IMPROVEMENTS IN COLUMNS

Abstract: A lighting column divided into a base section (11) and an upper sA lighting column divided into a base section (11) and an upper section (12) so that the upper section (12) can be raised slightly to clear the top of the base section (11) and then rotated about a transverse horizontal axis to lower it to provide access to equipment mounted on or adjacent the upper end of the upper section (12). Locking means (22 - 28) are mounted within the base section (11) to automatically lock the upper section in the raised position for the lowering operation and then automatically disengage when the upper section is returned to the vertical position.

Description: "Improvements in Columns" THIS INVENTION relates to improvements in columns of the type to support street lighting/ flood lighting flags and similar equipment which may require maintenance from time to time. Both Australian Patent Specification Nos. 292033 and 494746 describe columns comprising a base section and an upper section, the upper section being connected to the base section by means of a hinge pin so that said upper section can be raised or lowered whilst the two sections are aligned on the vertical longitudinal axis and so that the upper section can be rotated about said hinge pin whilst in the raised position from the vertical to a substantially horizontal position to allow access to any equipment mounted on or adjacent the upper end of the upper section. Both mechanisms require manual manipula¬ tion of part of the mechanism at some stage during their operation. For example the eccentrically mounted hinge pin in Australian Patent Specification No. 292033 has to be rotated manually by a key 5 whereas in the mechanism of Australian Patent Specification No. 494746 support plate 8 has to be rotated manually. The object of the present invention is to provide a column in which the mechanism is substantially automatic in operation and which is housed within the column to protect it from vandalism and the effects of the weather. In one form the invention resides in a column comprising a base section and an upper section, said upper section being connected to the base by hinge pin so that said upper section can be raised or lowered with respect to the base section whilst the two sections are aligned on the vertical longitudinal axis and so that said upper section - U^__ O PI ' can be rotated about a horizontal transverse axis coincid¬ ing with the hinge pin whilst in the raised position, a hanger one end of which is pivotally mounted within one of the sections so that its other end is located adjacent the hinge pin, said other end being provided with means to automatically engage the hinge pin when the upper section is raised and lock said upper section in the raised posi¬ tion and means provided on said upper section and adapted to act on said hanger to disengage the said hanger from the hinge pin when the upper section is rotated back to its vertical position. Preferably the hanger is fixed to a pivot pin which is supporting in a pair of opposed slots in the upper end of the base section so that the hanger hangs within the upper end of the base section with its lower end bearing against the hinge pin when the upper section is in the lowered position and the means for automatically engaging the hinge pin comprise a cut away position formed adjacent the lower end of the hanger. The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of one specific embodiment shown in the accompany drawings wherein:- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing the two sections in the locked position; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevation corres¬ ponding to Fig. 1 but showing the upper section raised to the raised position by a hydraulic ram connected between the upper and lower sections; Fig. 3 is also a fragmentary sectional elevation showing the upper section in the partially rotated position; and Fig. 4 is an elevation of the hangers used for lock¬ ing the two sections together. As shown in the drawings the column comprises a base sec¬ tion 11 and an upper section 12 both of tubular cross-sec¬ tion. The bottom of the base section is provided with a base plate 13 which is adapted to be bolted or otherwise secured to a suitable foundation. The lower end of the upper section surmounts the upper end of the base section and is partly cut away to form a cap or skirt portion 14 which is secured to a transverse hinge pin 15 which passes through diametrically opposed elongated slots 16 in the base section. The base section is provided with a tubular passage 17 through which a bolt 18 (see Figs. 2 and 3) maybe passed to connect one end of a hydraulic ram such as that indicated at 19 in Figs. 2 and 3 to be attached thereto. The upper section is also provided with a tubu¬ lar passage 20 to receive a bolt 21 for attaching the other end of the hydraulic ram 19. A pair of hangers 22 are suspended from a pin 23 supported in diametrically opposed slots 24 in the upper end of the base section. The lower end of each of the hangers is provided with a cut away portion 25 which is adapted to engage the hinge pin 15 when the upper section is in the raised position as is seen in Fig. 2. A central lug 26 'projecting upwardly from the pin 23 is provided with a flapper 27 pivotally mounted thereon and projecting to one side and being held in a substantially horizontal position by a stop 28. The upper section is provided with a lug 29 through which a bolt 30 is passed so that its inner end can contact the flapper 27. In the closed position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings the cap or skirt 14 sets over the upper end of the base section to hold the upper section vertical and the lower end of the hangers 22 lie against the hinge pin 15. To lower the upper section of the pole to the horizontal position for maintenance a hydraulic ram 19 is attached between the upper section and the base section as is shown _vϊiθ in Figs. 2 and 3 and the ram operated to raise the upper section of the column with respect to the base section. The hinge pin 15 slides upwardly past the hangers until it engages in the cut away portions 25 in which position the upper section is locked against both raising and lowering along the vertical longitudinal axis. The operation of the hydraulic ram is then reversed. The upper section of the column rotates about the hinge pin 15 as is indicated in Fig. 3. When the maintenance has been completed the ram is operated to rotate the upper section of the pole to the vertical position. As the pole moves into the verti¬ cal position the inner end of the bolt 30 bears against the flapper 27 and causes the lower ends of the hangers 22 to rotate clear of the hinge pin 15 thus allowing the upper section of the pole to drop down into the locked position as shown in Fig. 1. The mechanism is completely automatic and does not require any manual manipulation at any stage of its operation. Also being housed within the column it is protected again¬ st vandalism and the effects of the weather.

Claims: THE CLAIMS defining the invention are as follows:- 1. A column comprising a base section and an upper section, said upper section being connected to the base by hinge pin so that said upper section can be raised or lowered with respect to the base section whilst the two sections are aligned on the vertical longitudinal axis and so that said upper section can be rotated about a horizon¬ tal transverse axis coinciding with the hinge pin whilst in the raised position, a hanger one end of which is pivotally mounted within one of the sections so that its other end is located adjacent the hinge pin, said other end being provided with means to automatically engage the hinge pin when the upper section is raised and lock said upper section in the raised position and means provided on said upper section and adapted to act on said hanger to disengage the said hanger from the hinge pin when the upper section is rotated back to its vertical position. 2. A column as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hanger is fixed to a pivot pin which is supporting in a pair of opposed slots in the upper end of the base section so that the hanger hangs within the upper end of the base section with its lower end bearing against the hinge pin when the upper section is in the lowered position and the means for automatically engaging the hinge pin comprise a cut away position formed adjacent the lower end of the hanger. 3. A column as claimed in claim 1 or 2 including means for automatically disengaging the hanger from the engaged position when the upper section is returned to the verti¬ cal. 4. A column as claimed in claim 3 wherein the means for automatically disengaging the hanger comprise a central lug projecting upwardly from the pivot pin and provided with a flapper pivotally mounted thereon and projecting to one side and being held in a substantially horizontal position by a stop and means on the upper section adapted to bear against the flapper and rotate the hanger clear of the engaged position as the upper section is returned to the vertical. 5. A column substantially as herein described and shown in the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: CAVE COLIN FRANK, CAVE, COLIN, FRANK
Applicants: CAVE HOLDINGS PTY LTD, CAVE HOLDINGS PTY. LTD.
Application year: 1983
Main classification: E04H12
IPC codes: E04H12