Tower pod for communications equipment

A pod for communications, research, navigation, and weather equipment, including antennas or sensors, has a skeleton formed by metal double channels and other metal structural elements, and is connected to a tower by rigid structural elements, including braces extending from below the pod to inner and outer beam rings of a floor skeleton. Fiberglass panels are connected to the floor and roof skeleton, and between the floor and roof skeletons, to form exterior and interior sides, defining an enclosure of sufficient integrity that it is water-tight, and may be air conditioned (heated and/or cooled). The exterior sides formed by the panels are contoured (e.g. curved about both horizontal and vertical axes), and the floor and roof panels are tapered, so as to provide an aerodynamic design of the pod. A dual set of railings is mounted on the roof with antennas connected to each set of railings, so as to provide maximum horizontal spacing of the antennas.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A particularly effective way to mount communications equipment, such as 
microwave dishes, radio base stations, microwave radios, controllers, 
computers, broadcast transmitters, etc., is on a tall tower. This has been 
accomplished in the past by mounting the equipment on platforms that are 
formed with a minimum of structural steel. While prior towers have been 
functional, they have had one or more of the following shortcomings: not 
rain tight; not having sufficient integrity to be air conditioned (which 
is highly desirable for certain types of electronics equipment for 
communications) and in general a lack of any environmental controls; a 
relatively small size; a less than optimum horizontal spacing of antennas 
or an inability to mount a large number of antennas; also subject to the 
limitations of the wind loading imposed on the structure by varying size 
of coax cable or transmission lines and destructive forces from high winds 
as a result of a failure to take aerodynamics into account; and/or 
insufficient structural integrity to accommodate the installation of large 
amounts of heavy equipment and coax cables or transmission lines. 
According to the present invention, a pod for use on a tower. A ground 
mounted pedestal, or a pedestal mounted atop a building or mountain, is 
provided which overcomes all of the above mentioned shortcomings. The pod 
according to the invention is made primarily from structural steel, 
including floor and roof skeletons formed by radiused H-beams, and 
including braces extending from portions on the tower below the pod to 
inner and outer rings of the floor skeleton, to provide high structural 
integrity. The pod according to the invention will readily accommodate 
large amounts of heavy equipment. Fiberglass, or like weather resistant 
panels, are connected to the structural skeletons (as with stainless steel 
fasteners) to provide a pod with sufficient integrity so that it is water 
tight under all weather conditions, having sufficient integrity and 
insulation so that it can be air conditioned. 
The pod of the present invention also includes two sets of railings on the 
roof. The railings preferably are concentric with each other and the 
tower, and are dimensioned (with the outer railing at the outermost 
portion of the pod) so that optimum horizontal spacing between a large 
plurality of antennas may be provided. The panels are also constructed so 
as to provide an aerodynamic design. The exterior sides are blunt 
(preferably formed by panels each of which extend from the roof to the 
floor and are curved about both horizontal and vertical axes), with a 
taper of the roof and floor panels. 
According to one aspect of the present invention, a pod for use on a tower 
(e.g. a triangular in cross-section tower having legs at the apexes 
thereof) is provided. The pod comprises: Means defining a floor skeleton 
for the pod. Means defining a roof skeleton for the pod. A first plurality 
of weather resistant panels connected to the floor and roof skeletons to 
form a floor and roof of the pod. A second plurality of weather resistant 
panels connected between the floor and roof skeletons to form exterior 
sides of the pod. A third plurality of weather resistant panels connected 
between the floor and roof skeletons to form interior sides of the pod. 
And, the means defining a floor skeleton comprising: a first formed radius 
of structural metal beams providing an inside ring; a second formed radius 
of structural metal beams providing an outside ring; a plurality of 
radially extending structural metal beams extending between the first and 
second formed radii; and a plurality of rigid structural metal elements 
connecting the inside ring to the tower. 
