GB2360317A

GB2360317A - Post installation method

Info

Publication number: GB2360317A
Application number: GB0006162A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan Morley
Original assignee: Trueform Engineering Ltd
Current assignee: Trueform Engineering Ltd
Priority date: 2000-03-14
Filing date: 2000-03-14
Publication date: 2001-09-19
Anticipated expiration: 2020-03-14
Also published as: GB0006162D0; GB2360317B

Abstract

The post installation method, particularly for use with fence and gate posts, signposts, bus or tram stop posts etc, is for installing a post at the site of an existing post and involves forming the existing post so that it has a portion 82 secured by a support, e.g. below ground, and a portion 94 extending upwards. A post 10 is provided which has an aperture extending up into its lower end, with the new post being positioned over the existing post so that the upwardly extending portion of the existing post is received in the aperture of the new post. The new post is secured in place by threaded elements that are movably positioned within a groove of the apertured post and which force at least part of the inside surface of the apertured post against the surface of the existing post so as to prevent movement between the two.

Description

2360317 POSTS The invention relates to a method of installing a post at a

site of an existing installed post. Additionally, the invention relates to a corresponding assembly comprising a first post or part of a post and a second post.

Many existing installed posts have a lower portion fixed in a support, for example, the ground. Current methods for installing a new post at the site of an existing installed post of this type generally involve digging the existing post out of the support and fixing the new post in the resulting hole. Concrete can be used to fix the new post in the hole. Such methods, however, can involve a considerable amount of time, effort and expense. Further, if the installation is being performed at a busy location, a considerable amount of disruption may be caused to passers-by.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of installing a post at a site of an existing installed post, the existing post having a lower portion fixed in a support and an upper portion adjoining the lower portion and extending from the support, the method comprising, providing a post having an end and an aperture extending into the post from the end, and positioning the apertured post so that at least part of the upper portion is received in the aperture, the portions supporting the apertured post.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an assembly 2 comprising, a first post or part of a post having a lower portion fixed in a support and an upper portion adjoining the first portion and extending from the support, a second post having an end and a aperture extending into the post from the end, at least part of the upper portion being received in the aperture, and the portions supporting the second post.

The method of the invention may allow posts to be installed more quickly, cheaply and easily than current methods.

The following is a more detailed description of embodiments of the invention, by way of example, reference being made to the appended schematic drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows, in side elevation, a new bus stop post that has been installed at the site of an existing installed bus stop post, part of the existing post also being shown; Figure 2 is a side elevation, from another angle, showing the new post and the part of the existing post that are shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows part of the new bus stop post of Figures 1 and 2 and the part of the existing post shown in these Figures; Figure 4 shows, in cross-section, the new bus stop post and the part of the existing bus 3 stop post of Figures 1 to 3; Figure 5 shows a part of the new bus stop post of Figures 1 to 4, and the part of the existing bus stop post shown in these Figures; and Figure 6 shows a different method of fixing the new bus stop post of Figures 1 to 5 to the part of the existing bus stop post of these Figures.

The new bus stop post 10, shown in Figures 1 to 6, is intended for installation at the site of the existing installed bus stop post (not shown in its entirety).

The new bus stop post 10 may be formed in one piece, by extrusion, from any suitable material, for example aluminium. As best seen in Figure 4, the new bus stop post 10 has first and second convexly curved side walls 14, 16. The first and second side walls 14, 16 are joined to one another at respective first edges by a U-shaped fonnation 18 such that imaginary tangents to the side walls 14, 16 meet at an angle of approximately 60'.

A second edge of the first side wall 14 is joined to a second edge of the second side wall 16 by a third side wall 20. The third side wall 20 has a first convexly curved portion 22 that extends from the second edge of the first side wall 14 to a first short, inwardly extending portion 24. The first inwardly extending portion 24 extends to a 4 central planar portion 26. The central portion 26 extends at right angles to the first inwardly extending portion 24 to a second short inwardly extending portion 28. The second inwardly extending portion 28 extends at right angles to the central portion 26 and parallel to the first inwardly extending portion 24. The second inwardly extending portion 28 meets a second convexly curved portion 30 which extends to the second edge of the second convexly curved side wall 16.

