Patent Publication Number: US-6668498-B2

Title: System and method for supporting guyed towers having increased load capacity and stability

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U. S. Utility Application entitled, “System And Method For Increasing The Load Capacity And Stability Of Guyed Towers,” having Ser. No. 09/736,828, filed Dec. 13, 2000, which is entirely incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to techniques for supporting wireless communication equipment and, in particular, to a system and method for supporting guyed towers having increased load capacity and stability, thereby enabling the guyed tower to support heavier or additional wireless communication equipment and/or other types of loads. 
     RELATED ART 
     The increase in wireless telecommunications traffic has resulted in a concomitant increase in the need for guyed mounted transmission equipment of all kinds. Not only do wireless service providers need to install equipment covering new geographic areas, competing services providers and others also need to install additional equipment covering the same or similar geographic areas. To date, the solution to the foregoing problems normally includes purchasing additional land or easements, applying for the necessary government permits and zoning clearances, and constructing a new guyed tower for new transmission equipment. 
     Purchasing land or easements, however, is becoming increasingly expensive, particularly in urban areas where the need for wireless telecommunications is greatest. Zoning regulations often limit the construction of new guyed towers in the most suitable locations. The expense and delay associated with the zoning process often are cost-prohibitive or so time consuming that construction of the new tower is not feasible. Even when zoning regulations can be satisfied and permits can be obtained, the service provider must then bear the burden and expense associated with the construction and the maintenance of the tower. 
     The guyed tower itself should be designed to support the weight of the telecommunications transmission equipment as well as the forces exerted on the guyed tower by environmental factors, such as wind and ice, for example. The equipment and the environmental factors produce forces known as bending moments that, in effect, may cause a single guyed tower to collapse if the tower is not designed for adequate stability. Traditionally, single guyed towers have been designed to withstand the forces expected from the equipment originally installed on the guyed tower. Very few single guyed towers are designed with sufficient stability to allow for the addition of new equipment. 
     Thus, there is a need for a method and a system for increasing the load capacity and stability of a single guyed tower to enable the guyed tower to support the weight of additional equipment as well as the environmental forces exerted on the guyed tower. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention overcomes the inadequacies and deficiencies of the prior art as discussed hereinbefore. Generally, the present invention provides a system and method for increasing the load capacity and stability of a guyed tower so that the guyed tower can better support wireless communication equipment and/or other types of loads. 
     In accordance with the present invention, wireless transmission equipment and/or other types of loads are secured to a guyed tower that is fixedly attached to a foundation. A pole tower is erected within a middle region of the guyed tower. This pole tower is fixedly attached to the guyed tower via a collar that is disposed about the guyed tower. Bending moments are transferred from the guyed tower to the pole tower via the collar that is disposed about the guyed tower. Thus, the presence of the pole tower within the middle region of the guyed tower increases the load capacity and stability of the guyed tower. 
     In accordance with another feature of the present invention, a spacer may be disposed between and fixedly attached to the guyed tower and pole tower. This spacer can provide better support for the guyed tower. 
     The present invention can also be viewed as providing a method for increasing a load capacity of a guyed tower. The method can be broadly conceptualized by the following steps: erecting a pole tower within a middle region of the guyed tower; fixedly attaching the pole tower to the foundation; and fixedly attaching the pole tower to the guyed tower. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art upon examination of the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is intended that all such features and advantages be included herein within the scope of the present invention and protected by the claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention. Furthermore, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
     FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a conventional guyed tower that is supported by various guy wires extending from the guyed tower to the ground. 
     FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the guyed tower of FIG. 1 with the guy wires removed for illustrative purposes. 
     FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a more detailed view of a single section of the conventional guyed tower depicted in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of the single guyed tower section depicted by FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the single guyed tower section depicted by FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating two joined sections of the conventional guyed tower depicted by FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment for a pole tower in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a more detailed view of a single section of the pole tower depicted in FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating two joined sections of the pole tower depicted in FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment for the single section of the pole tower depicted in FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment for the two joined sections depicted in FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the pole tower of FIG. 7 erected within the guyed tower of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the pole tower of FIG. 7 when communication equipment is attached to a top of the pole tower. 
     FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a top view of the towers depicted in FIG.  12 . 
     FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a more detailed view of the top two sections of the guyed tower depicted in FIG.  12 . 
     FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating the top two guyed tower sections depicted in FIG. 15 when the guyed tower of FIG. 12 is fixedly attached to the pole tower of FIG. 12 at point where the top two guyed tower sections are interfaced. 
     FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a top view of the guyed tower and the pole tower depicted in FIG.  16 . 
     FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a top view of a collar depicted in FIG.  17 . 
     FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a three-dimensional front view of one of the members forming the collar depicted in FIG.  18 . 
     FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a three-dimensional back view of the one member depicted in FIG.  19 . 
     FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating the guyed tower and the pole tower of FIG. 17 when only one collar member has been positioned against the guyed tower. 
     FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating the guyed tower and the pole tower of FIG. 17 when a second collar member has been positioned against the guyed tower. 
     FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating the top two guyed tower sections depicted in FIG. 15 when the guyed tower of FIG. 12 is fixedly attached to the pole tower of FIG. 12 at a midpoint of one of the guyed tower sections. 
     FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a three-dimensional back view of a collar member that may be used to fixedly attach the pole tower to the guyed tower at a midpoint of a guyed tower section. 
     FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a side view of a base that may be used to attach a non-tapered bottom section of a pole tower to a foundation. 
     FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating a top view of the base depicted in FIG.  25 . 
     FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating a non-tapered bottom section of a pole tower positioned within the base depicted in FIG.  25 . 
     FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating a top view of a spacer that may be used to fixedly attach the pole tower of FIG. 7 to the guyed tower of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 29 is diagram illustrating a three-dimensional view of the spacer depicted in FIG.  28 . 
     FIG. 30 is a top view illustrating the spacer of FIG. 28 when the spacer is wedged between a vertical beam of the pole tower of FIG.  7  and the guyed tower of FIG.  1 . The top flange of the vertical beam has been removed from FIG. 30 in order to better illustrate the configuration of the spacer. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In general, the present invention pertains to a system and method for supporting wireless communication equipment and/or other types of loads. In this regard, a pole tower of suitable strength is positioned within the middle region of a guyed tower and attached to the foundation of the guyed tower. In a preferred embodiment, the pole tower is attached to the guyed tower at various locations to maximize the strength and reinforcement provided by the pole tower. The presence of the pole tower within the middle region of the guyed tower reinforces the strength and stability of the guyed tower, thereby enabling the guyed tower to support additional weight. Thus, the guyed tower is able to support additional wireless communication equipment and/or other types of loads. 
     FIG. 1 depicts a guyed tower  25  in accordance with the prior art. As can be seen by referring to FIG. 1, the guyed tower  25  is attached to a foundation  28 , which is usually a block of cement residing on or within the Earth&#39;s surface  31 . The guyed tower  25  is comprised of various interconnected beams. More specifically, the guyed tower  25  of FIG. 1 is comprised of vertical beams  32  (substantially parallel to the y-direction), horizontal beams  33  (substantially parallel to the x-direction), and diagonal beams  34 . The beams  32 - 34  are interconnected together to form a structure capable of supporting various equipment (not shown), such as wireless communication equipment, that may be attached to one or more of the beams  32 - 34 . The guyed tower  25  normally extends away from the foundation  28  in an upward direction (i.e., y-direction), as shown by FIG.  1 . To provide the guyed tower  25  with adequate stability, guy wires  38  are attached to the tower  25  at various locations and extend from the tower  25  to the Earth&#39;s surface  31 , as shown by FIG.  1 . The number and placement of the guy wires  38  may vary for different guyed towers  25 . 
     Normally, the guyed tower  25  is erected in sections. For example, as shown by FIG. 2, the guyed tower  25  in one embodiment includes four different sections: a bottom section  45 , two middle sections  46  and  47 , and a top section  48 . In FIG. 2, the bottom section  45  is tapered such that the perimeter at the foundation  28  is smaller than the perimeter of the section  45  on a side opposite of the foundation  28 . Furthermore, in FIG. 2, the configurations of sections  46 - 48  are identical. However, it should be noted that it is not necessary for the configuration of bottom section  45  to be different than the configurations of the sections  46 - 48 , and it is possible for each of the sections  45 - 48  to be similarly or differently configured. 
     In constructing the tower  25 , the foundation  28  is poured, and the bottom section  45  is attached to the foundation  28 . Then, section  46  is attached to bottom section  45 , and sections  47  and  48  are consecutively attached to sections  46  and  47 , respectively. The guy wires  38  can be attached to any of the sections  45 - 48  as the guyed tower  25  is being erected. 
