US3231044A

US3231044A - Articulated tower construction

Info

Publication number: US3231044A
Application number: US340629A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lester L Myers
Original assignee: MOBILE AERIAL TOWERS Inc
Current assignee: SIMON-TELELECT Inc
Priority date: 1964-01-28
Filing date: 1964-01-28
Publication date: 1966-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 1983-01-25

Description

Jan. 25, 1966 MYERS ARTI CULATED TOWER CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 1,

Filed Jan. 28, 1964 INVENTOR. LESTER L. MYERS M,

ATTORNEYS Jan. 25, 1966 L. L. MYERS 3,231,044

ARTICULATED TOWER CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 28, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 lETi-E INVENTOR. LESTER L. MYERS BYMIM*M ATTORNEYS Jan. 25, 1966 L. a... MYERS 3,231,044

ARTI CULATED TOWER CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 28, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. LESTER L. MYERS ATTORNEYS Jan. 25, 1966 1.. L. MYERS ARTICULATED TOWER CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 28, 1964 ED E mmDmmmmm .0 momDOw INVENTOR. LESTER L. MYERS W, gm!

05 E wmDmwmmE m0 womDom ATTORNEYS Jan. 25, 1966 1.. L. MYERS ARTICULATED TOWER CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 28, 1964 INVENTOR. LESTER L. MYERS BY M 2M, QM

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,231,044 ARTICULATED TOWER CONSTRUCTION Lester L. Myers, Fort Wayne, Ind., assignor to Mobile Aerial Towers, Inc., Fort Wayne, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed Jan. 28, 1964, Ser. No. 340,629 Claims. (Cl. 182-141) The present invention relates to an articulated tower construction, and more particularly to an arrangement for controlling the angular relationship between the upper and lower booms of an aerial tower mechanism.

Mobile aerial towers of the so-called cherry picker" type conventionally comprise a mobile unit or truck upon which a tower structure is mounted for three-dimensional operation. The tower structure conventionally includes a turntable having an elongated lower boom pivotally mounted thereon. This pivotal mounting provides for swinging movement of the lower boom about a horizontal axis while the turntable provides for swinging movement about a vertical axis. To the outer end of the lower boom is pivotally connected an upper boom for swinging movement about another horizontal axis. To the remaining, outer end of the upper boom is pivotally connected a personnel platform or bucket which is at all times maintained in level position regardless of the position and elevation to which the two booms may be moved. Suitable motors provide rotary motion as well as relative vertical movement of the booms, such booms being swingable to a lower position in which the personnel bucket is positioned adjacent to the truck and to an elevated position of the desired height above the truck within the limits of the boom dimensions.

It is conventional to provide such towers with motors and controls whereby the movements of the upper and lower booms may be effected independently. When such booms are collapsed to the lowermost position, conventionally they lie in parallelism one on top of the other. When erecting the tower from such folded position, the lower boom may be raised to its uppermost position, following which the upper boom may then be raised to its uppermost position. Independently, such booms may be moved to any position intermediate these limits.

It frequently occurs that an operator wishing to reach a point in space must intermittently and independently operate both of the booms until the point is reached. However, this independent operation of the booms does require a period of time and further involves the requirement of a certain amount of operator skill in being able to reach the point. There are other requirements and disadvantages in the prior art arrangements which will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The present invention constitutes an improvement over the prior art arrangements in the respect that upper boom movement may be obtained merely by effecting lower boom movement. Further than this, the spatial attitude of the upper boom can be made independent of lower boom movement, thereby simplifying the control system. It is possible for an operator by merely operating the lower boom to move horizontally without changing elevation in reaching a selected point in space.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of this invention to provide an aerial tower arrangement wherein movement of the upper boom depends upon movement of the lower boom to the effect that as the lower boom is raised, the angular relationship between the two booms correspondingly increases.

It is another object of this invention to provide an aerial tower mechanism wherein the spatial attitude of the upper boom is independent or substantially independent of lower boom movement.

3,231,044 Patented Jan. 25, 1966 It is still another object of this invention to provide in an aerial tower mechanism a linkage arrangement operable to provide a varying angular relationship between the upper and lower booms in response to vertical angular movement of the lower boom with the maximum angle of the upper boom with respect to the ground being predetermined.

It is still another object of this invention to provide in an aerial tower mechanism a boom actuating arrangement wherein the maximum angle of the upper boom with respect to the ground is predetermined.

It is a further object to provide a boom actuating arrangement which is simple, economical and efficient.

Other objects will become apparent as the description proceeds. v v n The above-mentioned and other features and objects of. this invention and the manner of attaining them will be. come more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with,

the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of one aerial tower embodi ment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation partly sectioned, partly broken away for clarity of illustration, and partly 'diagramn'ied' of a part of the tower construction shown in the precedin figures; v

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, partly sectioned side elevation of the upper and lower boom construction, this figure.

, being drawn substantially to scale;

FIG. 5 is a view substantially to scale, similar to FIG. 4 in top plan view and is partially sectioned and broken away for clarity of illustration; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-section taken substantially along SEQ,

tion line 6-6 of FIG. 4. Referring to the drawings, and more particularly t FIGS. 1 and 2, a truck 15 has mounted on the rear end.

thereof a conventional turntable 16 having an upstand-T ing support or frame 18 thereon. A lower elongated boom 20 is pivotally connected to the support 18 by means of a horizontal shaft 22. Pivotally connected:

to the left-hand end of the lower boom 20 is an elongated upper boom 24, this pivotal connection being provided by another horizontal shaft 25. Conventionally, the

shafts

22 and 25 are parallel.

On the outer end of the upper boom 24 is pivotally mounted a personnel platform or bucket 26, this pivotal connection being provided by shaft 28. As in the case of the two

shafts

22 and 25, this shaft 28 is parallel thereto.

When the tower is completely collapsed as shown in, both FIGS. 1 and 2, the

booms

20 and 24 are superposed adjacent to the truck and extend substantially horizontally. The bucket 26 is positioned adjacent to the truck bed such that personnel can easily enter and depart there;

from.

of the cylinder housing to be connected to a horizontally extending shaft or pin 34. This pin 34 is mounted on the turntable 16 in such position that the axis of the cylinder 28 is included in the same vertical plane with the longi; tudinal axis of the boom 2%. The blind end of the cylinder 23 is pivotally connected to another horizontally arranged pin 36 which is secured to two spaced apart supporting flanges 38 depending from the boom 20. A lug or ear 40 serves to connect the cylinder 28 to the pin 36.

