Abstract:
A pole ascension apparatus and associated method are disclosed. According to one embodiment, the apparatus includes a track connected to a pole and a portable platform portion detachably connectable to the track. The portable platform portion may move upwardly and downwardly along the track.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   The present invention is directed generally to various embodiments of ascension/descension apparatuses and methods. 
   Telephone service technicians are often required to climb telephone poles in order to make the necessary repairs. As most telephone poles are wooden, it is common for telephone service technicians to use spiked shoes (often referred to as “gaffs”) in order to provide the necessary traction to scale the vertical pole. Such shoes, however, often put unnecessary stress on the technician&#39;s leg and foot joints. 
   It can be appreciated that commercial entities and other organizations that employ workers in elevated environments are aware of the potential risks attendant upon work performed in such environments. In view of this awareness, commercial entities and other organizations devote time and resources to promoting the safety of workers performing work in elevated environments to make the performance of work as safe as possible. Promoting safety of workers in elevated environments may involve instituting training programs and/or providing workers with a variety of support devices, support systems, backup devices and systems, and/or other means that promote the stability and safety of workers in elevated environments. Despite the best efforts of an organization to enhance the safety of its workers and reduce the risk of falling from elevated structures, for example, it is nonetheless difficult to eliminate all risks to workers performing work on such elevated structures. 
   Redundant systems for promoting safety of workers on elevated utility structures may thus sometimes be used. Such redundant systems can sometimes be beneficial in addition to the myriad of existing support systems, methods, devices and/or other apparatus employed by workers on elevated structures to reduce or mitigate risks associated with falling from utility structures, for example. 
   SUMMARY 
   In one general respect, embodiments of the present invention include an ascension/descension apparatus. According to various embodiments, the apparatus includes a track connected to a vertical surface and a portable platform portion detachably connectable to the track. The portable platform portion may move upwardly and downwardly along the track. In addition, the apparatus may include a chain system connected to the vertical surface for raising and lowering the portable platform portion along the track. In operation, therefore, an operator of the apparatus may connect the platform to the track and then activate the chain system to ascend, and subsequently descend, the pole. When finished at the pole, the operator may then remove the platform. As such, the apparatus may be convenient to service technicians who need to ascend poles, such as telephone poles, in an expedient manner. 
   According to various embodiments of the apparatus, the portable platform portion may include a control unit connected thereto. The control unit may allow the operator to control the chain system from the portable platform device. For example, the control unit may include one or more pedals that allow the operator to control, for example, ascent or descent of the pole and/or vary the speed of platform in a hands-free manner. In addition, the control unit may communicate wirelessly with the chain system in order to control the chain system. 
   According to other embodiments, the apparatus may include a portable platform portion and means for raising and lowering the portable platform portion. The means for raising and lowering may be, for example, the track and chain system as described above or a hydraulic lift system. 
   In another general respect, various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method of traversing a vertical surface (such as a utility pole). The method may include connecting a portable platform portion to the track and activating the chain system of the track to raise to the portable platform portion such that the portable platform portion ascends the vertical surface. In addition, the method may include activating the chain system to lower the portable platform portion such that the portable platform portion descends the vertical surface and disconnecting the portable platform portion from the track. 
   Other systems and/or methods according to embodiments will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon review of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems and/or methods be included with this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Embodiments of the present invention will be described in conjunction with the following figures, which are not drawn to scale, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of an ascension/descension apparatus according to various embodiments; 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the ascension/descension apparatus of  FIG. 1  according to various embodiments; 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  are views of a portion of a chain system according to various embodiments; 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of the ascension/descension apparatus of  FIG. 1  according to various embodiments; and 
       FIG. 6  is a diagram of the ascension/descension apparatus according to other various embodiments. 
   

   DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  is a side-view of an ascension/descension apparatus  10  according to various embodiments of the present invention. As can be seen in  FIG. 1  the apparatus  10  includes a track  12  connected to a vertical or substantially vertical surface, such as, for example, a pole  14 . A front view of the track  12  is shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   As can be seen with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the track  12  may include a chain system  16  for pulling up and lowering down a platform  18 . The platform  18  may support a person  20 , such as technician who needs to service equipment (not shown) connected to the pole  14 . As described in more detail below, the platform  18  may be detachably connectable to the track  12 . 
   The chain system  16  may include a pair of chains  22 ,  24 . Each chain  22 ,  24  may be wound around and engaged by two drive gears: an upper drive gear  26   a,b  at the top of the chain system  16  and a lower gear drive  28   a,b  at the lower portion of the chain system  16 . A drive shaft  32  connected to a motor  30 , such as an electric motor, may turn the upper drive gears  28   a,b  to thereby rotate the respective chains  22 ,  24 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the motor  30  may be located near the upper drive gears  26   a,b . According to other embodiments, the motor  30  may be located near and drive the lower drive gears  28   a,b . The motor  30  may be powered by any suitable power source (not shown), including, for example, a battery, a generator or solar cells. 
