Extendible and retractible mast system
First Claim
1. An extendible and retractable telescopic mast system comprising:
- a base for supporting said mast system;
a plurality of elongated tubes having aligned longitudinal axes and successively decreasing transverse dimensions to permit each of said tubes to axially slide therebetween, said tubes comprising;
a base tube having the largest transverse dimension and being secured to said base, said base tube having an upper portion and a lower portion;
an innermost tube with the smallest transverse dimension having a lower portion; and
at least one intermediate tube positioned between the innermost and base tubes and having an upper portion and a lower portion, said intermediate and innermost tubes being axially movble relative to said base tube and to each other;
means for so axially moving said innermost and intermediate tubes, comprising;
winch means in close proximity to said base tube and having a capstan with a rope wound thereon, said rope having two lengths extending from opposite ends, respectively of said capstan;
first pulley means mounted on the upper portion of said base tube;
second and third pulley means mounted on the lower and upper portions, respectively, of said intermediate tube;
one of said rope lengths extending from said capstan to and around, in succession, said first pulley means and said second and third pulley means of the respective intermediate tubes, the ends of both of said rope lengths being connected to said innermost tube;
said winch means having motor means for selectively rotating said capstan in opposite directions for extending and retracting said intermediate and innermost tubes.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A telescopic mast system has a base tube, a plurality of axially movable coaxial inner tubes nestable successively within each other and within the base tube, and a winch supported at the lower end of the base tube with a pair of preferably wire ropes driven thereby for extending and retracting the inner tubes. The base and inner tubes have collars at their respective ends, the collars of adjacent tubes engaging each other to limit extension thereof and to provide additional structural support during application of bending loads on the mast system. The ropes are connected to pulleys mounted near or within tube collars so that the ropes and pulleys are totally enclosed within the mast system. As the winch is rotated in one direction, the ropes axially move the inner tubes from a nested or stowed position within the base tube to a fully vertically extended operational position. When the winch is rotated in the opposite direction, the ropes apply a positive retractive force to the inner tubes and return them to the fully nested stowed position.
89 Citations
13 Claims
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1. An extendible and retractable telescopic mast system comprising:
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a base for supporting said mast system; a plurality of elongated tubes having aligned longitudinal axes and successively decreasing transverse dimensions to permit each of said tubes to axially slide therebetween, said tubes comprising; a base tube having the largest transverse dimension and being secured to said base, said base tube having an upper portion and a lower portion; an innermost tube with the smallest transverse dimension having a lower portion; and at least one intermediate tube positioned between the innermost and base tubes and having an upper portion and a lower portion, said intermediate and innermost tubes being axially movble relative to said base tube and to each other; means for so axially moving said innermost and intermediate tubes, comprising; winch means in close proximity to said base tube and having a capstan with a rope wound thereon, said rope having two lengths extending from opposite ends, respectively of said capstan; first pulley means mounted on the upper portion of said base tube; second and third pulley means mounted on the lower and upper portions, respectively, of said intermediate tube; one of said rope lengths extending from said capstan to and around, in succession, said first pulley means and said second and third pulley means of the respective intermediate tubes, the ends of both of said rope lengths being connected to said innermost tube; said winch means having motor means for selectively rotating said capstan in opposite directions for extending and retracting said intermediate and innermost tubes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An extendible and retractible telescopic mast system comprising:
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a base; a plurality of elongated nested tubes having substantially square cross-sections and aligned longitudinal axes and successively decreasing transverse dimensions, said tubes comprising a base tube having an upper end and side walls with the largest transverse dimension an innermost tube having side walls with the smallest transverse dimension, said innermost tube having a lower portion, and a plurality of intermediate tubes between the innermost and base tubes having side walls with successively decreasing transverse dimensions, each of said intermediate tubes having lower and upper ends, said base tube being permanently secured to said base, said intermediate and innermost tubes being axially movable relative to said base tube and to each other; and means for so axially moving said innermost and intermediate tubes, comprising; winch means mounted in close proximity to said base tube and having at least two capstans, each of said capstans having a rope wound thereon, each rope having lengths thereof extending from opposite ends, respectively, of the associated capstan; first and second pulleys mounted at the upper ends of opposite side walls of said base tube; third and fourth pulleys mounted at the lower and upper ends, respectively, of one side wall of each of said intermediate tubes; fifth and sixth pulleys mounted at the lower and upper ends, respectively, of the other side wall of each said intermediate tubes; one length of one of said ropes extending from one of said capstans to and around, in succession, said first pulley and said third and fourth pulleys of the respective intermediate tubes for connection to said innermost tube; one length of the other of said ropes extending from one end of the other of said capstans to and around, in succession, said second pulley and said fifth and sixth pulleys of the respective intermediate tubes for connection to said innermost tube; the other lengths of said ropes, respectively, extending from the other ends, respectively, of said capstans for direct connections to said innermost tube; said winch means having motor means for selectively rotating said capstans as a pair in opposite directions for extending and retracting, respectively, said intermediate and innermost tubes. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification