Abstract:
A telescoping mast has a plurality of elongate tubular sections which are telescopically attached to each other and an axial drive screw centrally located in the mast for extending and retracting the elongate tubular section. A gear assembly is connected to the drive screw for rotating the drive screw. A nut carrier assembly is secured to tubular sections. Each nut carrier assembly has a threaded nut housed within a nut carrier. The threaded nut engages corresponding threads on the drive screw. A locking mechanism is provided for locking the gear assembly which has a first section surrounding a second section secured to the gear assembly. The second section has an elongated member extending from a surface of the second section. The first section has at least one slot for engaging the elongated member, thereby preventing rotation of the gear assembly.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/660,955 filed Mar. 11, 2005. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to the art of telescoping masts and more particularly to a telescoping mast having a rigid drive assembly for telescoping mast sections to any position between fully retracted and fully extended heights.  
         [0003]     Quick erecting telescoping masts are used for many applications including civilian, industrial and military applications throughout the world. Quick erecting telescoping masts are particularly suited for applications wherever there is a need for portable masts requiring fast setup and teardowns with minimum power and effort. In addition to numerous military applications, including target acquisition, surveillance and field communications, quick erecting telescoping masts are utilized commercially to support a wide variety of antennas, elevated testing equipment, floodlights and cameras. Free-standing masts can be installed on a wide variety of vehicles and shelters.  
         [0004]     Heretofore, telescoping masts have been either pneumatically, hydraulically or chain driven. Pneumatic masts require airtight seals between telescopic mast sections in order to function as intended. However, the environment in which such masts are used makes maintaining an airtight condition between mast sections problematic. Contaminants, or radial ice, deposited between mast sections, or at the junctions will stop the mast from descending or cause damage to the mast sections, and can easily destroy the seal required for efficient operation of the pneumatic mast. In the event that the pneumatic integrity of the seal is destroyed, the mast will come down due to gravity with potentially disastrous consequences.  
         [0005]     A further disadvantage to pneumatically powered telescoping masts is that they can only assume one of two positions. Either the masts are fully extended or fully retracted. In many applications, however, because of obstructions or other considerations, it is desirable to have the telescoping mast sections in a partial state of extension or retraction. A further disadvantage with pneumatic masts is that they are relatively heavy in weight, limiting their suitability for vehicle roof applications.  
         [0006]     Hydraulic systems for elevating masts suffer from many of the same shortcomings. Hydraulic drives are relatively heavy in weight and are expensive to manufacture, assemble, and maintain. Moreover, such drives are vulnerable to damage from contact with the environment since hydraulic lines are exposed. Additionally, contaminants can infiltrate the hydraulic system and cause malfunction or failure.  
         [0007]     Chain driven telescopic masts likewise suffer from the same deficiencies. The drive mechanisms are relatively heavy in weight and are expensive to manufacture, assemble and maintain. The chain link mechanism is also exposed and susceptible to damage from contact with environmental objects.  
         [0008]     Telescoping masts have been widely employed for radio antennas, lights and a variety of other fixtures. Such masts have been operated by a variety of mechanisms, including winches, hydraulic systems and the like. More recently, telescoping masts have been devised which use an axial screw mechanism for raising and lowering the mast sections.  
         [0009]     When telescoping masts are used under extreme environmental conditions and particularly in military or other portable operations, it is highly desirable that the masts be ruggedly constructed and be extremely fast, reliable and safe to operate. In such portable masts, it is particularly important that the sections be extended and retracted in sequence and that as each section is fully extended it is positively locked to the next lower section. In these ways the mast can be extended to the full desired height and the possibility of accidents and injuries due to one or more of the mast sections suddenly coming down is minimized.  
         [0010]     Another complication is encountered when an axial drive screw system is used for raising and retracting a telescoping antenna. The nut-elements carried by each mast section must sequentially engage and disengage the threads of the drive screw as the respective mast sections are raised. Since there will normally be some initial mismatch between the threads of the drive screw and the threads of the nut, axial loadings will temporarily be applied to the drive mechanism until the nuts properly engage the threads of the drive screw. Such axial loadings can damage the drive train components.  