This power cylinder 28 is of conventional design and preferably is connected into a suitable hydraulic system having a pair of

lines

42 and 44 which terminate in a suitablerreversing manually operable control valve 46. A suitable source 48 of hydraulic fluid is also connected to the valve 46 such that operation of the valve 46 in one direction will result in movement of the piston 39 toward the right (as viewed in FIG. 4) and reverse operation of the valve 46 Will result in the piston 30 being moved toward the left. It is obvious that by reason of the pivot pin or fulcrum 3'4being located below and toward the left of the shaft 22, extension of the power cylinder 28 will result in raising the boom and retraction thereof lowering the boom 20. The proper selection of dimensions for the various pivots permits the boom 20 to be raised to a vertical or near vertical position.

The two

booms

20 and 24 are of conventional design, being straight, elongated and hollow. The boom 20 may be of square or rectangular cross-section as shown more clearly in FIG. 6. The shaft is mounted on a pair of spaced-apart parallel flanges 40 which extend upwardly beyond the upper surface of the boom 20, at the lefthand end thereof (FIG. 1), when the latter is lowered to the position of FIG. 1. By this means, the shaft 25 can be positioned slightly above the upper surface of the boom 20 (FIG. 1) thereby permitting the lower cornerportion of the left-hand end of the boom 24 to be pivotally connected to the shaft 25. By so positioning the shaft 25, the two

booms

20 and 24 may be collapsed and superposed in parallelism as shown in FIG. 1, a conventional cradle 42 mounted on the truck 15 supporting the two booms in this position in a conventional manner.

On the two

side walls

44 and 46 of the lower boom 20, these side walls being parallel, are mounted a pair of channel-shaped

tracks

48 and 50, respectively. A description of one of these tracks will suffice for both. Each track is composed of two rigid, flat strips of metal 52 and 5 4 which are spaced apart and parallel and extend for about one-third the length of the boom 20 nearer the lower end thereof. These

strips

52 and 54 are edge-mounted by welding or the like to the

boom side

44, 46, so as to provide a channel-shaped cross-section as shown more clearly in FIG. 6. The

strips

52, 54 may also be characterized as extending parallel to the longitudinal axis 56 of the boom 20. The two tracks 48 and have the open sides facing each other and otherwise are spaced apart and parallel.

A second double-acting, hydraulic power cylinder 58 is disposed inside the lower boom 2t) in axial alignment therewith, the cylinder 58 being mounted for longitudinal movement. in the boom. The mounting for the cylinder 58 includes four different sliding block-shaped shoes respectively mounted for sliding movement in the

tracks

48 and 50, two of these shoes 60 and 62 (FIGS. 5 and 6) being slidably received by the two tracks 56B and 48, respectively. Also, these

shoes

60 and 62 are positioned laterally opposite each other and pivotally mount the opposite ends, respectively, of a pivot pin or cross pin 64. The pin 64 with its axis normal to the longitudinal axis of the boom 20 may therefore be moved longitudinally of the boom.

The blind end 66 of the cylinder 58 has an ear es projecting therefrom which is provided with an opening 70 receiving the pin 64. A set screw 72 secures the car 68 to the pin 64. By this means, the rear or blind end 66 of the cylinder 58 is mounted for longitudinal movement inside the boom 20.

The cylinder 58 includes the usual piston '74 having a piston rod 76 extending through a bearing opening 78 in the rod end of the cylinder 58. Another pair of

shoes

80 and 82, which may be identical to the

shoes

60 and 62, are received by the two

tracks

50 and 48, respectively, and pivotally mount the opposite ends of a cross pin 84 with the axis of the latter extending in a direction substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the boom 20. The distal end of the piston rod '75 is pivotally connected to the central portion of the pin 84 thereby completing the mounting of a power cylinder 58 for longitudinal sliding movement inside the lower boom 20. The power cylinder 58 is held in parallelism with the lower boom by reason of the piston rod '76 being supported with respect to the cylinder proper by means of the rod bearing 78.

A pair of rigid compensating or connecting rods 86, which are straight and elongated, are pivotally connected at one end to the cross pin 64 and at the other end to a pivot support 88 which upstands from the turntable 16 as more clearly shown in FIG. 4. This pivot support 88 is constructed of suitably rigid material and as shown includes two upright, spaced-apart posts 90 which are secured and braced in position by a pair of rea-rwardly extending triangular plates 92. These plates 92 are Welded or otherwise suitably rigidly secured to the upper surface of the turntable 16.

The upper ends of the two posts 90 individually mount two stub shafts 94 which are axially aligned and other- Wise parallel to the shaft 22. The lower ends of the connecting rods 86 are pivotally connected to the two shafts 94, respectively, as shown. As is more clearly illustrated in FIG. 4, the axis of the shafts 9 4 lies in a common horizontal plane with the axis of theshaft 22, this plane also including the longitudinal axis 56 of the boom when the latter is positioned truly horizontal. It should be recognized at this point that the pins 94 may occupy other positions beneath this horizontal plane. Also as shown in the drawings, the pins 94 are positioned forwardly, or in other words toward the left, of the shaft 22 (as viewed in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4) and in alignment longitudinally of the boom 29. The shafts 94 may be moved closer to or farther away from the shaft 22 as well as to a position lower or higher than that illustrated without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. The reasons for this will become apparent from the description which follows.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 3, the underside of the boom 20 is provided with a longitudinal opening 96 through which the connecting rods 86 may extend when the boom 20 is raised.