     FIG. 3 depicts a more detailed view of any one of the middle or top sections  46 - 48 . As shown by FIG. 3, each of the sections  46 - 48  includes a plurality of interconnected beams  32 - 34  that form a truss. The configuration and geometry of the beams  32 - 34  may vary for different guyed towers  25 . However, each section  45 - 48  of most conventional guyed towers  25  includes either three or four vertical beams  32  that are interconnected via horizontal and/or diagonal beams  33  and  34 , as shown by FIG. 3. A top end of each vertical beam  32  normally forms a top flange  52 , and the bottom end of each vertical beam  32  normally forms a bottom flange  55 . As shown by FIGS. 4 and 5, a middle region  58  that is defined by the perimeter formed by beams  32 - 34  is empty such that an object can pass through the middle region  58  of each section  46 - 48  in a direction parallel to the y-direction. 
     As previously set forth, the tower  25  is erected by attaching sections  45 - 48  to one another until the resulting tower  25  shown by FIG. 1 is formed. FIG. 6 depicts a more detailed view of section  48  attached to section  47 . In attaching section  47  to section  48 , the bottom flanges  55  of section  48  are fixedly attached to the top flanges  52  of section  47 . The flanges  52  and  55  may be fixedly attached via any suitable technique. Often, one or more couplers (such as bolts, nails, screws, etc.) are inserted through holes in each set of attached flanges  52  and  55  in order to secure the bottom flanges  55  of section  48  to the top flanges  52  of section  47 . Similar techniques may be employed to fixedly attach section  46  to  47 . Furthermore, the bottom section  45  may include top flanges that may be fixedly attached to the bottom flanges  55  of section  46  in order to fixedly attach bottom section  45  to section  46 . Thus, by attaching the sections  45 - 48  to one another as described above, the guyed tower  25  may be erected. 
     FIG. 7 depicts a pole tower  70  that may be erected through the middle of the guyed tower  25  to provide the guyed tower  25  with increased strength and stability. Various configurations of the pole tower  70  are possible. To facilitate the erection of the pole tower  70 , the pole tower  70  of FIG. 7 preferably includes multiple sections  72 - 76 . Bottom section  72  is tapered so that it can fit within the bottom section  45  of guyed tower  25 . However, in embodiments where the bottom section  45  of guyed tower  25  is not tapered, it is not necessary for the bottom section  72  of pole tower  70  to be tapered. Indeed, different configurations of the sections  72 - 76  are possible provided that the sections  72 - 76  are capable of fitting through the middle of the guyed tower  25 . Furthermore, in the embodiment shown by FIG. 7, each of the other sections  73 - 76  is identically configured, although identical configurations of each of the sections  73 - 76  is not a necessary feature of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 8-11 depict exemplary configurations for the sections  73 - 76 . In this regard, FIG. 8 depicts an exemplary configuration of one of the sections  73 - 76 . As can be seen by referring to FIG. 8, the section  73 - 76  includes a main body portion  81  and a top portion  83 . The main body portion  81  is hollow and adapted to receive the top portion  83  of another section  73 - 76 . Therefore, each of the sections  73 - 76  can be stacked on top of one another with the top portion  83  of each section  73 - 76  extending into the hollow region of the main body portion  81  of another section  73 - 76 . 
     As an example, FIG. 9 depicts one of the sections  75  erected onto another of the sections  74 . As shown by FIG. 9, the main body portion  81  of section  75  rests on the main body portion  81  of section  74 . Furthermore, the top portion  83  of section  74  extends into the hollow region of the main body portion  81  of section  75 . The inner wall of section  75  preferably is in contact with the top portion  83  of section  74  such that the section  75  is secured to the section  74 . More particularly, the main body portion  81  of section  74  resists the gravitational force applied to section  75 , and the top portion  83  of section  74  resists any force applied to section  75  that would tend to cause the section  75  to rotate. 
     By stacking each of the sections  73 - 76  on one another as shown by FIG. 9, the pole tower  70  can be erected according to FIG.  7 . It should be noted that bottom section  72  may include a top portion similar to the top portion  83  shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Therefore, similar to the sections  74  and  75  shown in FIG. 9, section  73  may be erected onto bottom section  72  with the top portion of section  72  extending into the hollow region of section  74 , thereby securing bottom section  72  to section  73 . 
