Tower Construction and a Method for Erecting the Tower Construction

Abstract

A tower construction with a foundation and a top and a lower force distribution element in the foundation and an upper force distribution element at the top. Between the upper and lower force elements there are provided prefabricated concrete tower elements and at least one interlinking element. Tower elements and at least one interlinking element placed on top of the foundation form a column. Tendons and interlinking tendons are fastened such that the tendons span from the upper to the lower force distribution element, and the interlinking tendons span only over sections of the tower, the sections comprising the interlinking element at one end and another element at the opposite end, wherein the other element is the upper force distribution element, the lower force distribution element, or an additional interlinking element. The interlinking element is hollow and with a thickened circumferential segment inside to which the interlinking tendons are fastened.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A tower construction comprising a foundation and a top and a lower force distribution element in the foundation and an upper force distribution element at the top; wherein between the upper and lower force elements there are provided prefabricated concrete tower elements and at least one interlinking element, one on top of the other; the tower elements and the least one interlinking element each having an outside, an inside, a material thickness provided there between, top and bottom surfaces, and a hollow centre;
 the tower construction further comprising a plurality of tendons, each tendon connected to the upper force distribution element and to the lower force distribution element by co-operating attachment means, each tendon tensioned for applying a tension force to the column between the upper force element and the lower force element;   the tower construction further comprising a plurality of interlinking tendons of which each interlinking tendon is connected to the interlinking element and to another element selected among the upper force distribution element, the lower force distribution element or an additional interlinking element; each interlinking tendon spanning less than the length of the tower from the upper force element to the lower force element and being tensioned for applying a tension force only to a section of the tower construction, the section extending from the interlinking element to the selected element.   
     
     
         24 . A tower construction according to  claim 23 , wherein the section comprising the interlinking element at one end of the section and the other element at the other end of the section and at least one tower element therein between, and wherein the interlinking tendons are not fastened to the tower elements. 
     
     
         25 . A tower construction according to  claim 23 , wherein the interlinking element is formed as a hollow tube with a tubular axis and a tubular outside wall between the top and bottom surfaces, the outside wall comprising a thickened circumferential segment on its inside between the top and bottom surfaces and at a distance from the top surface and from the bottom surface, the thickened segment being provided with an increased thickness as compared to the thickness of the outside wall between the thickened segment and the top and bottom surfaces; wherein holes extend through the thickened segment in a direction parallel with the tubular axis, wherein the interlinking tendons extend through the holes and are fastened to the thickened segment. 
     
     
         26 . A tower construction according to  claim 23 , wherein the interlinking element comprises protrusions extending in parallel with the tubular axis between the top surface and the bottom surface and wherein the protrusions comprise a hollow bore longitudinally through the protrusions; and wherein the tendons but not the interlinking tendons extend through the hollow bore. 
     
     
         27 . A tower construction according to  claim 26 , wherein the tower element comprises protrusions extending in parallel with the tubular axis between the top surface and the bottom surface and wherein the protrusions comprise a hollow bore longitudinally through the protrusions; and wherein the protrusions of the tower elements are arranged in extension of the protrusion of the interlinking element; and wherein tendons but not the interlinking tendons extend through the hollow bore of the protrusions of the tower element as well as through the protrusions of the interlinking element. 
     
     
         28 . A tower construction according to  claim 23 , wherein the interlinking element comprises a tubular inside wall that is provided inside and concentric with the tubular outside wall and connected thereto by a plurality of webs extending parallel with the tubular axis. 
     
     
         29 . A tower construction according to  claim 28 , wherein an elevator is provided inside the inside wall, the inside wall forming an elevator shaft. 
     
     
         30 . A tower construction according to  claim 23 , wherein the interlinking element comprising at least one aperture through the outside wall dimensioned for feeding the interlinking tendons through the aperture from the outside to the inside. 
     
     
         31 . A tower construction according to  claim 23 , wherein the interlinking element is connected to the upper force distribution element or to the lower force distribution. 
     
     
         32 . A tower construction according to  claim 23 , wherein the interlinking element is connected to the upper force distribution element with first interlinking tendons and connected to the lower force distribution element with second, different interlinking tendons. 
     