By reason of the pivoted connection between the two

booms

20 and 24, a joint in the form of an elbow is provided. This elbow is equipped with a pair of pulleys 98 coaxially mounted for rotation on the shaft 25. These pulleys 98 are of a relatively large diameter such that the peripheries thereof lie within and adjacent to the opposite upper and lower walls of the two

booms

20 and 24, respectively. The two pulleys 98 preferably are of the same diameter and are axially spaced apart inside the boom walls for purposes which will become apparent from the description that follows. I

A pair of wire rope cables 1&0, hereinafter referred to as lifting cables, are secured at one end to the cross pin 84 and pass around the outer peripheral portions of the two pulleys 98; more specifically around the arcuate portions of these pulleys lying clockwise between the two

numerals

102 and 104 of FIG. 4. The upper ends of these cables 1% are secured to the upper boom 24 by means of two lugs 1% which are Welded or otherwise suitably secured to the bottom 24. Each lug has an opening W8 through which the stud end of one cable passes, a suitable nut 112 being threaded onto the stud 110 so as to engage the right-hand side of the respective lug 1%. There are two such lugs 106, one for each of the cables 100, and these lugs are positioned adjacent to the upper wall 114 of the boom 24. This wall 114 is offset; upwardly from the longitudinal axis of this boom. A 1! the lugs 106 are positioned on the right-hand side of a vertical plane including the axis of the shaft 25 and are also spaced rightwardly from the pulleys 98 to provide for a length of cable between the lugs 106 and the pulleys 98. The reasons for this will become apparent from the following description.

Two smaller pulleys 116 are rotatably mounted on the

side walls

44 and 46, respectively, of the lower boom 20, and are disposed axially opposite each other. These pulleys 116 form parts of identical pulley systems such that a description of one of these systems will suffice for both. Each pulley 116 receives thereover a hold-back cable 118 which is secured at one end to a shoe 80 and at the other end to a post 120 secured to the upper boom 24 after first passing around an idler pulley 122 and a circumferential groove in the elbow pulley 98 (see FIG. 3). This idler pulley 122 is mounted on the lower boom 20 in a position immediately adjacent to the periphery of the pulleys 98.

The pulley 116 is positioned on the boom 20 between the cross pins 84 and 64 and further than this is situated or spaced toward the right (as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5) from the cross pin 84 when the latter is moved to its lowest or most rightward position inside the boom 20. This position will become obvious from the description that follows.

Both the

cables

100 and 118 are taut and must be sufficiently strong to perform the functions which will be described later.

As previously described, the power cylinder 58 is doubleacting such that the piston 74 may be controllably reciprocated inside the cylinder. A suitable system for accomplishing this is illustrated in FIG. 4 wherein the dashed line 124 indicates a pressure fluid line which connects at one end to a conventional hand control valve 126 and at its other end to the right-hand end of the cylinder 58. A similar fluid line 128 connects to the left-hand end of the cylinder 58 and also leads to the valve 126. A suitable source 130 of hydraulic fluid under pressure is connected to the valve 126. By operating this valve 126 in one direction, fluid under pressure is admitted to the left-hand side of the piston 74, causing the latter to move toward the left. By operating the valve 126 in the opposite direction, fluid under pressure is admitted to the left-hand end of the cylinder via the line 128, thereby forcing the piston 74 to be moved toward the right. With the. valve 126 in neutral position so as to cut off or close the two

lines

124 and 128, the piston 74 is locked in position inside cylinder 58.

In operation, rotation of the boom assembly by means of the turntable 16 is conventional. In the conventional arrangement, the turntable 16 rotates about a vertical axis and is carried by a stationary supporting frame such as the truck or truck chassis shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

As explained previously, when it is desired to elevate the boom 20, the power cylinder 28 is actuated. Extension of this cylinder, or in other words protraction of the piston 30, results in the boom 20 being swung upwardly about its horizontal pivot shaft 22.

Assuming that the two

booms

20 and 24 are collapsed to horizontal positions as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, it will be seen that as the lower boom 20 is raised, the tension linkage composed of the rods 86, locked cylinder 58, cables 100 and pulleys 98 cause the upper boom 24 to swing upwardly away from the lower boom 20. This occurs for the reason that the pivot shaft 94 for this linkage is located forwardly and horizontally of the shaft 22, such that as the lower boom raises, the locked cylinder 58 slides downwardly in the boom 24, thereby pulling the cable 100 toward the right as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4. This in efiect shortens the length of the cable 100 between the lugs 105 and point 104 on the pulleys 98, thereby lifting the upper boom 24 about the elbow shaft 25. Obviously, in order to produce this lifting action, it is necessary that a moment arm be provided between the lugs 106 and the elbow shaft 25. By connecting the terminal end of the cables to the upper boom 24 as previously described, this moment arm is provided. It will now be obvious that as the raising process of the lower boom 20 is continued, the upper boom 24 will be correspondingly raised relative to the boom 20. During this movement of the lower boom, the piston 74 in the cylinder 58 is locked in position such that the distance between the cross pins 64 and 84 remains a constant.

If it is assumed that the lower boom 20 has been raised to an almost upright position, and in this position the upper boom 24 has been raised to a substantially hori zontal position, lowering of the lower boom to the horizontal position of FIG. 1 will automatically result in corresponding lowering of the upper boom 24. During this lowering action, the cylinder 58 (with piston 74 locked in position therein) moves relative to the boom 20 toward the pulley 98. This results in increasing the length of the cable 100 between the lugs 106 and point 104 on the pulleys 98, allowing the upper boom 24 to collapse onto the lower boom. Again, the piston 74 is locked in position inside the cylinder 58.

Now, if it is desired to operate the upper boom independently of the lower boom, the power cylinder 28 is not actuated, but, instead, the power cylinder 58 is operated. If it is assumed that the upper and lower booms are in the positions illustrated in FIG, 3, retraction of the piston 74 will result in pulling the cable 100 around the corresponding pulley 98, thereby raising the boom 24. Conversely, protrac-tion of the piston 24 will result in leftward movement of the piston rod 76 (FIG. 3) and will permit the boom to lower. During this movement of the upper boom 24, the cylinder 58 retains its position with respect to the boom 20.

The dimensions are so arranged that the two

cables

100 and 118 are retained taut at all times for any given movement of the two booms. For example, when the upper boom 24 is moved independently of the lower boom 20 by actuation of the power cylinder 58, the cable 118 moves oppositely to that of the cable 100. If the upper boom 24 is raised, this would require movement of the cable 100 in the direction of the arrow R and of the cable 118 in the direction of the arrow S. Since the cable 100 passes around the outside of the pulleys 98 (elbow), and the cable 118 is positioned on the inside of the pulleys 98 (elbow), the two cables 118 are always moving in opposite directions, thereby holding the upper boom 24 locked in position with respect to the lower boom 20. In order to obtain this cooperative action between the two cables, it is, of course, necessary for the locations of the pulleys, the diameters of the pulleys, the points of attachment on the two booms and the like to be selected properly, and for different sizes of towers and booms, these dimensions and locations obviously differ.

