Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for erection of a mast ( 1 ), in particular of a radio mast for a mobile radio network, comprising the following steps: production of a foundation body ( 14 ) with a mast holder ( 7 ) incorporated in it; mounting of the mast ( 1 ) on the mast holder ( 7 ); wherein the production of the foundation body ( 14 ) is carried out separately from an erection location of the mast ( 1 ), the foundation body ( 14 ) is transported to the erection location, and the foundation body ( 14 ) is arranged at the erection location. The invention also relates to a foundation body ( 14 ) such as this and to a method for production of a foundation body ( 14 ) such as this.

Description:
[0001]    This application is which claims benefit of Serial No. 10-2008-020847.7, filed 25 Apr. 2008 in Germany and which application(s) are incorporated herein by reference. To the extent appropriate, a claim of priority is made to each of the above disclosed applications. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a method for erection of a mast, in particular of a radio mast for a mobile radio network, to a method for production of a foundation body for a mast such as this, and to a foundation body such as this. 
         [0003]    Modern communication systems, for example mobile radio networks, frequently require a multiplicity of masts on which, for example, transmitting and receiving devices are mounted. Because of reservations relating to possible health risks caused by electromagnetic radiation from mobile radio networks, there is a difficulty in some countries of obtaining licenses for masts for radio and/or transmission installations which require licensing and in whose licensing proceedings the public are involved. In some countries, licensing proceedings are stipulated which involve the public only for masts which exceed a specific height, for example 20 m. Shorter masts, which have a height of 12 m to 15 m, for example, may in contrast be erected without a licensing procedure in which the public are involved. In particular but not exclusively for masts such as these, a better method is required for erection of such masts. 
         [0004]    In the prior art, it is normal practice to dig a hole into the ground at the erection location of the mast, with the hole having a depth, for example, of about 3 m to 5 m. A mast holder is partially lowered into the borehole, and the borehole is then filled with concrete. This results in the mast holder being provided with a concrete foundation which is permanently anchored in the ground. The mast holder is generally in the form of a hollow tube or an at least partially hollow tube with a holding flange. The hollow tube has one or more branches which project out of the cast foundation. In order to pass connecting cables and/or supply cables to the mast through the mast holder, the foundation is dug out at the side to provide access to the branches of the hollow tube of the mast holder. Together with the hollow tube, these therefore represent cabling cutouts in the foundation that has been produced. Supply and/or connecting cables can be passed to the mast through these cutouts, with the mast being mounted, preferably screwed, on the holding flange of the mast holder by means of a connecting flange. 
         [0005]    The method according to the prior art that has just been described has the disadvantage that a multiplicity of process steps must be carried out at the erection location, and these cannot be carried out without gaps in the timing. A large amount of logistic transport effort is involved, since the individual equipment items and/or building materials must be transported to the erection location by different vehicles and at different times. A time interval of at least four days is required for an optimum procedure for erection of a mast at an erection location, for example adjacent to a road. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The invention is based on the object of providing a method for erection of a mast as well as a method for production of a better foundation body, as well as a foundation body such as this, by means of which it is possible to reduce the time required to erect a mast at the erection location. 
         [0007]    In order to solve the technical problem, a foundation body can be produced completely away from the mast erection location. It is then transported in a complete form to the erection location, and is arranged there. The mast is then attached to the mast holder on the foundation body, and the devices located on the mast are connected by connecting and/or supply cables. In particular, a method is proposed for erection of a mast, in particular of a radio mast for a mobile radio network, which comprises the following steps: production of a foundation body with a mast holder incorporated in it; mounting of the mast on the mast holder; wherein the production of the foundation body is carried out separately from the erection location of the mast, the foundation body is transported to the erection location, and the foundation body is arranged at the erection location. A method which comprises the following steps is proposed for production of a transportable foundation body such as this: production or provision of a shell; creation of reinforcement composed of steel; provision of a mast holder; provision of concrete and casting the concrete in the shell, with the reinforcement and the mast holder being arranged at least partially in the shell while the concrete is being cast, such that this results in a foundation body in which the reinforcement and the mast holder are mounted; and removal of the foundation body from the shell. This therefore results in a foundation body for a mast, in particular for a mast for a mobile radio network, which is produced from concrete and comprises a mast holder which is cast in the concrete. This provides the capability to erect a mast in a single continuous process. If a suitable transport vehicle is chosen which comprises and transports both the foundation body, the mast as well as tools for raising and lowering the foundation body and for erection of the mast, a mast can be erected and connected in a very short time, with the erection location being travelled to only once. 