         [0011]     Accordingly, there is a need for a mast telescopic system with a locking mechanism which overcomes the above-mentioned defects and others while providing more advantageous overall results.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     The present invention is specifically directed to a telescoping mast assembly incorporating a plurality of interconnected mast sections nesting within each other and adopted for movement between a fully retracted height and a fully extended height. A rigid drive assembly telescopes the mast sections to any position between the fully retracted and the fully extended height.  
         [0013]     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a telescoping mast has at least three elongate tubular sections, wherein a first, a second, and a third elongate tubular section each has an upper end and a lower end. The second elongate tubular section is telescopically received by the first elongate tubular section. The third elongate tubular section is telescopically received by the second elongate tubular section. An axial drive screw is centrally located in the mast assembly for extending and retracting the second and third elongate tubular sections. A nut carrier assembly is secured to a bottom section of each of the second and third tubular sections. The nut carrier assemblies each comprises a threaded nut housed within a bottom structure or “nut carrier”. The threaded nut engages corresponding threads on the drive screw.  
         [0014]     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a telescoping mast has a plurality of elongate tubular sections which are telescopically attached to each other; an axial drive screw centrally located in the mast for extending and retracting the elongate tubular sections; and a gear assembly is connected to the drive screw for rotating the drive screw. A locking mechanism locks the gear assembly and has a first section surrounding a second section secured to the gear assembly. The second section has at least one elongated member extending from a surface of the second section. The first section has at least one slot for engaging the at least one elongated member, thereby preventing rotation of the gear assembly.  
         [0015]     A primary object of the invention is to provide a positive mechanism to lock the mast sections in positions ranging from fully retracted to fully extended.  
         [0016]     A further object of the present invention is to provide a telescoping mast assembly which provides accurate positioning of the mast.  
         [0017]     A still further object of the present invention is to provide a telescoping mast assembly which is relatively rugged while being relatively easy to maintain.  
         [0018]     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a telescoping mast assembly which obviates the problems and limitations of the prior art devices.  
         [0019]     These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken together with the accompanying drawings.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]     The invention may take form in certain components, structures, and steps, the preferred embodiments of which will be illustrated in the accompanying drawings.  
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a telescoping mast assembly in a fully retracted position in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a side-elevational view of the telescoping mast of  FIG. 1  in a fully extended position;  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view in cross-section of the telescoping mast assembly of  FIG. 1  in a fully retracted position;  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a locking mechanism of a gearbox assembly for the mast assembly of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a side elevational view in cross section of the locking assembly in a disengaged position;  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is a side elevational view in cross section of the locking assembly in an engaged or locked position;  
         [0027]      FIG. 7  is a top plan view in cross section of the locking assembly of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0028]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the gearbox assembly;  
         [0029]      FIG. 9  is a side elevational view in cross section of a nut carrier assembly of  FIG. 1 ; and,  
         [0030]      FIG. 10  is an exploded view of the nut carrier assembly of  FIG. 1 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0031]     Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention only, and not for the purpose of limiting same,  FIG. 1  shows an antenna A used with a mast assembly B and an associated gear drive unit C. A telescoping mast assembly  10  is used with a vehicle D, such as a truck. The telescoping mast assembly  10  includes a plurality of interconnected mast sections  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Although six interconnected mast sections are illustrated, it is within the scope of the present invention to incorporate any number as desired. Typically, the mast extends in a range from about 20 feet to about 150 feet. However, it is within the terms of the invention to lengthen or shorten the range as required. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the outermost mast section  12  is stationary and is immovably affixed to a movable support structure such as a vehicle or ground surface D. The innermost mast section  22  is attached to any desired operating equipment  30 , such as an antenna, which is supported by the mast assembly  10 .  
         [0032]     As further illustrated in  FIG. 1 , each of the interconnected mast sections are cylindrical tubes having outwardly extending cylindrical collars  13 , 15 , 17 , 19 ,  21  and  23  which have a slighter larger diameter than the external diameter of the tubes,  12 - 22 , respectively, in a longitudinal direction. The cylindrical collars can provide a bearing surface between the cylindrical tubes.  
