WO2001028032A1

WO2001028032A1 - Mobile mast arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO2001028032A1
Application number: PCT/EP1999/007574
Authority: WO
Inventors: Walter Hunger
Original assignee: Walter Hunger
Priority date: 1999-10-08
Filing date: 1999-10-08
Publication date: 2001-04-19

Abstract

The invention relates to a mobile mast arrangement which is mounted on a motor vehicle (10). The inventive arrangement carries a telecommunications device, especially a radar antenna (14), and comprises a lifting telescopic cylinder (20) for lifting and lowering the telecommunications device. An anti-torsion device for the telescopic cylinder is provided. Said anti-torsion device is preferably embodied as a square telescope (16) which surrounds the telescopic cylinder (20).

Description

Mobile mast arrangement

The invention relates to a mobile mast arrangement on a motor vehicle for a telecommunication device, in particular a radar antenna, with a lifting telescopic cylinder for raising or lowering the telecommunication device.

In the context of civil and military applications, it is known to provide mobile mast arrangements on a motor vehicle in order to establish telecommunication connections, in particular in rough terrain. For this purpose, the motor vehicles, in particular off-road trucks, are included provided a mobile mast arrangement, which consists essentially of a telescopic cylinder with an antenna placed on it. The telescopic cylinder is retracted while the motor vehicle is traveling, possibly also folded in, in order then to be erected and extended at a specific location. The telecommunication device located at the top of the mast arrangement, for example the radar antenna, is then extended and can be used as intended. It goes without saying that the present invention not only includes mobile radar systems but also mobile telecommunications devices of other types, for example directional radio links, relay stations for mobile radio networks and the like.

A disadvantage of these known mast arrangements is that the extended telescopic cylinder can rotate about its longitudinal axis, in particular when a corresponding torque is exerted on the telecommunication device arranged at the free end of the telescopic cylinder. This is especially the case if the telecommunication device is formed by a radar antenna or another flat element which is e.g. a wind force and thus a torque is exerted by diagonally acting winds.

However, telecommunications devices of this type are extremely sensitive to such twists, especially when it comes to radar antennas. This is because they have to scan a certain target area by controlled twisting, so that all twists which are applied in an uncontrolled manner by external forces cause sources of error. The invention is therefore based on the object of developing a mast arrangement of the type mentioned in such a way that these disadvantages are avoided. In particular, the aim is to ensure that the telecommunication device is arranged so that it cannot rotate, even when the telescopic cylinder is extended, so that reproducible conditions occur.

In a mast arrangement of the type mentioned, this object is achieved according to the invention in that an anti-rotation device is provided for the telescopic cylinder.

The object underlying the invention is completely achieved in this way. If the aforementioned anti-rotation device is provided, a comparatively strong wind can no longer turn the telecommunication device and thus also the telescopic cylinder, so that regulated conditions exist to this extent. Even if the telecommunications device, in particular the radar antenna, is rotated by appropriate drives, this happens from a defined starting position, so that the scanning range of the radar antenna is defined.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the anti-rotation device is designed as a non-circular profile arranged between the telecommunication device and the motor vehicle.

This measure has the advantage that, depending on the choice of the radial cross section of the non-circular profile, a positive locking against rotation is ensured. In a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the non-circular profile is designed as a non-circular telescope surrounding the telescopic cylinder.

This measure has the advantage that the telescopic cylinder is covered on the outside, so that environmental influences do not affect the telescopic cylinder. In particular, this extends the service life of the telescopic cylinder and shortens the maintenance intervals. In addition, it can be advantageous in military applications to cover the bare telescopic cylinder, because incident sunlight is reflected on the bare surfaces of the telescopic cylinder and the piston rods, and therefore an arrangement according to the invention is easily recognizable. If, on the other hand, the telescopic cylinder is surrounded by a non-circular telescope, which can be provided with absorbent coloring, the entire system is not so easily recognizable from the outside.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a clamping device is provided for axially clamping the mast arrangement.