A first flange 32 extends from the junction of the first curved portion 22 and the first inwardly extending portion 24 in a direction parallel to the central portion 26. A second flange 34 extends from the junction of the second inwardly extending portion 28 and the second convexly curved portion 30 in a direction parallel to the central portion. Hence, the arrangement is such that the first flange 32, the first inwardly extending portion 24 and the central portion 26 define a first groove 36 and the second flange 34, the second inwardly extending portion 28 and the central portion 26 defines a second groove 38 - the grooves 36, 38 facing one another.

First and second longer projections 40, 42 extend into the interior of the bus stop post 10 from adjacent opposite edges of the central portion 26. First and second shorter projections 44, 46, located between the longer projections 40, 42, also extend into the interior of the bus stop post 10 from the central portion 26. Additionally, a short projection 48 extends into the interior of the bus stop post 10 from the first side wall 14 and a short projection 50 extends into the interior of the bus stop post 10 from the second side wall 16. Each one of the projections 40, 42, 44, 46, 48 and 50 has a respective end surface that lies generally tangentially to an imaginary cylinder centred approximately at the central axis of the bus stop post 10. The end surfaces are spaced around the imaginary cylinder and serve a purpose described below.

A first strengthening wall 52 extends between the first longer projection 40 and the first side wall 14 and a second strengthening wall 54 extends between the second longer projection 42 and the second side wall 16. First and second partially circular formations 56, 58 are provided on the first and second side walls 14, 16 respectively. Power cables can be pressed into the formations 46, 48 for the purpose, for example, of powering a light illuminating the bus stop.

An interior space 59 is located within the two side walls 14, 16, the central portion 26 and the strengthening walls 52, 54.

As best seen in Figures 3 and 4, the new bus stop post 10 carries two locking plates 60, 62 (one being located over the other when the bus stop post 10 is vertical as shown in Figure 3). The locking plates 60, 62 are identical and only the top locking plate 60 will be described. The locking plate 60 is circular and has two thinner edge portions 64, 66 separated by a thicker central portion 68. The thinner edge portions 64, 66 are located at opposite sides of the locking plate 60. At the centre of the locking plate 60 a threaded hole 70 extends across this plate 60 and serves a purpose described below.

6 On each side of the central threaded hole 70, a respective threaded hole 72, 74 of smaller diameter than the central threaded hole 70 extends across the plate 60. Each smaller threaded hole 72, 74 is provided with a correspondingly threaded screw 76, 78 with a sharp end.

Each thinner edge portion 64, 66 of the locking plate 60 is received in a respective one of the grooves 36, 38 of the bus stop post 10, as shown in Figure 4, so that the locking plate 60 is held to the bus stop post 10 and movable along the length of the post 10. As can be seend from in Figure 4, the sharp ended screws 76, 78 can be rotated within the smaller threaded holes 72, 74 so that the sharp ends of the screws 76, 78 engage the central portion 26 of the bus stop post 10. This locks the top plate 60 against movement along the length of the post 10.

The bottom locking plate 62 is carried by the bus stop post 10 in a similar manner, The new bus stop post 10 may, if desired, be used with a base piece 86 shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5. As best seen in Figure 5, the base piece 86 has three convexly curved side surfaces 88 that are arranged in a generally triangular orientation and that extend from a planar base surface (not shown) to a generally triangular top edge 90. An aperture 92 extends between the top edge 90 and the planar base surface - the aperture having a cross-section that is similar to the cross-section of the bus stop post 10 so as allow the bus stop post 10 to fit snugly within the aperture 92.

7 The existing installed bus stop post (part of which is shown in Figures 1 to 5) is hollow and circular in cross-section. The existing bus stop post, as is typical for known bus stop posts, has a lower end portion 82 that is fixed in a concrete foundation 84 in the ground. The remainder of the existing bus stop post extends upwardly from the lower portion 82.

