GB2575316A

GB2575316A - Telescopic assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2575316A
Application number: GB1811138.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Pickance James; Miles John
Original assignee: Upshot Intellectual Holdings Ltd
Current assignee: Upshot Intellectual Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 2018-07-06
Filing date: 2018-07-06
Publication date: 2020-01-08
Anticipated expiration: 2038-07-06
Also published as: GB201811138D0; GB2575316B

Abstract

A telescopic assembly 1 with an outer parallelepiped housing 2; at least two telescopic sections 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d; and stabilising legs 25. In a ‘stowed’ condition, the telescopic sections 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d are contained within the outer housing 2, and the stabilising legs 25 are stowed within the sides of the outer housing 2; and in use, the telescopic sections 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d extend through an end region 6 of the outer housing 2. The telescopic sections 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d may have a rectangular cross-section and be lockable in their extended positions. The stabilising legs 25 may be deployable and retractable by a hydraulic actuator, can be locked in position once in contact with the ground. The assembly 1 may be arranged to be stood ‘on-end’ and have a self-righting mechanism to ensure this; and may have dimensions corresponding to those of a standardised shipping container.

Description

TELESCOPIC ASSEMBLY

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to telescopic assemblies

Background

We have devised an improved telescopic structure. There are various requirements, in different sectors and fields, which require a deployable telescopic structure. This includes the on demand provision of a radio mast, for example to provide temporary radio telecommunications capability.

We have devised a novel telescopic assembly which is readily transportable and deployable, and provides an extremely stable structure, which can be put into use with minimal time, effort and external kit.

Summary

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a telescopic assembly comprising an outer housing and a plurality of telescopic modules. In a stowed condition the telescopic modules contained substantially wholly within the internal space defined by the outer housing, which is of substantially parallelepiped form, and the assembly comprises a number of deployable stabilising legs which are stowable substantially wholly within side regions of the housing, and in use the telescopic modules arranged to extend through an end region of the housing.

The telescopic assembly may comprise a plurality of concentric modular sections.

At least some of the modular sections may be each arranged to be individually extendable, independently of the others.

The telescoping sections may be of rectilinear transverse cross-section, and preferably of substantially rectangular or square cross-section.

By “contained substantially wholly within” we include that there is no protrusion outside of the envelope or that there is negligible protrusion.

The outer housing may be of rectangular parallelepiped form, or may be thought of as a rectangular solid shape, or may be thought of as polyhedron with six sides bounded by three pairs of parallel planes. The housing preferably has a height, a width and a length.

The telescopic assembly may comprise a drive wherein the section is raised by mechanical means located in, and acting within, a specific section which may be powered by an external power source.

Each telescoping section may be arranged to be locked or secured in an extended position.

Locking pins or components may be provided which are arranged to move from a release position to a locking position so as to connect the two adjacent sections together in an extended condition.

The telescopic assembly may comprise/contain a sub-assembly to self-right to end-on from a horizontal orientation, and preferably back again to a horizontal orientation, and the sub-assembly is preferably a self-contained mechanical means.

The telescopic assembly may comprise a number of props or legs, which in use serve to maintain the structure in an upright extended condition. The legs or props may be held within a stowed condition within the spatial envelope of the housing. The legs or props may be held within side regions of the spatial envelope of the housing. The legs or props may be arranged to extend outwardly of the housing from their stowed position to contact the ground and be locked there. The legs or props may be deployed and recovered by way of an actuator arrangement, and preferably this includes a hydraulic actuator.

The telescopic assembly is preferably arranged to be stood on-end, in an operative condition.

The housing may comprise a framework, the framework comprising a number of (elongate) structural components connected together. Each of the structural components may form an outer edge of the housing, such as end edges and long edges.

Each telescopic section may be provided with a lift mechanism to lift said section to an extended condition.

At least some of the telescopic sections comprise an open distal end.

The housing may provide structural integrity to the assembly. All of the telescopy sections, the (support) legs, and preferably any payload assemblies, are provided within or connected to the housing.

