Method For Repairing A Utility Pole In Place

Abstract

A method of repairing a utility pole in place. The method comprises excavating soil from around the utility pole to expose a portion of the pole surface below the ground line, and adhering a plurality of prefabricated sleeve segments to the surface of the utility pole to form a circumferential sleeve. The plurality of sleeve segments are positioned to extend above and below the ground line and have side edges that each overlap an edge of an adjacent sleeve segment. The hole around the pole is then filled, such as with a slurry of soil, water and sodium silicate. This method may be beneficially used on wooden utility poles that have experienced decay, in order to restore strength to the pole.

1 . A method of repairing a utility pole in place, comprising:
 excavating soil from around the utility pole to expose a circumferential portion of the pole surface below the ground line;   adhering a plurality of prefabricated arcuate sleeve segments to the surface of the utility pole to form a circumferential sleeve, wherein the plurality of sleeve segments extend above and below the ground line and have side edges that each overlap an edge of an adjacent sleeve segment; and   filling the hole about the circumferential sleeve.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 banding the plurality of sleeve segments firmly against the surface of the utility pole.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 mixing the excavated soil with sodium silicate and an activator composition to form a slurry composition that will harden; and   filling the hole about the circumferential sleeve with the slurry.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the activator is triacetin. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of excavating soil includes directing high pressure air into the soil near the pole to form an annular hole having an average width of between  3  and  6  inches. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve segments are a polymeric material containing a reinforcing material selected from the group consisting of fiberglass, carbon fibers, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 applying a layer of adhesive to the surface of the utility pole;   applying a layer of adhesive to the inner surface of the plurality of sleeve segments; and   pressing the plurality of sleeve segments about the utility pole with overlapping side edges.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 flexing the arcuate sleeve segments to match the actual curvature of the surface of the utility pole.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve segments have an offset lip formed along one edge of the pole contact portion, wherein the offset lip provides tolerance in the angular and perimeter spacing of the sleeve segments without loss of overlapping. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 adhering an inner surface of the offset lip to an outer surface of the adjacent sleeve segment.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 selecting the plurality of arcuate sleeve segments from a predetermined set of segments including from two to four segment sizes, each segment size having a pole contact portion with a different arc length.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sleeve segments is three or four sleeve segments. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein none of the sleeve segments extends more than 150 degrees about the utility pole. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the arc length of each sleeve segment is tapered from a bottom end to a top end. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve segments having a thickness from ½ to ¾ inch. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is selected from the group consisting of an isocyanate, acrylic, urea-formaldehyde, epoxy, phenolic, poly-ester, and poly-vinyl. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 adhering the sleeve segments to the utility pole with a gel formed by mixing an adhesive with fumed silica.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 excavating the soil to a depth between  3  and  5  feet below the ground line; and   adhering the sleeve segments to the utility pole in a position extending between  2  and  4  feet above and below the ground line.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of excavating soil forms a minimal annulus around the exposed portion of the pole.