GB2491097A

GB2491097A - Support device for a CCTV camera having a mast

Info

Publication number: GB2491097A
Application number: GB1108074.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Erol Barraclough
Original assignee: ALTRON COMM EQUIPMENT Ltd
Current assignee: ALTRON COMM EQUIPMENT Ltd
Priority date: 2011-05-16
Filing date: 2011-05-16
Publication date: 2012-11-28
Also published as: GB201108074D0

Abstract

An arrangement for supporting a device such as a closed circuit television camera 6 having a mast10, a support element 2 cooperating with and movable relative to the mast 10 and a winch assembly 12 having a winch cable 14 secured to the support element 2 to cause movement of the support element between a raised position (Figure 1) and a lowered position (Figure 2). A transfer cable 20 to allow power or data transfer to or from the device 6 and a bracket arrangement 28 for securing the winch cable 14 to the transfer cable so that the actuation of the winch arrangement causes simultaneous movement of both the winch cable 14 and the transfer cable 20. Optionally the bracket 28 is arranged to allow relative movement between the winch cable 14 and the transfer cable 20 in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the winch cable 14.

Description

An Arrangement for Supporting a Device Such as a Closed Circuit Television The present invention relates to an arrangement for supporting a device such as a closed circuit television camera or a lighting fixture. In particular, the arrangement enables raising and lowering of the device for maintenance purposes.

Masts having devices such as cameras mounted thereon are commonly provided in cities for monitoring activity and adjacent roads for speed monitoring purposes. It is also known that the device may be raised and lowered up and down the mast as necessary to carry out maintenance or installation. Winch assemblies are provided in order to winch the device to a suitable height to perform this operation. Furthermore, a cable which enables transfer of images from the device (if for example a camera) to a location either adjacent the base of the mast or to a remote location must be provided. This causes problems when the device is moved from the raised to the lowered configuration and vice-versa. Tn the raised configuration there must be slack in the cable to enable the device to be lowered without stretching or breaking the transfer cable. This slack in the transfer cable must be accommodated somewhere within the mast leading to potential tangling problems and the requirement for increased volume to accommodate such excess cable. Alternatively, the transfer cable may be separated such that when the device is lowered, then the opposite end of the transfer cable from the device is raised. However, this leads to significant problems with the weight of the transfer cable on the side of the device causing pulling of the transfer cable up through the mast meaning that when the device is then returned to the raised configuration it is difficult for the end of the transfer cable to be retrieved. The cable may also be pulled beyond an upper cable transfer pulley. In any event there is significant time taken to restore the connection in the transfer cable.

The present invention provides an improved arrangement.

According to the present invention there is an arrangement for supporting a device such as a closed circuit television camera, the arrangement including: -a mast; -a support element for receiving the device arranged to cooperate with and be moveable relative to the mast: -a winch assembly including a winch cable secured to the support element for causing movement of the support element between a raised and a lowered configuration; -a transfer cable for enabling information or power transfer to or from the device; and -a bracket arrangement for securing the winch cable to the transfer cable such that actuation of the winch arrangement causes simultaneous movement of both the winch cable and the transfer cable.

A significant benefit of the present invention is that as the winch assembly is operated meaning that the device is raised and lowered the transfer cable is also raised and lowered simultaneously. This means that the transfer cable cannot be effectively lost' inside the mast and is always retained in the configuration to cooperate with the winch cable. It will be appreciated that the transfer cable may include capability to transfer stored or live images and may also provide power to the device. The device may be a CCTV camera, however, the device may alternatively be a light for example. In any event, power may be supplied to the device through the transfer cable and information may be transferred to and/or from the device.

The winch cable preferably includes portions such as tensioners, connectors and other components and it is beneficial that more than one winch cable is provided for safety reasons in the event that one of the winch cables should fail.

The bracket arrangement is preferably arranged to allow relative movement between the winch cable and the transfer cable in a plane generally perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the winch cable. The bracket arrangement is preferably fixedly secured to the transfer cable. The bracket arrangement is beneficially positioned between the winch assembly and a winch cable pulley and is preferably provided internally in the mast. It is beneficial to enable relative movement between the winch cable and the transfer cable in the plane generally perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the winch cable and in a plane generally perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the mast as it will be appreciated and can be seen with respective Figures 1-2 that the spacing between the winch cable and the transfer cable changes from being located at the lower portion of the mast to being located at the upper portion of the mast. This is due to the positioning of the winch in the mast and the manner of which the cable is spooled on to the winch.

