Repair and reinforcement of utility poles

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and system for the repair and reinforcement of poles.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of providing support for a pole, said pole comprising a pole shaft and a pole structural base support portion enabled to engage one or more anchor bolts, said method comprising:
 inserting a first repair sleeve over one or more of said anchor bolts so that an inside surface of said first repair sleeve nearly abuts said pole shaft of said pole, said first repair sleeve comprising a shaped wall portion, a plurality of flanges connected to said shaped wall portion and a base portion comprising a hole connected to said shaped wall portion and said plurality of flanges;   inserting a second repair sleeve over one or more of said anchor bolts so that an inside surface of said second repair sleeve nearly abuts said pole shaft of said pole, said second repair sleeve comprising a shaped wall portion, a plurality of flanges connected to said shaped wall portion and a base portion comprising a hole connected to said shaped wall portion and said plurality of flanges;   tightening one or more structural nuts over said one or more anchor bolts over which said first repair sleeve was inserted;   tightening one or more structural nuts over said one or more anchor bolts over which said second repair sleeve was inserted; and   connecting one of said plurality of flanges of said first repair sleeve to one of said plurality of flanges to said second repair sleeve.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality flanges of said first repair sleeve comprise a plurality of stitch bolt holes, said plurality of flanges of said second repair sleeve comprise a plurality of stitch bolt holes and said process of connecting one of said plurality of flanges of said first repair sleeve to one of said plurality of flanges to said second repair sleeve comprises installing and tightening a plurality of stitch bolts through said stitch bolt holes of said first repair sleeve and said stitch bolt holes of said second repair sleeve. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of flanges of said first repair sleeve comprise one or more slots, said plurality of flanges of said second repair sleeve comprise one or more slots and wherein said process of connecting comprises threading a band through one of said slots of said one of said plurality of flanges of said first repair sleeve and through one of said slots of said one of said plurality of flanges of said second repair sleeve and tightening said band. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said process of connecting comprises applying an adhesive between said wall portion of said first repair sleeve and said pole shaft and between said wall portion of said second repair sleeve and said pole shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said process of connecting comprises interlockingly engaging said one of said plurality of flanges of said first repair sleeve and one of said plurality of flanges to said second repair sleeve. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first repair sleeve comprising a shaped wall portion, a plurality of flanges connected to said shaped wall portion and a base portion comprising a hole connected to said shaped wall portion and said plurality of flanges is comprised of a galvanized metal and said second repair sleeve comprising a shaped wall portion, a plurality of flanges connected to said shaped wall portion and a base portion comprising a hole connected to said shaped wall portion and said plurality of flanges is comprised of a galvanized metal. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first repair sleeve comprises a singular piece of material and said second repair sleeve comprises a singular piece of metal. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first repair sleeve further comprises a first gap at the connection between said shaped wall and said base portion and said second repair sleeve further comprises a second gap at the connection between said shaped wall and said base portion. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first repair sleeve further comprises one or more cushioning pieces placed on an inner face of said shaped wall of said first repair sleeve and one or more cushioning pieces placed on an inner face of said shaped wall of said second repair sleeve. 
     
     
         10 . A pole reinforcement system comprises a plurality of repair sleeves, wherein each of said plurality of repair sleeves comprises a shaped wall, a first flange comprising one or more access holes, a second flange one or more access holes and a base portion comprising one or more structural bolt openings. 
     
     
         11 . The pole reinforcement system of  claim 10  further comprising at least one flexible stress absorption pad, wherein said flexible stress absorption pad is adhered to an inside face of said shaped wall. 
     
     
         12 . The pole reinforcement system of  claim 10  further comprising a gap at a connection point between said shaped wall and said base portion. 
     
     
         13 . The pole reinforcement system of  claim 10  wherein said structural bolt opening is a hole. 
     
     
         14 . The pole reinforcement system of  claim 10  wherein said structural bolt opening is a slat. 
     
     
         15 . The pole reinforcement system of  claim 10  wherein said shaped wall, said first flange comprising one or more access holes, said second flange comprising one or more access holes and said base portion are comprised of a singular piece of material. 
     
     
         16 . The pole reinforcement system of  claim 15 , wherein said material is galvanized metal. 
     
     
         17 . The pole reinforcement system of  claim 15 , wherein said material comprises a carbon fiber. 
     
     
         18 . The pole reinforcement system of  claim 15 , wherein said material comprises a composite material. 
     
     
         19 . The pole reinforcement system of  claim 10  wherein said shaped wall, said first flange comprising one or more access holes and said second flange comprising one or more access holes is comprised of a singular piece of material and said singular piece of material is connected to said base portion. 
     
     
         20 . The pole reinforcement system of  claim 10  wherein said shaped wall, said first flange and said second flange are a first thickness and said base portion is a second thickness. 
     
     
         21 . The pole reinforcement system of  claim 10  further comprising one or more stitch bolts sized to said access holes in said first flange and said access holes in said second flange. 
     
     
         22 . The pole reinforcement system of  claim 10  wherein said access holes of said first flange and said access holes of said second flange are slots enabled to accept a tightening band. 
     
     
         23 . The pole reinforcement system of  claim 10  wherein each of said first and said second flanges of each of said plurality of repair sleeves is interlockably connectable with a flange of another of said plurality of repair sleeves. 
     
     
         24 . The pole reinforcement system of  claim 10  wherein each of said first and said second flanges of each of said plurality of repair sleeves in hingeably connectable with a flange of another of said plurality of repair sleeves. 
     
     
         25 . The pole reinforcement system of  claim 10 , wherein said shaped wall of one of said plurality of repair sleeves comprises a cutout. 
     
     
         26 . A method of reinforcing a pole, said pole comprising a pole shaft and a pole structural base support portion enabled to engage one or more anchor bolts, said method comprising:
 inserting a first repair sleeve over one or more of said anchor bolts so that an inside surface of said first repair sleeve nearly abuts said pole shaft of said pole, said first repair sleeve comprising a shaped wall portion and a base portion comprising a hole connected to said shaped wall portion;   inserting a second repair sleeve over one or more of said anchor bolts so that an inside surface of said second repair sleeve nearly abuts said pole shaft of said pole, said second repair sleeve comprising a shaped wall portion and base portion comprising a hole connected to said shaped wall portion;   tightening one or more structural nuts over said one or more anchor bolts over which said first repair sleeve was inserted;   tightening one or more structural nuts over said one or more anchor bolts over which said second repair sleeve was inserted; and   tightening said first repair sleeve and said second repair sleeve to said pole section.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , said method further comprising applying a corrosion inhibiting coating to said pole shaft. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said method further comprises applying an adhesive between said wall portion of said first repair sleeve and said pole shaft and between said wall portion of said second repair sleeve and said pole shaft. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said first repair sleeve comprises a singular piece of material and said second repair sleeve comprises a singular piece of metal. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said first repair sleeve further comprises a first gap at the connection between said shaped wall and said base portion and said second repair sleeve further comprises a second gap at the connection between said shaped wall and said base portion. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said first repair sleeve further comprises one or more cushioning pieces placed on an inner face of said shaped wall of said first repair sleeve and one or more cushioning pieces placed on an inner face of said shaped wall of said second repair sleeve.