Tower structure

Claim 2

A tower comprising: a lower base; an upper platform; a plurality of spaced apart, essentially vertically disposed legs, connected to said platform and extending between said base and said platform, and arranged about and spaced apart from a central vertical axis; a plurality of upwardly extending, spaced apart, inclined legs connected to and extending between said base and said platform, arranged throughout their length about said axis at distances greater than the distances of said vertically disposed legs from said axis, and each said inclined leg being inclined with respect to said axis at an essentially constant angle of inclination so that the longitudinal axis of each of said inclined legs lies within a surface of revolution which defines a hyperboloid of one sheet; and said vertically disposed legs and said upwardly extending inclined legs being the sole support extending between said platform and said base.

Claim 3

A tower comprising: a lower base; an upper platform; a plurality of spaced apart, essentially vertically disposed, generally straight legs arranged about and spaced apart from a central vertical axis, connected to said platform, and extending between said base and said platform; and a plurality of spaced apart, inclined, generally straight legs, arranged throughout their length about said axis at distances greater than the distances of said vertically disposed legs from said axis, each said inclined leg being connected to and extending between said base and said platform, each said inclined leg being inclined in essentially the same direction with respect to the leg adjacent thereto and at essentially the same angle with respect to said axis, and each said inclined leg being spaced from said axis at a symmetrically arranged predetermined distance at any given generally horizontal plane located between the extremities of said inclined legs with said predetermined distance being less at a point intermediate said leg extremities than at said leg extremities; said vertically disposed legs and said upwardly extending inclined legs being the sole support extending between said platform and said base.

Claim 4

A tower comprising: a lower base; an upper platform; a plurality of spaced apart, essentially vertically disposed, generally straight legs arranged about and spaced apart from a central vertical axis, connected to said platform, and extending between said base and said platform; and a plurality of spaced apart, inclined, generally straight legs, arranged throughout their length about said axis at distances greater than the distances of said vertically disposed legs from said axis, each said inclined leg being connected to and extending between said base and said platform, each said inclined leg being inclined in essentially the same direction with respect to the leg adjacent thereto and at essentially the same angle with respect to said axis, and each said inclined leg being spaced from said axis at a symmetrically arranged predetermined distance at any given generally horizontal plane located between the extremities of said inclined legs with said predetermined distance being less at a point intermediate said leg extremities than at said leg extremities; said vertically disposed legs and said upwardly extending inclined legs being the sole support extending between said platform and said base.

Claim 5

A tower according to claim 2 wherein: each of said essentially vertical legs extends through said base and into the earth so as to anchor said tower; each of said inclined legs is tubular, has a hollow interior, and has open upper and lower extremities; an inner conductor tube is installed within at least some of said inclined legs; and at least some of said conductor tubes extend out the lower extremity of its associated inclined leg and into the earth so as to further anchor said tower.

Claim 6

A tower according to claim 3 wherein: said tower is an offshore tower; said base is adapted to rest upon the bed of a body of water with a portion of said tower extending above the surface of the water; and said conductor tube is adapted to receive a drill string and conduct same downwardly into the earth at an inclination to the vertical.

Claim 7

A tower according to claim 4 wherein: said conductor tube is generally coextensive with the inclined leg in which it is installed so as to form an annulus between said conductor tube and said inclined leg; and said annulus is at least partially filled with grouting.

Claim 8

A tower according to claim 4 wherein: each of said vertically disposed legs is tubular, has a hollow interior, has open upper and lower extremities, and is adapted to receive a drill string and conduct same downwardly into the earth.

Claim 9

A tower according to claim 1 wherein liquid storage tank means is disposed below said upper platform and is supported on said base within the region defined by the inner edges of said inclined legs.

Claim 10

A tower according to claim 4 wherein: at least a portion of the outer edges of said inclined legs are covered with a continuous sheath of metal plate.

Claim 11

A tower according to claim 2 wherein: there is provided a second plurality of spaced apart, inclined, generally straight legs, arranged about said axis at distances greater than the distances of said first plurality of inclined legs from said axis, each connected to said platform and extending between said base and said platform, and each being inclined with respect to each other in the same direction and at essentially the same angle with respect to said axis as the legs of said first plurality of inclined legs.

Claim 12

A tower according to claim 9 wherein the inclined legs in said second plurality of inclined legs are each inclined with respect to each other in a direction opposite to the direction of the legs of said first plurality of inclined legs.

Claim 13

A tower according to claim 10 wherein connecting means are provided between tangent or adjacent legs of said first plurality of inclined legs and said second plurality of inclined legs.

Claim 14

A tower according to claim 9 wherein: each of said essentially vertical legs extends through said base and into the earth so as to anchor said tower; each of said inclined legs is tubular, has a hollow interior, and has open upper and lower extremities; an inner conductor tube is installed within at least some of said inclined legs; and at least some of said conductor tubes extend out the lower extremity of its associated inclined leg and into the earth so as to further anchor said tower.

Claim 15

A tower according to claim 12 wherein: said tower is an offshore tower; said base is adapted to rest upon the bed of a body of water with a portion of said tower extending above the surface of the water; and said conductor tube is adapted to receive a drill string and conduct same downwardly into the earth at an inclination to the vertical.

Claim 16

A tower according to claim 13 wherein: each of said vertically disposed legs is tubular, has a hollow interior, has open upper and lower extremities, and is adapted to receive a drill string and conduct same downwardly into the earth.

Claim 17

A tower according to claim 13 wherein: liquid storage tank means is disposed below said upper platform and is supported on said base within the region defined by the inner edges of said inclined legs.

Claim 18

A tower according to claim 11 wherein: at least a portion of the outer edges of said outer row of inclined legs are covered with a continuous sheath of metal plate.

Claim 19

A tower according to claim 2 wherein each of said inclined legs is spaced equidistant from said axis at any given generally horizontal plane located between the extremities of said legs and said extremities of said legs are spaced equidistant from said axis to form a generally circular pattern at said extremities of said inclined legs; said vertical legs and saId inclined legs providing a support structure which is omnidirectional between said base and said platform with respect to dynamic environmental forces such as wind, ice, and water.

Claim 20

A tower according to claim 2 wherein each of said inclined legs is spaced from said axis in a manner to form a generally elliptical pattern at said extremities of said inclined legs.

Claim 21

A tower according to claim 1 wherein said vertically disposed legs and said upwardly extending inclined legs provide a support structure which is omnidirectional between said base and said platform with respect to dynamic environmental forces such as wind, ice, and water.