Automated telescoping tower

• US 8,365,471 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2010
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aluma Tower Company, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aluma Tower Company, Inc.
• Inventors: Diniz, Ronald L., Malo, Lowell, Fuhrman, Steve, Davis, Craig A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Canfield, Robert
• Application Number:
  US12/698,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20110185647A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• Field of Search: 52/1, 521/11, 521/21, 526/32, 340/601
• US Class Current: 52/1
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/18 movable or with movable sections, e.g. rotatable or telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/182 telescopic locking of telescopic systems in general F16B7/10
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 9/16 against adverse conditions, e.g. extreme climate, pests
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/00 Meteorology
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/02 Electric testing or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 3/00 Control of position or direction G05D1/00 takes precedence; numerical control to execute positioning G05B19/18
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/00 Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A telescoping tower comprising a sensor for monitoring an environmental condition, a processor for comparing the monitored environmental condition to a predetermined value, and an actuator for automatically retracting the telescoping tower if the environmental condition is equal to or greater than the predetermined value.

Claims

1. A telescoping tower comprising:

a) an anemometer for monitoring a wind speed;

b) a processor for comparing the monitored wind speed to a first predetermined value;

c) a timer for measuring a duration which the wind speed is equal to or greater than the first predetermined value; and

d) an actuator for automatically retracting the telescoping tower if the wind speed is equal to or greater than the first predetermined value for a duration longer than a predetermined period.

2. The telescoping tower of claim 1, further comprising a control system for controlling the movement of the telescoping tower.

3. The telescoping tower of claim 2, wherein the control system is remote from the telescoping tower.

4. The telescoping tower of claim 3, wherein the telescoping tower is connected to the control system by at least one of a hard wire, wireless, cellular, RF (radio frequency) link, satellite communications or through a network.

5. The telescoping tower of claim 1, wherein the actuator is a winch attached to the telescoping tower.

6. The telescoping tower of claim 1, further comprising an audible or visual alarm that is triggered prior to the retraction of the telescoping tower.

7. The telescoping tower of claim 1, wherein the actuator automatically extends the retracted tower if the wind speed is equal to or less than a second predetermined value.

8. The telescoping tower of claim 7, wherein the second predetermined value is equal to or less than the first predetermined value.