ES3062010T3 - Structure for supporting telecommunications stations - Google Patents

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Structure to support telecommunications stations

[0003] Field of invention

[0004] The present invention relates to a structure according to claim 1 for supporting telecommunications stations comprising at least one support pole. In particular, the structure described herein is capable of ensuring the verticality of the support pole, which can be anchored to the foundation. Prior art

[0005] According to known technology, telecommunications stations comprise a polygonal or truncated conical pole, the height of which can reach and exceed twenty-five meters, and a support structure to support the pole. Subsequently, vertical and/or parabolic antennas or other electrical/electronic devices are installed on the support pole, which is anchored to a foundation made of reinforced concrete to enable communication between mobile telephone devices. Clearly, such a support structure is capable of supporting the generic telecommunications station even when subjected to high stress and is therefore able to maintain the perfect verticality of the support pole that supports the vertical and/or parabolic antennas or other electrical/electronic devices to enable communication between mobile telephone devices.

[0006] According to the known art, the structure for supporting a telecommunications station of the type described above comprises a collar with plate-like projections, also called plates, generally six in number, welded to the collar, spaced at angles in a uniform manner, and reversibly attachable to the support pole. The structure further comprises a plurality of uprights, identical in number to the number of plates or plate-like projections, directly or indirectly anchored below the foundation and integrally attachable above the collar to the respective plate or plate-like projection. Also according to the known art, the upright comprises two L-shaped sections that are detachably attached to the respective plate. The coupling is achieved by pre-arranging the two profiles along their longer sides and coupling these sides to each of the two faces of the respective plate or plate-like projection. The upright thus adopts the form of a double L.

[0007] However, this solution is not without its drawbacks. In fact, the coupling between the upright, which consists of two L-shaped sections, and the collar is not straightforward and often leads to alignment problems between the end upright and the collar plate to which the upright is reversibly coupled. This results in delays in the assembly of the structure and a significant increase in the final manufacturing costs of the structure itself.

[0008] US patent 1702165 relates to a pole for securing electrical cables. This pole is anchored to the ground by means of a foundation comprising a plate-shaped base surrounding the pole and a series of vertical T-shaped beams simultaneously fixed to the ground and to the plate-shaped base. However, the solution described in this patent does not guarantee the perfect verticality of the pole. In practice, although this solution includes a lightweight foundation, i.e., one not made of cement or concrete, it lacks a structure capable of supporting the pole itself and maintaining it perfectly vertical under any weather conditions.

[0009] US Patent 2007256388 describes a structure for reinforcing a longitudinal section of a pole. Such a structure comprises at least two load transfer rings formed by sleeve segments with diametrically opposite mating ends. The rings are sized to fit the outer surface of the pole, encircling it. The sleeve segments are connected at their ends by a nut and bolt assembly, wherein tightening the nut and bolt assembly creates a radial locking force to clamp the load transfer rings to the outer surface of the pole and to hold the rings therein in a fixed condition. Elongated reinforcing elements are held in a fixed position within the load transfer rings by means of a nut and bolt assembly or by welding. The load transfer rings may also be partially welded to the outside of the pole if structural load requirements necessitate additional capacity.

[0010] Document US2012/023859 describes a wind turbine having a base on top of which the turbine casing is mounted and a support system configured around a portion of the base of the tower. The support system comprises a plurality of support wings radially separated around the base portion. Each support wing has a continuous beam fixed to the tower and a continuous head element extending radially outward and downward toward the ground, starting from the beam. The support wings comprise a lattice structure extending between the beam and the head element. The support wings extend from the tower a length and at an acute angle of extension with respect to a longitudinal axis of the tower, so as to provide vertical and lateral support around the circumference of the tower.

[0011] Document US2004020158 describes a tower booster apparatus, which is designed to increase the load-bearing capacity and stability of a tower and enable the tower to support the weight of additional communications equipment, as well as environmental forces exerted on the tower.

[0012] Patent ITMI20130900 describes a reinforcement structure for a telecommunications tower. In particular, the invention applies to telecommunications towers for mobile telephone networks and especially, though not exclusively, to "wasteland" type towers for base transceiver stations.

[0013] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to implement a structure for supporting telecommunications stations that is simple to assemble and allows for quick and accurate centering between the upright and the plate-shaped projection of the collar.