The linkage (consisting of the rods 86, cylinder 58,

cables

100, 118, .pulleys 98 and the like) in one embodimen-t of this invention, is so dimensioned and proportioned that in operation the upper boom 24 retains a nearly fixed angular relationship with a horizontal plane when the lower boom only is moved between an angle of about 45 above the horizontal to a fully extended vertical position. Additionally, in a preferred embodiment of this invention, this linkage is so dimensioned and proportioned that if the lower boom is fully raised from the folded position shown in FIG. 1, without actuating the upper boom cylinder 58, the upper boom 24 is positioned approximately horizontal. Still further, preferably full travel of the upper boom 24 with the lower boom approximately vertical is made to be about 70 above the horizontal to about 80 below the horizontal, thereby providing a total swing of the upper boom of about In this preferred design, the upper boom never rises to or beyond a vertical position. Overturning from this near vertical position is prevented by the hold-back cables 118. Such overturning can result from an external force such as the wind working against the upper boom and personnel bucket 26. Also, these hold back cables 118 serve to prevent slack from developing in the lift cables 100 if the cylinder 58 is extended while the upper boom is resting on a fixed object or is folded against the lower boom.

In order to prevent overloading of the smaller cables 118, a conventional built-in relief valve inside the cylinder 58 limits the force developed on the push stroke to much less than that developed in the pull or lifting stroke. Since such relief valves are conventional,.they need not be further elaborated here.

With the linkage dimensioned and proportioned as preferred, erection of the lower boom from (folded to veitioalposition automatically places the upper boom in a horizontal position. This results in reducing by a considerable amount the time required to lift the personnel platform to 'the selected working area. Since the spatial attitude of the upper boom 24 is appreciably independent of lower boom movement, the hydraulic control operation'is considerably simplified. For example, in order to move horizontally forward, the operator need only operate the control handle for raising the lower boom 20.

The personnel bucket moves forwardly while retaining substantially its elevation.

When the lower boom '20 is fully erected, the upper boom 24 can be raised to an angle of about 70 above horizontal by fully retracting the upper boom cylinder 58. Since this angle of 70 does not increase when the lower boom 20 is lowered, no limit device of any type is required to prevent the upper boom from traveling over dead-center backwardly beyond the limits of the suspension of the bucket 26. Also, since the upper boom 24 cannot raise beyond the vertical, annoying over-center backlash found on certain priorart units is eliminated.

As will now be apparent from the preceding explanations, almost any movement relationship between'the two booms may be obtained by proper selection of the various dimensions, proportions and locations of the parts which make up the boom-actuating linkage.

Among other items which may be varied in order to obtain a given movement relationship between the two booms are the diameter of the pulleys 9'8 and the looation of the fixed pivot shafts 94 with respect to the shaft 22.

While there have been described above the principles of this invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An articulated tower constnuction comprising a supporting frame means, a turntable mounted on said frame means (for rotation about an upright axis, a lower elongated boom having opposite ends, one end of said boom being connected to said turntable for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, an upper elongated boom having opposite first and second ends, a horizontally extending shaft pivotally connecting the other end of said lower boom to the first end of said upper boom, the axis of said shaft being substantially parallel to the first-mentioned horizontal axis whereby said upper boom is foldable onto said lower boom in parallelism therewith, -a personnel platform connected to the second end of said upper said cylinder being connected to said lower boom for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to said firstmentioned axis, means including said cylinder and piston for selectively controllably raising and lowering said lower boom about said first-mentioned axis, both said upper and lower booms being hollow, said lower boom having two opposite spaced-apart side walls, two elongated parallel and spaced-apart channel-shaped tracks mounted on said two side walls, respectively, and extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said lower boom, said tracks havingopen sides, respectively, which face each other, a second power cylinder having opposite ends and disposed between said side walls and extending parallel to said longitudinal axis, a second piston reciprooably mounted in said second cylinder, a second piston rod connected to said second piston and extending parallel to said second cylinder axis, said second cylinder having a bearing opening in one end thereof which reciprooably receives said second piston rod therethrough, means including said second power cylinder for selectively controllably reciprocating said second piston in said second cylinder, a first pair of spaced-apart supporting shoes slidably mounted in said two tracks, respectively, for movement longitudinally of the latter, a first cross pin having opposite ends mounted on said supporting shoes, respectively, said cross pin extending substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said lower boom, means connecting the other end of said second cylinder to said cross pin for movement therewith, at least one connecting rod pivotally connected at one end to said cross pin and extending toward said one end of said lower boom, a pivot support fixedly secured to said turntable and being disposed in substantial longitudinal alignment with said lower boom between said first-mentioned axis and the other end of said lower boom, the other end of said connecting rod being connected to said pivot support for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to said firstmentioned axis, a second pair of spaced-apart supporting shoes slidably mounted in said two tracks, respectively, for movement longitudinally of said tracks, a second cross pin having opposite ends mounted on said second supporting shoes, said second cross pin extending substantially parallel to said first cross pin, a first pulley rotatably coaxially mounted on said shaft, a first cable passing around said pulley and being secured at one end to said second cross pin and at the other end to a point on said upper boom which is spaced from said pulley whereby movement of said second cross pin toward said first-mentioned axis results in swinging said upper boom upwardly away from said lower boom, a second pulley rotatably mounted on said lower boom at a location between a first position of said second cross pin and said firstmentioned axis, said first position being the location of the closest approach of said second cross pin to said first-mentioned axis, a third pulley mounted on said lower boom adjacent to said first pulley and between the latter and said second pulley, a second cable passing around said second pulley and being operatively secured at one end to said second cross pin, said second cable extending from said second pulley to and around said third pulley and being secured at the other end to said upper boom at a location adjacent to said first pulley and between the latter and the second end of said upper boom, and means including said first and second cables, said first pulley, and the location of the connection of said connecting rod for maintaining said upper boom at a substantially fixed angle with the horizontal for a predetermined arc of movement of said lower boom.

