Apparatus for dimensional gauging of angular members

The invention pertains to apparatus for gauging the relative relationship between angular construction members, and particularly pertains to apparatus for measuring stub angle supports used with electrical transmission towers. The apparatus consists of a pair of threaded shafts each including a radial shoulder and a nut wherein each shaft may be received within corresponding holes formed in the planar portions of the angular member to be measured. The shafts are axially bored to slidably receive an anchor shaft having a measuring tape anchor defined thereon, the anchors of the pair of anchor shafts adapted to engage for diagonal measurements, and keying means defined on the anchor shafts and the associated threaded shaft prevent rotation of these components when the tape anchor is disposed adjacent the threaded shaft end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The invention pertains to the field of measurement apparatus utilized to 
accurately locate and measure angular construction members, and is 
particularly suitable for locating and inspecting stub angle supports used 
with electrical power transmission towers. 
Transmission towers utilized to support high voltage electrical conductors 
range in height from 80 to 200 feet, and are primarily composed of 
interconnected steel angular construction elements, commonly referred to 
as "angle iron". Such transmission towers are commonly supported upon 
concrete foundations which include angle iron elements embedded into 
concrete having upper portions extending from the concrete foundation 
having holes defined in the flanges of the elements, such foundation 
elements commonly being known as "stub angles". Stub angles must be very 
accurately located relative to each other in order to insure proper 
support and installation of the transmission tower, and as it is now 
common to preassemble the majority of the tower prior to installation on 
the stub angles accurate positioning and installation of the stub angles 
is critical. 
In the past, various systems have been used to measure transmission tower 
stub angles, for instance, predetermined locations at the exterior 
intersection edge of the flanges are utilized as reference points and 
measurement tape anchor locations. Also, jigs have been used to hold the 
four stub angles constituting the support of a transmission tower during 
pouring of the concrete foundation, but such previous measurements or jigs 
have not been entirely satisfactory in that their use requires several 
workmen, and jigs cannot be universally employed in all installations. It 
is not uncommon for a stub angle to be misaligned during measurement or 
pouring of the concrete, requiring that the concrete be chipped away to 
release the misaligned stub angle and requiring expensive realigning and 
resetting procedures. 
It is an object of the invention to provide a gauging apparatus for 
structural angle members wherein angle members may be accurately 
positioned, and wherein use of the apparatus requires only a single 
operator. 
Another object of the invention is to provide dimensional gauging apparatus 
suitable for use in transmission tower stub angle installation which 
permits the stub angle to be accurately positioned prior to encasement 
within concrete, and wherein dimensioning solely by the use of a measuring 
tape and one-man operation is achieved. 
Yet another object of the invention is to provide dimensional gauging 
apparatus for constructional angle members which is of an economical 
construction, may be used by construction personnel with a minimum of 
special skills and minimizes personnel requirements. 
In the practice of the invention the dimensional apparatus consists of a 
pair of elongated threaded shafts used with each angle member or stub 
angle. By means of radial shoulders and nuts defined upon the threaded 
shafts the shafts may be firmly affixed within corresponding holes defined 
in the angle member flanges. Each of the threaded shafts is provided with 
an axial bore intersecting the shaft end within the included angle defined 
by the angle flanges and an anchor shaft slidably received within these 
bores each includes a clevis component whereby positioning of the anchor 
shafts permits the clevises of the pair to be interconnected by a 
combination pivot and measuring tape anchor pin. When the anchor is 
located a predetermined position relative to the associated angle member 
is achieved for measurement purposes. 
Key means are defined upon the anchor shafts associating with engaging key 
means on the threaded shaft wherein relative rotation between the threaded 
and anchor is prevented at the anchor shaft retracted position. The tape 
anchor pin may be received within the openings of the keyed clevis wherein 
accurate measurement between adjacent angle members is accomplished.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The use of the invention can be best understood from the illustration of 
FIG. 1 wherein a typical electrical transmission tower foundation 
arrangement is illustrated. Basically, the tower foundation consists of 
four stub angles 10 encased within concrete and accurately located in a 
rectangular orientation wherein the legs of the tower, not shown, may be 
attached to the stub angles by bolts extending through holes defined in 
the stub angle flanges and the flanges of the tower legs. 
