Pole reinforcement truss
View Patent ↗A pole reinforcement truss has an open cross-sectional configuration characterized by opposite side flanges that diverge with respect to one another as they extend from respective opposite side edges of the truss body. In one embodiment, the cross-sectional configuration has an intermediate curved bend through an excluded bend angle and a pair of curved bridge bends on opposite sides of the intermediate curved bend each through an included bend angle, wherein all three curved bends have the same radius of curvature. The truss maintains its geometry in an improved manner after the onset of yielding, thereby increasing ultimate strength of the pole-truss assembly.
1. A truss for reinforcing a pole, the truss comprising:
an elongated body having a pair of opposite ends connected by a pair of longitudinal edges;
the body having an open cross-sectional configuration having a pair of straight side flanges each extending from a respective one of the longitudinal edges in a direction diverging from the other side flange, and an intermediate section connecting the pair of side flanges, wherein the intermediate section of the cross-sectional configuration includes:
an intermediate curved bend about a radius of curvature external to the open cross-sectional configuration; and
a pair of curved bridge bends extending one from each of the pair of straight side flanges, each curved bridge bend being curved only about a radius of curvature internal to the open cross-sectional configuration for connecting an associated one of the pair of side flanges to the intermediate curved bend.
2. The truss according to claim 1 , wherein the intermediate section further includes a pair of straight apex portions each for joining a respective one of the pair of curved bridge bends with the intermediate curved bend.
3. A truss for reinforcing a pole, the truss comprising:
an elongated body having a pair of opposite ends connected by a pair of longitudinal edges;
the body having an open cross-sectional configuration having:
a pair of straight side flanges each extending from a respective one of the longitudinal edges in a direction diverging from the other side flange;
an intermediate curved bend through an excluded bend angle BA 1 ; and
a pair of curved bridge bends one on each opposite side of the intermediate curved bend connecting the intermediate curved bend to the pair of side flanges, wherein each curved bridge bend is through an included bend angle BA 2 ;
wherein the excluded bend angle BA 1 is equal to 80° and the included bend angle BA 2 is equal to 160°.
4. The truss according to claim 3 , wherein the cross-sectional configuration is further characterized by an axis of symmetry midway between the pair of edges, the bend angle BA 1 is bisected by the axis of symmetry, and the pair of curved bridge bends are symmetrically arranged with respect to one another about the axis of symmetry.
5. The truss according to claim 3 , wherein the intermediate curved bend and the pair of curved bridge bends have the same radius of curvature.