         [0033]     Typically, the individual mast sections are manufactured from high strength, heat treated anodized aluminum alloy tubes and collars. It is also within the terms of the present invention to form the tubes of other materials such as carbon fiber sheets which are advantageous because of their light weight relative to their high strength. Moreover, these materials can easily be shaped into cross-sections, other than circular, as desired.  
         [0034]     Each of the mast sections  12 - 22  includes a corresponding mast tube designated, sequentially,  12   a - 22   a , and each of the tubes has an upper end and a lower end with respect to the vertical orientation of the mast assembly in  FIG. 1 . The tubes range from the largest outer diameter tube  12   a  to the smallest outer diameter tube  22   a . Axially adjacent ones of the mast sections include interengaging guide and stop components on the mast tubes and which are structurally and functionally identical and vary only in diametrical dimensions which are dictated by the diameter of the corresponding mast tube. The guide and stop elements can be a latch and latch receiving assembly as shown and described in commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,593,129 and 5,163,650. Other guide and stop elements could also be used with the mast as well.  
         [0035]     In accordance with one aspect of the present exemplary embodiment, each of the tubes has a body having an inner diameter and an outer diameter and is preferably formed of durable carbon fiber composite tubes. One of the tubes is telescopically received by another tube where the inner diameter of a tube is slightly greater than the outer diameter of the tube that is positioned within the first tube, as can be clearly seen in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0036]      FIG. 2  depicts one embodiment comprising a telescoping mast assembly  10 , having a plurality of nested mast sections  12 - 22  which have tubular sections  12   a ,  14   a ,  16   a ,  18   a ,  20   a , and  22   a , and are shown in the fully extended position. Referring to  FIG. 3 , the mast sections are retracted by means of a drive screw  32 , which is rotated by means of a gear train  40  enclosed within a gear box  42 , powered manually by a hand crank attached to a gear box locking mechanism  44 . Nut carrier assemblies  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56 , and  58  described more particularly below are carried on the lower ends of each of the nested intermediate mast sections, but are omitted from the lower end of the bottom mast section  12 .  
         [0037]     Referring again to  FIG. 2 , the mast assembly  10  and screw-drive components are mounted on a suitable base surface  60 . The entire assembly may be maintained in vertical position by suitable cable guys  62 ,  64  or by other appropriate bracing.  
         [0038]     Referring again to  FIG. 3 , each of the inner mast sections  14   a - 22   a  is provided with nut carriers  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56  and  58 , respectively, which have drive-nut assemblies  51 ,  53 ,  55 ,  57 , and  59 , respectively, fixed in the lower portion of each mast section.  
         [0039]     Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the details of one of the nut assemblies is shown. A nut carrier  60  of nut carrier assembly  56  receives a nut assembly  57  including a nut  62 , the internal threads  64  of which are shaped and dimensioned to engage external threads  66  formed on the upwardly extending drive screw. The nut  62  is suspended in the housing by springs  67 ,  68 , which are supported within the housing by retaining washers  69 ,  70 . Snap rings  71 ,  72  secure the retaining washers in place. Projections or keys  80  extending from grooves in nut wall  82  fit into and are received by mating grooves or slots  84  in the housing  60 . The keys restrain rotation of the nut relative to the nut carrier while permitting limited axial movement of the nut relative to the housing against the force exerted by the springs. This limited axial movement permits the springs to absorb axial loads which are temporarily imposed due to any initial mismatch between the internal threads of the nut and the exterior threads of the drive screw when the mast section is initially raised causing engagement of these threads or lowered onto the threads during retraction.  
