FIELD

This invention relates to a pole for supporting lighting fixtures and other devices. BACKGROUND

Poles are traditionally used to raise lighting fixtures for illuminating roads and walkways. In smart city infrastructure and the Internet of Things (IoT), poles used for lighting may also conveniently be used as supports or attachment points for cameras, sensors and other information and communication technology (ICT) devices that may be used to implement various functions of the smart city and inter-networking of physical devices. Currently, providing ICT devices as part of smart city infrastructure is performed on an ad-hoc basis where each device is mounted onto an existing light pole or street sign pole and connected individually, resulting in an aesthetically unpleasant finish as well as being labour intensive and time consuming to perform.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect, there is provided a pole for supporting a light fixture and information and communication devices thereon, the pole comprising: an I-beam comprising a vertical web disposed between two parallel horizontal flanges; and a cladding defining an elongate space and housing the I-beam therein; wherein the elongate space is separated into two channels by at least the web of the I-beam.

The cladding may comprise an extrusion, a wall of the extrusion having a closed cross- sectional shape.

The cladding may comprise internal guides to engage the flanges of the I-beam.

The internal guides may comprise longitudinal ribs projecting from an inner surface of the cladding.

The pole may further comprise a base, the base comprising a base plate having a central through hole for passing cabling therethrough, the base plate configured to be secured to a site where the pole is installed; and an upstanding hollow central column provided on the base plate, a bottom portion of the I-beam received in the central column. The base further may comprise a casing provided about and spaced apart from the central column.

The base further may comprise radial ribs extending from the central column to support the casing, wherein the casing contacts free longitudinal edges of the radial ribs such that the radial ribs and the casing together define a number of separate chambers, the number of chambers being equal to the number of radial ribs.

A top end of each of the radial ribs may extend above a top end of the central column.

An inner edge at the top end of each of the radial ribs may be connected to a central hollow tube, the central hollow tube being coaxial with the central column and having an internal cavity large enough for passage of the I-beam therethrough, a bottom end of the central hollow tube being spaced apart from the top end of the central column.

A bottom end of the cladding may rest on the top end of each of the radial ribs.

The casing may comprise a plurality of separate sections each having upstanding side edges to slidably engage the free longitudinal edges of the radial ribs.

The pole may further comprise hinged flaps provided around the cladding at a top end of the casing, wherein lifting one of the flaps allows a corresponding one of the sections of the casing to be raised and thereby create an opening between a bottom edge of the section and the base for access to a corresponding one of the chambers.

Each of the hinged flaps may be lockable to prevent unauthorized access to each of the chambers.

The I-beam may comprise two U-shaped or C-shaped channels arranged back to back.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

In order that the invention may be fully understood and readily put into practical effect there shall now be described by way of non-limitative example only exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the description being with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.

Fig. la is a perspective view of an I-beam of an exemplary pole.

Fig. lb is a perspective view of an exemplary cladding of the exemplary pole.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary embodiment of the pole.

Fig. 3 is a side view of another exemplary embodiment of the pole.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of the cladding.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a further exemplary embodiment of the cladding.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the pole.

Fig. 7 is an exploded assembly view of the pole of Fig. 6 not showing the I-beam and the

cladding.

Fig. 8 is an oblique cross-sectional view of a base portion of the pole of Fig 6 through D-D.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of an I-beam comprising two U- shaped or C-shaped channels arranged back to back.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a base of the pole not showing the casing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments of a pole 100 will be described below with reference to Figs. 1 to 10. The same reference numerals are used in the different figures to denote the same or similar parts.

In general, the pole 100 comprises a cladding 10 housing an I-beam 20 therein. The I-beam 20 comprises a vertical web 21 disposed between two parallel and spaced-apart horizontal flanges 22, as shown in Fig. la, and is made of structural steel to serve as a structural element for bearing load of the pole 100 and anything else that may be provided on the pole 100, such as one or more lighting fixtures and other ICT devices. For the avoidance of doubt, an I-beam is also known as an H-beam, Universal Beam (UB), or Rolled Steel Joist (RSJ) and the term "I- beam" is thus understood to also refer to such. It should be noted that in the present application, the term "I-beam" also refers to two U-shaped or C-shaped channels 29 arranged back to back as shown in Fig. 9, so that the two U-shaped or C-shaped channels 29 together effectively form an I-beam where the backs 28 of each of the two U-shaped or C-shaped channels 29 together define the vertical web 21 of the I-beam 20.