[0014] A further object of the present invention is to implement a structure that ensures the perfect verticality of the telecommunications station support pole. Finally, an object of the present invention is to implement a structure that also consists of a limited number of elements and can therefore be implemented in a simple, quick, and cost-effective manner.

[0015] Summary of the invention

[0016] These and other objects are achieved by means of a structure according to claim 1 for supporting at least one telecommunications station comprising a support pole that can be anchored to a foundation and for ensuring the verticality of said support pole, said structure comprising at least one collar provided with at least one plate-shaped projection and reversibly retainable on said support pole and at least one upright directly or indirectly retained on said foundation and integrally combinable with said at least one collar on said at least one plate-shaped projection, characterized in that said at least one upright comprises a T-section, and in that it comprises reversible connection means for reversibly connecting said at least one T-shaped upright and said at least one collar on said at least one plate-shaped projection.

[0017] In particular, the structure in question in the present description is capable of ensuring the verticality of the support post that can be anchored to the foundation.

[0018] This solution allows for faster and more precise coupling between the upright and the collar. In fact, the upright does not need to be assembled on-site before being coupled with the respective plate-shaped projection, as is the case in structures of the prior art, but rather arrives ready-made in a single T-shaped piece and is immediately coupled with the collar using the aforementioned connecting means, thus ensuring perfect centering with the plate-shaped projection.

[0019] It should be noted that at least one of said uprights is arranged above ground level.

[0020] Furthermore, said at least one upright advantageously has a longitudinal axis parallel to the axis of said support post and extends partly the length of said post.

[0021] Said at least one upright is dimensioned to ensure the verticality of said support post in cooperation with said at least one collar and said reversible connection means.

[0022] Advantageously, said reversible connection means comprise at least one connection element provided with a plate-shaped portion; said plate-shaped portion comprises a first end that can be reversibly connected to said T-section and a second end that can be reversibly connected to said at least one plate-shaped projection.

[0023] Furthermore, said at least one connecting element comprises a C-section, wherein said plate-shaped portion is comprised between the two legs of said C-section. Therefore, such a connecting element has greater structural rigidity.

[0024] Said at least one T-shaped post comprises a first plate-shaped section orthogonal to and disposed in a central area of a second plate-shaped section. Advantageously, said first plate-shaped section comprises a first planar face and a second planar face opposite said first planar face, wherein said first end of said connecting element can be reversibly connected to said first plate-shaped section of said T-section at said first planar face.

[0025] It should be noted that the first end, or second end, of the connecting element shall also mean, in what follows, the first end of the plate-shaped portion of the connecting element. Furthermore, said plate-shaped projection comprises a first planar face and a second planar face opposite said first planar face, wherein said second end can be reversibly connected to said first planar face of said plate-shaped projection.

[0026] Specifically, the connecting means further comprise a second connecting element, wherein the first end of the second connecting element can be reversibly connected to the first plate-shaped section of the T-section on the second planar face, and the second end of the second connecting element can be reversibly connected to the second planar face of the plate-shaped projection. In practice, the at least one first connecting element and the second connecting element are mounted opposite each other with respect to the projecting portion of the collar.

[0027] It should be noted that the second end of the connecting element (or the second connecting element) shall also mean, in what follows, the second end of the plate-shaped portion of the connecting element (or the second connecting element).

[0028] Advantageously, the first plate-shaped section and the plate-shaped projection lie substantially in the same vertical plane, at least when the structure is assembled. In this way, the first connecting element and the second connecting element are arranged symmetrically with respect to the aforementioned vertical alignment plane for the plate-shaped projection and the first section of the T-shaped upright.

[0029] Always according to the suggested solution, said at least one upright comprises at least one support foot in said foundation.

[0030] In particular, said post is of a polygonal or truncated conical type.

[0031] In addition, said uprights are six in number and are arranged angularly in a uniform manner around said support post.

[0032] In any case, where there are more than two uprights, at least one of those at least two uprights has a different height from the other upright of those at least two uprights. Also in this case, those uprights exceeding two in number are arranged at an angle on the support post in a uniform manner.

[0033] Specifically, three uprights of said six T-shaped uprights have a different height from the remaining three uprights of said six T-shaped uprights.

