Abstract:
A service line distribution base ( 10 ) comprises a ground anchor ( 18 ) having an upstanding cruciform portion adapted to extend into the ground. A cabinet ( 20 ) suited to support a utility pole ( 14 ) extends upwardly from the ground anchor ( 18 ). The cabinet ( 20 ) defines and internal space for receiving buried wire conduits ( 28 ) incorporated to the cruciform ground anchor ( 18 ). The cruciform shape of the ground anchor ( 18 ) advantageously permits to incorporate a greater number of wire conduits ( 28 ) into the base of a utility pole as compared to conventional concrete bases.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This is a continuation of International Patent Application No. PCT/CA2004/001586 filed Aug. 31, 2004, which claims benefit of Canadian Patent Application No. 2,449,194 filed on Nov. 12, 2003. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention generally relates to a service line distribution base suited for supporting utility poles of the type used to support overhead lines in power transmission and in external lighting, such as street, highway and traffic lighting. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Utility poles, such as traffic lights, street lights and those used to support power transmission lines are typically mounted on a concrete base or foundation partly buried in the soil. Threaded rods extend vertically upwardly from the exposed top surface of the concrete base for engagement in corresponding holes or slots defined in a mounting flange provided at the bottom end of the utility pole. Nuts are threadably engaged on the threaded rods for securing the pole on the concrete base. 
   A wire conduit is typically embedded in the concrete base for allowing buried wires to be connected to above-ground equipment, such as lighting fixtures mounted at the top of the utility pole. The number of wire conduits that can be embedded in the concrete base is significantly limited by the structural weakening of the concrete base each time a new conduit is added. Heretofore, the number of wire conduits extending upwardly through a concrete base of a utility pole has been generally limited to four conduits at most. It would be possible to incorporate more wire conduits in the concrete base by increasing the size thereof but this solution is not suitable in that it would result in oversized mass of concrete about the base of each pole. In addition of being unaesthetic, it would significantly increase the cost associated with the installation of the poles. 
   With the ever increasing complexity of the power transmission and telecommunication network, there is a need for a new service line distribution base that could accommodate a greater number of wire conduits in a confine space while still offering proper support for utility poles and the like. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide a new base adapted to accommodate a greater number of wire conduits while still providing proper support for anchoring a utility pole in the ground. 
   It is also an aim of the present invention to provide an underground base comprising a ground anchoring member having an upstanding cruciform portion. 
   Therefore, in accordance with a general aspect of the present invention, there is provided a utility pole base comprising a ground anchor having an upstanding cruciform portion adapted to extend into the ground, an above-ground portion defining an internal chamber adapted to house electric wires, said above-ground portion being adapted to support a utility pole. 
   In accordance with a further general aspect of the present invention, there is provided a utility pole comprising an underground anchor, said underground anchor having an upstaging portion of cruciform cross-section, a cabinet extending axially from said underground anchor and defining an internal chamber for housing distribution equipment, said internal chamber having a bottom opening for receiving wires projecting upwardly from the underground anchor, and a pole segment extending axially upwardly from said cabinet. 
   In accordance with a still further general aspect of the present invention, there is provided an underground base for supporting a service line receiving member, comprising an anchor member having an upstanding portion of cruciform cross-section adapted to be buried into the ground, said anchor member having a top end portion adapted to project out of the ground, said top end portion being provided with mounting points for allowing a service line receiving member to be mounted on top of said anchor member, said mounting points being distributed on an imaginary perimeter bounding an axially open space for allowing buried wire conduits to extend into the service line receiving member once mounted onto the anchor member. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of a utility pole mounted to a service line distribution base in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the service line distribution base; 
       FIG. 3  is a partly exploded isometric view of the service line distribution base; 
       FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of a ground anchoring portion of the service line distribution base shown in  FIG. 3  once installed in the ground with the wire conduits extending upwardly through the anchoring portion; 
       FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the anchoring portion installed in the ground; 
       FIG. 6  is a partially exploded perspective view of the ground anchoring portion of the service distribution base; 
       FIG. 7  is a partially exploded perspective view of a distribution cabinet forming part of the service line distribution base; and 
       FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of the core components of the distribution cabinet shown in  FIG. 7 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  shows one possible utilization of a preferred embodiment of a service line distribution base  10  anchored in the ground for supporting a utility pole  12 . In the illustrated example, the utility pole  12  is provided in the form of a lamp post including a hollow pole member  14  having a lighting fixture  16  attached at an upper end thereof. It is understood that other type of structures or equipment could be mounted on the service line distribution base  10 . For instance, a medium voltage network pole, a traffic light, a bollard fixture or even a decorative cap. 
