Apparatus and method for fastening a composite pole to the ground

Abstract

The invention relates to a fastening element for fastening a hollow composite pole to the ground at a location where a slit-formed opening is present in the ground, wherein the fastening element has a lower end portion that is configured for being positioned in the slit-formed opening, wherein a conical portion of the composite pole is abutting a conical upper portion of the fastening element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for fastening a composite pole for overhead power lines to the ground, the method comprising:
 inserting a fastening element into the ground, wherein the fastening element is configured such that insertion creates a slit-formed opening in the ground for the fastening element, and wherein the fastening element has a conical upper portion; and   lowering the composite pole over the fastening element such that a conical lower portion of the composite pole abuts the conical upper portion of the fastening element.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising fixing the fastening element to the ground. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the fastening element is inserted into the ground by drilling the fastening element into the ground. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the fastening element is inserted into the ground by hammering the fastening element into the ground. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising fixing the composite pole to the fastening element. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the composite pole and the fastening element each comprise a flange connection, further comprising fixing the flange connections together to fix the composite pole to the fastening element. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising fixing the composite pole to the fastening element such that the composite pole remains above the ground. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the fastening element remains above the ground when the conical lower portion of the composite pole abuts the conical upper portion of the fastening element. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising lowering the composite pole over the fastening element after the fastening element is inserted into the ground. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the fastening element comprises a plurality of drill elements configured to be inserted into the ground and to create the slit-formed opening in the ground. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein inserting the plurality of drill elements into the ground causes the fastening element to rotate. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising hammering the fastening element to insert the fastening element into the ground. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising lowering the composite pole over the fastening element after the fastening element is hammered into the ground. 
     
     
         14 . A method for making an apparatus for fastening a composite pole for overhead power lines to the ground, the method comprising providing a fastening element having a cylindrical shape extending between a lowermost end and an upper portion, the lowermost end of the fastening element being configured to be inserted into the ground, the upper portion of the fastening element corresponding to a lower portion of the composite pole such that the upper portion abuts the lower portion when the composite pole is lowered over the fastening element, wherein inserting the fastening element into the ground creates a slit-formed opening in the ground for the fastening element. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the lower portion of the composite pole is conical, further comprising providing the fastening element such that the upper portion of the fastening element is conical. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising providing a plurality of drill elements at the lowermost end of the fastening element, the plurality of drill elements being configured to create the slit-formed opening in the ground. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising providing the plurality of drill elements such that inserting the fastening element into the ground rotates the fastening element. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising providing the fastening element such that hammering the fastening element into the ground causes the plurality of drill elements to rotate the fastening element. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising providing the plurality of drill elements so as to be equally distributed about a center axis of the lowermost end of the fastening element. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising providing the fastening element so as to be fixable to the composite pole after the fastening element is inserted into the ground.