A plurality of structural metal beams also are preferably provided for 
connecting some of the radially extending structural metal beams to the 
tower. The metal beams typically are H-beams. A plurality of straight 
structural metal elements may also connect the radially extending beams 
together to form, in plan, at least one, and preferably two, polyhedrons 
(e.g. 18 sided polyhedrons). The structural metal elements connecting the 
inner ring to the tower make comprise a plurality of vertical pipes 
extending between the roof and the floor skeletons, and operatively 
connected to the inner ring and to bracing structural metal elements 
connected to the tower. The structural metal elements may also be provided 
for connecting the outer ring to the tower, comprising braces extending 
from a portion of the tower below the floor skeleton to a vertical pole 
attached to the outer ring. The roof skeleton may be substantially 
identical to the floor skeleton. 
The invention also contemplates the rain tight, air conditionable pod 
construction formed by the fiberglass panels connected by stainless steel 
connectors to the skeletons, as indicated above. Also the invention 
contemplates that the floor skeleton comprises structural substantially 
planar metal floor elements (e.g. H-beams) extending in a generally 
horizontal plane and having an inner portion (ring) closer to the tower 
and an outer portion (ring) farthest from the tower, and a plurality of 
rigid bracing members extending from the tower from a position below the 
pod to each of the inner and outer portions, so that the structural 
elements connect the floor and roof skeletons together so that the pod has 
sufficient integrity to support heavy equipment disposed within the pod 
mounted on the floor. 
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a strong pod 
with high integrity for mounting in association with a tower, for 
supporting communications equipment or the like. This and other objects of 
the invention will become clear from an inspection of the detail 
description of the invention, and from the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
An environmentally controlled pod, for containing communications equipment 
or the like, according to the present invention is shown generally by 
reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1. The pod 10 is supported on a tower 11 or 
the like of basically conventional design. Instead of a tower 11 as 
illustrated, the pod 10 may be mounted on a short structure on a roof top, 
mountain, or other high place. The term "tower-like support" is intended 
to encompass all such variations. 
The tower 11 is typically formed of structural steel, and is polygonal in 
cross-section. The tower 11 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a triangular 
shape, in fact an equilateral triangular shape, having three legs 12, one 
at each apex of the triangle, with structural steel rigid elements 13 
extending between the legs, cross bracings shown generally by reference 
numeral 14, and internal tensioning wires 15 or the like. Also, guy wires 
can be provided at any point along the tower necessary to provide proper 
support, such as the guy wires 16 extending from the apexes of the 
triangles of the tower sections just below the pod 10, as well as other 
guy wires 16' that may be disposed at various other positions along the 
height of the tower. The tower may have any practical shape, or height (up 
to 2,000 feet or more). 
Typically a pod 10 will be mounted adjacent the top of the tower, as 
illustrated in FIG. 1. Other pods may be provided along the tower at 
different heights, if desired. Also, other communications equipment can be 
mounted on the tower, for example the dishes 17 shown in dotted line in 
FIG. 1. Ultimately, the tower has a base 18, with the triangular sections 
of the tower 11 connected to the base 18 in a structurally appropriate 
manner. Various other structures that are conventional may also be mounted 
on the tower, such as a boom winch 19, bottom terminal landing 20, and the 
like. 
The pod 10 includes a skeleton and weather resistant panels mounted to the 
skeleton. The skeleton preferably comprises means defining a floor 
skeleton 21--illustrated generally in FIG. 3 with various components 
illustrated in FIGS. 4 through 10--means defining a roof skeleton 
22--illustrated generally in FIG. 12, with components illustrated in FIGS. 
13 and 14. A first plurality of weather resistant panels 23--a typical 
panel being illustrated in FIG. 20--are connected to the floor and roof 
skeletons to form a floor 24 and a roof 25 (see FIGS. 1, 17, and 18). A 
second plurality of weather resistant panels are connected between the 
roof and floor skeletons 21, 22 to form the exterior sides of the pod 
10--such as the panels 26 illustrated per se in FIG. 19, and also seen in 
FIGS. 1, 17, and 18. A third plurality of weather resistant panels are 
connected between the floor and roof skeletons 21, 22 to form the interior 
sides of the pod, one exemplary such panel being shown by reference 
numeral 27 in FIG. 21, and like (but not identical) interior panels being 
shown by reference numerals 27' in FIGS. 17 and 18. 
