NZ711751A - Equipment tower - Google Patents
Equipment towerInfo
- Publication number
- NZ711751A NZ711751A NZ711751A NZ71175115A NZ711751A NZ 711751 A NZ711751 A NZ 711751A NZ 711751 A NZ711751 A NZ 711751A NZ 71175115 A NZ71175115 A NZ 71175115A NZ 711751 A NZ711751 A NZ 711751A
- Authority
- NZ
- New Zealand
- Prior art keywords
- equipment
- support
- pivot support
- base
- tower
- Prior art date
Links
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 2
- 241001465754 Metazoa Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000002493 climbing Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000875 corresponding Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001808 coupling Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005065 mining Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000036633 rest Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004804 winding Methods 0.000 description 1
Abstract
equipment tower (10) includes a base (12) having a base support (14), a pivot support (16) pivotally connected to the base support (14) at a fulcrum point (44) and equipment (20) mounted on the pivot support (16). A detachable winch (52) is releasably securable to the equipment tower (10), the winch (52) having a cable (54) that is attachable to the pivot support (16). The equipment tower (10) is operable by pivoting movement of the pivot support (16) between a maintenance configuration, in which the equipment (20) is lowered, and the erected configuration, in which the equipment (20) is elevated. When the winch (52) is secured to the base (12) and the cable (54) is attached to the pivot support (16), operation of the winch (52) controls the pivoting movement of the pivot support (16). inch (52) having a cable (54) that is attachable to the pivot support (16). The equipment tower (10) is operable by pivoting movement of the pivot support (16) between a maintenance configuration, in which the equipment (20) is lowered, and the erected configuration, in which the equipment (20) is elevated. When the winch (52) is secured to the base (12) and the cable (54) is attached to the pivot support (16), operation of the winch (52) controls the pivoting movement of the pivot support (16).
Description
NEW ZEALAND
Complete Patent Specification
Title: Equipment tower
Applicant(s): ATF Services Pty Ltd
Inventor(s): Jonathan Van Wyk
Agent:
Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys
Equipment tower
Related applications
This application is related to Australian Provisional Patent Application
No. 2014903516, entitled “Equipment tower” and filed on 3 September 2014, the entire
content of which is incorporated as if fully set forth herein.
Technical Field
The present invention relates to an equipment tower for mounting equipment such
as a solar panel, camera or light at an elevated height.
Background of the Invention
Construction, industrial or mining worksites often require the installation of
temporary lighting and/or surveillance equipment at an elevated height. Temporary or
movable lighting and/or surveillance is also required in many other remote or isolated
applications.
[0004] As work progresses or finishes, the equipment may need to be relocated to follow
the work location or be removed altogether. Mobile towers mounted on a wheel base or
tripod are commonly provided for temporary installations. Such installations are typically
complex constructions that are expensive to manufacture, transport and assemble.
Maintenance may also need to be carried out on the equipment during its
deployment. Towers that allow the equipment to be lowered for maintenance typically have
complex and expensive built-in mechanisms for raising and lowering the equipment. This
results in the towers being expensive to manufacture and also means that the equipment on
the tower can be lowered and tampered with on site by unauthorised users.
Object of the Invention
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least
ameliorate one or more of the above disadvantages, or to provide a useful alternative.
Summary of the Invention
In a first aspect, the present invention provides an equipment tower operable
between an erected configuration and a maintenance configuration, the equipment tower
comprising:
a base having a base support;
a pivot support pivotally connected to the base support at a fulcrum point;
equipment mounted on the pivot support; and
a winch mounting for releasably securing a detachable winch to the equipment
tower, the winch having a cable that is attachable to the pivot support;
wherein the equipment tower is operable by pivoting movement of the pivot
support between the maintenance configuration, in which the equipment is lowered, and the
erected configuration, in which the equipment is elevated; and
wherein, when the winch is secured to the winch mounting and the cable is
attached to the pivot support, operation of the winch controls the pivoting movement of the
pivot support.
Preferably, the base support comprises a generally upright elongate member having
a proximal end fixed to the base and a distal end and the pivot support comprises an
elongate member having a proximal end adapted to be attached to the cable and a distal
end, wherein the fulcrum point is between the proximal end and the distal end of the pivot
support and, on the base support, the fulcrum point is located at the distal end of the base
support.
Optionally, the equipment is supported on an equipment support that is slidably
mounted to the pivot support so as to be slidable relative to the pivot support. Further
optionally, the equipment support is telescopically mounted to the pivot support.
