Pneumatically telescoping mast

• US 5,743,635 A
• Filed: 01/16/1996
• Issued: 04/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Will-Burt Company
• Original Assignee: The Will-Burt Company
• Inventors: Stearns, John C., Hulse, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US08/585,944
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 362/385, 362/66, 362/96, 362/285, 362/287, 362/286, 362/80, 362/74, 362/418, 362/419, 362/427, 362/428, 362/250, 362/431, 362/386, 362/294, 362/323, 362/413, 52/111, 52/115, 52/116, 52/117, 52/118, 52/119, 52/143
• US Class Current: 362/385
• 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: F21V 21/22 telescopic

Abstract

An improved pneumatically telescoping mast supported for pivotal movement in opposite directions is provided. The mast includes adjacent telescoping sections slidable relative to one another between retracted and extended positions. A pneumatic control system for displacing the mast sections between retracted and extended positions is also provided as is a system for pivoting the mast in opposite directions about the pivot axis between the horizontal and vertical positions. The mast includes a light source mounted at the other upper end of the mast which is capable of running on the same DC power source as the pneumatic control system and the mast pivoting system.

Claims

1. In a pneumatically telescoping mast supported for pivotal movement in opposite directions about a horizontal mast axis, said mast including adjacent telescoping sections slidable relative to one another between retracted and extended positions, means including pneumatic control means for displacing said mast sections between said retracted and extended positions, and means for pivoting said mast in opposite directions about said pivot axis between horizontal and vertical positions, the improvement comprising:

said mast including lighting means for illumination mounted to one of said adjacent telescoping sections and DC power supply means for providing electrical power to said mast system, for providing power to said lighting means and said means for pivoting and including means adjacent said lighting means for converting DC power to AC power whereby AC power is provided to said lighting means.

2. The telescoping mast of claim 1, wherein said DC power supply means provides power to said pneumatic control means.

3. The telescoping mast of claim 1, wherein said means for converting includes an electronic inverter adjacent said light mount.

4. The telescoping mast of claim 1, wherein said lighting means and said means for converting is provided in a single enclosed module.

5. The telescoping mast of claim 4, wherein said module includes a heat sink adjacent said means for converting.

6. The telescoping mast of claim 5, including means for releasably mounting said means for converting and said heat sink within said module whereby said means for converting and said heat sink are removable as a unit from said single enclosed module.

7. The telescoping mast of claim 4, including means for releasably mounting said means for converting from within said single enclosed module.

8. The telescoping mast of claim 1, wherein said lighting means includes a metal halide light.

9. The telescoping mast of claim 1, wherein said DC power supply means includes battery supply means.

10. The telescoping mast of claim 9, wherein said battery supply means is a 12 volt supply.

11. The telescoping mast of claim 9, wherein said battery supply means is a 24 volt supply.

12. In a pneumatically telescoping mast supported for pivotal movement in opposite directions about a horizontal mast axis, said mast including adjacent telescoping sections slidable relative to one another between retracted and extended positions, means including pneumatic control means for displacing said mast sections between said retracted and extended positions, and means for pivoting said mast in opposite directions about said pivot axis between horizontal and vertical positions, the improvement comprising:

said mast including lighting means for illumination mounted to one of said adjacent telescoping sections, DC motor means adjacent said lighting means for positioning said lighting means horizontally and vertically relative to said mast, DC power supply means for providing electrical power to said lighting means and said DC motor means and means adjacent said lighting means for converting said DC power to AC power whereby AC power is provided to said lighting means.

13. The telescoping mast of claim 12, wherein said means for pivoting is also connected to said DC power supply means.

14. The telescoping mast of claim 13, wherein said DC motor means includes a first motor for rotating said lighting means horizontally and a second motor for moving said lighting means vertically.

15. The telescoping mast of claim 14, wherein said lighting means includes at least one metal halide light source.

16. The telescoping mast of claim 15, wherein said lighting means includes two adjacent metal halide light sources.

17. The telescoping mast of claim 12, wherein said DC power supply means provides power to said pneumatic control means.

18. The telescoping mast of claim 12, wherein said means for converting includes an electronic inverter adjacent said light mount.

19. The telescoping mast of claim 12, wherein said lighting means and said means for converting is provided in a single enclosed module.

20. The telescoping mast of claim 19, wherein said module includes a heat sink adjacent said means for converting.

21. The telescoping mast of claim 20, including means for releasably mounting said means for converting and said heat sink within said module whereby said means for converting and said heat sink are removable as a unit from said single enclosed module.

22. The telescoping mast of claim 19, including means for releasably mounting said means for converting from within said single enclosed module.

23. The telescoping mast of claim 12, wherein said lighting means includes at least one metal halide light source.

24. The telescoping mast of claim 12, wherein said DC power supply means includes battery supply means.

25. The telescoping mast of claim 24, wherein said battery supply means is a 12 volt supply.

26. The telescoping mast of claim 24, wherein said battery supply means is a 24 volt supply.

27. In a pneumatically telescoping mast supported for pivotal movement in opposite directions about a horizontal mast axis, said mast including adjacent telescoping sections slidable relative to one another between retracted and extended positions, means including pneumatic control means for displacing said mast sections between said retracted and extended positions, and means for pivoting said mast in opposite directions about said pivot axis between horizontal and vertical positions, the improvement comprising:

said mast including lighting means for illumination mounted to one of said adjacent telescoping sections and DC power supply means located remotely from said lighting means for providing electrical power to said lighting means and means for converting said DC power to AC power located directly adjacent said lighting means, said AC power providing electrical power to said lighting means.

28. In a pneumatically telescoping mast supported for pivotal movement in opposite directions about a horizontal mast axis, said mast including adjacent telescoping sections slidable relative to one another between retracted and extended positions, a pneumatic control system for displacing said mast sections between said retracted and extended positions, and a pivoting system for pivoting said mast in opposite directions about said pivot axis between horizontal and vertical positions, the improvement comprising:

said mast including at least one light for illumination mounted to one of said adjacent telescoping sections and a DC power supply source located remotely from said at least one light and an inverter located directly adjacent said at least one light for converting said DC power to AC power, said AC power providing electrical power to said light.