Modular lattice tower
A tower has an above ground portion and an embedded portion joined to the above ground portion. The above ground portion and the embedded portion have a respective plurality of modular sections where each respective modular section in each of the respective plurality of modular sections has a respective vertical height and a quadrilateral plan view cross section with equal plan view outer dimensions over the respective vertical height of the modular section. At least one lower modular section in the above ground portion comprises a stronger structure than a modular section that is above the at least one lower modular section. Each modular section in each of the respective plurality of modular sections has corner struts that are parallel to one another and modular sections in each of the respective plurality of modular sections are arranged in a linear sequence.
1 . A tower, comprising:
an above ground portion; and
an embedded portion joined to the above ground portion,
where the above ground portion and the embedded portion comprise a respective plurality of modular sections,
where each respective modular section in each of the respective plurality of modular sections comprises a respective vertical height and a quadrilateral plan view cross section with equal plan view outer dimensions over the respective vertical height of the modular section,
where at least one lower modular section of the respective plurality of modular sections in the above ground portion comprises a stronger structure than a modular section of the respective plurality of modular sections in the above ground portion that is above the at least one lower modular section,
where each modular section in each of the respective plurality of modular sections comprises corner struts that are parallel to one another,
where at least one modular section of the respective plurality of modular sections of the embedded portion is fully embedded into a ground surface,
and where the modular sections in each of the respective plurality of modular sections are arranged in a linear sequence.
2 . The tower of claim 1 , further comprising a line attachment structure depending from a portion of the above ground portion.
3 . The tower of claim 1 , wherein each modular section further comprises a space lattice structure, and wherein at least a portion of the modular sections in the embedded portion further comprises at least one stitch plate enclosing a perimeter around at least a vertical portion of the modular sections comprising the embedded portion.
4 . The tower of claim 1 , further comprising at least one guy wire attached between a respective point on the above ground portion and an anchor point on a ground surface.
5 . The tower of claim 1 , wherein each modular section in each of the respective plurality of modular sections in the linear sequence is joined to a respective adjacent modular section of one of the respective plurality of modular sections by a respective joint element comprising a strip attached to a surface of a first end of each modular section and a second end of the respective adjacent modular section.
6 . The tower of claim 1 , wherein the respective plurality of modular sections of the above ground portion comprises a first modular section and a second modular section that is positioned lower in the linear sequence than the first modular section, wherein the first modular section comprises structural angles located at each corner of the plan view cross section that have a thinner gauge than structural angles located at each corner of the quadrilateral plan view cross section of the second modular section.
7 . The tower of claim 1 , wherein each modular section further comprises a space lattice structure having the quadrilateral plan view cross section that forms a square.
8 . The tower of claim 1 , wherein each modular section further comprises a space lattice structure comprising a respective structural angle at each corner of the quadrilateral plan view cross section, wherein each respective structural angle has equal elevation view heights.
9 . The tower of claim 1 , wherein each modular section in the respective plurality of modular sections comprises a respective plurality of corner struts arranged parallel to one another in a vertical direction over the respective vertical height of the modular section.
10 . The tower of claim 9 , wherein the quadrilateral plan view cross section does not taper in the vertical direction.
11 . The tower of claim 1 , wherein the embedded portion comprises a stitch plate over at least a portion of at least one external side of the embedded portion.
12 . The tower of claim 11 , wherein the stitch plate comprises plates covering at least a portion of each external side of the embedded portion.
13 . The tower of claim 11 , wherein the stitch plate comprises metal plates attached to at least one modular section of the respective plurality of modular sections in the embedded portion.
14 . The tower of claim 1 , wherein two or more modular sections of the respective plurality of modular sections of the embedded portion are embedded into the ground surface.
15 . The tower of claim 14 , wherein each modular section comprising the embedded portion comprises an uncovered space lattice structure that is directly embedded in the ground surface.
16 . A tower, comprising:
an above ground portion; and
an embedded portion joined to the above ground portion,
where the above ground portion and the embedded portion comprise a respective plurality of modular sections,
where each modular section in each of the respective plurality of modular sections comprises a respective vertical height and a quadrilateral plan view cross section with equal plan view outer dimensions over the respective vertical height of the modular section,
where each modular section comprises a first end and a second end opposite the first end, where either the first end or the second end is configured to connect to either the first end or the second end of any other modular section in its respective plurality of modular sections,
where at least one modular section of the respective plurality of modular sections of the embedded portion is fully embedded into a ground surface, and
where the modular sections in each of the respective plurality of modular sections are arranged in a linear sequence.
17 . A combination of modular sections, the combination comprising:
at least a first modular section, a second modular section, and an embedded modular section,
where the embedded modular section is fully embedded into a ground surface,
where the first modular section has a total plan view cross section side length and a vertical height that is perpendicular to and longer than the total plan view cross section side length,
where the first modular section comprises a space lattice structure having a square plan view cross section with a first set of dimensions, the square plan view cross section comprising a first plurality of corner struts with each corner strut in the first plurality of corner struts comprising a respective structural angle having a first strength and two legs that each have a horizontal leg length,
where the second modular section comprises a space lattice structure having substantially the square plan view cross section comprising a second plurality of corner struts with each corner strut in the second plurality of corner struts comprising a respective structural angle having two respective legs that each have the horizontal leg length and a second strength that is different than the first strength,
where the embedded modular section comprises a space lattice structure having substantially the square plan view cross section; and
where the corner struts in the first plurality of corner struts and in the second plurality of corner struts are parallel to one another over the vertical height of the first modular section and the second modular section, respectively, and define respective plan view cross sections with equal plan view outer dimensions over the vertical height of the first modular section and the second modular section, respectively.
18 . The combination of modular sections of claim 17 , wherein each corner strut in the first plurality of corner struts comprises a respective structural angle of a first gauge of metal and each corner strut in the second plurality of corner struts comprises a respective structural angle of a second gauge of metal that is thinner than the first gauge.
19 . The combination of modular sections of claim 17 , further comprising, for each corner strut in the first plurality of corner struts, a respective joint element joining a respective first interface of each respective corner strut in the first plurality of corner struts to a corresponding respective second interface of each respective corner strut in the second plurality of corner struts.