The bracket arrangement is preferably arranged to enable the winch cable to move linearly in a first direction in the plane generally perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the winch cable or the mast. The bracket arrangement is further arranged to enable the winch cable to move linearly in a second direction in the plane generally perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the winch cable or of the mast. It is beneficial to enable movement in second direction in the plane particularly in the event of the provision of more than one winch cable. This is due to the spooling of the winch cable around the winch spool and the winch cable around the winch pulley. The spacing between the winch cables therefore changes from the lower portion of the mast to the upper portion of the mast and this change in separation or spacing between the winch cables can be accommodated by the ability of the bracket arrangement to enable the winch cable and preferably cables to move linearly in a second direction in the plane generally perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the winch cable or the mast.

The bracket arrangement is preferably configured to be located in an elongate cavity in the mast. The bracket arrangement is preferably moveable in the longitudinal length of the cavity. It is beneficial that there is a snug fit between the bracket arrangement and the inner peripheral edge of the cavity as this ensures that there can be no tipping motion of the bracket arrangement within the cavity. This prevents kinking in the winch cable or cables due to the weight of the transfer cable acting as an offset load. Accordingly, due to the snug fit, this offset load is effectively a linear load on the bracket arrangement.

The bracket arrangement preferably includes one or more bearing elements arranged for enabling running of the bracket arrangement through the cavity. The one or more bearing arrangements preferably comprise ball transfer units which are provided as they enable smooth running of the bracket arrangement within the mast cavity.

The bracket arrangement is preferably configured to seat in the cavity such that rotation about an axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the cavity is prevented.

This is beneficial as tipping of the bracket arrangement is prevented. The bracket arrangcment therefore beneficially is of sufficient longitudinal length to mean that minimal or substantially zero tipping can occur.

The bracket arrangement preferably includes a carriage member for retaining the winch cable, the bracket arrangement fttrther including a carriage member support, wherein the carriage member is moveable along the carriage member support in the first direction. One or more bearings are preferably located between the carriage member and the carriage member support. This ensures a straight line alignment of the winch cable between the winch cable pulley and the winch assembly.

The carriage member is preferably arranged to enable movement of the winch cable in the second direction. The second direction is preferably substantially perpendicular to the first direction. Again, this ensures the winch cables are linear in respect of the position of the bracket arrangement within the mast cavity.

The winch cable is preferably received by a stop member in the bracket arrangement and the stop member is preferably movable relative to the carriage member by one or more bearings.

The support element preferably moves linearly relative to the mast. The support element may include means to enable sliding engagement with the mast. The means to enable sliding engagement may be collar.

The arrangement preferably includes a pulley intermediate the winch assembly and the support element, wherein the winch cable extends from the winch assembly to the pulley in a first direction and from the pulley to the support element in a second direction. The winch cable is preferably positioned substantially inside the mast between the winch assembly and the pulley.

The transfer cable preferably includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion extending between the device and the bracket arrangement, wherein in the raised configuration the first portion is in communication with the second portion, and in the lowered configuration the first portion is spaced apart from the second portion. This is beneficial as the second portion never has to move and may be secured within the mast.

The second portion is preferably permanently fixed, i.e. it never moves, whilst the first portion moves towards and away from the second portion. As the device is raised the bracket arrangement is lowered bringing the first portion into communication with the second portion automatically and in alignment without requiring any user input.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic cross section of an arrangement showing the support element for supporting a CCTV camera in the raised configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic cross section of an arrangement showing the support element for supporting a CCTV camera in the lowered configuration, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a schematic cross sectional view of a cable carriage according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 4a and 4b are schematic representations of the views A' and B' as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a schematic transverse section of the carriage representing the support element for supporting a CCTV in a raised and a lowered configuration respectively where the transverse carriage position shown on the left hand side of the Figure is in the raised configuration or when the camera is in lowered configuration. Also shown is the transverse carriage position on the right hand side of Figure 5 when the transverse carriage is shown in the lowered configuration or when the CCTV camera is in the raised configuration.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is a closed circuit television (CCTV) camera mounted on a support element which may include an arm 2 having a head 4 onto which the camera is mounted. The support element may further comprise a collar 8 shown in the raised configuration which is movable relative to the mast 10. The collar 8 is movable in the direction parallel to the longitudinal length of the mast 10. The collar 8 is shown in Figure 1 as being arranged to effectively encapsulate the mast 10 however it will be appreciated that the collar 8 may take other forms in order that it may move between a raised and lowered configuration relative to the mast 10, such as being received in a groove. Figure 1 shows the collar 8 in the raised configuration and Figure 2 shows the collar in the lowered configuration. In this lowered configuration work may be carried out on the CCTV camera for example. The mast 10 is elongate and is generally cylindrical. The diameter of the mast tapers outwardly to increase towards the base of the mast in order that a winch assembly 12 including a motor is accommodated therein.