   As will be seen hereafter, the service line distribution base  10  advantageously provides for partial or complete burial of service lines  18 , including power transmission lines and telecommunication lines, such as telephone lines and cable television lines. The base  10  also advantageously provides for the integration of a distribution system at the bottom of a utility pole, which distribution system can be used by power and telecommunication utilities to connect subscribers to the utility lines concealed in the pole and in the ground. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the base  10  generally comprises a ground anchoring member  18  and a distribution cabinet  20 . The anchoring member  18  is buried in the ground and the distribution cabinet  20  is bolted on top on the anchoring member  18  at ground level. Alternatively, the cabinet  20  could be an integral extension of the anchoring member  18 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 6 , the ground anchoring member  18  is cruciform and includes a main metal plate  22  on opposed sides of which are symmetrically arranged a pair of identical metal plates  24 . The metal plates  24  are welded to opposed sides of the main plate  22  and extend in a same central normal plane relative to the main plate  22 . Each plate  24  corresponds to a half-plate section of the main plate  22 . Notches or cutouts  26  are defined in the distal side edges of the plates  22  and  24 . The cutouts  26  provides for easy placement of the wire conduits  28 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The cutouts  26  also greatly contribute to increase the number of wire conduits that can be incorporated into the base  10  by allowing the same to have a smaller angle of insertion. A central oblong slot  30  is also defined in the main plate  22  for allowing wire conduits  28  to pass from one side of the cruciform anchoring member  18  to the other, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Likewise, half-slot sections are defined in the confronting side edges of the plates  24  to form a second central oblong slots  32  ( FIG. 6 ) intersecting the first oblong slot  30  centrally in a plane perpendicular to the main plate  22 . Holes  34  are defined in the upper half portion of the plates for allowing the wire conduits to be attached to the ground anchoring member with attachment straps (not shown), such as wires, cables, filaments and the like. 
   As shown in  FIG. 6 , a flat horizontal strengthening member  36  preferably extends diagonally between the bottom ends of each pair of adjacent segment of the cruciform anchoring member  18 . 
   Mounting plates  38  are welded on the top end edges of each plate  22 ,  24  at respective terminal distal ends thereof. Each plate  38  defines a central hole  40  for allowing the cabinet  20  to be secured in position on top of the anchoring member  18  by means of bolts and nuts, as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   A collar  42  is provided at the top end of the cruciform anchor  18  about the plates  22  and  24 . The collar  42  provides additional strength at the top end of the anchoring member  18  where the external forces exerted on the anchoring member  18  are the more important. Also, it confines the space through which the wire conduits project upwardly out of the ground. The collar  42  is preferably provided in the form of two half segments  42  and  42   b  welded to the distal side edges of the plates  22  an  24 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 6 , small notches  46  are defined along the proximal longitudinal side edges of the plates  24  in order to reduce the amount of welding that need to be made. Welding full height without notches is also contemplated. 
   Longitudinally extending flat plates (not shown) could be welded centrally all along the distal longitudinal side edges of the plates  22  and  24  to further increase the strength of the anchoring member  18 . Each wall segment of the cruciform anchoring member  18  would then have a T-shape. 