   The pole  14  may be, for example, a utility pole such as, for example, a telephone pole, an electrical power line pole, a light pole etc., to which utility, for example, equipment (such as telephone network equipment, electrical power equipment, or light fixtures) may be connected. In that connection, the pole  14  may be made out of any material suitable for purposes of, for example, withstanding environmental conditions and being able to support the utility equipment. According to various embodiments, the pole  14  may be made of steel, wood and/or concrete. 
   As seen in  FIG. 2 , the track  12  may include two vertical and parallel rails  36   a,b . As described in more detail below, the rails  36   a,b  may have a curved outer surface over which a portion of the platform  18  may sit such that the platform  18  may glide over the rails  36   a,b . In that connection, the platform  18  may include wheels or bearing to facilitate gliding along the rails  36   a,b  when pulled or lowered by the chain  18 . Also as seen in  FIG. 2 , the track  12  may include a number of inter-rail supports  40  connected between the rails  36   a,b . The inter-rail supports  40  may be behind the chain system  16 , that is closer to the pole  14  than the chains  22 ,  24 , so as to not interfere with the movement of the platform  18  as it rides along the rails  36   a,b  when being pulled by the chain system  16 . The inter-rail supports  40  may also be connected to the pole  14  to help secure the track  12  to the pole  14 . In addition, as seen in  FIG. 1 , the track  12  may include a number of supports  42  for connecting the track  12  to the pole  14 . The supports  42 , as seen in  FIG. 1 , may be long enough so as to extend past the chains  22 ,  24  of the chain system  16  in order that the platform  18  does not interfere with the movement of the platform  18  as it rides along the rails  36   a,b  when being pulled by the chain system  16 . 
   In addition, the track  12  may include vertical and parallel guideposts  44   a,b  situated between the rails  36   a,b  for facilitating coordinated and unisoned movement of the respective chains  22 ,  24 , as described in more detail below. The rails  36   a,b , the inter-rail supports  40 , the supports  42  and the guideposts  44   a,b  may be made of, for example, metal and/or metal alloys. The track  12  may be connected to the pole  14  in any manner suitable for supporting the weight of the track  12 , the platform  18  and the anticipated weight of the load supported by the platform  18 . According to various embodiments, the track  12 , such as the supports  42  and the inter-rail supports  40  may be bolted to the pole  12 . In addition, according to various embodiments of the present invention, an existing pole  14 , such as an existing telephone pole, may be retrofitted with the track  12 . Alternatively, the track  12  may be integrated into the pole  14  when the pole  14  is made. 
     FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate details regarding the chain system  16  according to various embodiments of the present invention. As seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the chains  22 ,  24  may include a number of links  50 . Further, the chain system  16  may include one or more shoes  52  connected between corresponding links  50  of the respective chains  22 ,  24 . The shoes  52  may be attached to the chains  22 ,  24  by a bolt  54  passing through the corresponding links  50  and the shoe  52  so as to lock the links  50  together. The shoes  52  may be situated between the guideposts  44   a,b  so as to slide between the guideposts  44   a,b  to allow the chains  22 ,  24  to turn in unison along a controlled path. 
   In addition, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the chain system  16  may include one or more platform engaging elements  56  for engaging, for example, a hook (or chain dog)  68  (shown in  FIG. 5 , to be discussed below) of the platform  18 . The platform engaging elements  56  may be fastened to the chains  22 ,  24  with bolts  54  much like the shoes  52 . The platform engaging elements  56  may engage the chain dog of the platform  18  so as to pull up or lower the platform  18 . 
     FIG. 5  illustrates a top view of the apparatus  10  according various embodiments. As can been seen in  FIG. 5 , the rails  36   a,b  may have curved outer surfaces  60 . According to various embodiments, the platform  18  may comprise two portions—a fixed portion  62  and a detachable portion  64 . The fixed portion  62  may remain movably fixed to the track  12  and may include flanges  66  positioned around the rails  36   a,b  such that the flanges may glidably move along the rails  36   a,b . The fixed portion  62  may further include a hook, or chain dog,  68  for engaging the platform engaging element  56  of the chain system  16  such that when the chains  22 ,  24  rotate forward, the platform engaging element  56  engages the chain dog  68  and pulls the platform  18  upward and, when the chains  22 ,  24  rotate backward, the platform engaging element  56  allows the chain dog  68 , and hence the platform  18 , to be lowered with the platform engaging element. 
