Method of reinforcing a tower

Abstract

A method for reinforcing a tower is provided by embedding a length the tower in a reinforcement column formed of reinforcement material.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of reinforcing a tower comprising: 
 forming a reinforcement column including:    applying a fluid reinforcing material to embed a vertical length of the tower; and    holding the fluid reinforcing material in place along the vertical length of the tower until it solidifies to form the reinforcement column having the length of tower embedded therein.    
     
     
         2 . The method of reinforcing a tower as in  claim 1 , wherein the tower is a guy tower comprising a metal skeletal structure.  
     
     
         3 . The method of reinforcing a tower as in  claim 1 , wherein the tower is a monopole tower comprising a metal tubular structure.  
     
     
         4 . The method of reinforcing a tower as in  claim 1 , wherein the fluid reinforcing material comprises wet concrete cement.  
     
     
         5 . The method of reinforcing a tower as in  claim 1 , further comprising embedding a plurality of spaced apart tension cables into and extended vertically through the reinforcement column.  
     
     
         6 . The method of reinforcing a tower as in  claim 1 , wherein applying the fluid reinforcing material comprises pouring the fluid reinforcing material into a mold around the tower.  
     
     
         7 . The method of reinforcing a tower as in  claim 1 , wherein applying the fluid reinforcing material comprises spraying the fluid reinforcing material onto the vertical length of the tower.  
     
     
         8 . A method of reinforcing a tower comprising: 
 a. forming a mold in the shape of a column around a portion of the tower;    b. pouring wet concrete cement into the mold;    c. allowing the poured wet concrete cement to at least partially solidify in mold; and    d. releasing the mold from the partially solidified concrete cement so that a concrete reinforcement column is formed encapsulating the tower.    
     
     
         9 . The method of forming a concrete column in  claim 8 , wherein forming the mold further comprises forming a cylindrically shaped mold.  
     
     
         10 . The method of forming a concrete column in  claim 8 , further comprising molding a plurality of spaced apart tension cables into and extending vertically through the concrete reinforcement column.  
     
     
         11 . The method of forming a concrete column as in  claim 8 , further comprising providing tensioners for tensioning the tension cables.  
     
     
         12 . The method of forming a concrete column as in  claim 10 , further comprising providing tensioners for tensioning the tension cables from the bottom of the concrete reinforcement column.  
     
     
         13 . The method of forming a concrete column as in  claim 10  further comprising providing tensioners for tensioning the tension cables from the top of the reinforcement column.  
     
     
         14 . The method of reinforcing a tower as in  claim 8 , further comprising attaching an antenna support structure to the tower structure that is partially embedded as the reinforcement column is formed.  
     
     
         15 . The method of reinforcing a tower as in  claim 8 , further comprising attaching an antenna support structure by clamping or otherwise to the concrete reinforcement column after the reinforcement column is formed.  
     
     
         16 . The method of reinforcing a tower as in  claim 8 , further comprising attaching an antenna support structure to an un-embedded portion of the guy tower above the reinforcement column.  
     
     
         17 . A method of reinforcing a metal guy tower comprising forming a concrete reinforcement column with an existing vertical length of the guy tower embedded in the reinforcement column.  
     
     
         18 . The method of reinforcing a guy tower as in  claim 17 , wherein forming a concrete reinforcement column further comprises: 
 a. forming a mold around a lower portion of the guy tower to form a lower column section;    b. pouring wet concrete into the mold;    c. allowing the poured concrete to at least partially cure;    d. releasing the mold from the lower column section;    e. raising the mold and positioning the mold at an upper portion of the tower contiguous with the lower portion of the tower; and    f. molding an upper column section contiguous with the lower column section.    
     
     
         19 . The method of reinforcing a guy tower as in  claim 17 , wherein forming a concrete reinforcement column further comprises: 
 a. forming a mold from the bottom of the guy tower to a desired height of the concrete reinforcement column;    b. pouring concrete into the mold;    c. allowing the poured concrete to at least partially cure; and    d. releasing the mold from the concrete reinforcement column.    
     
     
         20 . The method of reinforcing a guy tower as in  claim 17 , wherein forming a concrete reinforcement column comprises forming a concrete column extending only partially along the entire vertical length of the guy tower.  
     