     FIGS. 10 and 11 depict another embodiment for the configuration of section  73 - 76 . In this regard, each section  73 - 76  is a tapered hollow pipe, and FIG. 11 depicts how one of the sections  75  may be erected onto another of the sections  74 . More specifically, the top portion of section  74  may be inserted in to the hollow region of section  75  until the inner wall of section  75  engages the outer wall of section  74 . Once this occurs, the section  75  should be secured to the section  74  via gravity. Thus, by stacking each of the sections  73 - 76  on top of one another in this way, the pole tower  70  can be erected. Furthermore, the top portion of section  72  may be tapered similar to the sections  73 - 76  such that the top portion of section  72  may fit into the hollow region of section  73 . 
     There are various other methodologies that may be employed to erect the pole tower  70  without departing from the principles of the present invention. In this regard, any methodology for erecting and configuring the pole tower  70  should be sufficient for the purposes of the present invention provided that the pole tower  70  is capable of fitting within the middle of the guyed tower  25 . Furthermore, it is not necessary for the pole tower  70  to be a hollow or sectional structure. In this regard, the pole tower  70  may be solid, such as a solid pipe, for example. However, it may be preferable for the pole tower  70  to be hollow and/or sectional, as described hereinabove, in order to enable the pole tower  70  to be erected as previously described and/or to reduce the overall weight of the pole tower  70 , thereby making it easier to erect the pole tower  70  within the guyed tower  25 . 
     FIG. 12 depicts the guyed tower  25  of FIG. 1 once the pole tower  70  of FIG. 7 has been erected within the guyed tower  25 . As shown by FIG. 12, the bottom section  72  of the pole tower  70  is fixedly attached to the foundation  28 , and the remainder of the sections  73 - 76  are consecutively stacked on top of the bottom section  72 . Thus, the pole tower  70  extends from the foundation  28  up through the middle of the guide tower  25 . Although the pole tower  70  may be shorter than the guyed tower  25 , the pole tower  70  in the preferred embodiment extends from the foundation  28  through the top of the guyed tower  25  as shown by FIG.  12 . Generally, the higher the pole tower  70  is extended through the guyed tower  25 , the better the pole tower  70  supports and stabilizes the guyed tower  25 . 
     Furthermore, it is possible to attach wireless communication equipment and/or other types of loads directly to the pole tower  70 . Such loads may be coupled to the pole tower  70  at any point along the vertical length (i.e., the length in the y-direction) of the pole tower  70 . If desired, the top of the pole tower  70  may extend past the top of the guyed tower  25 , and the wireless communication equipment and/or other types of loads may be attached the pole tower  70  above the top of the guyed tower  25 , as shown by FIG.  13 . 
     The pole tower  70  may be in contact with the guyed tower  25  at various points along the vertical length of guyed tower  25 . However, in the preferred embodiment, the diameter of the pole tower  70  is small enough such that the pole tower  70  can fit within the middle region of the guyed tower  25  without contacting the guyed tower  25 , as shown by FIGS. 12,  14 , and  15 . However, the diameter of the pole tower  70  is preferably large enough such that the beams  32 ,  33 , and/or  34  of the guyed tower  25  engage the pole tower  70  as the guyed tower  25  sways due to environmental forces, such as wind, for example. Thus, the guyed tower  25  is provided the flexibility of swaying to a small degree before engaging the pole tower  70 . However, once the guyed tower  25  sways to the point that the guyed tower  25  engages the pole tower  70 , the pole tower  70  helps to resist further swaying and thereby provides the guyed tower  25  with increased stability and support. Therefore, the diameter of the pole tower  70  should be based on how much sway is desired before the guyed tower  25  engages the pole tower  70 . The amount of desirable sway should be based on many factors, such as the height and material of the guyed tower  25  and how much support from the pole tower  70  is needed to enable the guyed tower  25  to support a desired load. For many conventional guyed towers  25 , it would be desirable for the pole tower  70  to be about one-quarter of an inch from the closest points of the guyed tower  25 . However, other separation distances are possible in other embodiments. 