   The detachable portion  64  of the platform may include an area  70  at which a person could stand. The detachable portion  64  may be detachably connectable to the fixed portion  62  of the platform  18  such that the operator  20  may connect the detachable portion  64  to the fixed portion  62  prior to ascending the pole  14  and then remove the detachable portion  64  when finished at the pole site. Any attachment mechanism for attaching the detachable portion  64  to the fixed portion  62  that is suitable for the intended purpose may be utilized. For example, the attachment mechanism may be strong enough to withstand the torque provided by the weight of the detachable portion  64  as well as the operator  20  and any equipment that may be positioned on the detachable portion  64 . For example, the attachment mechanism may include one or a combination of nuts and bolts, tongue and groove channels, locking pins, etc. 
   According to various embodiments, the platform  18  may have one or more sidewalls (not shown) to surround or partially surround the standing area  70  to provide safety from falls for the operator  20 . In addition, according to various embodiments, the platform  18  may include only one piece that the operator  20  can fit over the rails  36   a,b , rather than the two portions  62 ,  64  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . According to such embodiments, the operator  20  may connect the platform  18  to the track  12  to traverse the pole  14  rather than attaching the detachable portion  64  to the fixed portion  62  as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
   The operator  20  may control the motor  30 , and hence rotation of the chains  22 ,  24 , with a control unit  80  ( FIG. 1 ). The control unit  80  may be, for example, mounted to the platform  18 , such as to the detachable portion  64  or the fixed portion  62 . The control unit  80  may be in communication with a motor control unit  82  connected to the motor  30  by, for example, a wireless or wire connection. The motor control unit  82  may receive the signals from the control unit  80 , entered by the operator  80 , and cause the motor to perform the commanded operation, such as rotate (forward or backward), stop rotating, or change speed of rotation. 
   For embodiments in which the control unit  80  is in communication with the motor control unit  82  wirelessly, the control unit  80  may communicate with the motor control unit  82  with, for example, optical or radio signals. According to one embodiment, the control unit  80  may communicate with the motor control unit  82  via Bluetooth communication signaling. For embodiments in which the control unit  80  is connected to the motor control unit  82  via a wire connection, the motor control unit  82  may have communication wires running down the pole  14  and which connect to a port (not shown) on the track system  12 . The control unit  80  may have lead wires for connecting to the port, thus interconnecting the control unit  80  and the motor control unit  82  (and hence the motor  30 ). 
   Via the control unit  80 , the operator  20  may control the motor  30 , such as causing the motor  30  to rotate the chains  22 ,  24  (both forward and backward), thus causing the motor  30  to cease rotating the chains  22 ,  24 , and/or varying the speed of rotation. The control unit  80  may include any type of input interface suitable to permit the operator to control the motor  30  from the control unit  80 . For example, the control unit  80  may have one or more pedals to allow the operator  20  to control the motor  30  hands-free. According to various embodiments, the control unit  80  may include, for example, one or more of a keyboard, a mouse, a trackball, a touch-screen interface, a joystick, a touchpad, etc., to permit the operator  20  to input commands to the control unit  80  to control the motor  30 . In addition, according to other embodiments, the control unit  80  may have speech recognition software such that the control unit  80  could recognize verbal commands from the operator  20 . 
   In operation, therefore, a technician or other person required to ascend the pole  14 , for example, to service equipment mounted to the pole  14 , may connect the detachable platform portion  64  to the track system  16  and then control the motor  30  via the control unit  80  to both ascend and descend the pole  14 . Once finished at the site, the operator may disconnect the detachable platform portion  64 . 
   Security mechanisms may be used in order that only appropriate operators can control the motor  30 . For example, for embodiments where the control unit  80  communicates with the motor control unit  82  wirelessly, the operator  20  may be required to enter a personal identification number (PIN) to be authenticated by the motor control unit  82 . According to other embodiments, a coded enable signal may be sent to the motor control unit  82  in order to enable the control unit  80  to be able to communicate with the motor control unit  82 . For embodiments in which the motor control unit  82  is hard-wired to the control unit  80 , the interface port, described above, may have, for example, a locked entry which must be opened to allow the operator  20  to connect the control unit  80  to the interface port. 
   According to other embodiments, different mechanisms may be used to raise and lower the portable platform portion. For example, the apparatus  10  may include a hydraulic lift system  90 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The hydraulic lift system  90  may include, for example, a piston  92 , a cylinder  94 , a pump  96 , a valve  98  and a reservoir of hydraulic fluid  100 , and may operate, for example, like a conventional hydraulic lift system. The operator  20  may detachably connect the platform  18  to the piston  92  when it is desired to ascend the pole  14 . For security purposes, access to the cylinder  92  to which to connect the platform  18  may require, for example, a keyed and/or verified (e.g., PIN) entry. According to other embodiments, the apparatus  10  may include, for example, a block-and-tackle system for raising and lowering the portable platform portion.