2. An articulated tower construction comprising a supporting frame means, a turntable mounted on said frame means for rotation about an upright axis, a lower elongated boom having opposite ends, one end of said boom being connected to said turntable for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, an upper elongated boom having opposite first and second ends, a horizontally extending shaft pivotally connecting the other end of said lower boom to the first end of said upper boom, the axis of said shaft being substantially parallel to the first-mentioned horizontal axis whereby said upper boom is foldable onto said lower boom in parallelism therewith, a personnel platform connected to the second end of said upper boom for swinging movement about a horizontal axis parallel to said first-mentioned axis, a first power cylinder having opposite ends, a piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinder, a piston rod connected at one end to said piston and extending substantially coaxially of said cylinder through one end thereof, said piston rod being connected to said turntable for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to said first-mentioned axis, the last-mentioned pivotal connections being disposed in a horizontal plane below said first-mentioned axis, the other end of said cylinder being connected to said lower 'boom for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to said first-mentioned axis, means including said cylinder and piston for selectively controllably raising and lowering said lower boom about said first-mentioned axis, both said upper and lower booms being hollow, said lower boom having two opposite spaced-apart side walls, two elongated parallel and spaced-apart channel-shaped tracks mounted on said two side walls, respectively, and extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said lower boom, said tracks having open sides, respectively, which face each other, a second power cylinder having opposite ends and disposed between said side Walls and extending parallel to said longitudinal axis, a second piston reciprocably mounted in said second cylinder, a second piston rod connected to said second piston and extending parallel to said second cylinder axis, said second cylinder having a bearing opening in one end thereof which reciprocably receives said second piston rod therethr-ough, means including said second power cylinder for selectively controllably reciprocating said second piston in said second cylinder, a first pair of spaced-apart supporting shoes slidably mounted in said two tracks, respectively, for movement longitudinally of the latter, a first cross pin having opposite ends mounted on said supporting shoes, respectively, said crosspin extending substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said lower boom, means connecting the other end of said second cylinder to said cross pin for mevement therewith, at least one connecting rod pivotally connected at one end to said cross pin and extending toward said one end of said lower boom, a pivot support fixedly secured to said turntable and being disposed in substantial longitudinal alignment with said lower boom between said first-mentioned axis and the other end of said lower boom, the other end of said connecting rod being connected to said pivot support for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to said first-mentioned axis, a second pair of spaced-apart supporting shoes slidably mounted in said two tracks, respectively, for movement longitudinally of the latter, a second cross pin having opposite ends mounted on said second supporting shoes, said second cross pin extending substantially parallel to said first cross pin, a first pulley rotatably c-oaxially mounted on said shaft, a first cable pasing around said pulley and being secured at one end to said second cross pin and the the other end to a point on said upper boom which is spaced from said shaft where-by movement of said second cross pin toward said first-mentioned axis results in swinging said upper boom upwardly away from said lower boom, and means including said first cables, said first pulley, and the location of the connection of said connecting rod to said pivot support maintaining said upper boom at a substantially fixed angle with the horizontal for a predetermined arc of movement of said lower boom.

3. An articulated tower construction comprising a supporting frame, means, a turntable mounted on said frame means for rotation about an upright axis, a lower elongated boom having opposite ends, one end of said boom being connected to said turntable for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, an upper elongated boom having opposite first and second ends, a horizontally extending shaft pivotally connecting the other end of said lower boom to the first end of said upper boom, the axis of said shaft being substantially parallel to the firstmentioned horizontal axis whereby said upper boom is foldable onto said lower boom in parallelism therewith, a personnel platform connected to the second end of said upper boom for swinging movement about a horizontal axis parallel to said first mentioned axis, means for selectively controllably raising and lowering said lower boom about said first-mentioned axis, both said upper and lower booms being hollow, said lower boom having two opposite spaced-apart side walls, two elongated parallel and spaced-apart channel-shaped tracks mounted on said two side walls, respectively, and extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said lower boom, said tracks having open sides, respectively, which face each other, a power cylinder having opposite ends and disposed between said side walls and extending parallel to said longitudinal axis, a piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinder, a piston rod connected to said second piston and extending parallel to said cylinder axis, said cylinder having a bearing opening in one end thereof which reciprocably receives said piston rod therethrough, means including said power cylinder for selectively controllably reciprocating said piston in said cylinder, a first pair of spaced-apart supporting shoes slidably mounted in said two tracks, respectively, for movement longitudinally of the latter, a first cross pin having opposite ends mounted on said supporting shoes, respectively, means connecting the other end of said second cylinder to said cross pin for movement therewith, at least one connecting rod pivotally connected at one end to said cross pin and extending toward said one end of said lower boom, a pivot support fixedly secured to said turntable and being disposed in substantial longitudinal alignment with said lower boom between said firstmentioned axis and the other end of said lower boom, the other end of said connecting rod being connected to said pivot support for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to said first-mentioned axis, a second pair of spaced-apart supporting shoes slidably mounted in said two tracks, respectively, for movement longitudinally of the latter, a second cross pin having opposite ends mounted on said second supporting shoes, a first pulley rotatably coaxially mounted on said shaft, a first cable passing around said pulley and being secured at one end to said second cross pin and at the other end to a point on said upper boom which is spaced from said shaft whereby movement of said second cross pin toward said first-mentioned axis results in swinging said upper boom upwardly away from said lower boom, and means including said first cable, said first pulley, and the location of the connection of said connecting rod to said pivot support for maintaining said upper boom at a substantially fixed angle with the horizontal for a predetermined arc of movement of said lower boom.

