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Electric Utility Engineers who design and maintain transmission lines face many challenges including weak, soft soils that can’t bear much weight and aggressive soil that corrodes metal. Whether you are facing Virginia’s Coastal Plain or western Colorado’s Mancos Shale, CHANCE® offers protection to ensure the helical foundations and anchors beneath transmission towers will function properly and withstand the test of time.

It is well-documented that the best method for predicting the capacity of helical piles and anchors is to measure the installation torque. Accurate torque measurements are crucial to calculate the load capacity or holding capacity.

1. Once all safety concerns have been addressed, attach the Kelly bar adapter and installing tool assembly to the Kelly bar on the installing truck.
2. Insert the upper end of the anchors’ lead section into the installing tool. Position the anchor at the desired guy location and at a near vertical position; screw the first helix into the ground.
3. When the first helix is buried, begin to make the angular adjustment for the desired guying angle.
4. Remember, final angular adjustments should be made before the second helix penetrates the ground.
5. When the installing tool becomes 12”-18” from the ground, disconnect it from the section in the ground and reconnect it to the next extension.

As with most mechanical devices, CHANCE® anchor-installing tools periodically require maintenance checks to ensure peak performance.

TORQUE INDICATOR

In the case of the shear-pin torque limiter, (see drawing below to the right) you should be able to rotate the tool shear halves independently from one another using a smooth-turning action. If rotation cannot be done by hand or if movement is challenging, disassemble the torque indicator to check the thrust bearing, washers and/or pin for wear.

1. Choose anchor site carefully. Rock anchors will only perform effectively in solid competent rock (Class 0 Soil).
2. Drill the hole into the competent rock a minimum depth of 12 inches along the drill steel. Be sure to drill so that the anchor rod will be in line with the guy.
3. Holes should be drilled so the diameter is optimally an 1/8th inch larger than the diameter of the unexpanded anchor. For example, the hole drilled for a R315 is 1-7/8 inch diameter. However, drill bits are usually available in 1/4 inch increments. In practice, a 2 inch diameter hole is drilled for the R3_ series anchors and a 2-1/2 inch dia. hole is drilled for the R1_series anchors. Be sure to thoroughly clean the drilled hole of rock dust and debris.

"Proper alignment" and "down pressure" are simple phrases to summarize proper anchor installation technique. The Power Installed Screw Anchor (PISA®) wrench transmits torque from the digger’s Kelly bar to the anchor hub. Note: The anchor rod only has to be of sufficient diameter to support the guy load.

It is essential to use installing tools and anchors that are properly rated for trucks during the installation of power-installed screw anchors (PISA®). The high torque energy used in installing high-strength anchors requires the control of hazardous torque, which can be safely completed by proper tools. 

The CHANCE® grouted rock anchor is designed to be used in situations where the soil is too rocky to use screw anchors, and the rock is fractured preventing the use of wedge style rock anchors. The forged knob on the end of the anchor along with any extension couplings provides the interference fit with the grout. The holding capacity of the anchor is dependent on the bond stress between the rock and the grout. The grouted rock anchor is designed to be used in line with the guy. Failure to install within 5° of alignment with the guy load will significantly lower strength.

Historical Analysis

During the early development of the screw anchor, the load resistance of an installed anchor could not be predicted with adequate accuracy. Specific information on soil conditions was lacking, making anchor selection more or less a guess. With little consideration for soil variations, the effects of seasonal weather changes or drainage, soils were classified as: either sand, clay, hardpan or swamp. At that time, there was not a definitive explanation for the soil conditions.