     The pole tower  70  may be erected as the guyed tower  25  is being erected. For example, the bottom section  45  of the guyed tower  25  may be fixedly attached to the foundation  28 . Then, the bottom section  72  of the pole tower  70  may be erected within the bottom section  45  of the guyed tower  25  and fixedly attached to the foundation  28 . Then, after each of the sections  46 - 48  of the guyed tower  25  is erected, one or more sections  73 - 76  of the pole tower  70  may be erected until the towers  25  and  70  shown by FIG. 12 are completely constructed. 
     For previously erected guyed towers  25 , the pole tower  70  may be erected by lifting each section  72 - 76  of the pole tower  70  to the top of the guyed tower  25  and then lowering each section  72 - 76 , one at a time, from the top of the guyed tower  25  through the middle region  58  of the guyed tower  25 . For example, the pole tower  70  of FIG. 7 can be erected by first lifting the bottom section  72  to the top of the guyed tower  25  and then lowering the bottom section  72  through the middle of the guyed tower  25  until the section  72  contacts the foundation  28 . The bottom section  72  may then be fixedly attached to foundation  28 . Then, section  73  may be lifted to the top of the guyed tower  25  and lowered through the middle of the guyed tower  25  until section  73  contacts and is secured to section  72 . Then, sections  74 - 76  may be consecutively lifted to the top of the guyed tower  25  and lowered through the middle of the guyed tower  25  until the pole tower  70  shown by FIG. 7 is erected within the guyed tower  25 . Thus, even when the guyed tower  25  has been fully erected, the pole tower  70  may be erected through the guyed tower  25 , as shown by FIG.  12 . 
     As previously set forth, it is not necessary for the pole tower  70  to be fixedly attached to the guyed tower  25  in order for the pole tower  70  to stabilize and support the guyed tower  25 . However, it is possible to fixedly attach the pole tower  70  to the guyed tower  25  at various points in order to increase the stability and support provided by the pole tower  70 . Various techniques may be employed to attach the pole tower  70  to the guyed tower  25 . 
     As an example, FIGS. 16-18 show an embodiment where a collar  101  is utilized to attach the pole tower  70  to the guyed tower  25 . More specifically, FIG. 16 depicts a detailed view of the guyed tower sections  47  and  48  of FIG. 6 once the pole tower  70  has been erected through the guyed tower  25  and, therefore, through the sections  47  and  48 . In FIG. 16, the collar  101  is positioned at the interface between sections  47  and  48 . As shown by FIGS. 17 and 18, the collar  101  is comprised of three members  104 - 106 , which are secured to one another by couplers  108 - 110 . In this regard, each coupler  108 - 110  passes through at least two of the members  104 - 106  and the pole tower  70 , thereby securing the members  104 - 106  to the pole tower  70 . The couplers  108 - 110  may be bolts, screws, nails, or other fastening devices that can fixedly attach the collar  101  to the pole tower  70 . Any device capable of securing the collar  101  to the pole tower  70  should be suitable for implementing the present invention. 
     To enable the couplers  108 - 110  to better secure the collar  101  to the towers  25  and  70 , a nut (not shown) may be fastened at each end of each coupler  108 - 110 . Alternatively, the holes in the collar  101  and/or pole tower  70  through which the couplers  108 - 110  pass may be threaded. Any conventional technique for securing a coupler to another structure may be employed to secure the couplers  108 - 110  to the collar  101  and/or the pole tower  70 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, each coupler  108 - 110  may be driven into a spacer  117 - 119 , respectively, as shown by FIG.  17 . Each spacer  117 - 119  is a small wedge placed between the pole tower  70  and the guyed tower  25  at a location such that the spacers  117 - 119  respectively receive the couplers  108 - 110  as they are driven through the pole tower  70 , as shown by FIG.  17 . One side of each spacer  117 - 119  is adapted to fit against a vertical beam  32 , and an opposite end of each spacer  117 - 119  is adapted to fit against the pole tower  70 . Since the spacers  117 - 119  are wedged between the towers  25  and  70 , penetration of each coupler  108 - 110  into its respective spacer  117 - 119  helps to maintain the position of each coupler  108 - 110  to its respective spacer  117 - 119  and, therefore, to the towers  25  and  70 . Thus, the spacers  117 - 119  and couplers  108 - 110  help to secure the collar  101  to the towers  25  and  70 . 