         [0008]    The foundation body is preferably arranged in the ground. In one preferred embodiment, provision is therefore additionally made for a pit to be dug out at the erection location, into which the foundation body is introduced and/or is arranged. In addition, the pit is preferably filled again to such an extent that the foundation body is surrounded with earth. The digging of a pit at the erection location of the mast; the arrangement of the foundation body at the erection location in the pit and, if appropriate, the filling of the pit can also be carried out in one process with the normal method steps for erection of a mast, that is to say without any need to travel to the erection location again. The foundation body and the mast are therefore preferably transported by a vehicle which has or transports tools which are also suitable for digging out the pit, in addition to or as an alternative to the raising and lowering of the foundation body. To a person skilled in the art, it is also self-evident that different tools can be carried for the individual process steps. 
         [0009]    In order to allow the devices arranged on the mast to be connected to the supply cable, the foundation body is produced with cabling cutouts. The shell is therefore preferably created such that cabling cutouts result in the foundation body, via which a connection can be made between the mast and the supply lines or supply cables. In the following text, the expression supply cable covers all types of lines and cables which are required for connection of a mast. Inter alia, these may include electrical lines for a power supply, electrical or optical data lines for connection to one or more communication networks, grounding and/or lightening conductor lines, etc. In some embodiments, all or some of the cabling cutouts are incorporated in the foundation body by means of holes. The cabling cutouts are intended for passing supply cables, which are laid underneath ground level at the erection location, through the foundation body and/or to the mast. Depending on the use of the mast, functional devices and/or units are mounted on it. If, for example, the mast is a transmission and reception mast for a radio network, for example a mobile radio telephone network, then transmitting and receiving antennas are arranged on the mast. 
         [0010]    In order to evaluate the received signals and/or to provide the signals required for transmission, additional transmission and reception installations are generally required, and are in general not mounted on the mast. As well as distribution and/or connection installations, these are advantageously accommodated in a housing which is arranged above ground level, for easy accessibility. One preferred embodiment of the foundation body is therefore produced for one embodiment of the invention in such a way that the foundation body comprises a housing foundation for a housing for holding distribution and/or connection and/or transmission and/or reception installations, with its upper edge preferably ending above ground level of the foundation body is arranged in the pit. The housing foundation is therefore integrated integrally in the foundation body, and projects out of an upper face of the foundation body, on which the mast holder is arranged, above this upper face of the foundation body. It is therefore possible to ensure that the housing is protected against moisture in the terrain in which the mast is erected. The upper edge of the housing foundation is preferably likewise arranged above the mast holder. 
         [0011]    In order to carry out cabling work, the cabling cutouts are therefore preferably incorporated in the foundation body such that the supply cables can be passed to at least one housing which is arranged on the housing foundation, and at least one connecting line or one connecting cable can be passed to the mast holder from the housing which is arranged on the housing foundation. In the following text, the expression connecting cables refers to all lines and/or cables which are required and/or are suitable for connection of functional devices arranged on or in the mast, and are connected in a housing which is arranged specifically on the mast and in which these items are connected to supply cables, if necessary via connecting devices and/or preparation, conversion or similar devices. Connecting cables are therefore specific supply cables. While the following text refers to supply cables and connecting cables in one context, then these should be regarded as supply cables which make a connection to a communication network or other supply network. However, connecting cables are only those which connect functional devices on or in the mast. 
