Pole straightening system and method

Abstract

The system and method of this invention uses brackets which are secured around a telephone, utility or like pole. An upper bracket is clamped around the upper region of the pole. A lower bracket is clamped around the lower region and an intermediate bracket is clamped at the proximate mid-point of the pole. A cable is secured to the upper and lower brackets and passes around a pulley located at the intermediate bracket. The cable is placed in tension between the upper and lower brackets. A turnbuckle attached to the cable is moved to increase the cable tension, causing a righting movement at the upper end of the deformed/bent pole, forcing the pole to a substantially upright, vertical position. The constant tension of the cable then maintains the pole in this position. If necessary, the turnbuckle can be tightened periodically, to continually maintain the pole in the upright position.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A system for straightening a vertically extending utility pole, said system comprising: 
 (a) straightening means for maintaining the pole in a substantially vertical position;    (b) support means secured to the pole and attached to the straightening means, the straightening means remaining in constant tension, thereby maintaining the pole substantially upright, in vertical tension; and    (c) means to increase the tension of the straightening means sufficient to maintain the pole substantially upright, in vertical tension.    
     
     
         2 . The system as in  claim 1  in which the straightening means comprises a cable extending substantially the length of the pole.  
     
     
         3 . The system as in  claim 1  in which the support means comprises brackets which secure ends of the straightening means.  
     
     
         4 . The system as in  claim 1  comprising a guide means for aligning the straightening means.  
     
     
         5 . The system as in  claim 1  in which the means to increase the tension comprises a turnbuckle.  
     
     
         6 . The system as in  claim 1  in which the straightening means comprises ends and means to attach the ends to the support means.  
     
     
         7 . The system as in  claim 4  in which the guide means comprises a pulley through which the straightening means extends.  
     
     
         8 . A system for strengthening a vertically extending utility pole, said system comprising: 
 (a) strengthening means for maintaining the pole in a substantially vertical position, said straightening means extending substantially the length of the pole;    (b) support means secured to the pole and attached to the straightening means, the straightening means remaining in constant tension, thereby maintaining the pole substantially upright in vertical tension; and    (c) means to increase the tension of the strengthening means sufficient to maintain the pole substantially upright, in vertical tension.    
     
     
         9 . The system as in  claim 8  in which the straightening means comprises a cable positioned substantially paralleled to and extending substantially the length of the pole.  
     
     
         10 . The system as in  claim 8  in which the support means comprises brackets which secure ends of the straightening means.  
     
     
         11 . The system as in  claim 8  further comprising guide means for aligning the straightening means.  
     
     
         12 . The system as in  claim 8  in which the means to increase the tension comprises a turnbuckle.  
     
     
         13 . The system as in  claim 8  in which the straightening means comprises ends and means to attach the ends to the support means.  
     
     
         14 . The system as in  claim 11  in which the guide means comprises a pulley through which the straightening means extends.  
     
     
         15 . A system for straightening a vertically extending utility pole comprising: 
 (a) a tensioned cable positioned substantially paralleled to and extending substantially the length of the pole;    (b) brackets secured to the pole, ends of the cable being attached to the brackets to maintain the cable in tension and the pole substantially upright, in vertical tension; and    (c) means to increase the tension of the cable sufficient to maintain the pole substantially upright, in vertical tension.    
     
     
         16 . The system as in  claim 15  in which two brackets are secured to the pole, each bracket being attached to an end of the cable.  
     
     
         17 . The system as in  claim 15  in further comprising a guide bracket which comprises a pulley through which the cable extends.  
     
     
         18 . The system as in  claim 15  in which the means to increase the tension of the cable comprises a turnbuckle.  
     
     
         19 . A system for straightening a vertically extending utility pole with an upper end and a lower end, said system comprising: 
 (a) a bracket secured near the upper end of the pole;    (b) a bracket secured near the lower end of the pole;    (c) a cable extending substantially the length of the pole, one end of the cable being secured to the upper bracket of the pole and another end of the cable being secured to the lower bracket of the pole, the cable being in constant tension between the two brackets and maintaining the pole in substantially upright, vertical tension; and    (d) means connected to the cable to increase the tension of the cable sufficient to maintain the pole substantially upright in vertical tension.    
     
     
         20 . The system as in  claim 19  further comprising a third bracket having a pulley through which the cable extends.  
     
     
         21 . The system as in  claim 19  wherein the means connected to the cable for increasing the tension comprises a turnbuckle.  
     
     
         22 . The system as in  claim 19  further comprising means to attach the cable to the upper and lower brackets of the pole.  
     
     
         23 . A method for straightening a vertically extended utility pole with an upper end and a lower end, comprising the steps of: 
 securing a bracket at the upper end of pole;    securing a bracket at the lower end of the pole;    attaching a cable between the upper and lower brackets;    applying tension to the cable attached between the two brackets;    continuing the application of tension to the cable sufficient to position the pole in a substantially upright, vertical tension; and    maintaining the pole in substantially upright, vertical tension, by the continuing application of tension.