The winch assembly 12 is arranged to accommodate one or more winch cables 14. In the embodiment shown in the Figures (not visible however in Figures 1 and 2) there are two winch cables provided. The benefit of providing two winch cables is as a safety measure in the event that one of the winch cables may break. The winch cables extend between the spool of the winch through the cavity defined within the mast 10 and are received by a winch cable pulley 16. The winch cable 14 extends over the winch cable pulley 16 and is secured to the collar 8 at the connection point 18. Accordingly, actuation of the motor of the winch assembly 12 in the first direction causes lowering of the collar and thus the camera 6 from the configuration as represented in Figure 1 to the configuration as represented in Figure 2.

It is further beneficial according to the present invention that movement of the winch cable also causes simultaneous movement of a transfer cable 20, which will be described in the exemplary embodiment as a feeder cable 20 for transferring the images data from the camera 6 to the another location. The feeder cable is a cable which allows communication between the CCTV camera and the associated recording or monitoring equipment which may or may not be located at or near a mast 10. It is beneficial that the feeder cable move with the winch cable 14 as otherwise in the lowered configuration of the camera 6 the weight of the feeder cable to the left hand side of the feeder cable pulley 22 can cause the feeder cable 20 to be effectively temporarily lost in the mast. For this reason, the feeder cable 20 and the winch cable 14 are secured relative to each other. As such, when the camera is in the raised configuration the feeder cable connects to an incoming feeder cable 24 at a feeder cable connection point 26. This is clearly shown in Figure 1. In Figure 2, the feeder cable connection point 26 is separated into a first feeder cable connection 26a and a second feeder cable connection 26b.

There is further provided a bracket arrangement 28 which is shown more clearly in the subsequent Figures which is arranged to secure the feeder cable 20 to the winch cable 14 meaning that any movement of the winch cable by the winch 12 causes simultaneous and synchronised movement of the feeder cable 20. Movement of both cables 14, 20 is in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal length of the mast 10. Referring to Figures 3-5 the bracket arrangement 28 is shown which enables the winch cable to be secured to the feeder cable 20. Figure 3 is a schematic transverse view of the bracket arrangement 28 located within the internal mast shaft 10. The bracket arrangement 28 comprises a fixing point 30 for securing the feeder cable to the bracket arrangement 28 and furthermore ensures that there can be no movement of the winch cables (or cable as represented in the Figures) in the longitudinal direction of the mast without associated movement of the bracket 28. The bracket 28 is provided with a snug fit within the mast 10. Means to allow ease of movement of the bracket arrangement 28 within the mast 10 are provided such as a plurality of ball transfer units 32. The bracket arrangement 28 is provided in this manner to ensure that the bracket arrangement 28 cannot kink or twist by any significant amount out of the longitudinal direction afforded by the inner surface of the mast 10. As such, the weight of the feeder cable 20 on the bracket 28 when, for example, The CCTV camera 6 is towards the raised configuration cannot cause rotation of the bracket arrangement about an axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the mast 10. This is beneficial as the winch cable cannot therefore be kinked or twisted.

As previously described and represented in the Figures, there are two winch cables actuated by the winch 12. As shown in Figures 4a and 4b the winch cables are secured via a cable tensioning element 34. The cable tensioning element 34 is provided to ensure that each of the winch cables are of the same length and also to ensure the collar 8 is raised or lowered to be correct height. The cable tensioning element 34 is secured to stop elements such as U-shaped brackets 36 which in turn are provided in communication with cable connecting elements 38 having at the opposing end further U shaped brackets 36 which are then connected via additional cable tensioners 34 to the winch cables which extend to the winch cable pulley 16. In the exemplary embodiment intermediate of the connecting elements 38 is a component which may be termed a transverse carriage 40 which allows movement of the winch cables in a plane generally perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the winch cables and in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the mast. It will be appreciated that the cable tensioning elements 34 and U shaped brackets 36 together with the cable connecting element 38 in one embodiment may be removed and the winch cables 14 directly secured to the transverse carriage 40. The transverse carriage 40 provides significant benefits as it means that any offsetting of the winch cables from the vertical relative to the mast is accommodated by movement of the transverse carriage 40 relative to the winch cable(s) in two generally perpendicular directions in a plane generally perpendicular or transverse to the longitudinal length of mast. As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the distance of the winch cable in a transverse direction to the longitudinal length of the mast from the mast is different depending on whether the CCTV camera 6 is in the raised or the lowered configuration. In Figure 1, the bracket arrangement 28 is in the lowered configuration and as such the winch cables are located more centrally in the mast. However, when the bracket arrangement 28 is in the raised configuration in Figure 2 the winch cables 14 are located closer to the left hand internal perimeter of the mast. Accordingly, the bracket arrangement 28 and in particular the transverse carriage 40 enables lateral movement of the winch cable relative to the bracket arrangement 28. In an embodiment where there is a single winch cable the allowance for such movement in a single linear transverse direction could be sufficient in order to ensure that the winch cable is substantially straight and does not kink. As represented in Figure 3, the transverse carriage 40 moves along bearing rollers 42 in the left and right direction. This direction is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the mast. Accordingly, as represented in Figure 5, the transverse carriage 40 represented generally in the centre of the Figure is when the transverse carriage is in the lowered configuration and moves to the left and closer to the inside surface of the mast 10 when in the raised configuration. The winch cable 14 represented in Figure 3 and 5 is shown where the connecting element 38 comprising a winch cable tensioner held in position by fixing cradles 44. Referring to Figure 4a, the transverse carriage 40 is represented in a configuration wherein the transverse carriage 40 is located in the lowered configuration and as represented in dashed lines the transverse carriage is shown where it would be located when the transverse carriage is the raised configuration and is represented by reference numeral 46. Again, it is clear that the transverse carriage 40 has moved laterally to the longitudinal length of the mast and has moved to a position closer toward the inner surface of the mast 10.

