EP0961903A1

EP0961903A1 - Dynamic mast

Info

Publication number: EP0961903A1
Application number: EP98910797A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Antoine Honorat; Mathieu Florin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-02-21
Filing date: 1998-02-20
Publication date: 1999-12-08
Also published as: WO1998037362A1; FR2760033B1; FR2760033A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a mast supporting a unit (2) movable between a high position and a lowered position characterised in that it is formed by a hollow post (1) with a longitudinal slot for the passage of linking means between the unit (2) and a slide (12) inside a section (6) arranged inside said hollow post (1).

Description

DYNAMIC MAT.

The present invention relates to a mast supporting a functional block arranged in height in the position of use and which can be lowered for certain interventions, in particular maintenance or cleaning. Such masts are intended for example, but not exclusively, for urban lighting or the lighting of roads or stadiums, for monitoring or measuring devices, and more generally for any use requiring the implementation of a raised technical block.

Various types of such masts are known in the state of the art. By way of example, European patent EP270492 describes a device for supporting a lowerable device consisting of a profile comprising an external slide along which a movable carriage supporting a functional head can move.

PCT patent WO85 / 00418 discloses a lighting system constituted by a column supporting a lighting head which is suspended from a rope ensuring positioning in the high position, and allowing the descent for maintenance interventions. The devices of the state of the art are not entirely satisfactory in terms of reliability. In fact, they use mechanisms liable to deteriorate with the weather and do not sufficiently protect organs such as power cables and functional blocks.

The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a robust mast ensuring optimal protection of the various functional elements. To this end, the invention relates in its most general sense to a mast supporting a movable functional block between a high position and a lowered position, characterized in that it is formed by a hollow column having a longitudinal slot for the passage of the means connecting the functional block and a sliding carriage inside a profile disposed inside said hollow column.

According to a preferred variant, the profile has a main channel of transverse section complementary to the cross section of the carriage and opening on the one hand into a slot for the passage of the connecting means between the functional block and the carriage, and on the other hand on a secondary groove for the passage of cables for the connection of the functional block.

Advantageously, the carriage is constituted by a block having cavities for the housing of balls ensuring the guiding and the positioning with respect to the internal wall of the channel of the profile disposed inside the hollow column. According to a preferred variant, it further comprises a blade secured to the movable carriage, and sliding in slots provided in the profile, on either side of the passage between the main channel and the secondary groove.

According to another variant, the mast further comprises a blade winder.

According to a particular embodiment, the blade has at least one slot for blocking the movable carriage by the introduction of a locking member in said slot.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, referring to a nonlimiting example of embodiment represented by the appended drawings where: - Figure 1 shows a front view of the mast Figure 2 shows a profile view of the mast - Figure 3 shows a view along a plane of ^' transverse section AA';

- Figure 4 shows a view along a transverse sectional plane BB ';

- Figure 5 shows a front view of the mobile carriage;

- Figure 6 shows a view along a transverse sectional plane of the mobile carriage;

- Figure 7 shows a view along a longitudinal section plane of the mast, - Figure 8 shows a view along a transverse sectional plane of an alternative embodiment of the mast.

- Figures 9, 10 show sectional views of an alternative embodiment. Figures 1 and 2 show respectively front and side views of a mast according to the invention. It consists of a hollow column (1) with a conical shape, the height of which is 6 to 10 meters. The section varies between 60 mm at the top and 150 mm at the base. The functional block (2) consists of an optical block supported by an arm (3).

The column (1) has a slot (4) extending from the top of the mast to the base (5) whose height is 1.5 meters in the example described. The column is made in a known manner, for example from extruded aluminum.

Figures 3 and 4 show views along sectional planes respectively AA 'just above the base (5) and BB' at the top of the column. The column (1) comprises a straight profile (6) made of extruded aluminum. This profile (6) is housed in the hollow column (1) at the level of the slot (4). It has an outside section substantially equal to the minimum inside section of the column (1). The profile (6) has two lips (7, 8) which are placed on either side of the slot (4) of the column

(I). The profile (6) has a main channel (8) which opens on one side on a slot (10) between the two lips (7, 8), and on the opposite side on a groove

(II) • Inside this profile is housed a movable carriage (12) whose FIG. 5 represents a front view and FIG. 6 represents a view according to a transverse cutting plane.