The lift mechanism may comprise an expandable scissor assembly which comprises a number of (elongate) members connected together by way of multiple pivots. The pivots may be provided at the distal ends and intermediate of the distal ends of the elongate members. The members may be arranged in a criss-cross arrangement.

The lift mechanism may comprise a drive, the drive may comprise an hydraulic ram.

The drive may be located internally of the scissor mechanism.

The drive may comprise a support, and the support may engage with a component of or which is connected to the scissor mechanism. Said component may extend along a central pivotal axis of a pivotal connection between two elongate portions of the scissor mechanism.

The support of the raise mechanism may comprise saddle or cradle which is a depending feature.

The support of the drive may be arranged to engage with a lower region or a linkage of the scissor mechanism, which is preferably a lowermost raising centralised linkage.

A direction of upward drive force applied by the drive may be substantially central of the scissor mechanism, and may be in a substantially central plane of the scissor mechanism.

The volume of the housing may substantially correspond to a standardised transportation container capacity.

A width dimension of the housing may correspond to the width of a standardised shipping container. The width dimension of the housing may be substantially 2.43m, or between 2.42m and 2.44m.

The telescoping sections may each be provided with a rounded and/or low friction portion (which is preferably elongate) at each (outer) corner to allow slidable movement against an (inner) surface of an adjacent outer telescoping section. Rightangled flanges of each section may accommodate the rounded portions. The rounded portions preferably extend along all or a substantial length of the housing. The rightangled flanges may provide a rebate.

The dimensions of a standardised shipping container may be those set and established by a standards setting body, such as the ISO, which prevails in at least one country.

Standard ISO shipping containers are 8ft (2.43m) wide, 8.5ft (2.59m) high and come in two lengths; 20ft (6.06m) and 40ft (12.2m). Extra tall shipping containers called high-cube containers are available at 9.5ft (2.89m) high. Such containers may be termed Intermodal freight containers. This includes a container designed to be moved from one mode of transport to another without unloading and reloading durable closed metal (such as steel) boxes.

Volumes of such standardised containers can be expressed in twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU, or sometimes teu). A twenty-foot equivalent unit is a measure of containerized cargo capacity equal to one standard 20-foot (6.1 m) long container. It will be appreciated that this is an approximate measure, wherein the height of the container is not considered. For example, the 9 ft 6 in (2.9 m) tall ‘high-cube’, as well as 4-foot-3-inch half-height (1.3 m) 20-foot (6.1 m) containers are equally counted as one TEU. Similarly, extra-long 45 ft (13.72 m) containers are commonly designated as two TEU, no different than standard 40 feet (12.19 m) long units. Two TEU are equivalent to one forty-foot equivalent unit (FEU).

Other standardised shipping containers, such as those used in the United States and Canada, additionally have longer units of 45 ft (13.7 m), 48 ft (14.6 m) and 53 ft (16.15 m), but whilst retaining the standardised width and heights mentioned above.

At least some of the corner regions (including a region at or proximal to a corner) of the housing may comprise a lock formation, which is arranged to allow a base of the container to be secured to an underlying support structure. Eight corner regions of the housing may be provided with lock formations. Each lock formation may comprise an enclosed void region arranged to receive a lock element. The lock element and the lock formation may be compliant with the Twistlock ® shipping container securing system. The lock formation at each or some of the corners of the housing may comprise a corner casting. The lock element may comprise a rotatable portion, which can be selectively rotated to a locking positon and to an unlocked position.

The assembly may comprise internal stairs, steps or ladders which, when the sections are in an extended condition allow a human to climb up at least part of the internal height of the extended sections.

The assembly may be viewed as an upright elevated structure, when in an extended condition.