In order to compensate for the loading of the winch cable on the spool of the winch 12 and its lateral spacing compared to the spacing of the winch cables on the winch cable pulley 16 it is also beneficial to enable the winch cables to move in a second lateral direction relative to the bracket arrangement 28 and transverse carriage 40 again reducing any possibility of kinks in the winch cables. Accordingly, bearing elements such as bearing rollers 48 are provided which move on corresponding bearing roller surfaces. As represented in Figure 5, the relative position of the winch cables 14 which actually comprise the connecting element 38 and again may be cable tensioners move laterally in a perpendicular direction relative to the longitudinal length of the mast and relative to the transverse carriage 40. As such, spacing of the winch cables 14 on the winch 12 compared to the spacing on the winch cable pulley 16 is accommodated meaning that the winch cable position at any given point on a line drawn between the winch cable positions at the bottom and top limits are in a straight line.

The present invention has been described by way of example only and it will be appreciated by the skilled addressee that modifications and variations may be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of protection afforded by the appended claims.

Claims

Claims 1. An arrangement for supporting a device such as a closed circuit television camera, the arrangement including: -amast; -a support element for receiving the device arranged to cooperate with and be moveable relative to the mast: -a winch assembly including a winch cable secured to the support element for causing movement of the support element between a raised and a lowered configuration; -a transfer cable for enabling information or power transfer to or from the device; and -a bracket arrangement for securing the winch cable to the transfer cable such that actuation of the winch arrangement causes simultaneous movement of both the winch cable and the transfer cable.
2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the bracket arrangement is arranged to allow relative movement between the winch cable and the transfer cable in a plane generally perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the winch cable.
3. An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the bracket arrangement is arranged to enable the winch cable to move linearly in a first direction in the plane.
4. An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the bracket arrangement is further arranged to enable the winch cable to move linearly in a second direction iii the plane.
5. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the bracket arrangement is configured to be located in an elongate cavity in the mast, and is moveable in the longitudinal length of the cavity.
6. An arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the bracket arrangement includes one or more bearing elements arranged for enabling running of the bracket arrangement through the cavity.
7. An arrangement according to any of claims 5 to 6 wherein the bracket is configured to seat in the cavity such that rotation about an axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the cavity is prevented.
8. An arrangement according to claims 1 to 3 and of any of claims 4 to 7, wherein the bracket arrangement includes a carriage member for retaining the winch cable, the bracket arrangement further including a carriage member support, wherein the carriage member is moveable along the carriage member support in the first direction.
9. An arrangement according to claim 8, comprising one or more bearings located between the carriage member and the carriage member support.
10. An arrangement according to any of claims 8 to 9 and claim 4, wherein the carriage member is arranged to enable movement of the winch cable in the second direction.
11. An arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
12. An arrangement according to any of claims 10 to 11, wherein the winch cable is received by a stop member in the bracket arrangement and the stop member is moveable relative to the carriage member by one or more bearings.
13. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the support element moves linearly relative to the mast.
14. An arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the support element includes means to enable sliding engagement with the mast.
15. An arrangement according to any preceding claim including a pulley intermediate the winch assembly and the support element, wherein the winch cable extends from the winch assembly to the pulley in a first direction, and from the pulley to the support element in a second direction.
16. An arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the winch cable is positioned substantially inside the mast between the winch assembly and the pulley.
17. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the transfer cable includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion extending between the device and the bracket arrangement, wherein in the raised configuration, the first portion is in communication with the second portion, and in the lowered configuration, the first portion is spaced apart from the second portion.
18. An arrangement as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.