     The collar  101  should be shaped such that the collar  101  fits around the guyed tower  25  and such that the inner portion (i.e., the portion facing the guyed tower  25 ) is in contact with the guyed tower  25  when the couplers  108 - 110  are secured to the collar  101  and the pole tower  70  as shown by FIG.  17 . In the configuration shown by FIG. 17, the couplers  108 - 110  should resist movement by the collar  101  with respect to the pole tower  70 . Therefore, the collar  101 , which is positioned against the guyed tower  25 , should resist movement by the guyed tower  25  with respect to the pole tower  70 . As a result, the collar and coupler arrangement shown by FIGS. 16-18 should transfer at least some of the stresses or bending moments from the guyed tower  25  to the pole tower  70 . It should be noted that the arrangement shown by FIGS. 16-18 is exemplary, and other techniques and devices may be used to attach the pole tower  70  to the guyed tower  25  in other embodiments. 
     FIGS. 19 and 20 depict three-dimensional views of one of the members  104  that comprises the collar  101 . Note that each of the members  104 - 106  may be identically configured. The member  104  shown by FIGS. 19 and 20 includes two flat panels  121  and  123  that extend from a tubular portion  125 . The tubular portion  125  is adapted to receive one of the vertical beams  32  of the guyed tower  25  such that the inner portion of the tubular portion  125  contacts the outer portion of the vertical beam  32  as shown by FIGS. 16 and 17. 
     Furthermore, the tubular portion  125  includes an enlarged section  128  adapted to house portions of a joined set of flanges  52  and  55  of the guyed tower  25  when the member  104  is attached to an interface between any of the sections  45 - 48  of the guyed tower  25 , as shown by FIGS. 16 and 17. In this regard, when the member  104  is secured to the guyed tower  25  as shown by FIGS. 16 and 17, the tubular portion  125  preferably engages a vertical beam  32  of each of the sections  47  and  48 , and the flanges  52  and  55  of these beams  32  preferably fit within the enlarged section  128 . 
     For example, in FIG. 16, the member  104  is secured to the tower  25  at the interface of sections  47  and  48 . As shown by FIG. 16, the member  104  (more specifically, the tubular portion  125  of the member  104 ) is engaged with a vertical beam  32  of section  47  and with a vertical beam  32  of section  48 . The lower flange  55  of the foregoing beam  32  from section  48  is joined to the upper flange  52  of the foregoing beam  32  from section  47 . A portion of these flanges  52  and  55  fit within and are housed by the enlarged section  128  of member  104 , and as shown by FIG. 17, the flat panels  121  and  123  of the member  104  each extend in a direction substantially parallel to the horizontal beams  33  that are connected to the aforementioned vertical beams  32 . As a result, the members  104 - 106  should engage and fit around the guyed tower  25 , as shown by FIGS. 16 and 17. 
     To secure the collar  101  to the pole tower  70  and to the guyed tower  25  according to FIGS. 16 and 17, the member  104  is first positioned against the guyed tower  25 , as shown by FIG.  21 . After engaging the member  104  with the guyed tower  25 , the member  105  may be similarly positioned against the guyed tower  25 , such that the member  105  engages a different set of vertical beams  32  of sections  47  and  48 , as shown by FIG.  22 . Preferably, one of the flat panels  121  or  123  of member  105  overlaps one of the flat panels  121  or  123  of member  104  as shown by FIG.  22 . The coupler  110  is then passed through the overlapping sections of members  104  and  105 . This coupler  110  is also passed through pole tower  70  and into spacer  117 . To better secure the collar  101  to the towers  25  and  70 , it is desirable to pass at least one additional coupler  124  (FIG. 16) through the overlapping sections of members  104  and  105 , pole tower  70 , and spacer  117 . This additional coupler  124  may be located directly beneath the coupler  110  as shown in FIG.  16 . Note that the additional coupler  124  is not a necessary feature and, when employed, does not necessarily have to be positioned directly beneath the coupler  110 . 
     Once the members  104  and  105  have been secured as shown by FIG. 22, the third member  106  may be positioned against the guyed tower  25 , such that the member  106  engages the remaining set of vertical beams  32  of sections  47  and  48 , as shown by FIG.  17 . When the third member  106  is placed in this position, a portion of the flat panel  121  or  123  of the member  105  should overlap with a portion of the flat panel  121  or  123  of member  106 , and a portion of the flat panel  121  or  123  of member  106  should overlap with a portion of the flat panel  121  or  123  of member  104 . The coupler  109  is passed through the overlapping portions of members  105  and  106 , pole tower  70 , and spacer  118  as shown by FIG.  17 . Furthermore, the coupler  108  is passed through the overlapping portions of members  104  and  106 , pole tower  70 , and spacer  119  as shown by FIG.  17 . 