The invention may comprise one or more features as described in the description and/or as shown in the drawings, either individually or in combination.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Various embodiments of the invention are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a telescopic assembly in a horizontal stowed condition,

Figure 2 is perspective view of a telescopic assembly in an upright, stowed condition,

Figures 3a to 3d are cross-sectional views of telescopic sections of the telescopic assembly,

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a telescopic section in a non-extended condition, including a lift mechanism,

Figure 5 is a is a cross-sectional view of a telescopic section in an extended condition, including a lift mechanism,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of part of the lift mechanism shown in Figures 4 and 5,

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the telescopic assembly in an upright extended condition,

Figure 8 is an enlarged view of Figure 7, which shows the detail of the deployed stabilising legs of the telescopic assembly,

Figure 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a telescopic section, highlighting a bearing surface which allows translation movement between adjacent sections,

Figure 10 is a plan view of the telescoping housing sections,

Figure 11 is a side view of the housing sections, and

Figure 12 is a side view of the housing sections showing respective scissor sections.

Detailed Description

There is now described a novel telescopic assembly 1. The assembly has numerous practical applications, including use as a mast, such as for radio communications, and arranged to carry a payload in the form of a transceiver unit.

The assembly 1 comprises a housing 2, which contains (in a stowed condition of the apparatus) a number of telescopic sections 10a, 10b, 10c and lOd. In the embodiment shown, four sections are provided. As is evident in Figures 3a to 3d, the sections from 10a to lOd decrease in dimensions, in particular in terms of their lateral dimensions and in terms of their height. Figures 3a to 3d show one portion of stiffening lie, which is used to control buckling. Figure 11 shows the complete zig-zag pattern on each section.

As can be seen from Figure 1, the housing 2 is of generally parallelepiped form, with principal dimensions of length, width and height. The lateral cross-sectional shape of the housing 2 is substantially rectangular.

The housing 2 has a basal distal end 6 and an upper (open) distal end 7. It will be appreciated however that during transportation of the assembly, it would be maintained in a horizontal orientation, and then stood on-end in use when the telescopic sections are to be extended through an open end of the housing. Generally, the basal end 8 will always be a closed end, whereas, the upper end 9 may be provided with a (removeable) closure during transportation, or at least prior to deployment of the telescopic sections.

At each of the eight corners of the housing there is provided a (female) lock formation 8 which serves to allow the assembly to be secured to an underlying surface which is provided with suitable protrusions received by the lock formations 8. This allows the telescopic assembly to be secured attached onboard a road vehicle, on carriage bed and/or on the deck of a ship. The protrusions are mounted to be rotatably moveably from a locking position to an unlocked position, and vice versa. These features may be compliant with the Twistlock ® system.

The housing 2 comprises a number of tubular or elongate members, shown generally by reference numeral 2a, (such as tubes or bars or rods) which are joined together at the corners 8 to form the overall parallepiped shape. The corners may be cast, and welded to connect the tubular/elongate members 2a during manufacture. The elongate members form long edges and end edges of the housing.

The principal dimensions of the housing 2 substantially correspond to those of a standardised shipping container, and preferably in least in relation to a width dimension substantially of 8ft (2.43m). This advantageously allows the telescopic assembly when in a stowed condition to be transported, and placed on and removed from different forms of compliant transportation. These together define a spatial envelope of the housing, reference to which is described below.

Further description of the telescopic sections 10a to lOd is now provided, together with the lifting mechanisms which drive them into a deployed/extended condition. Each of the sections comprises two open distal ends (save the section lOd, which forms the uppermost section when extended, which may have an end plate or cover at one end). Reference is made to Figures 4, 5 and 6. A lifting mechanism is provided for each section. (Figure 12 shows all four sections 10a to lOd provided with its respective scissor mechanism.)The lifting mechanism comprises a scissor mechanism 15, and an actuated sub-assembly 16. Each lifting section is secured to inner walls of a respective telescopic section, and specifically the inner walls of an underlying (wider) telescopic section. The actuated sub-assembly 16 comprises a base portion 15a, two hydraulic rams 16b, and a cradle 16c. The base portion 16a is secured to the inner wall surface of an underlying (when extended) and wider telescopic section. The underside of the base portion 16a serves as a contact surface for the uppermost part of the scissor mechanism to engage with so as to push the telescopic section upwards.