         [0040]     The preferred embodiment of the invention is depicted in  FIG. 3  for purposes of illustration as a mast assembly including five nested cylindrical sections, formed, for example, of extruded 6061-T6 aluminum, a drive assembly is provided at the base of the mast assembly to transmit torque to the drive screw that extends upwardly to a point slightly above the top of bottom section. The drive screw engages the nuts  59 ,  57 ,  55 ,  53 ,  51  located at the bottoms of the mast sections  22   a ,  20   a ,  18   a ,  16   a ,  14   a , sequentially, as each succeeding section is raised or lowered. When each of the sections reaches full extension, it is locked into engagement with an adjacent tubular section by a latching plate and a latch body assembly (not shown). At the same time, in the manner depicted in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 , the drive screw engages the drive nut of the next lower section. This procedure. continues until all sections are fully extended. The drive nuts may be used with either a motor driven or manually cranked gear box assembly.  
         [0041]     When the mast initially starts to be erected only the nut  59  on the central tube  22   a  is engaged in the threaded portion of the screw. As the screw rotates the center tube is lifted and extends upwardly. As the nut on the center tube moves vertically along the threaded portion of the screw latch plates (not shown) on opposite sides of the center tube engage with latch bodies (not shown) adjacent tube  20   a , locking and securing the central tube  21   a  and tube  20   a  together. The central tube nut  59  then pulls tube  22   a  up until the nut  57  on the tube  20   a  engages the threads on the screw. The screw then simultaneously drives both nuts  59 ,  57  until the nut  59  on the center tube comes off the end  33  of the screw. The load is then transferred from the center tube nut  59  to the tube nut  57 . The process is repeated from one tube section to the next until the mast is fully extended as shown in  FIG. 2 . During retraction of the mast, the process is reversed and a trigger post is provided to uncouple the latch plates and the latch body assemblies.  
         [0042]     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , to perform the function of locking the mast sections in an extended or retracted position and prevent premature extension or retraction of the sections, a gearbox locking device is used. To lock the gearbox locking mechanism, the key  130  is released by removing the input device, such as a manual crank E, thus allowing the spring  118  to expand and raise the cover and cylinder until the heads of socket screws  108  engage the slots  110  in the cylinder, thus preventing the key, and the connected gears from rotating. Thus, the mast will be locked into position.  
         [0043]     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , the gearbox mechanism used to drive the drive screw includes a gearbox housing  42  which houses first, second and third gears  43 ,  45 ,  47 . These gears are each preferably spur gears, although other types of gears can be used without departing from the scope of the invention. One of the gears  47  is attached to an input shaft  48 , and another gear  43  is attached to an output shaft  49 .  
         [0044]     Referring now to  FIGS. 4-7 , positioned above the input shaft is a gear drive lock mechanism in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The lock includes an outer lock cylinder  100  and a lock plate  102  having a plurality of socket head screws  104  securing the plate to openings  105  in column  144  of the gear box housing  42 . The lock cylinder is positioned on the gear housing upper surface and an O-ring  106  is interposed between the upper surface and the lock cylinder. A second set of socket head screws  108  engage slots  110  in the cylinder when the plate is pressed into engagement with the cylinder. A pair of washers  112 , 114  surround a bearing  116  positioned adjacent a wave spring  118 . A cover plate  120  is positioned over the spring and is installed onto rim  122  of the cylinder  100 . An O-ring  124  is interposed between the cover plate and the rim. Socket head screws  126  secure the cover plate to the cylinder rim. The cover is pushed down to disengage the locking mechanism. The socket head screw heads  108  enter the slots  110  and prevent the drive from rotating.  
         [0045]     When a manual crank is used to push down on the key  130 , the cover plate and cylinder assembly is moved downwardly and the spring  118  is compressed. Referring now to  FIGS. 5, 6 ,  7 , pushing down on the cover compresses the spring which disengages the screw heads  108  from the plate, allowing the whole mechanism to rotate and drive the gear box. A key  130  extends from an upper member  132  of the cover plate. A recess  134  is formed within the upper member and engages a mating key  140  extending from column  144  of the gear box housing. The socket screw heads  108  are disengaged from the slots  110  in the cylinder, allowing the key  140  and the connected gears to rotate, thus allowing the mast section to be extended or retracted as necessary.  
         [0046]     The exemplary embodiment has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the exemplary embodiment be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.