[0010] Preferably, the equipment support is selectively securable to the pivot support in a
plurality of different positions during sliding movement relative to the pivot support.
In a preferred embodiment, the base support, the pivot support and the equipment
support are coaxially aligned in the erected configuration.
The equipment tower preferably further comprises an aperture in the base support
that allows the cable of the winch to pass through the base support to attach to the pivot
support.
In a preferred embodiment, during operation between the erected configuration and
the maintenance configuration, the pivot support pivots relative to the base support through
an angle of greater than 90°.
The equipment tower preferably further comprises a stop flange provided on the
base support, the stop flange adapted to abut the pivot support and limit the pivoting
movement of the pivot support in the maintenance configuration.
Preferably, the pivot support is releasably securable to the base support in the
erected configuration to prevent pivoting movement of the pivot support.
Preferably, the equipment includes at least one solar panel. Further preferably, the
at least one solar panel is pivotably mounted to the equipment support.
The equipment may also include at least one light and/or at least one camera.
In one optional arrangement, the base includes at least one battery and an
electrical conduit is provided through the base from the battery to an interior of the base
support.
[0019] Alternatively, the equipment includes at least one battery for powering other items
of equipment on the equipment support.
In a second aspect, the present invention provides the equipment tower of the first
aspect and a detachable winch mounted on the winch mounting of the equipment tower.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0021] A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of specific
example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of an equipment tower in an erected configuration;
Fig. 2 is a side view of the equipment tower of Fig. 1 in a maintenance
configuration;
[0024] Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of an equipment tower
moving between an erected and a maintenance configuration;
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the base of the equipment tower of Fig. 1;
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view perpendicular to Fig. 4 of the base of the equipment
tower of Fig. 1;
[0027] Fig. 6 is a detail view from the cross-sectional view of Fig. 4; and
Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional plan view of a base support of the equipment tower of
Fig. 1.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
An equipment tower 10 is depicted in Fig. 1 in an erected configuration. The
equipment tower 10 has a base 12 having a base support 14, a pivot support 16 and an
equipment support 18 supporting equipment components 20 in the form of a solar panel 22,
a camera 24 and a light 26.
The base 12, shown in further detail in Figs. 4 to 7, is a concrete block 28
supporting the base support 14 that includes battery seats 30 for supporting batteries 32 on
the base 12 that are provided for powering the equipment components 20. The base 12
includes a conduit 34 through the concrete block 28 to accommodate electrical wires
extending from the battery seats 30 to the base support 14 for coupling to the equipment
components 20.
The base support 14 is secured to the base 12 at a proximal end 40 in an upright
orientation relative to the base 12 by way of embedded bolts 36 in the base 12. The base
support 14 is an elongate member that extends upwardly from the proximal end 40 of the
base support 14 to a distal end 42 of the base support 14. The base support 14 is typically a
generally square post having a C-section profile, as depicted in Fig. 7. A lockable door 63 is
provided at the proximal end 40 of the base support 14 to obscure and protect any cabling
passing from the base 12 into the base support 14 and to lock the pivot support 16 in the
erected configuration shown in Fig. 1.
The pivot support 16 is an elongate member that is pivotally connected to the base
support 14 at a fulcrum point 44 located between a proximal end 46 of the pivot support 16
and a distal end 48 of the pivot support 16. On the base support 14, the fulcrum point 44 is
located at the distal end 42 of the base support 14.
The equipment components 20 are mounted, by way of the equipment support 18,
to the pivot support 16 at the distal end 48 of the pivot support 16. The equipment support
18 is slidably mounted to the pivot support 16 for slidable movement relative to the pivot
support 16. An end of the equipment support 18 is telescopically received in the distal end
48 of the pivot support 16 and secured in place by bolts 50. The pivot support 16 and the
equipment support 18 preferably have a hollow square sectional profile, allowing the
equipment support 18 to be mounted to the pivot support 16 in any of four perpendicular
axial orientations. The equipment support 18 may also have multiple longitudinal positioning
options allowing it to be selectively located and secured in a number of different longitudinal
locations as it slides telescopically within the pivot support 16. This allows the equipment
support 18 to be selectively securable to the pivot support 16 in a plurality of different
positions during sliding movement relative to the pivot support 16.