The carriage consists of a straight plastic profile, the outer section of which complements the inner section of the channel (8) of the profile (6). This mobile carriage (12) has at its upper part a ring (13) for the suspension at the end of a rope (14) intended to hoist the mobile carriage (12) to the top of the mast. It has aluminum plates on its front face (15, 16). These plates (15, 16) are intended for the connection of the arm (3) supporting the functional block (2). The mobile carriage (12) has cavities for receiving a plurality of balls (16) ensuring the positioning of the carriage inside the channel (8) of the profile (6). These balls (16) are steel balls with a diameter of 12 millimeters. They provide gentle and precise guidance of the mobile assembly constituted by the mobile carriage (12) and the functional block (2). The carriage also has a channel (21) for the passage of the rope (14).

This carriage (12) is extended at its lower part by an elastically deformable metal blade (17). This blade is housed in the slots (19, 20) shown in Figures 3 and 4, extending on either side of the passage (21) between the channel main (8) and secondary groove (11). When the mobile carriage moves, the blade (17) slides in between these two slots, and ensures the closing of the groove (11) below the mobile carriage (12). This groove. (11) is provided for the passage of the power supply cable of the functional block (2), or any other technical cable. When the optical unit passes from the low position to the high position, the mobile carriage (12) pushes the cable back into the housing formed by the groove (11), closed at the front by the blade (17).

This blade is wound on a drum (18) housed in the base (5) of the mast, as shown in FIG. 7. This blade preferably has a curved profile so as to improve its transverse rigidity and to ensure precise positioning. The drum (18) is fixed to the underside of the profile (6). The profile (6) has at its lower part an opening (20) for the passage of the cable. The blade (17) is pierced by a light capable of being traversed by a locking pin (19) ensuring the blocking of the carriage in the low or intermediate position. This locking pin can be actuated by a special key.

FIG. 8 represents an alternative embodiment of the invention. The profile (30) consists of a channel formed in the column (1). This channel is delimited by walls (31, 32, 33) defining a constant section channel. Complementary walls (34, 35) reinforce the structure. According to an alternative embodiment shown in relation to Figure 9, the mast is in the form of a straight profile (40) made of extruded aluminum or other materials such as resin through pultrusion for example. This profile has a closed surface (41) which ensures the static of the mast over its height resistance to torsional forces and to buckling due to weight and wind - and an open surface (42) which allows the vertical movement of a carriage (43) secured to the lighting cell via a bracket. (44). The connection is provided by an axis (49) passing through the bracket (44) and supported by the carriage (43).

This mast, the profile of which can be made in different sections which correspond to specific mast heights up to 15m high - and for various applications - acceptable weight and surface at the head of the mast.

At the base of the mast, the part of the profile representing the open surface is used over a maximum height of 0.50m to accommodate the electrical connection with the general network and the mechanical system which ensures the movement of the carriage. On this part of the open mast, the profile is cut to make room for the drum and blade reel mechanical elements - and the electrical connection elements.

A door with an isolated security closure in this compartment which is only accessible by maintenance personnel. This regulatory inspection hatch allows access to the mechanical and electrical components of the candelabra at no time weakens the general static of the mast since, unlike the conventional masts marketed today, it is not made in the part of the closed profile .

The dynamic aspect of the mast is characterized by the vertical movement of the lighting module. This movement is ensured by means of a carriage

(43) which slides in the open part of the profile. This hard plastic carriage is machined to conform to the shape defined by this profile. Its size can vary in height depending on the load it is supposed to take over - single or double lighting, more or less significant overhang - This carriage is connected to the lighting cell by aluminum plates for example, plates which will be dimensioned in according to the weight and the surface represented by light cell.