The cladding 10 defines an elongate space 1 1, as shown in Fig. lb, and serves to house the I- beam 20 as well as electrical and data cabling (not shown) that may be provided within the pole 100. Electrical cabling is provided to power light fixtures (not shown) on the pole 100, while data cabling is provided to connect ICT devices (not shown) on the pole 100 with a smart city or other desired network. The elongate space 11 defined by the cladding 10 is separated into two channels 41, 42 by at least the web 21 of the I-beam 20 housed in the cladding 10, as shown in Fig. 2. The first channel 31 and the second channel 32 may be identical. The first and second channels 41, 42 allow electrical cabling and data cabling to be separately housed in different channels 41, 42 within the pole 100. Cables in the first channel 41 are electromagnetically shielded from cables in the second channel 42 by the web 21 of the I-beam 20. In this way, interference is minimized between electrical and data cabling that are simultaneously provided within the pole 100. This allows the exterior of the pole 100 to be cable- free even when ICT devices such as cameras or sensors are provided on the pole 100 since the cabling for such ICT devices can be enclosed in the pole 100 together with electrical cabling for the lighting fixtures without experiencing electromagnetic interference sincen the data cabling is provided within one the channels 41 , 42 while electrical cabling is provided within the other of the channels 41, 42.

The cladding 10 comprises an extrusion made of an appropriate material such as aluminium, steel, or polycarbonate where transparency may be desired. In some embodiments, the pole 100 may comprise multiple sections of cladding 10 made of different materials. For example, as shown in Fig. 3, the cladding 10 may comprise opaque aluminium sections 10-1 as well as a transparent polycarbonate section 10-2 where transparency is required to house a camera or other light receiving device (not shown) within one of the channels 41, 42 of the pole 100. The cladding 10 preferably has a closed external cross-sectional shape to prevent cables in the channels 41, 42 from being exposed to the elements. The exemplary embodiment in Figs, lb and 2 show the cladding 10 having a circular cross-section which presents the pole 100 as a cylinder. The cladding 10 may have an external cross-section of any other shape, such as a rounded square, rounded rectangle, hexagon, and so on, as long as the elongate space 11 defined by the cladding 10 is of a sufficient size to house the I-beam 20 within the cladding 10.

The cladding 10 preferably further comprises internal guides 12 to engage the flanges 22 of the I-beam 20. The internal guides 12 help to secure the cladding 10 to the I-beam 20 and to prevent movement of the cladding 10 relative to the I-beam 20 when the cladding 10 and the I- beam 20 have been assembled together. The internal guides 12 preferably comprise longitudinal ribs projecting from an inner surface 18 of the cladding 10. The internal guides 12 are preferably integral with the cladding 10, being likewise extruded, and may be of any appropriate size and shape to engage the flanges 22 of the I-beam 20. Figs. 4 and 5 show different exemplary embodiments of the internal guides 12 and the wall 19 of the cladding 10. For example, the internal guides 12 may comprise at least one straight rib to engage each side of each flange 22 of the I-beam as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, or the internal guides 12 may comprise L-shaped ribs each provided to engage each side of each flange 22 of the I-beam as shown in Fig. 5.

The pole 100 may further comprise a base 30 as shown in Figs. 6 to 8. The base 30 provides structural rigidity and support to the pole 100 and is configured to be secured to the site where the pole 100 is installed. The base 30 comprises a base plate 31 having a central through hole for passing cabling therethrough from under the base 30. The base plate 31 is preferably made of steel. The base 30 also comprises an upstanding hollow central column 32 provided on the base plate 31. The central column 32 is preferably also made of steel. The central column 32 is preferably integral with the base plate 31 , and may be welded to the base plate 31. The central column 32 is hollow to allow passage of cabling therethrough and to receive a bottom portion of the I-beam 20 therein to keep the I-beam 20 upright. In an exemplary embodiment, the central column 32 may have a length of about 1 m when the I-beam 20 has a length of about 6 m, so that about one-sixth of the I-beam 20 is supported in the central column 32. The central column 32 preferably has a cross-sectional shape that is a rectangle or rounded rectangle, having an internal cavity sized and shaped to receive the I-beam 20 with a clearance fit. Alternatively, the central column 32 may have a circular cross-sectional shape or any other cross-sectional shape that can suitably accommodate the I-beam 20 therein.