The two hydraulic rams 16b are secured to an upper surface of the base 16a.

The cradle 16c is supported by the hydraulic rams 16b at uppermost portions of the cradle, and a support channel 16d is provided below. The support channel 16d is arranged to receive a lateral component attached to the scissor mechanism 15.Although not apparent from the figures, the scissor mechanism 15 comprises two spaced apart sets of articulated elongate limbs 30 which may be termed links. For each set, each limb 30 is pivotably connected to adjacent limb at three locations: the two distal ends, and centrally of the distal ends. A pivot connection 31 is provided at each such location. The sets are connected by pins or rods (not shown) which extend along the pivotable axes, so as to provide structural integrity, and may be termed crossmembers. In particular, one such cross-member extends through a lowermost centrally located pivotable connection 32, to connect to the two sets of limbs. This pin/rod is received in the support channel 16d.

As can be seen in Figures 3a to 3d, the sections are of different lengths to accommodate the presence of the various lifting mechanisms when in the retracted condition, arranged in vertical stacked fashion.

It will be appreciated that each of the lifting mechanisms can be activated individually. This conveniently allows the user to extend one, some or all (for the maximum height) of the sections.

Reference is made to Figure 9 which shows one of the telescopic sections in more detail. In particular, as can be seen, each corner is provided with a rounded tube 40 located by corner portions 41. The outermost surface of the tube is arranged to engage with an inner surface of the adjacent outer telescopic section, so as to allow translational movement and provide a bearing surface. Figure 10 shows an end -on view of the various sections, one inside of the other, each section being provided with a rounded tube 40, and respective corner portions.

Reference is made now to Figure 8 which shows stabilising legs of the assembly in a deployed condition. Each lateral side of the housing 2 is provided with two articulated support legs 25. When in a stowed condition for transportation or in storage of the assembly, the legs are substantially completely contained within the spatial foot print of the housing 2, and do not extend externally of the envelope. These may be termed side spaces (which are arranged to accommodate the legs in a stowed condition). However, as per Figure 8, when they are deployed, they are moved laterally outwardly to provide the required stability.

Each leg 25 comprises an arm 26, which is pivotably connected to the housing at 16a. The leg comprises a major structural portion 25a which is pivotably connected to the arm 26 at 26b. Also connected to the pivot point 26b is an end of a hydraulic ram 27, which itself is pivotably connected to the housing at 27a. The uppermost distal ends of the portions 25a are received within a respective channel or track 28, which extends longitudinally of the housing (and in the direction of its length). The channel 28 allows translation of the end portion 25a. The opposite (lowermost) distal end of the leg portion 25a, is provided with a foot 29, which comprises a pivotably mounted plate. The foot may be provided with apertures which allow anchors to be driven therethrough and into the ground.

In use, when it is required to deploy the telescopic assembly into an extended condition, the rams 27 are powered such as to urge the legs 25 outwardly of the housing, and into the positions shown in Figure 8.

Each of the lifting mechanisms is powered by a pressurised source of fluid, such as a liquid. This may an external source, connected to a port, or may be integral with the assembly 1.

Each or some of the telescopic sections may be provided with a ladder or stairs internally therefore, or steps or stairs may be provided in the internal space which is defined by the telescopic section when in an extended condition. This preferably allows a human to climb at least part of the height of the extended telescopic sections, internally. This may be for maintenance or servicing reasons, or could also be to obtain a line of sight or field of vision from an elevated position. In that latter regard, one or more of the telescopic sections may be provided with a window or opening in a side wall thereof, which may be glazed, or provided with a transparent or partially transparent material.

It will be appreciated that a number of pins, bolts or other locking devices may be used to hold two telescopic sections in the extended condition. This may comprise a controllably retractable pin or bolt which can secure two telescopic sections together.