The movement of the carriage in the profile is requested by a multi-strand stainless steel cable (45) fixed in the center of the carriage and which is returned to the foot of the mast after passing through a sheave fixed in the cap which covers the top of the mast. The cable descends in one of the two lateral days of the profile.

As shown in Figure 10, the cable is taken up at the foot of the mast by a drum (51) located in the technical compartment described above. This drum is actuated using a special key. It is accessible via a inspection hatch (52). The vertical movement of this carriage makes it possible to move the electrical cell up and down; in this movement, the module's electrical supply - electrical cable (46) with a diameter of approximately 1cm - accompanies the carriage in its ascent and descent: when the carriage is in the low position, the electrical cell is accessible as well as its power supply - the entire power supply cable (46) can be changed from the ground - Complete maintenance of all mechanical and electrical elements is possible in this position. When the carriage rises, it accompanies the electrical supply cable (46) which is housed in a groove provided for this purpose in the profile.

So that this electrical supply remains protected against all external intervention, a curved metal blade (47) mounted on a reel and fixed on the carriage closed this groove making the cable inaccessible. This metal blade (47) is guided inside the groove (48); it is fixed on the carriage (43) so as to bring the electrical supply cable (46) in its groove when the carriage (43) rises.

The reel is fixed in the technical compartment, below the drum which allows to activate the stainless steel cable (45). This reel has an integrated spring system which automatically takes up the curved blade (47) when the carriage (43) descends.

In addition to this protective function of the power supply cable, the curved blade allows the carriage to be locked in its optimal position at the top of the mast: the blade makes it possible to identify from the ground with a color tag as well as one day when or the light cell is in its required position when the system is reassembled.

Thus identified, it suffices to engage a pin (53) during the day to ensure that the lighting cell is in its correct place. For this the blade (47) passes just after its reel in a guide at the drum (51). The barrel of the latter has two positions: a locked where the drum barrel (51) engages about a centimeter in the day provided for this purpose in the curved blade (47). In addition, this blade which is thus immobilized and guided over the entire height of the profile, acquires its curved shape a specific rigidity which prevents the carriage from coming back down in the event of a break in the stainless steel cable. The metal blade thus provides additional and sufficient security to the system.

In the unlocked position, the drum barrel emerges from the day provided in the blade; it frees security and the blade can rewind again as the carriage descends under the effect of the unwinding of the stainless steel cable. The invention is described in the foregoing according to a nonlimiting exemplary embodiment. Those skilled in the art will be able to produce different variants without going beyond the ambit of the invention.

Claims

R E V E N D I C A T I O N S

1 - Mast supporting a movable functional block between a high position and a lowered position characterized in that it is formed by a hollow column (1) having a longitudinal slot (4) for the passage of the connecting means (3) between the functional block (2) and a carriage (12) sliding inside a profile (6, 30) formed inside said hollow column (1).

2 - Mast according to claim 1 characterized in that the profile (6) has a main channel (9) of cross section complementary to the cross section of the carriage (12) and s Opening on the one hand on a slot for the passage of connecting means between the functional block (2) and the carriage (12), and on the other hand on a secondary groove for the passage of cables for the connection of the functional block (2).

3 - Mast according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the carriage (12) is constituted by a block having cavities for the housing of balls (16) ensuring the guidance and positioning relative to the inner wall of the channel of the profile (6) arranged inside the hollow column (1).

4 - Mast according to claims 1 to 3 characterized in that it further comprises a blade (17) integral with the carriage (12) mobile, and sliding in slots provided in the profile (6), on either side passage between the main channel (9) and the secondary groove.

5 - Mast according to claim 4 characterized in that it comprises a blade winder (17). 6 - Mast according to claim 4 or 5 characterized in that the blade (17) has at least one slot for blocking the carriage (12) movable by the introduction of a locking member in said slot.

7 - Mast according to claim 6, characterized in that the carriage further has a channel (21) for the passage of the rope (14).

8 - Mast according to claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the profile (30) is constituted by a constant section channel formed 1 inside the column (1).