The solar panel 22 is mounted on the equipment support 18 and is pivotally
mounted to the equipment support 18 so as to be pivotally adjustable to vary its operational
angle of inclination. The camera 24 and light 26 are also mounted on the equipment
support 18. The equipment tower 10 may be provided with one or more of, or all of, the
solar panel 22, camera 24, light 26 and/or other equipment, such as battery packs, as is
required for the particular application. In other embodiments, multiple solar panels 22,
cameras 24 and/or lights 26 may be installed on the equipment support 18.
A detachable winch 52 having a retractable cable 54 is provided for mounting on
the equipment tower 10 via a winch mounting 56, typically a pair of transversely projecting
lugs, on the base support 14. The winch 52 is releasably securable to the equipment tower
, typically by being bolted to the winch mounting 56 on the base support 14. The cable
54 is attachable to the pivot support 16. A longitudinal aperture 55, or apertures, in the
base support 14 is provided to allow the cable 54 to pass through the base support 14 and
to be detachably connected to a cable lug 58 on the proximal end 46 of the pivot support 16.
When the winch 52 is secured to the equipment tower 10 and the cable 54 is attached to the
pivot support 16, operation of the winch 52 controls the pivoting movement of the pivot
support 16.
One or more locking lugs 60 are provided on the pivot support 16, which project
through the aperture 55, or individual corresponding apertures, in the base support 14 in the
erected configuration and are adapted to receive a padlock to releasably secure the pivot
support 16 to the base support 14 in the erected configuration to prevent the pivoting
movement of the pivot support 16.
A stop flange 62 is provided at the distal end 42 of the base support 14 to limit the
pivotal movement of the pivot support 16 in the maintenance configuration.
[0038] A security bracket 64 is attached to the equipment support 18 to deter animals and
people from climbing the equipment tower 10.
In order to lower the equipment components 20 for installation or maintenance, the
equipment tower 10 is operable, by pivoting the pivot support 16 relative to the base
support 14, between an erected configuration, shown in Fig. 1 in which the equipment
components 20 are elevated, and a maintenance configuration, shown in Fig. 2 in which the
equipment components 20 are lowered.
Firstly, the lockable door 63 is unlocked and opened, as shown in Fig. 2, and the
padlock is removed from the locking lugs 60. Releasing the cable 54 then allows the
proximal end 46 of the pivot support 16 to pivot upwardly away from the base support 14,
thereby lowering the distal end 48 of the pivot support 16 and the equipment support 18
towards the maintenance configuration. Winding on the cable 54 draws the proximal end 46
of the pivot support 16 downwardly towards the base support 14, thereby raising the distal
end 48 of the pivot support 16 and the equipment support 18 and drawing the equipment
tower 10 towards the erected configuration.
This range of motion is depicted in the schematic diagram of an alternative
embodiment of the equipment tower 10 shown in Fig. 3. The pivot support 16 pivots
relative to the base support through an angle greater than 90° and typically through an
angle of about 120°. As depicted in this embodiment, a battery or battery pack 70 may be
included in the equipment 20 mounted to the equipment support 18. This does away with
the need for battery seats, conduits or cabling to be provided in the base 12 and pivot
support 16. Also as depicted in this embodiment, the equipment tower 10 may be designed
for the winch 52 to attach onto the base support 14 below the cable lug 58 in the erected
configuration.
As an alternative to, or in addition to, the locking lugs 60, coaxial bolt holes 65 may
be provided through the base support 14 and pivot support 16 for receiving a locking bolt to
lock the pivot support 16 to the base support 14 in the erected configuration and prevent
the pivoting movement of the pivot support 16. The locking bolt needs to be removed from
the bolt holes 65 before operating the tower 10 from the erected configuration to the
maintenance configuration.
In the maintenance configuration shown in Fig. 2, the pivot support 16 rests on the
stop flange 62 and the equipment tower 10 is accessible at ground level, allowing equipment
components 20 to be replaced or repaired or allowing the equipment support 18 to be
disassembled from the pivot support 16 and replaced with a replacement equipment support
and associated equipment.
Figs. 4 to 7 are different cross-sectional views of the base 12 and show in greater
detail certain features of the base 12. The conduit 34, which is formed in the concrete block
28, extends between both battery seats 30 and the base support 14. The conduit 34 allows
power cables to run from the batteries 32 through the concrete block 28 and into the base
support 14. As depicted in Fig. 6, the batteries 32 may be provided in battery boxes 33.
The embedded bolts 35 are provided to secure the base support 14 to the base 12.
