Valmont Industries, Inc.

Carl J Macchietto

Richard E Christenson

Darren E Ingram

Mark Perina

Richard Christenson

The present invention provides a vibration mitigation device which includes a vertically extending housing and a reciprocating assembly coupled with and fully enclosed inside of the vertically extending housing. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the vibration mitigation device may utilize a tension spring as the biasing member while operating in a pneumatic process, an eddy current dampening process or a hybrid combination of the two dampening processes. For low amplitude, the eddy current dampening process may provide improved vibration mitigation results and for higher amplitudes, the pneumatic process may provide improved vibration mitigation results. Other exemplary embodiments include a vibration damping element that utilizes a compression spring as a biasing member for mitigating vibrations. Further exemplary embodiments provide a vibration damping element that utilizes a compression spring and a tension spring as biasing members for mitigating vibrations.

Vibration mitigation device

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for energy absorption and vibrational dampening when attached to a vertical or horizontal structure. According to a first preferred embodiment, the present invention includes a closed housing which may preferably include an internal, curved surface. According to a further preferred embodiment, the present invention may include at least one dampening weight or sphere which may preferably be disposed within the closed housing. According to a further preferred embodiment, the dampening sphere may include internal baffling such as particles having resistance to the flow of the particles within the closed housing.

Method and apparatus of providing energy absorption for vibration dampening in one or more planes

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for energy absorption and vibrational dampening in a horizontal plane. According to a first preferred embodiment, the present invention discloses an apparatus for damping vibration of a pole which includes a housing with a horizontal floor having an inward curved surface for achieving vibration attenuation at a middle portion thereof to form an enclosed chamber. According to a further aspect of the first embodiment, at least one damping weight is preferably disposed in the inward curved surface and is preferably substantially spherical in shape. According to a further preferred embodiment, at least one dampening weight of the present may preferably include a hollow, inner cavity. According to further aspects of the present invention, the dampening weight preferably may further include a granular material located within the inner cavity.

Method and apparatus of providing energy absorption for vibration dampening in a horizontal plane

A method and apparatus for providing effective damping of first mode vibration for a range of different types of poles is disclosed. According to a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a housing having a horizontal floor with an inward curved surface to form an enclosed chamber and at least one damping weight disposed in the inward curved surface and adapted to freely roll inside the enclosed chamber. Preferably, the apparatus is mounted on the top end of a pole for damping wind-induced first, second or higher mode vibration of the poles.

Method and apparatus for damping vibration of poles

A vibration mitigation device configured to be fixedly coupled to a generally horizontally extending support member. The vibration mitigation device includes a generally vertically extending housing extending from the generally horizontally extending support member and a reciprocating assembly coupled with and fully enclosed inside of the generally vertically extending housing.

A support pole having a support member track portion and a support arm track portion is described that is configured to allow lateral and vertical displacement of the carrier device. In one or more implementations, the support pole includes a support member and a support arm extending outwardly from the support member. The support pole includes a support member track portion connected to the support member and a support arm track portion connected to the support arm. The support pole may also include a transition track portion disposed between the support member portion and the support arm portion. The track portions, collectively, are configured to allow a carrier device to transition between a first position and a second position.

Support pole having a track

A hinged pole having a base plate secured to the lower end thereof with the base plate having a plurality of upstanding brackets secured thereto. A cart is provided which is mounted on the foundation of the pole and is secured thereto and which is connected to the pole. The cart includes a power cylinder which is connected to the pole and which is used to lower the pole from its upstanding position to a horizontal position. The pole may be serviced when the pole is in its horizontal position. When the servicing of the pole has been completed, the pole is raised to its upright position and re-secured to the foundation therefore. The cart is then removed from the pole for use at a different location.

Hinged pole apparatus

A handhole cover for a utility pole includes a cover plate having a pivotal latch bar positioned inwardly therefrom. A rotatable bolt interconnects the cover plate and the latch bar in such a way so that the clockwise rotation of the bolt, during installation, will cause the latch bar to move from a vertically disposed position to a horizontally disposed position. Further counterclockwise rotation of the bolt will draw the latch bar into engagement with the inner end of a lip positioned in the access opening. The design of the invention not only permits easy installation of the cover plate over the access opening of the utility pole, but also permits easy removal of the cover plate from the access opening. The design also deters theft and vandalism.

Handhole cover

A support pole having a traffic signal support arm secured thereto wherein the connection between the lower end of the support pole and its base plate is strengthened by the use of a strengthening ring welded thereto and also wherein the connection of the support arm to the support pole is strengthened through the use of a strengthening ring provided at the inner end of the support arm. The connections described above also enhance the fatigue strength of the support pole.

Support pole having a traffic signal support arm attached thereto

A support pole comprising a pole member secured to a flat base plate. A majority of the length of the pole member has a square-tube cross-section. The pole member is provided with a bell-shaped portion at its lower end which is secured to the base plate.

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Omaha, NE, United States of America

Carl J Macchietto