This measure, known per se, has the advantage that the mast arrangement is also defined with regard to the extension length of the telescopic cylinder.

A particularly good effect is achieved in that the clamping device comprises a hydraulically actuated wedge arrangement which acts between the sections. This measure has the advantage that the clamping effect can be activated by a simple control, namely a valve control in the context of a hydraulic system.

In further exemplary embodiments of the invention, guide elements for sections of the polygonal telescope are arranged in corners of the polygonal telescope.

This measure has the advantage that low-friction guidance of the sections of the polygonal telescope is achieved. In addition, exact guidance of the respective inner section in the outer section is achieved in this way.

The advantages associated with the present invention can be summarized as follows:

First, a mechanically insensitive construction arises, since the telescopic cylinder is installed completely protected by the surrounding square tube telescope.

Furthermore, there is a very high torsional stiffness, even during the lifting movement through the square tube telescope. Even in the unclamped state, torsional rigidity is achieved that would be unattainable with a telescopic cylinder of the same dimensions.

In addition, good camouflage arises in the context of military applications because, as already mentioned, the chrome-plated piston rod is hidden in the square tube telescope and is therefore not so easily recognizable by reflection from sunlight or the like. Furthermore, no transverse forces are applied to the guide elements and seals of the cylinder, which means less wear and no leakage.

In addition, the nominal width of the telescopic cylinder can be set much smaller than with a round mast without a surrounding telescope. As a result, the hydraulic unit for the lifting function of the telescopic cylinder and the necessary power can be significantly smaller. This is of particular importance in mobile systems, where the energy expenditure is always a limiting factor.

In the mast arrangement according to the invention, the clamping force does not act on the sealing counter surface, namely the piston rod, so that it cannot be scratched as a result.

In addition, individual wear components, e.g. Guides or brake pads, among other things, can be changed on site, as they are separate assemblies.

It goes without saying that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the combination indicated in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own without departing from the scope of the present invention.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and is explained in more detail in the following description. Show it: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a mast assembly according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view, in section, showing a section of the mast of Fig. 1;

3 shows a further enlarged side view, in section, through a hydraulic clamping device, such as is used in the mast according to FIG. 2;

4 shows a radial section along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2 on a greatly enlarged scale;

5 shows a section of the illustration according to FIG. 4 on an even larger scale.

In Fig. 1, 10 denotes a truck, as can be used in particular for mobile telecommunications equipment in the civil and military sectors. Details of the truck, in particular its off-road capability, etc., are not the subject of the present invention.

A mast 12 is mounted on the truck 10. The mast 12 carries at its upper end a rotatable radar antenna 14. The details of the radar antenna 14 are also not the subject of the present invention.

In order to make the mast 12 adjustable in its length L, in particular to achieve a length of up to 15 m, the Mast 12 designed as a telescope. The telescope comprises an outer square tube telescope 16 with a lower section 16a and an upper section 16b. However, it is understood that the square tube telescope 16 can also consist of three or more sections.

At the upper end of the lower section 16a there is a hydraulic clamping device 18 with which the upper section 16b can be clamped in the longitudinal direction relative to the lower section 16a, that is to say axially secured.

From the sectional view according to FIG. 2 it can be seen that within the square tube telescope 16 there is a hydraulic telescopic cylinder 20 which comprises a lower section 20a and an upper section 20b. The telescopic cylinder 20 is of a type known per se.

At the upper end of the upper section 20a of the telescopic cylinder 20, a flange 22 is attached which supports the radar antenna 14. The flange 22 with the radar antenna 14 is therefore raised or lowered by extending the telescopic cylinder 20. In contrast, the square tube telescope 16 has no lifting function but serves exclusively for the outer covering, but in particular to prevent rotation.

When wind forces, in particular obliquely directed wind forces, act on the radar antenna 14, a torque is exerted on the radar antenna 14. When using telescopic cylinders without an anti-rotation lock, the telescopic cylinder and thus also the radar antenna would twist, which would lead to malfunctions. In contrast, it is a special feature of the mast arrangement according to the invention that the hydraulic telescopic cylinder 20 is surrounded by the square tube telescope 16, which due to its out-of-round shape represents a reliable anti-rotation device. It should be mentioned at this point that, instead of a square tube telescope, another non-circular telescope can be used, for example a triangular tube telescope, an elliptical telescope or a telescope with a corresponding groove / wedge guide and the like.

FIG. 3 shows details of the hydraulic clamping device 18 which, as mentioned, is located at the upper end of the lower section 16a of the square tube telescope 16.

It can be seen that the clamping device 18 comprises a housing 30 in which a first wedge 32 with a first wedge surface 33 is mounted so as to be movable in the vertical direction. A second wedge 34 abuts the first wedge surface 33 with a second wedge surface 35. The second wedge 34 is guided horizontally in the housing 30. The second wedge 34 carries a friction lining 36 on its side facing away from the second wedge surface 35. The friction lining 36 faces a surface 38 of the upper section 16b of the square tube telescope 16, while the housing 30 is fastened to the lower section 16a.

In the upper part of the housing 30 there is a double-acting piston-cylinder unit 40 which is only indicated schematically. This in turn is guided via a bearing sleeve 42 on the upper section 16b of the square tube telescope 16. In Fig. 3 the starting position of the clamping device 18 is shown, in which it has no clamping effect.

If the upper section 16b of the square tube telescope 16 is now extended upwards and is to be clamped in this position, the piston of the piston-cylinder unit 40 is moved downward. As a result, the first wedge 32 is moved downward and at the same time pushes the second wedge 34 to the right in the illustration according to FIG. 3. Then the friction lining 36 comes into contact with the upper section 16b of the square tube telescope 16 and locks it frictionally along the longitudinal axis.

The cross-sectional view according to FIG. 4 shows once again the coaxial arrangement of the telescopic cylinder 20 in the square tube telescope 16. With 50, a corner of the square tube telescope 16 is shown in a section, which is shown in FIG. 5 on a greatly enlarged scale with details ,

It can be seen there that in the corner region on the inside of the lower section 16a of the square tube telescope 16 there are sliding linings 52 which are preferably screwed to the lower section 16a.

Opposite the sliding linings 52 is a profile 54 welded onto the outside of the upper section 16b, onto which a nitrided profile 56 is screwed. The nitrided profile 56 thus runs on the sliding lining 52. Since the arrangement according to FIG. 5 has been made in all four corners of the square tube telescope 16, the sections 16a and 16b are securely mounted one inside the other and can be extended with little friction along the longitudinal axis of the square tube telescope 16.

At this point it should be pointed out again that the square tube telescope 16 is only dragged along when the telescopic cylinder 20 is extended, that is to say it does not have its own lifting action. Rather, the square tube telescope 16 has the exclusive task of securing the mast 12 against rotation by wind forces or the like acting on it.

Claims

claims

1. Mobile mast arrangement on a motor vehicle (10) for a telecommunications device, in particular a radar antenna (14), with a lifting telescopic cylinder (20) for raising or lowering the telecommunications device, characterized in that an anti-rotation device for the telescopic cylinder (20) is provided is.

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the anti-rotation device is designed as a non-circular profile arranged between the telecommunications device and the motor vehicle (10).

3. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the non-circular profile is designed as the telescopic cylinder (20) surrounding non-circular telescope.

4. Arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the non-circular telescope is designed as a polygonal telescope, in particular as a square telescope (16).

5. Arrangement according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a clamping device (18) is provided for axially jamming the mast arrangement.

6. Arrangement according to claim 4 and 5, characterized in that the Kle device (18) acts between sections (16a, 16b) of the non-circular telescope.

7. Arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that the clamping device comprises a hydraulically actuated wedge arrangement (32 to 35) which acts between the sections (16a, 16b).

8. Arrangement according to one or more of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that guide elements (52 to 56) for sections (16a, 16b) of the polygonal telescope are arranged in corners (50) of the polygonal telescope.