     To better secure the collar  101  to the towers  25  and  70 , additional couplers (not shown) may be passed through the overlapping portions of members  105  and  106 , the pole tower  70 , and the spacer  118  and through the overlapping portions of members  104  and  106 , the pole tower  70 , and the spacer  119 . Once each of the members  104 - 106  and each of the couplers  108 - 110  have been positioned as shown in FIG. 17, the collar  101  should be adequately secured to the guyed tower  25  and the pole tower  70 . Thus, stress experienced by the guyed tower  25  may be passed from the guyed tower  25  to the pole tower  70  via the collar  101  and the couplers  108 - 110 . As a result, the pole tower  70  provides better support to the guyed tower  25  at the point where the collar  101  is engaged with the guyed tower  25 . 
     Each collar  101  secured to the guyed tower  25  and pole tower  70  as previously described should enable the pole tower  70  to provide better support and stability to the guyed tower  25 . To maximize the support and stability provided by the pole tower  70  to the guyed tower  25 , it is desirable to select the location of each collar  101  based on the design of the guyed tower  25 . In this regard, it is desirable to place each collar  101  at the point on guyed tower  25  needing the most reinforcement. Normally, the weakest points of the guyed tower  25  are located at the point of interface between different sections  45 - 48  (i.e., at the joined flanges  52  and  55  between any two sections  45 - 48  that are secured to one another) and at the midpoint of each section  45 - 48 . 
     FIG. 16 shows a collar  101  attached to sections  47  and  48  at one of these weak points. In particular, the collar  101  is attached to the guyed tower  25  at the interface between sections  47  and  48 . Other weak points of the sections  47  and  48  exist at the midpoint of section  47  and at the midpoint of section  48 . FIG. 23 shows a collar  101  secured to the section  47  at the midpoint of section  47 . In this embodiment, the collar  101  does not house any flanges  52  or  55 , and as shown by FIGS. 23 and 24, there is no need for the collar of FIG. 23 to include an enlarged section  128  (FIGS.  19  and  20 ). However, if desired, a collar  101  having an enlarged section  128  may be used to secure the pole tower  70  to the guyed tower  25  at a midpoint of a guyed tower section  45 - 48 , since adequate contact between the guyed tower  25  and the members  104 - 106  of the collar  101  should be provided by the tubular portions  125  (FIGS. 19 and 20) of the members  104 - 106 . Moreover, the methodology for attaching the collar  101  at a midpoint of the section  47  should be the same as the methodology for attaching the collar  101  at the point of interface between sections  47  and  48 , as previously described hereinabove. 
     It should be noted that the weight of the pole tower  70  is applied along the surface of the bottom section  72  that is in contact with the foundation  28 . Thus, depending on the size and material of the pole tower  70 , there may be some buckling concerns associated with the bottom section  72 , particularly when the section  72  is not tapered. To provide the bottom section of the pole tower  70  with better support for preventing buckling, the bottom section may be coupled to the foundation  28  through a base  141 , such as the one shown by FIGS. 25 and 26. Note that the base  141  shown by FIG. 25 is designed to be engaged with an untapered bottom section of the pole tower, unlike the tapered bottom section  72  shown by FIG.  7 . As shown by FIGS. 25 and 26, the bottom of the base  141  forms a flange  144  that may be bolted or otherwise coupled to the foundation  28 . The base  141  also includes a hollow region  147  in which an untapered bottom section  142  of pole tower  70  may be inserted, as shown by FIG. 27. A core section  152  of the base  141  may fit into a hollow region of the bottom section  142 . By configuring the base  141  as shown by FIGS. 25-27, the base  141  should absorb at least some of the buckling stresses applied to the bottom section  142 . 
     When the pole tower  70  includes a tapered bottom section  72 , as shown by FIG. 7, the weight of the pole tower  70  acts as a point load through the bottom section  72 , and buckling of the bottom section  72 , therefore, should not be as great of a concern. Thus, a base  141 , similar to the one shown by FIGS. 25-27, may not be necessary when the bottom section  72  is tapered. 