The panels 23, 26, 27, 27' preferably are fire resistant fiberglass panels 
that are capable of resisting a 90 PSF loading, and having a thickness and 
chemical composition which allows them to resist that loading, and are 
assemblable to form a water tight structure. The fiberglass panels 23, 26, 
27, 27' may or may not be insulated. The fiberglass panels 23, etc., are 
connected to the skeletons and like structural components by stainless 
steel fasteners, such as those supplied by I.E. & E. Inc. 
The structural metal (typically steel) floor skeleton 21 is designed to 
provide maximum strength and integrity for the pod 10, and--in cooperation 
with the other components--will provide a floor rating which will 
accommodate the installation of communications equipment, which may be 
much heavier than can be conventionally utilized. Two of the basic 
elements of the floor skeleton 21 illustrated in FIG. 3 are a first formed 
radius of structural metal beams 29 providing an inside ring, having a 
diameter just slightly greater than the diameter of a circle through the 
apexes/legs 12 of the tower 11; and a second formed radius of structural 
metal beams 30 providing an outside ring concentric with the inside ring 
defined by the beams 29. Preferably the beams 29, 30 are H-beams of 
structural steel. 
The floor skeleton 21 also comprises a plurality of radially extending 
structural metal beams 31 extending between the beams 29, 30, the beams 31 
preferably being double channel structural steel. Also, the floor skeleton 
21 comprises a plurality of rigid structural metal elements (e.g. bars, 
rods, angles, beams, etc.) connecting the inside beams 29 to the tower 11. 
These rigid structural elements connecting the inside ring beams 29 to the 
tower may comprise a plurality of structural metal beams 32 connecting the 
inner ring defined by beams 29 to the tower sides 13, and also may 
comprise elements 33 operatively connected between a tower leg 12 and the 
inner ring formed by the beams 29. Further, a plurality of straight rigid 
structural metal elements 34 may be provided connecting the radially 
extending beams 31 together to form, in plan, one or several (e.g. two as 
illustrated in FIG. 3) polyhedra (eighteen sided polygons in the 
embodiment illustrated). The floor skeleton 21 is operatively connected to 
the roof skeleton 22 by a plurality of vertical rigid elements, structural 
pipes 35 at the inner ring formed by the beams 29, and structural pipes 36 
at the outer ring formed by the beams 30. 
FIG. 6 shows in detail the joint at a structural pipe 35 where a number of 
the elements are connected together. The structural pipe 35 has, adjacent 
a ring 37 thereon, an outwardly (from the tower 11) extending flange 38, 
and an inwardly extending flange 39. The double channel 31 is welded, 
riveted, bolted, or otherwise attached to the flange 38, while the double 
channel 32 is similarly attached to the flange 39. A radially outwardly 
and upwardly extending rigid structural element, such as a metal brace 40, 
may also be connected at the bottom end thereof to the flange 38, and at 
the top end thereof to the mid-point of double channel 31, with a similar 
structural element 40 being provided on the opposite side of the flange 
38. Knee braces 49 also are provided below, connected between the pipes 36 
and the tower legs 12. As seen in FIG. 7, the inner ring defining beams 29 
also may be connected to flanges 42 extending from the pipe 35 essentially 
perpendicular to the flanges 38, 39, and if necessary short supporting 
braces 43 may be provided between the beams 29, 31. 
Most of the elements described above with respect to the floor skeleton 21 
are structural substantially planar metal floor elements extending 
generally in a horizontal plane. Some of the elements described above, and 
which will be described in more detail hereafter, provide a plurality of 
rigid bracing members that extend between the tower 11 below the pod 10, 
and the rest of the floor skeleton 21, to ensure that the floor skeleton 
has sufficient integrity--in combination with the other components--to 
properly support communications equipment. 
FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate the bottom brace members most clearly. As seen in 
FIG. 8, the structural element 33--also seen in FIG. 3--preferably is a 
rigid metal double angle connected at the top, most radially outward, end 
thereof to a flange 43 connected to the bottom of the pipe 35, below the 
ring 37 thereof, and at the bottom end thereof to a flange 44 extending 
outwardly from the tower leg 12. Again, attachment can be by any desired 
mechanism such as welding, rivets, or bolts. Also providing a cross 
brace--in addition to upwardly angled double angle structural element 
33--is the rigid structural element (e.g. double angle) 45, connected 
between the flange 43 and a flange 46 extending from the tower leg 12. 