[0034] Furthermore, the structure comprises at least two collars arranged at different heights along said post, and further comprises at least one reinforcing rod that can be reversibly connected between at least two connecting elements combined with said T-shaped upright and with the respective collar of said two collars arranged at different heights.

[0035] Furthermore, said at least one collar comprises two semicircular elements and approximation and tightening means for bringing said two semicircular elements together and firmly tightening them on said support post.

[0036] Finally, at least one plate-shaped projection is connected to the collar by welding. Description of the figures

[0037] These and other aspects of the present invention will be made clearer in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment provided herein, by way of example only and without limitation, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0038] Figure 1 is a partial side view of a structure to support a telecommunications station;

[0039] Figure 2A is a top view of a collar used in the structure according to the invention;

[0040] Figure 2B is a top view of the collar of Figure 2A to which a T-shaped upright was coupled, according to the invention;

[0041] Figure 2C is a top view of the collar of Figure 2A to which a T-shaped upright and two connecting elements were attached, according to the invention;

[0042] Figure 3A is a top view of the T-shaped upright according to the invention;

[0043] Figure 3B is a side view of the T-shaped upright according to the invention;

[0044] Figure 3C is a front view of the T-shaped upright according to the invention;

[0045] Figure 4A is a front view of the connecting element according to the invention;

[0046] Figure 4B is a side view of the connecting element according to the invention;

[0047] Figure 5 shows a partial view of a structure comprising a reinforcing rod combined with two connecting elements arranged in two collars arranged, in turn, at different heights along the support post.

[0048] Detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention

[0049] With particular reference to such figures, 1 denotes a structure according to the invention.

[0050] Figure 1 partially shows a structure 1 for supporting a telecommunications station, which in turn comprises a support pole 100 that can be anchored to a foundation 101, where said structure 1 is also capable of ensuring the verticality of the support pole 100. The support pole 100, in turn, comprises a ladder 102 for reaching the telecommunications devices not shown in the present description, but which are well known to a technician in the field. The structure 1 comprises several collars 2 mounted at different heights, each of which is provided with a plurality of plate-shaped projections 3 (refer to Figure 2A). It should be noted that the plate-shaped projections 3 shown in the accompanying figures are six in number; however, in other embodiments, this number of projections 3 may also be different, for example, four or three plate-shaped projections 3, without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention. The plate-shaped projections 3 are arranged uniformly along the collar 2, and each plate-shaped projection 3 is connected to the collar 2 by welding.

[0051] When collar 2 is mounted on support post 100, the plate-shaped projections 3 are arranged in a vertical plane.

[0052] Each collar 2 is, in turn, reversibly retainable on the supporting post 100. Furthermore, the structure 1 comprises several uprights 4 directly or indirectly retained on the foundation 101 and integrally combinable with one or more collars 2 on each plate-shaped projection 3. In practice, each plate-shaped projection 3 of each collar 2 is combined with one upright 4; therefore, if there are six plate-shaped projections 3, the uprights 4 combinable with that given collar 2 will also be six in number. Moreover, two different collars 2 located at different heights along the post 100 may have identical uprights 4 for each of their plate-shaped projections 3. Advantageously, the generic upright 4 comprises a T-section. Furthermore, the structure 1 comprises reversible connection means 5 for reversibly connecting each T-shaped upright 4 and the collar 2 to the respective plate-shaped projection 3.

[0053] The T-shaped stud 4 solves the problems of the known technique, making the installation of structure 1 simpler and easier, and also reducing the final cost of the work. Furthermore, this T-shaped stud 4 makes the alignment between the T-shaped stud 4 and the generic plate-shaped projection 3 with which it will be combined extremely easy and straightforward.

[0054] Each T-shaped upright 4 is arranged above ground level. Furthermore, each upright 4 advantageously has a longitudinal axis X parallel to the longitudinal axis Y of the support post 100 and extends part of the length of the support post 100, so as to ensure the verticality of said support post 100 in cooperation with said at least one collar 2 and said reversible connecting means 5.