         [0012]    It is particularly preferable to be able to carry out the cabling for the devices using cables which are routed in the interior of the mast and of the mast holder. One preferred embodiment of the invention therefore provides that, during production of the foundation body, a mast holder which comprises an at least partially hollow tube with a holding flange is cast in concrete, so that the holding flange projects out of the foundation body or ends flush with it. The at least partially hollow tube is preferably integrated in the foundation body such that the at least partially hollow tube is connected to the cabling cutouts. 
         [0013]    In order to provide the capability to operate the mast quickly and to reduce the installation time at the erection location, one preferred embodiment provides that the housing for holding the distribution and/or connection and/or transmission and/or reception installations is mounted on the housing foundation on the foundation body, away from the erection location of the mast. In addition, the distribution and/or connection and/or transmission and/or reception installations are preferably arranged in the housing and the cables are connected in advance, before the foundation body is transported to the erection location. At least one connecting cable and/or one supply cable and/or at least one pulling aid are/is therefore preferably incorporated in the cabling cutouts and/or laid in them, in the foundation body, away from the erection location. 
         [0014]    The masts are preferably provided with the functional devices before being transported to the erection location. These devices are likewise completely cabled in advance, with the cabling preferably being conducted to a connecting panel which is located in the interior of the mast, and being accessible by an installation flap which can be opened and is formed in the mast. This flap is generally located about lm above a connecting flange or foot of the mast. At least in the lower part, this mast is preferably hollow so that a connecting cable can be passed through the lower part of the mast to the connecting panel, where it can be connected to the connecting panel. In one particularly preferred embodiment, this connecting cable is laid in advance in the foundation body and is appropriately cut to length such that it can simply be introduced into the lower part of the mast at the erection location, can be routed to the connecting panel, and can be connected there. All that needs to be done at the erection location for the mast is therefore to dig a pit, whose base is flattened and if necessary made solid. The foundation body is then lowered into the pit. A supply cable which is routed to the mast is passed through a cabling cutout, if the supply cable has not already been drawn into the cabling cutout, and is laid from the foundation body to a connecting point for the supply cable. If supply cables that have already been laid are found in place, then these are introduced through the cabling cutouts and, in one preferred embodiment, are connected in the appliance housing to connecting panels located there. Connecting cables which are passed through cabling cutouts in the foundation body from the housing and emerge from the hollow mast holder are introduced into a lower part of the mast and are routed to a connecting panel in the interior of the mast, where they are connected to a connecting panel. The mast preferably has a connecting flange and is connected to the mast holder. A holding flange and a connecting flange are therefore preferably connected to one another, preferably by screw connections. 
         [0015]    During erection, the mast can first of all be connected to the mast holder, and the connecting cables can then be connected to the connecting panel in the interior of the mast. However, the connecting cable is preferably introduced into the mast before the mast is mounted on the mast holder. Only in embodiments in which no prior cabling has been installed in the foundation body before transportation to the erection location will cabling in some cases also be necessary only after erection of the mast. 
         [0016]    The foundation body is preferably arranged in the pit such that the holding flange is arranged underneath of an area surrounding the pit. This makes it possible to fill the pit, once the connecting flange of the mast has been connected to the holding flange, such that the connecting point between the holding flange and the connecting flange is arranged in the ground underneath once the pit has been filled. This makes it considerably more difficult to manipulate the attachment of the mast to the mast holder. Furthermore, the connection in the ground is generally better protected against corrosion. 
         [0017]    In order to make it easier to handle the foundation body during transportation, the foundation body is preferably produced with attachment elements. By way of example, these may be holding eyes that are cast in the foundation body. 
