Helical strake attachment for tubular structural members
A helical strake pole system that includes a tubular pole having a longitudinal axis and threaded attachment points. The system further includes a helical strake fin disposed circumferentially around a portion of the tubular pole along the longitudinal axis. The system further includes couplers disposed on the tubular pole. The couplers are configured such that each coupler has a first portion with a slot configured to receive an upper portion of the helical strake fin and a second portion configured to removably coupled to a threaded attachment point of the tubular pole. In addition, each coupler is configured to position a portion of the helical strake fin substantially perpendicular to a surface of the tubular pole.
1. A helical strake system, comprising:
a tubular pole having a longitudinal axis and comprising a plurality of threaded attachment points;
a helical strake fin disposed circumferentially around a portion of the tubular pole along the longitudinal axis;
a plurality of couplers disposed on the tubular pole, wherein:
each coupler comprises:
a first portion comprising a slot configured to receive an upper portion of the helical strake fin; and
a second portion configured to be removably coupled to a threaded attachment point of the tubular pole; and
each coupler configured to position a portion of the helical strake fin substantially perpendicular to a surface of the tubular pole.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the second portion of the coupler is coupled to:
a respective first attachment point on one side of the helical strake fin; and
a respective second attachment point on an opposing side of the helical strake fin.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the slot in the first portion of each coupler is configured to:
substantially cover one side of the helical strake fin disposed within the coupler; and
partially cover an opposing side of the helical strake fin disposed within the coupler.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the slot in the first portion of each coupler is configured to:
substantially cover one side of the helical strake fin disposed within the coupler; and
substantially cover an opposing side of the helical strake fin disposed within the coupler.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of each coupler comprises a set screw configured to apply a force onto a portion of the helical strake fin.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the second portion of each coupler comprises a second slot configured to receive a lower portion of the helical strake fin.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
each coupler comprises a threaded portion; and
the position of the first portion of each coupler is adjustable along the threaded portion.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the first portion of each coupler is configured to rotate about the threaded portion.
9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the second portion of each coupler is configured rotate about the threaded portion.
10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the threaded portion of each coupler is a bolt configured to attach the coupler to the threaded attachment point of the tubular pole.
11. A helical strake pole assembly method, comprising:
positioning a helical strake fin circumferentially around a portion of a tubular pole along a longitudinal axis of the tubular pole, wherein the tubular pole comprises a plurality of threaded attachment points;
attaching a plurality of couplers to the tubular pole, wherein:
each coupler is configured to position a portion of the helical strake fin substantially perpendicular to a surface of the tubular pole; and
attaching a coupler to the tubular pole comprises:
positioning a first portion of the coupler to interface with the helical strake fin, wherein the first portion comprises a slot configured to receive an upper portion of the helical strake fin; and
removably coupling a second portion of the coupler to a threaded attachment point of the tubular pole.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein attaching the coupler comprises attaching the second portion of each coupler to:
a respective first threaded attachment point on one side of the helical strake fin; and
a respective second threaded attachment point on an opposing side of the helical strake fin.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the slot in the first portion of each coupler is configured to:
substantially cover one side of the helical strake fin disposed within a coupler; and
partially cover an opposing side of the helical strake fin disposed within the coupler.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the slot in the first portion of each coupler is configured to:
substantially cover one side of the helical strake fin disposed within the coupler; and
substantially cover an opposing side of the helical strake fin disposed within the coupler.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein attaching the coupler comprises adjusting a set screw in the first portion of the coupler, wherein adjusting the set screw applies a force onto a portion of the helical strake fin.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the second portion of each coupler comprises a second slot configured to receive a lower portion of the helical strake fin.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein:
each coupler comprises a thread portion; and
attaching the coupler comprises adjusting the position of the first portion of the coupler with respect to the threaded portion.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first portion of each coupler is configured to rotate about the threaded portion.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the second portion of each coupler is configured rotate about the thread portion.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein:
the threaded portion of each coupler is a bolt; and
attaching each coupler comprises attach each coupler to the threaded attachment point of the tubular pole using the bolt.