[0055] As shown in Figures 2A and 2B, each collar 2 comprises two semicircular elements 31 and 32 and clamping means 33 for bringing such two semicircular elements 31 and 32 together and tightly clamping them to the support post 100. Such clamping means 33 are two in number and each comprises a screw 33a and two bolts 33b combined with the two ends of the screw 33a and with the two flanges 31a, 32a integral with the two respective semicircular elements 31 and 32.

[0056] According to an embodiment shown in the present description, the reversible connecting means 5 comprise, for each plate-shaped projection 3, a connecting element 6 having a plate-shaped portion 6a. Such plate-shaped portion 6a comprises a first end 60a that can be reversibly connected to the T-section 4 with which it is coupled and a second end 60b that can be reversibly connected to the plate-shaped projections 3 with which it is coupled.

[0057] Preferably, each connecting element 6 comprises a C-section, wherein the plate-shaped portion 6a is comprised between the two legs 6b of the C-section.

[0058] Advantageously, each T-shaped upright 4 comprises a first plate-shaped section 4a orthogonal to a second plate-shaped section 4b and arranged in a central zone 4c of the second plate-shaped section 4b. The first plate-shaped section 4a comprises a first planar face 41a and a second planar face 42a opposite the first planar face 41a. In this way, the first end 60a of the connecting element 6 can be reversibly connected to the first plate-shaped section 4a of the T-section 4, at the first planar face 41a.

[0059] As mentioned above, the first end 60a of the connecting element 6 coincides with the first end 60a of the plate-shaped portion 6a of the same connecting element 6.

[0060] The reversible connection is achieved by means of a plurality of bolts 50 that are housed in holes 51, 52 created in the first plate-shaped section 4a and at the first end 60a of the connecting element 6.

[0061] Furthermore, each plate-shaped projection 3 comprises a first planar face 3a and a second planar face 3b opposite the first planar face 3a. The second end 60b of the connecting element 6 can thus be reversibly connected to the first planar face 3a of the plate-shaped projection 3 with which the connecting element 6 is combined. As mentioned above, the second end 60b of the connecting element 6 coincides with the second end 60b of the plate-shaped portion 6a of the same connecting element 6. The reversible connection is achieved by a plurality of bolts 70 that are housed in holes 71, 72 created in the plate-shaped projection 3 and in the second end 60b of the connecting element 6.

[0062] Furthermore, according to a preferred solution, the reversible connecting means 5 further comprise a second connecting element 6’. Such a second connecting element 6’ is identical to the connecting element 6, but for the sake of clarity, the features associated with such a second connecting element 6’ shall, in what follows, be numbered identically to that used for the connecting element 6, but with the addition of a single quotation mark. The first end 60a’ of the second connecting element 6’ can be reversibly connected to the first plate-shaped section 4a of the T-section 4, on the second planar face 42a thereof, while the second end 60b’ of the second connecting element 6’ can be reversibly connected to the second planar face 3b of the plate-shaped projection 3. Thus, the two connecting elements 6 and 6’ are reversibly mounted on the T-shaped post 4 and the collar 2, but opposite each other with respect to the projection 3. Clearly, the second connecting element 6’ also comprises a plate-shaped portion 6a’, which in turn comprises the first end 60a’ mentioned above and the second end 60b’ mentioned above. In practice, as also mentioned above, the first end 60a’ and the second end 60b’ of the second connecting element 6’ will also mean the first end 60a’ and second end 60b’ of the plate-shaped portion 6a’ of the second connecting element 6’.

[0063] The reversible connection of the second connection element 6’ with the T-shaped upright 4 and the plate-shaped projection 3 is achieved by means of the same plurality of bolts 50 and 70.

[0064] In particular, as best shown in Figure 2C, the first plate-shaped section 4a and the plate-shaped projection 3 lie substantially in the same vertical plane V, at least when the T-shaped strut is mounted with the plate-shaped projection 3. In this way, the two connecting elements 6 and 6’ will be mounted in a symmetrical position with respect to the vertical plane V. This occurs for each T-shaped strut 4 and each plate-shaped projection 3.

[0065] According to the embodiment shown herein, each T-shaped upright 4 comprises a support foot 20 on the foundation 101.

[0066] In the figures shown, post 100 is polygonal; however, in other embodiments, post 100 may also have a truncated conical shape without straying from the scope of protection of the present invention. In this case, collar 2 will not be cylindrical, but will have a truncated conical shape with the same angle as post 100 to which it will be coupled.