4. An articulated tower construction comprising a supporting frame means, a lower elongated boom having opposite ends, one end of said boom being connected to said frame means for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, an upper elongated boom having opposite first and second ends, a horizontally extending shaft pivotally connecting the other end of said lower boom to the first end of said upper boom, the axis of said shaft being substantially parallel to the first-mentioned horizontal axis whereby said upper boom is foldable onto said lower boom in parallelism therewith, means for selectively controllably raising and lowering said lower boom about said first-mentioned axis, both said upper and lower booms being hollow, said lower boom having two opposite spaced-apart side walls, two

elongated parallel and spaced-apart channel-shaped tracks mounted on said two side walls, respectively, and extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said lower boom, said tracks having open sides, respectively, which face each other, a power cylinder having opposite ends and disposed between said side walls and extending parallel to said longitudinal axis, a piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinder, a piston rod connected to said piston and extending parallel to said cylinder axis, said cylinder having a bearing opening in one end thereof which reciprocably receives said piston rod therethrough, means including said power cylinder for selectively controllably reciprocating said piston in said cylinder, a first pair of spaced-apart supporting shoes slidably mounted in said two tracks, respectively, for movement longitudinally of the latter, a first cross pin having opposite ends mounted on said supporting shoes, respectively, means connecting the other end of said second cylinder to said cross pin for movement therewith, at least one connecting rod pivotally connected at one end to said cross pin and extending toward said one end of said lower boom, a pivot support fixedly secured to said frame means and being disposed in substantial longitudinal alignment with said lower boom between said first-mentioned axis and the other end of said lower boom, the other end of said connecting rod being connected to said pivot support for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to said first-mentioned axis, a second pair of spaced-apart supporting shoes slidably mounted in said two tracks, respectively, for movement longitudinally of the latter, a second cross pin having opposite ends mounted on said second supporting shoes, a first pulley rotatably coaxially mounted on said shaft, a first cable passing around said pulley and being secured at one end to said second cross pin and at the other end to a point on said upper boom which is spaced from said shaft whereby movement of said second cross pin toward said first-mentioned axis results in swinging said upper boom upwardly away from said lower boom, and means including said first cable, said first pulley, and the, location of the connection of said connecting rod to said pivot support for maintaining said upper boom at a substantially fixed angle with the horizontal for a predetermined arc of movement of said lower boom.

5. For use in an aerial tower, a lower elongated boom having opposite ends, means supporting one end of said boom for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, an upper elongated boom having opposite first and second ends, a horizontally extending shaft pivotally conmeeting the other end of said lower boom to the first r end of said upper boom, the axis of said shaft being substantially parallel to the first-mentioned horizontal axis whereby said upper boomis foldable onto said lower boom in parallelism therewith, means for selectively controll'ably raising and lowering said lower boom about said first-mentioned axis, both said upper and lower booms being hollow, said lower boom having two opposite spaced-apart side walls, two elongated parallel and spaced-apart channel-shaped tracks mounted on said two side walls, respectively, and extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said lower boom, said tracks having open sides, respectively, which face each other, a power cylinder having opposite ends and disposed between said side walls and extending parallel to said longitudinal axis, a piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinder, a piston rod connected to said piston and extending parallel to said cylinder axis, said cylinder having a bearing opening in one end thereof which reciprocably receives said piston rod therethrough, means including said power cylinder for selectively controllably reciprocating said piston in said cylinder, a first pair of spaced-apart supporting shoes slidably mounted in said two tracks, respectively, for movement longitudinally of the latter, a first cross pin having opposite ends mounted on said supporting shoes, respectively, means connecting the other end of said second cylinder to said cross pin for movement therewith, at least one onnecting rod pivotally connected at one end to said c'r'oss pin and extending toward said one end of said lower boom, means securing the other end of said connecting rod for pivotal movement about a third axis which is parallel to and fixed with respect to said first-mentioned axis, said third axis being located in a vertical plane adjacent to said first-mentioned axis and between the latter and the other end of said lower boom when the latter is in a horizontal position, said third axis further being situated either in or beneath a horizontal plane including said first-mentioned axis, a second pair of spaced-apart supporting shoes slidably mounted in said two tracks, respectively, for movement longitudinaly of the latter, a second cross pin having opposite ends mounted on said second supporting shoes, a first pulley rotatably coaxially mounted on said shaft, a first cable passing around said pulley and being operatively secured at one end to said second cross pin and at the other end to a point on said upper boom which is spaced from said shaft whereby movement of said second cross pin toward said first-mentioned axis results in swinging said upper boom upwardly away from said lower boom.

6. For use in an aerial tower, a lower elongated boom having opposite ends, means supporting one end of said boom for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, an upper elongated boom having first and second ends, the other end of said lower boom and the first end of said upper boom being connected together for pivotal movement about an elbow axis which is substantially parallel to the first-mentioned axis thereby providing an elbow, means for raising and lowering said lower boom about said first-mentioned axis, said lower boom having two opposite spaced-apart side walls, t-wo elongated parallel and spaced-apart channel-shaped tracks mounted on said two side walls, respectively, and extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said lower boom, said tracks having open sides, respectively, which face each other, a power cylinder having opposite ends and disposed between said side walls and extending parallel to said longitudinal axis, a piston reciproca'b-ly mounted in said cylinder, a piston rod connected to said piston and extending parallel to said cylinder axis, said cylinder having a bearing opening in one end thereof which reciprocably receives said piston rod therethrough, a first pair of spaced-apart supporting shoes slidably mounted in said two tracks, respectively, for movement longitudinally of the latter, a first cross pin having opposite ends mounted on said supporting shoes, respectively, said cross pin extending transversely to said longitudinal axis, means connecting the other end of said cylinder to said cross pin for movement therewith, at least one connecting rod pivotally connected at one end to said cross pin and extending toward said one end of said lower boom, means securing the other end of said connecting rod for pivotal movement about a fixed axis which is parallel to and fixed with respect to said first-mentioned axis, said fixed axis being located in a Vertical plane adjacent to said first-mentioned axis and between the latter and the other end of said lower boom when the latter is in a horizontal position, said fixed axis further being situated either adjacent to or beneath a horizontal plane including said first-mentioned axis, a second pair of spaced apart supporting shoes slidably mounted in said two tracks, respectively, for movement longitudinally of the latter, a second cross pin having opposite ends mounted on said second supporting shoes, said second cross pin extendnig transversely normal to said longitudinal axis, a first pulley mounted on said first end of said upper boom and said other end of said lower boom coaxially with respect to the second-mentioned axis, a, first cable passing around said pulley and being operatively secured at one end to said second cross pin and at the other end to a point on said upper boom which is spaced from said pulley whereby movement of said second cross pin toward said first-mentioned axis results in swinging said upper boom upwardly away from said lower boom, a second pulley rotatably mounted on said lower boom at a location between 'a first position of said second cross pin and said first-mentioned axis, said first position being the location of the closest approach of said second cross pin to said first-mentioned 'axis, a third pulley mounted on said lower boom adjacent to said-first pulley and between the latter and said second pulley, a second cable passing around said second pulley and being operatively secured at one end to said second cross pin, said second cable extending from said second pulley to and around saidthird pulley and being secured at the other end to said upper boom at a location adjacent to said "first pulley and between the latter and the second end of said upper boom, and means including said cables, said pulleys, and the location of said fixed axis for maintaining said upper boom at a substantially fixed angle with the horizontal for a predetermined arc of movement of said lower boom.