As depicted in Fig. 5, two rectangular hollow section (RHS) beams 66 are secured to
the bottom of the concrete block 28 in recesses to allow the base 12 to be lifted and
relocated using a forklift. Further, lifting lugs 68 are embedded in the concrete block 28 to
allow the base 12 to be lifted and relocated using a crane.
The equipment tower 10 described herein is simple and inexpensive to
manufacture, transport and assemble. Each of the main components, being the base 12, the
base support 14, the pivot support 16, the equipment support 18, the equipment
components 20 and the detachable winch 52 can be manufactured individually and provided
in a modular fashion. The equipment tower 10 can be easily transported in a disassembled
state and assembled on site easily and quickly. This modular construction arrangement
allows the equipment tower 10 to be manufactured, transported and installed inexpensively.
It also allows components of the equipment tower 10 to be easily replaced if damaged.
By providing a detachable winch 52, which is only required during installation or
maintenance of the equipment tower 10, manufacturing costs are saved. Removing the
winch from the equipment tower 10 also prevents unauthorised personnel from lowering the
equipment tower 10 and tampering with the equipment 20. Instead, the equipment tower
provider is required to conduct any maintenance on the equipment tower 10.
Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it
will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many
other forms.
Claims (17)
1. An equipment tower operable between an erected configuration and a maintenance configuration, the equipment tower comprising: a base having a base support; a pivot support pivotally connected to the base support at a fulcrum point; equipment mounted on the pivot support; and a winch mounting for releasably securing a detachable winch to the equipment tower, the winch having a cable that is attachable to the pivot support; wherein the equipment tower is operable by pivoting movement of the pivot support between the maintenance configuration, in which the equipment is lowered, and the erected configuration, in which the equipment is elevated; and wherein, when the winch is secured to the winch mounting and the cable is attached to the pivot support, operation of the winch controls the pivoting movement of the pivot support.
2. The equipment tower of claim 1, wherein: the base support comprises a generally upright elongate member having a proximal end fixed to the base and a distal end; and the pivot support comprises an elongate member having a proximal end adapted to be attached to the cable and a distal end, wherein the fulcrum point is between the proximal end and the distal end of the pivot support and, on the base support, the fulcrum point is located at the distal end of the base support.
3. The equipment tower of claim 1 or 2 wherein the equipment is supported on an equipment support that is slidably mounted to the pivot support so as to be slidable relative to the pivot support.
4. The equipment tower of claim 3 wherein the equipment support is telescopically mounted to the pivot support.
5. The equipment tower of claim 3 or 4 wherein the equipment support is selectively securable to the pivot support in a plurality of different positions during sliding movement relative to the pivot support.
6. The equipment tower of any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein the base support, the pivot support and the equipment support are coaxially aligned in the erected configuration.
7. The equipment tower of any one of the preceding claims further comprising an aperture in the base support that allows the cable of the winch to pass through the base support to attach to the pivot support.
8. The equipment tower of any one of the preceding claims wherein during operation between the erected configuration and the maintenance configuration, the pivot support pivots relative to the base support through an angle of greater than 90°.
9. The equipment tower of any one of the preceding claims further comprising a stop flange provided on the base support, the stop flange adapted to abut the pivot support and limit the pivoting movement of the pivot support in the maintenance configuration.
10. The equipment tower of any one of the preceding claims wherein the pivot support is releasably securable to the base support in the erected configuration to prevent pivoting movement of the pivot support.
11. The equipment tower of any one of the preceding claims wherein the equipment includes at least one solar panel.
12. The equipment tower of claim 11 wherein the at least one solar panel is pivotably mounted to the equipment support.
13. The equipment tower of any one of the preceding claims wherein the equipment includes at least one light.
14. The equipment tower of any one of the preceding claims wherein the equipment includes at least one camera.
15. The equipment tower of any one of the preceding claims wherein the base includes at least one battery and an electrical conduit is provided through the base from the battery to an interior of the base support.
16. The equipment tower of any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein the equipment includes at least one battery for powering other items of equipment on the equipment support.
17. An equipment tower according to any one of the preceding claims and a detachable winch, the detachable winch being mounted on the winch mounting of the equipment tower. ATF Services Pty Ltd By Patent Attorneys for the Applicant Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys 55 56 63 54 30 36
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU2014903516 | 2014-09-03 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
NZ711751A true NZ711751A (en) |
Family
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