Before the new bus stop post 10 is installed at the site of the existing bus stop post, the existing bus stop post is cut to leave an upper portion 94 of, for example, about 0.5m length extending upwardly from the ground and from the lower portion 82 (this upper portion and the lower portion are shown in Figures 1 to 6). If the base piece 86 is to be used, it is placed over the upper portion 94 so that the planar base surface contacts the ground.

The new bus stop post 10 is then positioned over the upper portion 94 and lowered onto the upper portion 94 so that the upper portion 94 enters the interior space 59 of the bus stop post 10 (see Figure 4). The removal of the top part of the previously used bus stop post greatly facilitates the fitting of the new bus stop post 10. The lower end of the new bus stop post 10 enters the aperture 92 of the base piece 86 and contacts the ground.

As shown in Figure 4, the upper portion 94 fits fairly loosely within the interior space 8 59 (allowing some lateral movement of the new bus stop post 10 relative to the upper portion 94). This also facilitates the fitting of the bus stop post 10 to the upper portion 94.

In order to fix the new bus stop post 10 to the upper portion 94, the top and bottom locking plates 60, 62 are slid in the grooves 36, 38 to respective positions located towards the top and bottom of the upper portion 94 (as shown in Figure 3). The positions of the central threaded holes 70 are then marked on the central portion 26. After first moving the locking plates 60, 62 aside, holes, slightly larger than the central threaded holes 70, are drilled through the central portion 26 at the marked positions. One of these holes is shown at 96 in Figure 4. Two further holes 98, this time slightly smaller than the central threaded holes 70 are drilled into the upper portion 94 - each hole 98 in the upper portion 94 being in line with a respective one of the holes 96 in the central portion 26 of the new bus stop post 10.

After moving the locking plates 60, 62 so that the central threaded holes 70 lie over respective ones of the holes 96, two locking screws 100, each having a conical end 102, are engaged with respective ones of the central threaded holes 70. The locking screws 100 are rotated until their conical ends 102 pass through the holes 96 in the central portion 26 and enter the holes 98 in the upper portion 94 of the existing post. As shown in Figure 4, the conical ends 102 are too large to pass completely into the holes 98. Hence the conical ends 102 engage the outer rims of the holes 98 - the 9 locking screws 100 being rotated until the ends of the short projections 48, 50 are forced against the upper portion 94. This serves to prevent lateral movement of the new bus stop post 10 relative to the upper portion 94. Additionally, the engagement of the conical ends 102 in the holes 98 in the upper portion 94 prevents axial movement of the new bus stop post 10.

A second method of fixing the new bus stop post 10 to the upper portion 94 is shown in Figure 6. In this method, the top and bottom locking plates 60, 62 are dispensed with and bolts 104 are passed through respective holes in the central portion 26 and in the upper portion 94, and the ends of the bolts are engaged with nuts 106 located in the interior of the upper portion 94. By tightening the bolts 104, the end surfaces of the longer projections 40, 42 and of the shorter projections 44, 46 are forced against the upper portion 94 so as to prevent lateral movement of the new bus stop post 10. The bolts 104 also serve to prevent axial movement of the new bus stop post 10.

Alternatively, the nuts 106 could be dispensed with and the bolts 104 could engage threaded holes cut in the upper portion 94. As another alternative, a thin sheet gripsert (also known as blind rivet nuts) could be used to fix the new post 10 to the upper portion 94.

After the new bus stop post 10 has been fixed to the upper portion 94, the new bus stop post 10 can be fitted with a timetable display housing 108 and a flag sign 110 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The display housing 10 8 and the sign 110 may be mounted on the new bus stop post 10 using the grooves 3 6, 3 8 in the post 10.

The new bus stop post 10 is supported by the lower and upper portions 82, 94. It will be appreciated that it is considerably easier, quicker and cheaper to erect a bus stop using the method described above than it is to erect a bus stop using the traditional method involving excavating a hole and setting the bus stop in a concrete foundation in the hole. Additionally, there is considerably less disruption to bus users and passersby.

It will be appreciated that the invention may be varied in a number of aspects.

Firstly, it is not necessary to remove the top of the existing bus stop post. The new bus stop 10 can be fitted over the entire existing bus stop post.