7. The arrangement of claim 6 wherein said pulleys, said cables and the locations of attachment of said cables to said booms are such that both said cables are taut for different predetermined angular relationships between said upper and lower booms. I

8. For use in an aerial tower, a lower elongated boom having opposite ends, means supporting one end of said boom for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, an upper elongated boom having first and second ends, the other end ofsaid lower boom and the first end of said upper boom being connected together for pivotal movement about an elbow axis which is substantially parallel to the first-mentioned axis thereby providing an elbow, means for raising and lowering said lower boom about said first-mentioned axis, two, elongated parallel and spaced apart tracks mounted on said lower boom and extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of, the latter, a double-acting power cylinder having first and second ends, a piston rod projecting from the first end, means mounting the distal end of said piston rod on said tracks for movement longitudinally of said lower boom, means mounting said second end of said cylinder on said tracks for movement longitudinally of said lower boom, means pivotally connecting said second end of said cylinder to a support which is fixed with respect to said first-mentioned, axis, a first pulley mounted on said first end of said upper'boom and said other end of said lower boom coaxially with respect to the second-mentioned axis, a first cable passing around said pulley and being operatively connected at one end to said piston rod and at the other end to a point on said upper boom which is spaced tromlsaid pulley whereby movement of said pistonrod toward said first-mentioned axis results in swinging said upper boom upwardly away from said lower boom, a. second pulley rotatably mounted on said lower boom at a location between the connection of said cable to'sa'id piston rod and said first menti-oned axis, a third pulley mounted on said lower boom adjacent to said first pulley and between the latter and said second pulley, a second cable passing around said second pulley and being operatively connected at one end to said piston rod, said second cable extending from said second pulley to and around said third pulley and being secured at the other end to said upper boom at a location adjacent to said first pulley and between the latter and the second end of said upper boom, and means including said cables, said pulleys, and the location of said fixed support for maintaining said upper boom at a substantially fixed angle with the horizontal for a predetermined arc of movement of said lower boom.

9. For use in an aerial tower, a lower elongated boom having opposite ends, means supporting one end of said boom for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, an upper elongated boom having first and second ends, the other end of said lower boom and the first end of said upper boom being connected together for pivotal movement about an elbow axis which is substantially parallel to the first-mentioned axis thereby providing an elbow, means for raising and lowering said lower boom about said first-mentioned axis, two elongated parallel and spaced apart tracks mounted on said lower boom and extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the latter, a double-acting power cylinder having first and second ends, a piston rod projecting from the first end, means mounting the distal end of said piston rod on said tracks for movement longitudinally of said lower boom, means mounting said second end of said cylinder on said tracks for movement longitudinally of said lower boom, means pivotally connecting said second end of said cylinder to a support which is fixed with respect to said firstmentioned axis, a first pulley mounted on said first end of said upper boom and said other end of said lower boom coaxially with respect to the second-mentioned axis, a first cable passing around said pulley and being operatively connected at one end to said piston rod and at the other end to a point on said upper boom which is spaced from said pulley whereby movement of said piston rod toward said first-mentioned ax-is results in swinging said upper boom upwardly away from said lower boom, and means including said cable, said pulley, and the location of said fixed support for maintaining said upper boom at a substantially fixed angle with the horizontal for a predetermined arc of movement of said lower boom.

10. For use in an aerial tower, a lower elongated boom having opposite ends, means supporting one end of said boom for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, an upper elongated boo-m having first and second ends, the other end of said lower boom and the first end of said upper boom being connected together for pivotal movement about an elbow axis which is substantially parallel to the first-mentioned axis thereby providing an elbow, means for raising and lowering said lower boom about said first-mentioned axis, a double acting power cylinder 'having first and second opposite end portions which are movable toward and away from each other, means mounting said cylinder on said lower boom for movement longitudinally of the latter, means pivotally connecting said first end port-ion of said cylinder to a support which is fixed relative to said first-mentioned axis, a first pulley operatively mounted on the elbow of said upper and lower booms, a first cable passing around said pulley and being operatively connected at one end to the second end portion of said cylinder and at the other end to a point on said upper boom which is spaced from said pulley whereby movement of said second end portion toward said first-mentioned axis results in swinging said upper boom upwardly away from said lower boom, a second pulley rotatably mounted on said lower boom at a location between the connection of said cable to said second end portion and said first-mentioned axis,- a third pulley mounted on said lower boom adjacent to said first pulley and between the latter and said second pulley, a second cable passing around said second pulley and being operatively connected at one end to said second end portion, said second cable extending from said second pulley to and around said third pulley and being secured at the other end to said upper boom at a location adjacent to said first pulley and between the latter and the second end of said upper boom, and means including said cable's, said pulleys, and the location of said fixed support for maintaining said upper boom at a substantially fixed angle with the horizontal for a predetermined arc of movement of said lower boom.

11. For use in an aerial tower, a lower elongated boom having opposite ends, means support-ing one end of said boom for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, an upper elongated boom having first and second ends, the other end of said lower boom and the firstend of said upper boom being connected together for pivotal move ment about an elbow axis which is substantially parallel to the first-mentioned axis thereby providing an elbow, means for raising and lowering said lower boom about said first-mentioned axis, a double acting power cylinder having first and second opposite end portions which are movable toward and away from each other, means mounting said cylinder on said lower boom for movement longitudinally of the latter, means pivotally connecting said first end portion of said cylinder to a support which is fixed relative to said first-mentioned axis, a first pulley operatively mounted on the elbow of said upper and lower booms, a first cable passing around said pulley and being operatively connected at one end to the second end portion of said cylinder and at the other end to a point on said upper boom which is spaced from said pulley where-by movement of said second end portion toward said first-mentioned axis results in swinging said upper boom upwardly away from said lower boom, and means ineluding said cable, said pulley and the location of said fixedsuppo'rt rormaintainin said upper boom at a substantially fixed angle with the horizontal for a predetermined are or movement of said lower boom.