     
         21 . The method of reinforcing a guy tower as in  claim 17 , wherein forming a concrete reinforcement column comprises forming a concrete column extending the entire vertical length of the guy tower.  
     
     
         22 . The method of reinforcing a guy tower as in  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 a. removing guy wires as the concrete reinforcement column is molded upward;    b. adding brackets connected to the concrete reinforcement column;    c. removing the mold from the concrete reinforcement column; and    d. attaching the guy wires to the brackets.    
     
     
         23 . The method of reinforcing a guy tower as in  claim 17 , further comprising molding an antenna support structure into the concrete reinforcement column.  
     
     
         24 . The method of reinforcing a guy tower as in  claim 17 , further comprising attaching an antenna support structure to the tower structure that is partially embedded in the concrete reinforcement column as the reinforcement column is formed.  
     
     
         25 . The method of reinforcing a guy tower as in  claim 17 , further comprising attaching an antenna support structure by clamping or otherwise to the concrete reinforcement column after the concrete reinforcement column is formed.  
     
     
         26 . The method of reinforcing a guy tower as in  claim 17 , further comprising attaching an antenna support structure to an un-embedded portion of the guy tower above the concrete reinforcement column.  
     
     
         27 . The method of reinforcing a guy tower as in  claim 17 , wherein forming the mold further comprises forming a cylindrically shaped mold.  
     
     
         28 . The method of reinforcing a guy tower as in  claim 17 , further comprising molding a plurality of spaced apart tension cables into and extending vertically through the concrete reinforcement column.  
     
     
         29 . The method of reinforcing a guy tower as in  claim 28 , further comprising providing a tensioner for tensioning the tension cables in the concrete reinforcement column.  
     
     
         30 . A method of reinforcing a monopole tower comprising forming a concrete reinforcement column encapsulating a vertical length of the monopole tower.  
     
     
         31 . The method of reinforcing a monopole tower as in  claim 30 , wherein forming a concrete reinforcement column further comprises: 
 a. forming a mold around a portion of the monopole tower;    b. pouring concrete into the mold;    c. allowing the poured concrete to at least partially solidify; and    d. releasing the mold from the partially solidified concrete.    
     
     
         32 . The method of reinforcing a monopole tower as in  claim 30 , wherein forming a concrete reinforcement column further comprises: 
 a. forming a mold around a lower portion of the monopole tower to form a lower column section;    b. pouring wet concrete into the mold;    c. allowing the poured concrete to at least partially cure;    d. releasing the mold from the lower column section;    e. raising the mold and positioning the mold at an upper portion of the tower contiguous with the lower portion of the tower; and    f. molding an upper column section contiguous with the lower column section.    
     
     
         33 . The method of reinforcing a monopole tower as in  claim 30 , wherein forming a concrete reinforcement column further comprises: 
 a. forming a mold from the bottom of the monopole tower to a desired height of the concrete column;    b. pouring concrete into the mold;    c. allowing the poured concrete to at least partially cure; and    d. releasing the mold from the concrete reinforcement column.    
     
     
         34 . The method of reinforcing a monopole tower as in  claim 30 , wherein the concrete reinforcement column formed extending only partially along the entire vertical length of the monopole tower.  
     
     
         35 . The method of reinforcing a monopole tower as in  claim 30 , wherein forming a concrete reinforcement column is formed extending the entire vertical length of the monopole tower.  
     
     
         36 . The method of reinforcing a monopole tower as in  claim 30 , further comprising molding an antenna support structure into the concrete reinforcement column.  
     
     
         37 . The method of reinforcing a monopole tower as in  claim 30 , further comprising attaching to the tower an antenna support structure that is partially embedded in the concrete reinforcement column as the concrete reinforcement column is formed.  
     
     
         38 . The method of reinforcing a monopole tower as in  claim 30 , further comprising attaching an antenna support structure by clamping or otherwise to the concrete column after the concrete reinforcement column is formed.  
     
     
         39 . The method of reinforcing a monopole tower as in  claim 30 , further comprising attaching an antenna support structure to an un-embedded portion of the monopole tower above the concrete reinforcement column.