The base 30 may further comprise a casing 33 provided about and spaced apart from the central column 32 to enclose circuitry (not shown) provided in the base 30 as well as for aesthetic purposes. The casing 33 may be made of any appropriate material, for example, aluminium, steel, or a UV resistant polyethylene.

In an exemplary embodiment, the base 30 further comprises radial ribs 34 extending from the central column 32 to support the casing 33 as well as the cladding 10. An inner edge of each of the ribs 34 may be welded to the central column 32 and a bottom end of each rib 34 may be welded to the base plate 31. The ribs 34 are preferably equally angled apart from each other about the central column 32. The casing 33 contacts free longitudinal edges 34b of the ribs 34, so that the ribs 34 and the casing 33 together define a number of separate chambers 35 within the base 30. The separate chambers 35 allow separate sets of circuitry to be simultaneously housed in the base 30 in each of the separate chambers 35 respectively without interference with one another, therein. The number of chambers 35 in the base 30 is equal to the number of ribs 34. At least two ribs 34 may be provided, preferably three or four.

A top end of each rib 34 preferably extends above a top end of the central column 32 so that when the I-beam 20 has been received in the central column 32 and the cladding 10 is assembled with the I-beam 20, a bottom end of the cladding 10 rests on the top ends of the ribs 34, exposing a section of the I-beam 20 below the bottom end of the cladding 10 in gaps 36 formed between the top end of the ribs 34 and the top end of the central column 32. In this way, a bottom end of the channels 41, 42 in the pole 100 is open and accessible via the gaps 36. Cabling that passes through the base plate 31 and the central column 32 into the channels 41, 42 may be accessed through the gaps 36 for connection to circuitry provided in the chambers 35 of the base 30.

In one embodiment of the base 30, as shown in Fig. 7, the top end of each rib 34 may be isolated from the other ribs. In an alternative embodiment of the base 30 as shown in Fig. 10 (casing 33 not shown), an inner edge at the top end of each rib 34 may be connected to a central hollow tube 39. The central hollow tube is preferably coaxial with the central column 32. The central hollow tube 39 has an internal cavity that is large enough for passage of the I- beam 20 therethrough. A bottom end of the central hollow tube 39 is spaced apart from the top end of the central column 32 so that the gaps 36 for passage of cabling therethrough are provided below the bottom end of the central hollow tube 39. The central hollow tube 39 provides additional strength and rigidity to the ribs 34 for supporting the cladding 10 thereon. The central hollow tube 39 may have a circular cross-sectional shape or any other cross- sectional shape to allow passage of the I-beam 20 therethrough and to support the cladding 10 thereon.

The casing 33 may be provided as a plurality of separate sections 33a each having upstanding side edges 33b that slidably engage the free longitudinal edges 34b of the ribs 34, as shown in Fig. 8. At a top end of the casing 33, hinged flaps 37 may be provided around the cladding 10, as shown in Fig. 6. The hinged flaps 37 preferably pivot about hinges 38 having horizontal axes adjacent the cladding 10, so that each flap 36 may be lifted to allow a section 33a of the casing 33 to be raised. Raising a section 33a of the casing 33 creates an opening between a bottom edge 33c of the section 33a and the base plate 31, thereby gaining access to circuitry provided in a chamber 35 of the base 30.

As the pole 100 is configured to support lighting fixtures as well as ICT devices, it will be appreciated that different organizations may be involved with the installation and maintenance of the different fixtures and devices provided on the pole. Accordingly, each of the hinged flaps 38 may be configured to be lockable so that its corresponding chamber 35 is accessible to only the relevant organization that is responsible for that particular fixture or device that has circuitry and other components stored in that particular chamber 35. In this way, unauthorized access can be prevented to minimize tampering and accidental damage to the components and circuitry stored in the base 30 of the pole 100.

Whilst there has been described in the foregoing description exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the technology concerned that many variations and combination in details of design, construction and/or operation may be made without departing from the present invention.