Telescoping mast with integral payload

• US 5,615,855 A
• Filed: 12/09/1994
• Issued: 04/01/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1991
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Stainless, Inc. (American Tower Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Tri-Ex Tower Corporation
• Inventors: Marue, Edward A., Pereira, Kenneth J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Turgeon, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US08/353,118
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 248/405, 248/454.3, 248/454.4, 248/651, 248/406.1, 248/411, 248/422, 248/188.5, 248/334.1, 248/333, 248/335, 343/883, 343/878, 343/880, 343/901, 343/713, 52/67, 52/105, 52/118, 52/117, 52/40, 82/141
• US Class Current: 248/405
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/18 the object being a searchlight mounting of cameras operating during drive B60R11/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2657 mounted on a shaft, e.g. telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/182 telescopic locking of telescopic systems in general F16B7/10
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/046 adapted to upward-downward translation movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/22 telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for signalling, marking or indicating, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1235 Collapsible supports; Means for erecting a rigid antenna
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 82/2549 Feedscrews and rods

Abstract

In an integrated telescoping mast-payload assembly, the payload forms the top telescoping section.

Claims

1. In a telescoping mast assembly, including:

a plurality of nesting, telescoping mast sections, including a top section and at least one lower section, each of said sections having upper and lower ends, and

means for extending and retracting each of said sections relative to the next-lower section,

the improvement comprising;

a payload, located only in said top section,

said top section, including said payload, being dimensioned to be received and nest within the next-lower section,

at least a portion of said payload being received within said next-lower section when said top section is fully retracted,

such that said next-lower section provides protection for said payload when said top section is fully retracted,

said payload being a member of the group consisting of radio antennas, lights, instrumentation and telemetry packages for robotic vehicles, television cameras, antenna rotators, preamplifiers, radiation sensors and electronic and electro-mechanical instrument packages.

2. The assembly of claim 1 mounted on a vehicle.

3. The assembly of claim 1, in which said payload is an antenna for electromagnetic energy.

4. The assembly of claim 1, in which said lower section is radiopaque.

5. The assembly of claim 1 which further includes:

(a) a transmission line cable for transmitting a signal to or from said payload; and

(b) a sub-assembly for stowing and dispensing said cable when said mast assembly is retracted and extended.