Each of the stub angles is mounted within a hole 12 which may be as deep as 
thirty feet, and is approximately 3 feet in diameter. The majority of the 
hole is filled with concrete to the level 14 to form a foundation, FIG. 1, 
and an annular cage 18 of reinforcing steel is located within the hole 
prior to the introduction of the concrete to form the foundation. After 
the concrete has hardened a stub angle 10, consisting of a linear angle 
iron several feet in length, is inserted within the annular configuration 
of the reinforcement cage 18 and rests upon the foundation surface 14. The 
length of the stub angle 10, and the width of the flanges 20, will vary 
according to the size of the transmission tower to be supported and the 
tower specifications, and the flange widths may vary from three to twelve 
inches. A plurality of holes 22 are formed in the flanges of the stub 
angle in a standard pattern wherein corresponding holes appear in each 
flange of a common stub angle. 
Gauging apparatus in accord with the invention is affixed to the stub 
angles 10 prior to encasing the stub angles in concrete, and after the 
stub angles 10 have been located within the associated reinforcing cage 
the dimensional apparatus of the invention is mounted upon the stub angles 
and the stub angles are positioned as determined during the measurement 
process. The stub angles 10 are vertically positioned by means of leveling 
devices, and are horizontally positioned by utilizing the measurement 
apparatus of the invention and a measuring tape. When the stub angles are 
positioned as desired within each hole 12 the angles are wired and then 
tack welded to the reinforcement cage such that the pouring of the 
concrete 24 about the stub angle does not displace the stub angle from its 
desired position. The stub angle hole is substantially filled with 
concrete and as the reinforcing cage is now fully encased within concrete 
a high strength support for each stub angle 10 is achieved. 
The dimensional gauging apparatus in accord with the invention consists of 
a pair of elongated threaded shaft members 26 associated with each stub 
angle. Since the threaded shafts are identical it is only necessary to 
describe a single shaft as set forth below. 
The threaded shaft 26 is of cylindrical configuration having a diameter 
approximately one-sixteenth of an inch less than the diameter of the 
flange holes 22. The shaft includes a hex head 28, an inner end 30, and a 
radial collar 32 defining the abutment shoulder surface 34. The collar 32 
is welded or otherwise affixed to the shaft, and threads 36 extend between 
the collar and the end 30. Upon the threaded end of the shaft being 
inserted into the flange hole 22 the washer 38 and nut 40 threaded upon 
threads 36 firmly affixes the shaft to the associated flange 20. 
The shafts 26 are each provided with an axial cylindrical bore 42 which 
intersects the associated shaft end 30. The bore 42 closely slidably 
receives a cylindrical anchor shaft 44, and the shafts 44 include 
connection and measurement tape anchor means defined upon their outer 
ends. 
In the disclosed embodiment the connection means takes the form of a clevis 
wherein the connection means includes a cylindrical head 46 affixed to the 
end of the slide shaft 44 and on one head a clevis yoke 48 is formed 
consisting of a pair of spaced parallel ears 50 each having an aligned 
hole 52 defined therein having an axis perpendicularly disposed to the 
axis of the associated shaft. The other slide shaft head of the pair 
includes a clevis tongue 54 adapted to be closely received within the yoke 
48 and having a hole 56 defined therein for alignment with the holes 52 of 
the yoke 48. 