FIG. 9 shows a radially inwardly extending flange 47 from the outer ring 
pole 36 connected to the radial beam 31, above a ring portion 48 of the 
pipe 36, and structure elements 49, 50 connected to a flange 51 at the 
bottom of the pipe 36, below the ring 48. The structural element 49 
preferably is a rigid structural element, such as a double angle iron, 
connected at the top end thereof to the flange 51 and at the bottom end 
thereof to a flange 52 extending outwardly from the tower leg 12. The 
element 50 may likewise be connected to the tower leg 12. 
FIG. 10 shows the interconnection between the beams 31 and elements 34, 
which is exemplified as being facilitated by the plates 53. The plates 53 
may be, for example, welded to the beams 31, and bolted to the elements 
34, or connected by other suitable mechanisms. 
FIG. 11 illustrates an interior pole or pipe 35 interconnected between the 
floor skeleton 21 and the roof skeleton 22, and with a plurality of 
gussets 55 disposed along the length thereof for connection (by stainless 
steel fasteners) to interior fiberglass panels 27, 27', as schematically 
illustrated in FIG. 11. 
The roof skeleton 22, illustrated in FIG. 12, is very similar--if not 
identical to--the floor skeleton 21. Elements that it has in common are 
the inner radiused beams 59 and outer radiused beams 60, radially 
extending beams 61, elements 62 (somewhat different than the elements 32) 
connecting the inner ring beams 59 to a tower leg 12, elements 63 
(different than the elements 33) for connecting a tower leg 12 to the 
inner ring radiused beams 59 (through the pipes 35, as also seen in FIG. 
13), and structural elements 64 extending between the radial beams 61. 
As seen in FIG. 13, the inner beams 59 are connected to each other through 
flanges 65 extending outwardly from the pipes 35, again connection being 
made by any suitable mechanism such as welding, rivets, or bolts. The 
structural elements 63 are each connected at one end thereof to a flange 
66 connected to a tower leg 12, and at the other end thereof to a flange 
67 connected to a pipe 35. FIG. 15 shows the pod 10 from the top, with 
emphasis on the railing system provided thereby, including an outer 
railing system 70, and an inner railing system 71. FIG. 14--taken along 
lines 14--14 of FIG. 12--and FIG. 16--taken along lines 16--16 of FIG. 
15--illustrate the cooperation between the railing systems 70, 71 and the 
roof skeleton 22. 
The outer rail system 70 comprises a plurality of vertically upstanding 
rigid structural elements 72 (preferably angle irons), connected at the 
bottoms thereof to flanges 73 associated with the roof skeleton 22 (at 
joints between roof 25 panel 23), and top and middle horizontal rail 
elements (e.g. angle irons) 74, 75 respectively are provided 
interconnecting the vertical elements 72 to form the railing system 70. 
The inner rail system 71 is similar, having upstanding, vertical, 
structural elements 76 (such as angle irons) connected at the bottoms 
thereof to the flanges 77 (in the same radial plane as the corresponding 
flange 73), with horizontal rail elements 78, 79 disposed between adjacent 
vertical elements 76. The railings 70, 72 are provided not only to allow a 
qualified worker to safely work on top of the pod 10 (access being 
provided by the climb way 80 illustrated in FIG. 15), but also for 
connection of a plurality of antenna (e.g. 81) which extend vertically 
upwardly from the roof 25. By providing the dual rail system, security for 
qualified workers is provided, as is maximum horizontal spacing between a 
large plurality of antenna, one of which is shown schematically at 81 in 
FIG. 16, connected by a suitable co-axial cable 82 or the like to other 
communications equipment associated with the pod 10. 
FIGS. 17 through 21 show details of the pod construction provided by the 
various panels 23, 26, 27, 27'. 
