the upper support member is configured to pivot about the pivot point in an obtuse angular fashion relative to the lower support member. 
   
   
       22 . The elongate member tilting apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising tension members coupled to the upper support member to provide additional support. 
   
   
       23 . The elongate member tilting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a guy wire is coupled between the upper support member and an upper portion of the elongate member to better control tilting of the elongate member. 
   
   
       24 . A method for tilting elongate members, comprising:
 securing a tilting apparatus to an elongate member by coupling an upper support member to an upper portion of the elongate member and coupling a lower support portion to a lower portion of the elongate member;   providing an actuator coupled between the upper support member and the lower support member;   cutting the elongate member into an upper portion and a lower portion; and   tilting the upper section of the pole to a first angle by actuating the actuator.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein tilting the elongate member further includes tilting utility poles for replacement, comprising:
 Replacing one or more of the tilted elongate members with one or more new elongate members;   Moving or replacing the conductors from the tilted elongate members to the replaced elongate members.