Secondly, the new bus stop post 10 and the existing bus stop post need not have the cross-sectional shapes described above. New and existing bus stop posts of any suitable cross-sectional shapes may be used.

The invention is not limited to bus stop posts and may be applied to the installation of any type of post at the site of an existing post. For example, the posts may be gate posts, fence posts, tram stop posts or sign posts. Normally, although not necessarily, the new post will serve the same purpose as the exiting post; this is to say that, for example, where the existing post is a bus stop post, the new post will normally also be a bus stop post.

Claims

12 CLAIMS

1. Method of installing a post at a site of an existing installed post, the existing post having a lower portion fixed in a support and an upper portion adjoining the lower portion and extending from the support, the method comprising, providing a post having an end and an aperture extending into the post from the end, and positioning the apertured post so that at least part of the upper portion is received in the aperture, the portions supporting the apertured post.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the existing post has a top portion spaced from the lower portion and adjoining the upper portion, the top portion being removed before said positioning.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the existing post has an end spaced from the lower portion, the upper portion extending to the end.

4. Method according to any preceding claim, further including fixing the apertured post to the existing post with said at least part of the upper portion within the aperture.

5. Method according to claim 4, wherein the relative sizes of the aperture and said at least part of the upper portion are such that, before said fixing, the apertured post is laterally movable with said at least part of the upper portion within the aperture, said 13 fixing including forcing of said at least part against an inner surface of the apertured post to prevent said lateral movement.

6. Method according to claim 5, wherein said apertured post carries a threaded member, the threaded member being rotatable to force the upper portion against said surface.

7. Method according to claim 6, wherein the apertured post defines a longitudinally extending groove, a further threaded member engaging the groove and being movable along the groove, the further threaded member being threadably engaged with the first-mentioned threaded member, the arrangement being such that said movement of the further threaded member allows the first-mentioned threaded member to be rotated whereby to effect said forcing at a plurality of different positions spaced along the length of said at least part of the upper portion.

8. Method according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the threaded member engages said at least part of the upper portion so as to lock the apertured post against axial movement.

9. Method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the threaded member is located at one side of said aperture and said surface is located at another side of said aperture opposite said one side.

14

10. Method according to any preceding claim, wherein the apertured post is a fence post, a gate post, a signpost, a bus stop post, or a tram stop post.

11. Method according to any preceding claim, wherein the support is the ground.

12. Assembly comprising, a first post or part of a post having a lower portion fixed in a support and an upper portion adjoining the first portion and extending from the support, a second post having an end and a aperture extending into the post from the end, at least part of the upper portion being received in the aperture, and the portions supporting the second post.

13. Assembly according to claim 12, including means for fixing the second post to the first post with said at least part of the upper portion within the aperture.

14. Assembly according to claim 13, wherein the relative sizes of the aperture and said at least part of the upper portion are such as to allow lateral movement of the second post with said at least part of the upper portion within the aperture, said fixing means forcing said at least part of the upper portion against an inner surface of the second post to prevent said lateral movement.

15. Assembly according to claim 14, wherein the said fixing means includes a threaded member, the threaded member being rotatable to force said at least part of the upper portion against said surface.

16. Assembly according to claim 15, wherein the second post defines a longitudinally extending groove, a further threaded member engaging the groove and being movable along the groove, the further threaded member being threadably engaged with the first-mentioned threaded member, the arrangement being such that said movement of the further threaded member allows the first-mentioned threaded member to be rotated whereby to effect said forcing at a plurality of different positions spaced along the length of said at least part of the upper portion.

17. Assembly according to claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the threaded member engages said at least part of the upper portion so as to lock the second post against axial movement.

18. Assembly according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the threaded member is located at one side of said aperture and said surface is located at another side of said aperture opposite said one side.

19. Assembly according to any one of claims 12 to 18, wherein the second post is a fence post, a gate post, a signpost, a bus stop post, or a tram stop post.

20. Assembly according to any one of claims 12 to 19, wherein the support is the 16 ground.

21. Method of installing a post at a site of an existing installed post, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the appended drawings.

22. Assembly comprising a first post or part of a post and a second post substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the appended drawings.