     In addition, the spacers  117 - 119  may enable the pole tower  70  to provide better support to the guyed tower  25 , if the spacers  117 - 119  are configured to directly support the flanges  52  and  55  of the guyed tower  25 . FIGS. 28 and 29 depict a configuration for one of the spacers  118  that enables the spacer  118  to provide support directly to a set of flanges  52  and  55 . In this regard, the spacer  118  includes a hollow region  162  that is adapted to receive a set of flanges  52  and  55 . 
     For example, assume that the spacer  118  is utilized to fixedly attach the pole tower  70  to sections  47  and  48  of the guyed tower  25 , as shown by FIGS. 16 and 17. In this embodiment, one side  164  of the spacer  118  should be engaged with the pole tower  70 , and the opposite side  166  of the spacer  118  should be engaged with a vertical beam  32  of section  47  and with a vertical beam  32  of section  48 . The foregoing beams  32  of sections  47  and  48  should respectively include an upper flange  52  and a lower flange  55  that are fixedly attached or, in other words, joined to one another. This set of flanges  52  and  55  should reside within the hollow region  162  of spacer  118  such that spacer  118  houses a portion of the set of flanges  52  and  55 . Thus, a portion of the set of flanges  52  and  55  on one side of the guyed tower  25  should be housed by the enlarged section  128  of member  104 , and another portion of the set of flanges  52  and  55  on the opposite side of the guyed tower  25  should be housed by spacer  118 . 
     Preferably, the enlarged section  128  of member  104  and the hollow region  162  of spacer  118  are configured such that the set of flanges  52  and  55  barely fits into the enlarged section  128  and hollow region  162 . Indeed, the inner walls of enlarged section  128  and the inner walls that define hollow region  162  preferably engage the set of flanges  52  and  55  when the set of flanges  52  and  55  are residing in member  104  and spacer  118 . As shown by FIG. 30, one or more couplers  174  may be drilled into the spacer  118  through the member  104  to more tightly hold the spacer  118  and the member  104  against the set of flanges  52  and  55 . By housing the set of flanges  52  and  55  with the member  104  and spacer  118 , as described hereinabove, the pole tower  70  is able to provide better support to the guyed tower  25 , particularly at the point of interface between two joined sections  47  and  48 . 
     In addition, the other spacers  117  and  119  and the other members  105  and  106  may be configured similar to the spacer  118  and member  104  shown by FIG.  30 . However, it should be noted that it is not necessary for any of the spacers  117 - 119  to house any of the joined sets of flanges  52  and  55 . Indeed, it is not even necessary for the guyed tower  25  to be fixedly attached to the pole tower  70 . Furthermore, when spacers  117 - 119  are used to fixedly attach the pole tower  70  to the guyed tower  25 , each of the spacers  117 - 119  may be coupled to a single vertical beam  32  such that no sets of flanges  52  and  55  reside within hollow region  162 . Thus, in some embodiments, hollow region  162  is not a necessary feature of the spacers  117 - 119 . 
     It should be further noted that FIG. 17 shows the pole tower  70  as having a circular cross-section. However, it is not necessary for the pole tower  70  to have a circular cross-section, and other cross-sectional shapes for the pole tower  70  are possible without departing from the principles of the present invention. 
     In addition, the present invention has been described as providing support to a guyed tower  25  that has three vertical beams  32  in each section  46 - 48  of the guyed tower  25 . However, as previously set forth, other numbers of vertical beams  32  and other configurations may be employed to implement the guyed tower  25 . In such embodiments, the pole tower  70  may be fixedly attached to the guyed tower via a collar, similar to collar  101 , that is adapted to extend around the perimeter of the guyed tower. Moreover, spacers and couplers, similar to the spacers  117 - 119  and couplers  108 - 110  previously described, may be used to fixedly attach the pole tower  70  to the guyed tower  25  in these other embodiments. 
     By erecting a pole tower  70  within the guyed tower  25  as described hereinabove, bending moments experienced by the guyed tower  25  may be passed into and absorbed by the pole tower  70 , thereby increasing the stability of the guyed tower  25 . The strength and stability provided by the pole tower  70  to the guyed tower  25  may be maximized by fixedly attaching the pole tower  70  to the guyed tower  25  at one or more points along the length of the guyed tower  25 . As a result, the guyed tower  25  should be able to support additional loads once the pole tower  70  has been erected according to the techniques described herein. 
     It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention, particularly, any “preferred” embodiments, are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention and protected by the following claims.