         [0018]    In order to provide the foundation body with the necessary robustness, it is preferably provided with steel reinforcement. Both the mast holder and, for example, the attachment elements can be attached to this steel reinforcement before the foundation body is concreted in. 
         [0019]    In order to ensure that forces applied to the mast holder from the mast are dissipated well into the foundation body, the mast holder is provided with anchors in one preferred embodiment. This allows the forces to be introduced better into the foundation body so that it requires less depth in order to be able to absorb the same lateral forces, acting on the mast, from the mast holder. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    The invention will be explained in more detail in the following text with reference to preferred embodiments, in which: 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic illustration of radio mast erection according to the prior art; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  shows a section view of a first embodiment of a foundation body; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  shows a schematic plan view of a foundation body as shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  shows a schematic section view through a further preferred foundation body; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  shows a schematic plan view of the foundation body shown in  FIG. 4 ; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  shows a schematic illustration of one preferred foundation body with a mast mounted on it, as well as a housing for holding connection and/or transmitting and receiving devices. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0027]      FIG. 1  shows, schematically, an anchorage for a mast  1  in the ground  2 , according to the prior art. Just one mast foot  3  of the mast  1  is shown, with a connecting flange  4 . The rest of the mast  1  is not shown, for simplicity reasons. The connecting flange  4  is connected via screw connections  5  to a holding flange  6  for a mast holder  7 . The mast holder  7  has at least one partially hollow tube  8 , from which lateral tubes  9  extend out sideways, which are likewise hollow and are connected to the hollow part of the tube  8 . 
         [0028]    The tube  8  of the mast holder  7  is cast in concrete  10 , with which a borehole  11  is filled. The mast holder  7  and the lateral tubes  9  are matched to the diameter of the borehole  11  such that they extend from it into the ground  2 . This ensures that a supply cable  12  which has been laid in the ground  2  and is indicated by means of a dashed-dotted line can be passed through at least one of the lateral tubes  9  into the hollow part of the tube  8 , that is to say into the interior of the mast holder  7 , and through it into the mast  1  for connection of devices (not illustrated) which are arranged on the mast  1 . 
         [0029]    The erection of a mast  1  according to the prior art, as is illustrated schematically in  FIG. 1 , requires a multiplicity of processes which can be carried out successively in time, and not immediately subsequently, at the erection location. First of all, the borehole  11  is driven into the ground  2 . The mast holder  7  is then arranged in the borehole. This is done in such a way that the lateral tubes  9  are adjacent to the ground  2 , and/or penetrate into it, and the process of filling the borehole  11  with concrete does not close the openings  13  of the lateral tubes  9 . In order to increase the robustness, steel reinforcement can be arranged in the borehole before it is filled with concrete, although this is not illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The concrete must harden at the erection location before further process steps can be carried out. The ground is then dug up in order to route the supply cable  12  to the mast holder  7 . The mast can then be mounted on the mast holder  7 , and the supply cable  12  can be connected to the devices on the mast  1 . 
         [0030]    If the mast  1  is a mast for a mobile radio network, then the devices arranged on the mast  1  are generally transmitting antennas and receiving antennas. The received and transmitted signals must be processed in transmission and reception installations and appliances, which are generally arranged in an appliance housing or appliance cabinet adjacent to the mast. The normal practice in the prior art is therefore to concrete in a foundation (not illustrated) for a housing such as this or for a cabinet such as this adjacent to the mast holder. 
         [0031]    Overall, the process of erection of a radio mast using the method from the prior art generally lasts for at least four working days, and generally requires a number of journeys by different vehicles to the erection location. 
