[TowerTalk] Fwd: Relatively large tower base install questions.

Tue Mar 5 08:48:38 EST 2013

Holy cow - a 40-foot tower with 14-foot-wide base.

Before you go through all this pain I would look at AN Wireless or 
Trylon to see if it mightn't even be cost effective to go new.  They 
aren't that expensive, particularly when you figure in the cost of that 
size base.

73, Pete N4ZR
Check out the Reverse Beacon Network at
http://reversebeacon.net,
blog at reversebeacon.blogspot.com.
For spots, please go to your favorite
ARC V6 or VE7CC DX cluster node.

On 3/5/2013 12:36 AM, K8RI wrote:
> On 3/4/2013 10:32 PM, Hans Hammarquist wrote:
>> Hi Patrick,
>
> I noted earlier that you referred to the legs as pipe and the joins as 
> multi pinned pipe couplings.
>
> Is this constructed of pipe, or structural steel tubing?  There is 
> likely quite a bit od difference where strength is concerned
>
> 73
>
> Roger (K8RI)
>
>>
>>
>> I think you have some major engineering job in front of you. You can 
>> probably use your truck to erect it if you add a "falling derrick", 
>> something used in many cases raising a tower. I used one myself.
>>
>>
>> Regarding all the adds-on you definitely will need some engineering 
>> inputs. I also strongly suggest you get recommendations regarding the 
>> tower base. Just dig something down does not necessary guaranteeing a 
>> proper support. I imagine you will get some lifting forces on the 
>> legs when you add structures to the top of the tower. Most towers 
>> take care of these forces by the guy wires but I imaging you should 
>> be able to use some nice size anchors at the tower legs for the 
>> self-supporting tower.
>>
>>
>> You might check out my tower and its erection here. 
>> https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150198503693539.328964.579753538&type=1&l=1c649b80ab
>>
>>
>> Good luck with your project and keep us updated what's happening.
>>
>>
>> Hans - N2JFS
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Patrick Greenlee <patrick_g at windstream.net>
>> To: towertalk <towertalk at contesting.com>
>> Sent: Mon, Mar 4, 2013 12:09 pm
>> Subject: [TowerTalk] Relatively large tower base install questions.
>>
>>
>> Background:
>>
>> I have recently purchased the remnants of a failed tower from a 
>> friend of
>> mine. The tower was originally 100 ft tall, of triangular 
>> construction and
>> the legs were on a little over 14 ft centers (that is right over 14 
>> feet not
>> inches) where they were attached to 18 inch diameter concrete piers 7 ft
>> deep into the ground. The tower held a wind generator and it failed 
>> due to
>> gyroscopic forces applied by the rotating mass changing directions 
>> due to
>> variable wind directions.  A witness described the event as quite
>> spectacular.  Anyway the bottom two sections are in great shape, just a
>> little surface rust.  The legs are about 4 1/2 inches OD pipe and are 
>> joined
>> at the 20 ft level by pipe flanges that are multiply through bolted.  
>> Ditto
>> the connection to the pipe sections embedded in the 18 inch diameter 
>> piers.
>> The cross braces are angle iron bolted together where they cross and
>> attached at their ends to pad eyes welded to the steel legs. One leg has
>> welded on ladder rungs alternating on either side of that leg. Two of 
>> the
>> legs have hinged bases where they attach to the piers so the tower 
>> can be
>> tilted up and down.
>>
>> Over the years since installation lots of trees and brush has grown up
>> around and through the lower of the two sections making tilting down for
>> disassembly a real AXE MEN challenge ( hours of chainsaw work.) I 
>> have the
>> chainsaws up to one with a 32 inch bar and a motor the size of a 
>> small dirt
>> bike but it might be easier to just climb the tower and disassemble 
>> it from
>> the top down.  I have a friend who also has tower climbing experience 
>> and
>> personal safety gear (harness etc.) We expect to get it taken apart and
>> hauled off with a two day weekend effort.  I have a welding trailer with
>> 17.5 KW genset and air compressor to support the use of air driven 
>> impact
>> tools for taking the rusty fasteners apart (or twisting them off if
>> required.)
>>
>> So far so  good (just like the guy who fell from a 40 story building 
>> and as
>> he passed the 20th floor he shouted out so far so good) Then comes the
>> re-erection at my site.
>>
>> Questions:
>>
>> I am open for suggestions. Lacking credible objections from this 
>> august body
>> I will try to assemble this 40 ft tower on the ground and tilt it up 
>> into
>> place. I will have 360 degree access and freedom all around the site.  I
>> have a truck with a front mounted winch of 12,000 pound capacity.  I 
>> have a
>> good stock of 2 3/8 oil field pipe,k drill stem, etc and full welding,
>> cutting, bending, whatever capacity in my shop.
>>
>> Since in its new life this tower base is not holding up a 100 ft 
>> heavy duty
>> tower what is a reasonable pier size and depth?  I can auger up to 12 
>> inch
>> diameter holes up to nearly 6 ft deep with my equipment, Alternatively I
>> have a ride on trencher (like a backhoe but self propelled not on the 
>> back
>> of a tractor) that can dig a 13 inch wide trench down to 7 ft or so. 
>> I could
>> block off part of the trench and back fill prior to the pour and have 
>> a more
>> or less rectangular pier about 13 by xx inches up to about 7 ft deep but
>> this is more effort and pending your input may not be required.
>>
>> I intend to add a spiral (triangular) staircase around the outside of 
>> the
>> tower to access the observation/work platform that I will install at 
>> the 40
>> ft level. This deck will be larger than the tower's triangle 
>> dimensions at
>> the top (40 ft level) and so will be cantilevered.  I will not extend 
>> this
>> deck so wide as to extend beyond a vertical projection of the piers 
>> thus not
>> risk a tip-over event due to any load of sightseers.  I want to 
>> install an
>> automated crank-up tower inside this tower such that when fully 
>> lowered you
>> can stand on the platform and access the lowest antenna on the tube 
>> coming
>> out of the center of the top of the crank-up tower.
>>
>> Any thoughts?
>>
>> How much pier diameter and depth into the ground is enough?
>>
>> Gin pole recommendations for tilting up after reassembly?
>>
>> I assume I would install the crank-up tower inside the 40 footer 
>> prior to
>> tilting the tower upright but will entertain alternative suggestions.
>>
>> TIA for any help
>>
>> Patrick AF5CK
>>
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>>
>>
>>
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