As will be apparent from FIG. 3, each clevis head 46 is provided with an 
axially extending projection in the form of a pin 58 which is radially 
spaced from the associated shaft 44. The end 30 of each threaded shaft is 
provided with a cylindrical hole 60, FIG. 2, adapted to closely receive 
the associated projection 58, and in this manner, the associated anchor 
shaft will be restrained against rotation relative to its threaded shaft 
when the anchor shaft is in a retracted position and the pin 58 is 
received within its hole 60. When assembling the threaded shafts to the 
stub angle flanges, the threaded shafts are angularly oriented such that 
when the associated pin 58 is received within its hole the axis of the 
holes 52 or 56 in the connection means will be vertically oriented, and 
such orientation assures proper measurement when determining distances 
between adjacent stub angles. 
Use of the dimensional gauging apparatus in accord with the invention will 
now be explained. It is to be appreciated that the gauging initially 
occurs as the four stub angles 10 constituting the support for a 
transmission tower are oriented prior to pouring of the concrete 
encasement 24. However, the following use of apparatus is also employed 
after the stub angles are encased in concrete to check the stub angle 
spacing for inspection purposes. 
A pair of threaded shafts 26 are located within corresponding flange holes 
22 of each stub angle constituting the support for a common transmission 
tower, eight shafts 26 in all. In each pair, one of the anchor shafts 44 
will include the yoke 48, while the other will include the tongue 54, and 
when orienting the threaded shafts within the flange holes 22 the anchor 
shafts are positioned to their retracted condition wherein the axes of the 
associated holes 52 and 56 will be vertically oriented when the projection 
58 is received within hole 60. Tightening of nut 40 will assure this 
orientation. 
Once the threaded rods have been tightened to each of the four stub angles 
10 measurements can now take place. If the initial measurement is between 
adjacent stub angles, this measurement is taken by placing the tape anchor 
pins 62 in the holes 52 and 56 while the associated anchor shaft 44 is in 
its retracted position preventing rotation thereof relative to the 
associated threaded shaft. The tape anchor pins 62 includes a cylindrical 
portion 64 for close reception within the holes 52 and 56, and the upper 
portion of the pin is flattened as at 66 to provide a surface against 
which the hook at the end of a tape measure may be placed. An anchor pin 
62 is located in threaded shaft 44, as in FIG. 5, and an accurate 
measurement A can be taken between adjacent stub angles 10' and 10". 
The next measurement step is the distance indicated at B, FIG. 6, and in 
this instance the associated anchor shafts will also be fully retracted so 
that a measurement between the pins 62 will be accurate in view of the 
vertical pin orientation. In a like manner measurement C is taken between 
stub angles 10'" and 10"", and measurement D is taken between stub angles 
10"" and 10'. 
To make the diagonal measurements E and F the anchor shafts 44 of the pair 
of threaded shafts associated with a common stub angle are extended until 
the axis of the openings 52 coincide with the axis of the clevis tongue 56 
wherein the tongue is located between the ears of the yoke 48. At this 
time an anchor pin 62 may be inserted through the openings 52 and 56, FIG. 
4, establishing a measurement point intermediate the flanges of the 
associated stub angle within the included angle defined by the flanges. In 
a like manner each of the four pairs of threaded shafts are adjusted 
wherein the slide shafts are extended and the anchor pins 62 inserted to 
interconnect the clevis portions of the associated threaded shaft pairs. 
The measurements E and F can then be taken by means of a tape measure, and 
whether the measurements are taken for initial installation or inspection 
purposes the accuracy is assured due to the firm and positive manner in 
which the anchor pins are held during measurement. 
When using the apparatus of the invention the specifications for stub angle 
installment will be in terms of those dimensions required when using the 
disclosed gauging apparatus, and as the location of the stub angle flange 
holes 22 is known the dimensions specified will result in the proper 
spacing of stub angles to permit the proper erection of the transmission 
tower. The aforedescribed measurements can readily be accomplished by one 
operator, and the use of the firmly anchored tape pins 62 for all 
measurements assures a higher degree of accuracy than was heretofore 
achievable by several operators using previous measuring techniques. 
It is appreciated that various modifications to the inventive concepts may 
be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit 
and scope of the invention.