         [0032]      FIG. 2  shows a schematic section view through a foundation body  14  which is transported having been completely prefabricated to the erection location. The same technical features are provided with identical reference symbols in all the figures. A mast holder  7  is concreted into the foundation body  14 , which is preferably produced from concrete, and this mast holder  7  is similar to that shown in  FIG. 1 . The mast holder  7  likewise has an at least partially hollow tube  8  and possibly lateral tubes  9 . Cabling cutouts  15  are formed adjacent to openings  13  in the lateral tubes  9  and openings in the tube  8  of the mast holder  7 , and these are also referred to as cable tubes. In one preferred embodiment, the mast holder  7  is provided with a holding flange  6 , which is supported against the tube  8  of the mast holder  7  by means of brackets  16 . The holding flange  6  has through-holes  19  (which can be seen in the plan view of the foundation body  14  from  FIG. 2 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 ), through which screws or other connecting elements  26  can be passed, in order to connect a connecting flange of a mast (not shown) to the holding flange  6 . For this purpose, the holding flange  6  projects out of the concrete of the foundation body  14 . In the illustrated embodiment, the holding flange  6  is arranged in a depression  17  in the foundation body  14 , which depression  17  can be filled with earth once the mast has been attached to the mast holder  7 , in such a way that a connecting point of the mast to the mast holder  7  and the foundation body  14  cannot be seen during operation, but is located underground level. 
         [0033]    In order to keep the depth  29  of the foundation body  14  as small as possible and nevertheless to allow the lateral forces acting on a mast to be introduced via the mast holder  7  into the foundation body  14 , anchors  18  are provided on the tube  8  of the mast holder  7  and extend at the side, for example curved, from the tube  8  of the mast holder  7  into the foundation body  14 . These can be connected to reinforcement or can engage in reinforcement, which is produced from steel mesh and is not illustrated here. 
         [0034]      FIG. 3  shows a plan view of the foundation body  14  from  FIG. 2 . The holding flange  6  can be seen well centrally, with the through-holes  19  for holding attachment elements, preferably screws, for attachment of a connecting flange of a mast to the holding flange  6 . In the illustrated embodiment, the cabling cutouts  15  each extend on the one hand transversely through the foundation body  14 . A supply cable can therefore be routed to the mast and away from it from all four directions. 
         [0035]    Cables or pulling aids are particularly advantageously already laid in advance in the cabling cutouts  15 , before the foundation body  14  is moved to the erection location. 
         [0036]      FIG. 4  shows a section view through a further embodiment of a foundation body  14 . This differs from the foundation body  14  shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  mainly by a housing foundation  20  being integrated in the foundation body  14 . This housing foundation  20  projects from an upper face  30  of the foundation body  14 . Furthermore, the cabling cutouts  15  are designed such that supply cables and connecting cables can be passed in and/or out through the housing foundation  20 . The housing foundation is also designed such that an upper edge  31  of the housing foundation  20  is arranged above the holding flange  6  when the foundation body is lowered at the erection location. Once the mast has been mounted on it, the holding flange can therefore be arranged under ground level, that is to say it can be covered with earth, and the housing foundation  20  can still project above ground level. 
         [0037]      FIG. 5  shows a schematic plan view of the foundation body shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 6  schematically illustrates a foundation body  14  with a housing  21  arranged on it in order to hold transmission and/or reception and/or connection and/or distribution installations and/or appliances. The housing  21  is preferably a double-walled housing, possibly with a cooling arrangement, as is known from the prior art, that is already mounted on the housing foundation  20  of the foundation body  14  away from an erection location, and is preferably cabled in advance. In particular, a connecting cable  22  is preferably passed from the housing  21  through the cabling cutouts  15  into the tube  8  of the mast holder  7 , and is cut to length such that it can be inserted into the interior of the mast  1  during its erection, and can be routed in the interior of the mast  1  as far as a connecting panel  23 . The connecting panel  23  is located in the lower part of the mast  1  at a height of about 1 m, and is accessible through an installation flap  24 . The devices  25  which, for example, may be transmitting and/or receiving antennas for a mobile radio network, are already attached to the mast  1  and have been cabled in advance, that is to say likewise connected to the connecting panel  23 . Alternatively, it is possible to provide for the connecting cable  22  to be connected to the connecting panel  23  or, in other embodiments, to be connected directly to the devices  25 , and to be cut to length such that, during erection of the mast  1 , it can be passed through the tube  8  of the mast holder  7  and the cabling cutouts  15  into the housing  21 , in order to be connected there. 