     
         33 . An interlinking element for a tower construction according to  claim 23 , the interlinking element being formed as a hollow tube with a tubular axis and comprising top and bottom surfaces at opposite ends and a tubular outside wall between the top and bottom surfaces, the outside wall having an outside, an inside, and a material thickness provided there between; the outside wall comprising a thickened circumferential segment on its inside between the top and bottom surfaces and at a distance from the top surface and from the bottom surface, the thickened segment being provided with an increased thickness as compared to the thickness of the outside wall between the thickened segment and the top and bottom surfaces; wherein holes extend through the thickened segment in a direction parallel with the tubular axis, the holes being configured as attachment means for first ends of interlinking tendons extending through the holes. 
     
     
         34 . The interlinking element of  claim 33 , further comprising protrusions extending in parallel with the tubular axis between the top surface and the bottom surface and wherein the protrusions comprise a hollow bore longitudinally through the protrusions configured for tendons extending through the hollow bore. 
     
     
         35 . The interlinking element of  claim 33 , further comprising a tubular inside wall that is provided inside and concentric with the tubular outside wall and connected thereto by a plurality of webs extending parallel with the tubular axis. 
     
     
         36 . The Interlinking element according to  claim 33 , further comprising at least one aperture through the outside wall dimensioned for feeding the interlinking tendons through the apertures from the outside to the inside. 
     
     
         37 . A method for erecting a tower construction according to  claim 23 , the method involving the following steps:
 establishing a foundation with the lower force distribution element,   providing a plurality of prefabricated concrete tower elements and at least one interlinking element, each having an outside, an inside, a material thickness provided there between, top and bottom surfaces, and a hollow centre; the interlinking element having first attachment means adapted for co-operation with second attachment means on first ends of interlinking tendons;   forming a column by arranging tower elements and interlinking elements on top of each, with at least one tower element adjacent to each interlinking element, until the final height of the column is reached with an upper force distribution element at the top;   providing a plurality of tendons and a plurality of interlinking tendons,   connecting each tendon to the upper force distribution element and to the lower force distribution element by co-operating attachment means, and tensioning each tendon for applying a tension force to the column between the upper force element end the lower force element;   connecting a group of a plurality of interlinking tendons to one of the at least one interlinking element and to another element selected among the upper force distribution element, the lower force distribution element or an additional interlinking element; and tensioning each interlinking tendon in the group for only applying a stabilising tension force with this group in a section of the tower construction, the section extending from the interlinking element to the selected element with each tendon in the group spanning less than the length of the tower from the upper to the lower force distribution element.   
     
     
         38 . A method according to  claim 37 , wherein the method comprises completing the section and tensioned the tensioning the interlinking tendons in the group before the erection of the tower is complete. 
     
     
         39 . A method according to  claim 37 , wherein the section comprises the interlinking element at one end of the section and the other element at the other end of the section and at least one tower element therein between, and wherein the interlinking tendons run through the at least one tower element and are fastened to the interlinking element and the other element but not to the at least one tower element. 
     
     
         40 . A method according to  claim 39 , wherein the method comprises dividing the tower into a plurality of sections, wherein:
 a) one section comprises the upper force element, a tower section and an interlinking element; or   b) one section comprises the upper force element, a tower section and an interlinking element; or   
       both a) and b) and where the interlinking tendons of the section with the upper force elements are different from the interlinking tendons of the section with the lower force element. 
     
     
         41 . A method according to  claim 37 , wherein the interlinking element is formed as a hollow tube with a tubular axis and a tubular outside wall between the top and bottom surfaces, the outside wall comprising a thickened circumferential segment on its inside between the top and bottom surfaces and at a distance from the top surface and from the bottom surface, the thickened segment being provided with an increased thickness as compared to the thickness of the outside wall between the thickened segment and the top and bottom surfaces; wherein holes extend through the thickened segment in a direction parallel with the tubular axis, wherein the method comprises feeding interlinking tendons through the holes and fastening the interlinking tendons to the thickened segment. 
     
     
         42 . A method according to  claim 37 , wherein the interlinking element is provided with at least one aperture through the outside wall and wherein the method comprises feeding the interlinking tendons through the apertures from the outside to the inside. 
     
     
         43 . A method according to  claim 37 , wherein the interlinking element is provided with at least one aperture through the outside wall and wherein the method during erection of the tower construction comprises feeding anchor cables through the apertures from the outside to the inside and fastening these anchor cables to the interlinking element.