A region located in the lower part of the housing may serve as a (controls) room or site office or similar. The space may include user controls, switching, power connections, a user interface etc, or equipment where the telescopic assembly is used a as a radio mast. The space provided may be sufficient for an operator to work or temporarily reside, and may comprise seating, a desk etc. The space may be accessible by way of an opening, and closable by way of a door or shutter. The opening may be at least 760cm wide, and at least 190cm high.

In the maximum extended condition, the assembly may have a height of between 20m and 50m.

Reference is made to Figure 9 which shows an example of one of the telescopic sections 10a. In this example, a rounded elongate component (such as of cylindrical form) 40 is provided along each edge region. The component 40 is located by way of alternating flanges 41, formed from the side walls of the telescopic section which create a right-angled rebate. The outer most surface regions of the members are arranged to engage with an inner region of an adjacent telescopic section and facilitate 10 sliding movement therebetween.

One of many important advantages of the telescopic assembly described above is that it is straightforward to deploy, without requiring the use of guy ropes or cables. It can easily be transported to almost any location, ready for deployment as required.

Another advantage of the assembly is that it can be extended from a retracted condition even in adverse weather conditions, such as high winds.

Claims

1. A telescopic assembly comprising an outer housing and a plurality of telescopic modules, in a stowed condition the telescopic modules contained substantially wholly within the internal space defined by the outer housing, which is of substantially parallelepiped form, and the assembly comprises a number of deployable stabilising legs which are stowable within the sides of the housing, and in use the telescopic modules arranged to extend through an end region of the housing.

2. The telescopic assembly of claim 1 comprising a plurality of concentric modular sections.

3. The telescopic assembly of claim 2 wherein at least some of the modular sections are each arranged to be individually extendable independently of the others.

4. The telescopic assembly as in any preceding claim, where the telescoping sections are of rectilinear transverse cross-section, and preferably of rectangular cross-section.

5. The telescopic assembly as claimed in any preceding claim which comprises a drive wherein the section is raised by mechanical means located in, and acting within, the specific section housing via external power transmission.

6. The telescopic assembly as claimed in any preceding claim in which each telescoping section is arranged to be locked in an extended position.

7. The telescopic assembly as claimed in claim 6 in which the pins arranged to move from an open position to a closed position to connect the two adjacent sections together in an extended condition.

8. The telescopic assembly as claimed in any preceding claim in which the housing has principal dimensions which substantially correspond to those of a standardised shipping container.

9. The telescopic assembly of any preceding claim which comprises/contains an assembly to self-right to end-on and back again, and the assembly is preferably a selfcontained mechanical means.

10. The telescopic assembly of any preceding claim which comprises a number of props or legs, which in use serve to maintain the structure in an upright extended condition.

11. The telescopic assembly of any preceding claim which is arranged to be stood onend.

11. The telescopic assembly of claim 10 wherein the legs or props are held within a stowed condition within the spatial envelope of the housing.

12. The telescopic assembly as claimed in claim 11 in which the legs or props are held within side regions of the spatial envelope of the housing.

13. The telescopic assembly as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12 in which the legs or props are arranged to extend outwardly of the housing from their stowed position to contact the ground and be locked there.

14. The telescopic assembly as claimed in any of claims 10 to 13 in which the legs or props are deployed and recovered by way of an actuator arrangement, and preferably this includes a hydraulic actuator.

15. The telescopic assembly of any preceding claim in which the housing comprises a framework, comprising a number of structural components connected together.

16. A telescopic assembly as claimed in any preceding claim which comprises a lift mechanism which comprises vertically orientated actuators arranged to urge an extendible scissor mechanism to extend by applying a force on a lowermost centralised cross-member of the scissor mechanism pin arrangement.

17. A telescopic assembly as claimed in any preceding claim in which at least some of the telescopic modules comprise rounded longitudinal edge regions, arranged to facilitate slidable movement of a module relative to an adjacent module.