12. For use in an aerial tower, at lower elongated boom having opposite ends, means supporting one end of said boom for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, an upper elongated boom having first and second ends, the other end of said lower boom and the first end of said upper boom being connected together for pivotal movement about an elbow axis which is substantially parallel to the first-mentioned axis thereby providing an elbow, means for raising and lowering said lower boom about said first-mentioned axis, a double acting power cylinder having first and second opposite end portions which are movable toward and away from each other, means mounting said cylinder on said lower boom for movement longitudinally of the latter, means pivotally connecting said first end portion of said cylinder to a support which is fixed relative to said first-mentioned axis, said elbow having guiding means radially spaced outwardly from said elbow axis, a first cable passing around and engaging said guiding means and being operatively connected at one end to the second end portion of said cylinder and at the other end to a point on said upper boom which is spaced from said guiding means whereby movement of said second end portion toward said first-mentioned axis results in swinging said upper boom upwardly away from said lower boom, and means responsive to movement of said lower boom for limiting the maximum angle of the upper boom above the horizontal.

13. For use in an aerial tower, a lower elongated boom having opposite ends, means supporting one end of said boom for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, an upper elongated boom having first and second ends, the other end of said lower boom and the first end of said upper boom being connected together for pivotal movernent about an elbow axis which is substantially parallel to the first-mentioned axis thereby providing an elbow, means for raising and lowering said lower boom about said first-mentioned axis, a double acting power cylinder having first and second opposite end portions which are movable toward and away from each other, means mounting said cylinder on said lower boom for movement longitudinally of the latter, means pivotally connecting said first end portion of said cylinder to a support which is fixed relative to said first-mentioned axis, said elbow having guiding means radially spaced outwardly from said elbow axis, a first cable passing around and engaging said guiding means and being operatively connected at one end -to the second end portion of said cylinder and at the other end to a point on said upper boom which is spaced from said guiding means whereby movement of said second end portion toward said first-mentioned axis results in swinging said upper boom upwardly away from said lower boom.

14, For use in an aerial tower, at lower elongated boom having opposite ends, means supporting one end of said boom for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, an upper elongated boom having first and second ends, the other end of said lower boom and the first end of said upper boom being connected together for pivotal movement about an elbow axis which is substantially parallel to the first-mentioned axis thereby providing an elbow, means for raising and lowering said lower boom about said first-mentioned axis, a first elongated flexible linkage having first and second opposite ends, the first end of said linkage being connected to a support which is fixed relative to said first-mentioned axis, said elbow having guiding means radially spaced outwardly from said elbow axis, said first linkage passing around. and engaging said guiding means and being connected at said second end toa point on said upper boom, said point being spaced from said guiding means whereby movement of said lower boom results in relative movement of said upper boom, said first linkage having a portion which is movablewith respect to said lower boom, means for controlling the length of said first linkage whereby said upper boom may be moved independently of said; lower boom, and a second elongated flexible linkage connected at one end to a point on said upper boom and at the other end to said movable portion of said first linkage, second guiding means spaced inwardly from said elbow axis, said second linkage having guiding engagement with said second guiding means, and means including said second linkage'and said second guiding means for accommodating relative swinging movement of both booms but selectively applying a holding 'force against separation movement of said booms.

15. For use in an aerial tower, a lower elongated boom having opposite ends, means supporting one end of said boom for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, an upper elongated boomv having first and second ends, the other end of said lower boom and the first end of said upper boom being connected together for pivot-a1 movement about an elbow axis which is substantially parallel to the firstnnentioned axis thereby providing an elbow, means for raising and lowering said lower boom about said first-mentioned axis, power means having first and second opposite end portions which are movable toward and away from each other, means mounting said power means on said lower b oom .for movement longitudinally of the latter, means pivotally connecting said first end portion of said power means to a support which is fixed relative to said first-mentioned axis, said elbow having guiding means radially spaced outwardly from said elbow axis, a first cable passing around and engaging said guiding means and being operatively connected at one end to the second end portion of said power means and at the other end to a point on said upper boom which is spaced from said' guiding means whereby movement of said second end portion toward said first-mentioned axis results in swinging said upper boom upwardly away from said lower boom.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,965,689 7/1934 Cowan 1822 X 2,915,137 12/1959 Troche 1822 2,940,539 6/1960 Richey 182--2 3,009,546 11/1961 Anderson u 189-44 HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

REINALDO P. MACHADO, Examiner.

Claims

15. FOR USE IN AN AERIAL TOWER, A LOWER ELONGATED BOOM HAVING OPPOSITE ENDS, MEANS SUPPORTING ONE END OF SAID BOOM FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS, AN UPPER ELONGATED BOOM HAVING FIRST AND SECOND ENDS, THE OTHER END OF SAID LOWER BOOM AND THE FIRST END OF SAID UPPER BOOM BEING CONNECTED TOGETHER FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT AN ELBOW AXIS WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE FIRST-MENTIONED AXIS THEREBY PROVIDING AN ELBOW, MEANS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING SAID LOWER BOOM ABOUT SAID FIRST-MENTIONED AXIS, POWER MEANS HAVING FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSITE END PORTIONS WHICH ARE MOVABLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER, MEANS MOUNTING SAID POWER MEANS ON SAID LOWER BOOM FOR MOVEMENT LONGITUDINALLY OF THE LATTER, MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID FIRST END PORTION OF SAID POWER MEANS TO A SUPPORT WHICH IS FIXED RELATIVE TO SAID FIRST-MENTIONED AXIS, SAID ELBOW HAVING GUIDING MEANS RADIALLY SPACED OUTWARDLY FROM SAID ELBOW AXIS, A FIRST CABLE PASSING AROUND AND ENGAGING SAID GUIDING MEANS AND BEING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED AT ONE END TO THE SECOND END PORTION OF SAID POWER MEANS AND AT THE OTHER END TO A POINT ON SAID UPPER BOOM WHICH IS SPACED FROM SAID GUIDING MEANS WHEREBY MOVEMENT OF SAID SECOND END PORTION TOWARD SAID FIRST-MENTIONED AXIS RESULTS IN SWINGING SAID UPPER BOOM UPWARDLY AWAY FROM SAID LOWER BOOM.