   Now referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the construction of the cabinet  20  will be described. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the core of the cabinet  20  comprises a central metal plate  48  having opposed central longitudinally extending top and bottom slits  50  and  52 . Top and bottom cross plates  54  and  56  ( FIG. 7 ) are respectively mounted in the top and bottom slits  50  and  52 . A hook or handle  58  is provided on the top edge of the top cross plate  54  for allowing the cabinet  20  to be lift once assembled. A generally circular top cover  60  is welded on top of the central plate  48  and the top cross plate  54 . The cover  60  defines a central circular hole  62  through which the handle  58  extends. The central hole  62  provides for electric wiring in the utility pole  12  ( FIG. 1 ) to extend into cabinet  20 . Four indentations  64  are uniformly distributed in the circumference of the cover  60  for receiving the top end of four corresponding longitudinally extending legs  66 ,  68 ,  70  and  72 . The legs  66 ,  68 ,  70  and  72  are substantially coextensive with the central plate  48 . Legs  66  and  68  are welded to oppose longitudinal side edges of the central plate  48  and in respective indentation in the cover  60 . Legs  70  and  72  are welded to the end edges of the top and bottom cross plates  54  and  56  and in respective indentations  64  in the cover  60 . Each leg  66 ,  68 ,  70  and  72  has a horizontally extending foot portion  74  defining a hole  76  for allowing the cabinet  20  to be bolted to the mounting plates  38  of the anchoring member  18  (see  FIG. 3 ). 
   Indentations  78  are preferably defined in the side edges of the central plate  48  to minimize the amount of welding that has to be done to secure the legs  66  and  68  to the plate  48 . 
   The opposed faces of the mounting plate  48  are used to mount distribution equipment, such as power bars, electrical connections, junction boxes, etc. . . . 
   According to a further embodiment of the cabinet, the central plate  48  can be omitted. Only form reinforced legs would be used. 
   Radial slots  80  are defined in the cover  60  to provide for the bolting of various structures on top of the cabinet  20 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 7 , two half-cover shields  82  are securely mounted on top of the cover  60 . Cutouts  84  are provided in the half-cover shields  82  to provide access to the central hole  62  and the radial slots  80 . Leg covering members  86  are provided for covering the legs  66  and  68 . Four access doors  88  are hingedly mounted between the legs  66 ,  68 ,  70  and  72 . Each door  88  is provided with its respective locking mechanism  90  so that only authorized person can have access to the interior of the cabinet  20 . Semi circular bandings  92  are mounted to the bottom of portion of the legs  66 ,  68 ,  70  and  80  below the doors  88  in order to completely close the cabinet  20 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , the assembly of the cabinet  20  is completed by installing semi-circular bumpers  94  at the base of the cabinet  20  once the same has been bolted to the anchoring member  18 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , the service line distribution base  10  is installed by first lowering the anchor member  18  in an excavated hole of about 1.8 m (6 ft) deep and 1.8 m (6 ft) in diameter with a compacted aggregate bottom  98  (90% MP) to 1.68 m (66 in.) below the predicted finished grade level. The top of the anchoring member  18  exceeds the finished grade predicted level by about 65 mm (2.5 in.). The next step consists of backfilling the hole using successive layers of compacted aggregate  100  from bottom, up to the beginning of the notches  26  at 500 mm (18 in.). It is recommended to verify that the anchoring member  18  is plumb (straight) while compacting. It is also recommended to backfill with well distributed aggregates of crushed stones 0-20 mm (0-¾ in.) compacted at 90%. A grounding rod (not shown) with a grounding cable (not shown) is then installed. Thereafter, the wire conduits  28  are installed for the various networks to be incorporated. The wire conduits  28  are preferably attached to the anchor member  18  with attachment straps (not shown) extending through the holes  34  in the anchor member  18 . Thereafter, the excavated hole is full with flowable concrete  102  up to between 125 to 150 mm (5 to 6 in.) below the finished grade. If the quantity of wire conduits exceeds  12 , it is recommended to reduce the size of aggregate in concrete to from 20 mm (¾ in.) to 12 mm (½ in.) to ensure a good penetration of the flowable concrete in the middle of the structure. Once the flowable concrete has solidified, finish landscaping to grade level. The distribution cabinet  20  is then bolted on top of the ground anchoring member  18 . Finally, the utility pole  12  is bolted on top of the cabinet  20 . The resulting structure is then ready for cabling and installation of distribution equipment by utilities.