         [0039]    Furthermore, supply cables  12  can be passed into and out of the housing  21  through the cabling cutouts  15 . Alternatively, supply and/or connecting cables can also be passed through the foundation body  14  through the supply cutout  15 . These supply and connecting cables can also be transported with the housing  21  to the erection location, having already been cabled in the foundation body  14 . 
         [0040]    In order to allow a mast to be erected in a very short time, the foundation body  14  which has already been cabled and is provided with the housing  21  is transported together with the mast  1 , which has already been cabled and has been provided with the devices  25 , to the erection location by means of a vehicle in the form of a digger/crane apparatus. First of all, this digs out a pit at the erection location. A lower face of the pit is then flattened and if necessary solidified. The foundation body  14  is then lowered into the pit. For example, this is done in such a way that an upper face  30  of the foundation body is at the same level as the ground level  28 , except for the depression  17  in which the mast holder  7  is arranged, and except for the housing foundation  20 . Supply cables  12  are then routed to the housing  21  and away from it, and are connected. The connecting cable  22 , which has already been laid in advance, is inserted into the mast  1  during its erection, and is passed through to the connecting panel  23 , where the connecting cable  22  is connected, before or after connection of the connecting flange  4 , to the holding flange  6 , by means of connecting elements  26 , which are preferably in the form of screws. A connecting point  27  of the mast  1  to the mast holder  7  is then covered with earth. The rest of the pit around the foundation body  14  is likewise filled. This completes the erection of the mast  1 . The tasks that have to be carried out to erect the mast  1  can be carried out continuously, one after the other, and with just one journey to the erection location. 
         [0041]    To do this, the foundation body and the mast must be prefabricated, and they are preferably transported to the erection location having already been cabled. The foundation body is for this purpose preferably manufactured in a factory by arranging reinforcement and the mast holder, which preferably has anchors, in a shell, which is then filled with concrete. The shell is preferably designed such that cabling cutouts are formed in the foundation body. Furthermore, the shell is preferably designed such that a housing foundation is formed integrally. In one preferred embodiment, the cabling cutouts extend to this housing foundation. This makes it possible to mount the housing for holding transmission and/or reception installations, distribution installations and/or the like on the housing foundation in the factory, and to install the stated installations and to cable them in advance, so that a connecting cable is passed from the housing through the cabling cutouts into the interior of the mast holder, and projects from it. Alternatively or additionally, a pulling aid or other cables can be laid in advance. 
         [0042]    During production, attachment elements, for example eyes, are preferably inserted in the foundation bodies in such a way that cables and/or crane hooks can be fitted to them in order to make it easier to transport the foundation body. 
         [0043]    The described embodiments just represent exemplary embodiments. It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the features described in conjunction with the individual exemplary embodiments can be used in any desired combination in order to implement the invention. 
       LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 
       [0000]    
       
           1  Mast 
           2  Ground 
           3  Mast foot 
           4  Connecting flange 
           5  Screw connections 
           6  Holding flange 
           7  Mast holder 
           8  Tube 
           9  Lateral tubes 
           10  Concrete 
           11  Borehole 
           12  Supply cable 
           13  Openings 
           14  Foundation 
           15  Cabling cutouts 
           16  Bracket 
           17  Depression 
           18  Anchor 
           19  Through-holes 
           20  Housing foundation 
           21  Housing 
           22  Connecting cable 
           23  Connecting panel 
           24  Installation flap 
           25  Devices 
           26  Connecting elements 
           27  Connecting point 
           28  Ground level 
           29  Depth 
           30  Upper face 
           31  Upper edge