[0067] In the embodiment described in this document, three of the six T-shaped uprights described above have a different height from the remaining three T-shaped uprights.

[0068] In any case, in the case of a number of uprights greater than two, at least one of said at least two uprights has a different height from another upright of said at least two uprights.

[0069] Finally, as shown in Figure 5, structure 1 comprises a reinforcing rod 30 that can be reversibly connected with two connecting elements 6 combined with two different collars 2, 2’ arranged at different heights and, in turn, combined with the same T-shaped upright 4.

Claims (15)

1. CLAIMS 1. A structure (1) for supporting at least one telecommunications station comprising a support pole (100) that can be anchored to a foundation (101), said structure (1) comprising: - at least one collar (2), provided with at least one plate-shaped projection (3) reversibly retainable on said support post (100); and - at least one upright (4) directly or indirectly retainable in said foundation (101) and integrally combinable with said at least one collar (2) in said at least one plate-shaped projection (3); said structure being characterized in that said at least one upright (4) comprises a T-section, and in that said structure comprises reversible connection means (5) for reversibly connecting said at least one T-shaped upright (4) and said at least one collar (2) to said at least one plate-shaped projection (3). 2. The structure according to claim 1, characterized in that said reversible connection means (5) comprise at least one connection element (6) provided with a plate-shaped portion (6a), said plate-shaped portion (6a) comprising a first end (60a) that can be reversibly connected to said T-section (4) and a second end (60b) that can be reversibly connected to said at least one plate-shaped projection (3). 3. The structure according to claim 2, characterized in that said at least one connecting element (6) comprises a C-section, wherein said plate-shaped portion (6a) is comprised between two legs (6b) of said C-section. 4. The structure according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said at least one T-shaped upright (4) comprises a first plate-shaped section (4a) orthogonal to a second plate-shaped section (4b) and arranged in a central area (4c) of said second plate-shaped section (4b), said first plate-shaped section (4a) comprising a first planar face (41a) and a second planar face (42a) opposite said first planar face, wherein said first end (60a) of said at least one connecting element (6) can be reversibly connected to said first plate-shaped section (4a) of said T-section (4), on said first planar face (41a). 5. The structure according to claim 4, characterized in that said plate-shaped projection (3) comprises a first planar face (3a) and a second planar face (3b) opposite said first planar face (3a), said second end (60b) of said at least one connecting element (6) being reversibly connected to said first planar face (3a) of said plate-shaped projection (3). 6. The structure according to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that said reversible connection means (5) further comprise a second connection element (6’), wherein said first end (60a’) of said at least one second connection element (6’) can be reversibly connected to said first plate-shaped section (4a) of said T-section (4), on said second planar face (42a), and said second end (60b’) of said second connection element (6’) can be reversibly connected to said second planar face (3b) of said plate-shaped projection (3). 7. The structure according to one or more of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that said first plate-shaped section (4b) of said at least one T-shaped upright (4) and said plate-shaped projection (3) of said at least one collar (2) rest substantially in the same vertical plane (V), at least when said structure is assembled. 8. The structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one upright comprises at least one support foot in said foundation (101). 9. The structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said post is of a polygonal or truncated conical type. 10. The structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the uprights are at least two in number, preferably six in number, and are arranged angularly and uniformly around said support post. 11. The structure according to claim 10, characterized in that at least one of said at least two uprights has a different height from the other upright of said at least two uprights. 12. The structure according to claim 11, characterized in that three uprights of said six T-shaped uprights have a different height from the remaining three uprights of said six T-shaped uprights. 13. The structure according to one or more of claims 2 to 12, characterized by comprising at least two collars (2, 2’) arranged at different heights along said at least one post (100), and by comprising at least one reinforcing rod (30) that can be reversibly connected between two connecting elements (6) combined with said at least one T-shaped upright and said two collars (2, 2’) arranged at different heights. 14. The structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one collar (2) comprises two semicircular elements (31, 32) and approximation and tightening means (33) for bringing said two semicircular elements (31, 32) closer together and firmly tightening them on said support post (100). 15. The structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one plate-shaped projection (3) is connected to said at least one collar (2) by welding.