Antenna tower structure with installation shaft

• US 8,018,395 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2007
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Häger, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan; Tho G
• Application Number:
  US12/293,893
• Publication Number:
  US 20090102743A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,642 Days
• Field of Search: 343/890, 343/891, 52/40, 521/11
• US Class Current: 343/890
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/003 Access covers or locks therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/02 Structures made of specified materials
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/12 of concrete or other stone-like material, with or without internal or external reinforcements, e.g. with metal coverings, with permanent form elements
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/185 with identical elements
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/342 Arrangements for stacking tower sections on top of each other E04H12/344 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1242 Rigid masts specially adapted for supporting an aerial
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/50 Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors

Abstract

An antenna tower structure comprising an essentially vertical elongated tower body with an internal installation shaft provided therein. One or more radio base stations are arranged in the installation shaft in the vicinity of one or more associated antennas at the top of the tower body. The installation shaft is formed to allow personnel access to the radio base station. There is also provided an elevator arrangement for an antenna tower structure.

Claims

1. An antenna tower structure, comprising:

an essentially vertical elongated tower body with an internal installation shaft provided therein;

one or more radio base stations that are arranged in the installation shaft in close vicinity of one or more associated antennas at the top of the tower body;

wherein said installation shaft extends from the tower base to the top and wherein the installation shaft is formed to allow personnel access to the radio base stations.

2. The antenna tower structure according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional area of the installation shaft at the radio base station is at least 1.0 m².

3. The antenna tower structure according to claim 1, wherein the tower proximate to the radio base station is of essentially circular cross section with a radius of at least 0.7 m.

4. The antenna tower structure according to claim 1, wherein the radio base stations are comprised of standard rack mounted units.

5. The antenna tower structure according to claim 1, wherein two or more separate radio base stations are arranged in the installation shaft in the vicinity of one or more associated antennas at the top of the tower body.

6. The antenna tower structure according to claim 1, wherein the tower body and the installation shaft have a larger cross-sectional area at the base compared with the top.

7. The antenna tower structure according to claim 1, wherein the installation shaft is internally climbable.

8. The antenna tower structure according to claim 1, wherein the elongated tower body is comprised of two or more modular segments.

9. The antenna tower structure according to claim 8, wherein at least two of the modular segments are of the same dimensions.

10. The antenna tower structure according to claim 8, comprising a base segment with a lower end of large cross-sectional area compared to the cross-sectional area of the modular segments arranged thereon.

11. The antenna tower structure according to claim 10, wherein the base segment is comprised of two or more interconnected sections.

12. The antenna tower structure according to claim 1, wherein the mass ratio between the tower body and the radio base station equipment together with the antenna arrangement exceeds 20:

1, and wherein the tower body is formed so that the mass centre of the tower body and radio base station equipment is lower than ½

of the tower body height.

13. The antenna tower structure according to claim 1, wherein the tower is a self supporting structure.

14. The antenna tower structure according to claim 1, wherein the tower body is comprised of a metal reinforced concrete material.

15. The antenna tower structure according to claim 1, further comprising lightning protection means in the form of one or more air terminators connected to earth via down conductors.

16. The antenna tower structure according to claim 15, wherein two or more air terminators in the form of essentially horizontally extending rods are arranged at the top of the tower body.

17. The antenna tower structure according to anyone claim 15, wherein the tower body is comprised of a metal reinforced concrete material, and wherein at least a portion of the metal reinforcement is connected as a down conductor from a lightning protection means.

18. The antenna tower structure according to claim 1, further comprising a radome extending from the elongated tower body and enclosing the antennas.

19. The antenna tower structure according to claim 1, wherein the radio base station is a GSM, WCDMA, HSPA, MIMO or LTE telecommunications system.

20. The antenna tower structure according to claim 1, wherein the radio base station(s) and associated antennas are arranged on an elevator unit that can be raised and lowered in the installation shaft by an elevator arrangement.

21. The antenna tower structure according to claim 20, wherein an elevator sub unit carrying the radio base station(s) and associated antennas is arranged to travel with the elevator unit and can be detached from the elevator unit and retained at the top of the antenna tower structure by a mechanical lock arrangement.

22. The antenna tower structure according to claim 21, wherein the elevator unit comprises a transport platform for transporting equipment to and from the radio base station(s) and to be used as working platform for maintenance of the radio base station equipment.

23. The antenna tower structure according to claim 21, wherein the mechanical stop arrangement automatically is locked when the elevator sub unit during upwards motion reaches a predetermined locking position in the installation shaft.

24. The antenna tower structure according claim 23, wherein the mechanical stop arrangement automatically is unlocked when the elevator sub unit is lifted a predetermined distance from the locking position, whereby the elevator sub unit is free to follow the elevator unit downwards in the installation shaft past the locking position.