As seen most clearly in FIG. 19 (also see FIGS. 17 and 18), the exterior 
panels 26 are preferably dimensioned so that they extend in one 
piece/panel from the roof skeleton 22 down to the floor skeleton 21, being 
connected at the top/inside thereof to a lip 84 on a roof panel 23, and on 
the bottom/outside thereof to a similar lip 84 on a bottom panel 23 (see 
FIGS. 17 and 18). The panels 26 are curved about both horizontal and 
vertical axes, so as to provide contoured sides to facilitate proper 
aerodynamic design. 
The panels 23--as illustrated in FIG. 20--all have the general shape 
illustrated in FIG. 20, but will have different details depending upon 
their exact position around pod 10. For example, left or right hand 
interior or exterior cut outs--shown collectively in dotted line by 
reference numeral 85 in FIG. 20--are provided for when a particular panel 
23 will be at a pipe 35 or 36. The bottom ones of the panels 23--forming a 
floor 24--will be oriented--and used--so that the outer lips 84 and inner 
lips 86 thereof face upwardly, while when used as a top panel the lips 84, 
86 will face downwardly (see FIGS. 17 and 18). 
The panels 23 are connected to the exterior panels 26 and to the interior 
radiused beams 29, 59, by stainless steel fasteners or the like, as 
illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18, and also preferably are connected to each 
other by side flanges 87 thereof, the side flanges 87 having cut outs for 
flanges associated with the structural components, such as (see FIG. 18 
and 20) the cut outs 88 for the flanges 77, and the cut outs 89 for the 
flanges 73 (see FIGS. 16 and 18 too). Bolts, or other connectors, may be 
provided for connecting the side edges 87 of the adjacent panels 23 to 
each other, and a sealing compound, elastomeric material, or the like may 
be associated therewith to facilitate water tightness of the roof 25 and 
floor 24, if necessary. 
The interior panels 27, 27' (see FIGS. 17, 18, and 21 in particular) will 
have a wide variety of constructions depending upon the particular details 
of that individual panel. For example, the panel may have a reinforced 
square opening therein for receipt of an air conditioner (e.g. Dayton 
Centrifugal Ventilator, or a heat pump), or--as illustrated in FIG. 
21--may have a Microflect Wave Guide Entry assembly 91, and a doorway 92, 
such as for a 3.times.6 foot door providing access from the tower 11 to 
the interior of the pod 10. Some interior panels 27' will have no openings 
therein, while others may have reinforced openings for dampers associated 
with the air conditioning units (for heating and/or cooling), or the like. 
In any event, the panels 27, 27' are connected to each other at the 
vertical edges thereof by connection to the gussets 55 associated with the 
pipes 35--as illustrated in FIGS. 11, 17, and 18--and at the top thereof 
by fasteners extending through a top, inner, lip 93 to the bottom of the 
top inner ring, radiused beams 59, and by fasteners extending through an 
inner bottom lip 94 to the top of the inner ring radiused double channels 
29. The floor and roof panels 23 are connected to the opposite portions of 
the beams 59, 29 as the lips 93, 94, as seen clearly in FIGS. 17 and 18. 
Note that the construction of the pod 10 is such that there is a 
taper--seen generally by reference numerals 95 and 96 in FIG. 
17--associated both with the roof 25 and the floor 24, which--in 
combination with the contoured exterior side panels 26--contributes to the 
aerodynamic design. Also, the pod construction, since it has maximum 
structural integrity due to the interior and exterior structural steel 
components, and the interconnections between the panels and the 
components, and between the panels themselves, as described 
above--provides an enclosure for equipment that is water tight (rain tight 
under any weather conditions) and with sufficient integrity (and 
insulation) of the enclosure that it may be air conditioned. Thus the 
equipment stays dry, and at the proper temperature for the communications 
gear that is mounted therein. 
It will thus be seen that according to the present invention an extremely 
advantageous pod, for communication, research, navigation and weather 
equipment for mounting on a tower, building top, mountain top, etc., has 
been provided. While the invention has been herein shown and described in 
what is presently conceived to be the most practical and preferred 
embodiment, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that 
many modifications may be made thereof within the scope of the invention, 
which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation of the appended 
claims so as to encompass all equivalent structures and devices.