Abstract:
A safety brace for supporting a radar antenna platform movable to an elevated tilted position by a drive shaft having a movable first member and a second member, wherein the first member is movable toward and away from the second member. The safety brace has an elongated cylindrical tube formed of two separable half tubes. Three spaced apart separable coupling brackets are secured to the half tubes across a seam. When the separable brackets are closed, the half tubes are kept in a closed configuration. Two hinged coupling brackets are secured to the half tubes along the opposite seam. Flanges disposed at each of the ends of the elongated tube are configured to abut against the movable first and second members of the drive shaft. The safety brace has gussets secured between the flanges and adjacent outer surface portions of the half tubes. A safety brace system and a method of operating the safety brace are also disclosed.

Description:
GOVERNMENT INTEREST 
     The invention described herein may be manufactured, used, imported, sold, and licensed by or for the Government of the United States of America without the payment to me of any royalty thereon. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to safety braces and supports for raised platforms and, more particularly, to a safety brace for a communications platform such as the AN/TPQ-37(V)9 Radar Antenna used by the U.S. Army. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various devices for supporting elevated beds of trucks are known. U.S. Pat. No. 3,135,555, issued to MeCaskey, is directed to a safety guard for hydraulic hoists. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the body frame  20  of a dump truck body  15  is raised and lowered via two hydraulic rams  22 . The rams  22  have a cylinder  25  and a rod  26  that is coupled at its free end  29  via bosses  30  to a cross rod  31  as shown in  FIG. 1 . A safety guard  35  is shown in  FIG. 2  for embracing the rod  26  and locking the hydraulic ram in an extended condition. The guard  35  comprises a tube  36  split lengthwise to provide half sections  39  and  40  that are hingedly connected so as to open up for fitting around the rod  26  of an hydraulic ram. The two guard halves  39  and  40  are preferably connected along one meeting line ( 37 ) by a single piano hinge  45 . At the other meeting line  38 , two ears  59  and  60  are welded to the half sections  39  and  40 . Each of the ears has a bore through which a locking means  55  such as a hook, pin, bolt or the like can be used to hold the ears together. In the embodiment shown in the figures, a bolt  72  extends through the bores and is secured by a nut  73 . 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 3,157,435, issued to Sherven, a safety device is shown for use on dump trucks, trailers, and similar vehicles.  FIGS. 2 through 7  illustrate the. structural features of safety prop A. A flat baseplate  10 , which is adapted for mounting on one of the cross members of the truck frame B, is equipped with a pair of laterally spaced upstanding apertured lugs  12 ,  14  into which a hinge pin  16  is received and held in place by cotter pins  18 . As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIGS. 8 through 11 , the axis of hinge pin  16  is generally horizontal permitting safety prop A to rotate in a limited vertical plane with respect to frame B of truck C. Further included is hollow generally elongated cylindrical supporting member or barrel  20  having a solid lower end plate  22  from which extend longitudinally therefrom a pair of spaced apertured lugs  24 ,  26  adapted to pivotally mount upon hinge pin  16  between lugs  12  and  14  of base plate  10 . A dump truck body engaging member or piston  30  is telescopically positioned within supporting member  20 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a compression spring member  50  is mounted within supporting member  20 . Releasable latching means is provided for holding member  30  in a retracted position within member  20 . 
     In the Sherven device, the safety prop A is separate and apart from the hoisting mechanism E that can be actuated to raise the dump body D as shown in  FIG. 8 . After actuating hoisting mechanism E, the spring member  50  of safety prop A is released to extend member  30  and jaw  40  into engagement with the cross member  41  of dump body D. Then hoisting mechanism E is actuated to let the dump body D settle onto the jaw  40 . In this manner, the weight member  30  is pushed into a latched or cocked position within member  20  as shown in  FIG. 9 . When not needed, the safety prop can be deployed or lowered into the position as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     A locking device for a bulldozer and backhoe is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,851 issued to Confoey. In particular the locking device is for use on equipment that has hydraulic pistons and cylinders. The Confoey device is a split cylindrical sleeve  10  that has an annular flange  19  at one end and arms  20  and  21  at the other end. The split cylindrical sleeve  10  is formed of equal half sections  11  and  12  that have a pair of pivot hinges  13  therebetween as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . A pin  16  can be positioned through apertures in L shaped extensions  14  and  15 . The pin  16  is secured to the aperture in extension  15  by welding. The pin  16  also extends into a bore in extension  14 . Pairs of lugs  17  and  18  are secured to the half sections  11  and  12  on the opposite side of the extensions  14  and  15 . Padlocks can pass through apertures in lugs  17  and  18 . In this manner the half sections  11  and  12  can be secured about a rod R of cylinder assembly  30  of a backhoe  25 . The flange  19  can abut with the end of the piston and cylinder assembly. The opposite end of the split cylindrical sleeve engages the boom  27 . 
     While the above noted devices are beneficial to some degree, they each have limitations that do not make them suitable for use in supporting elevated antenna platforms such as those used by the U.S. Army. 
     Improperly designed mechanical structures can have catastrophic consequences when such structures fail. One such example involves the gusset plates on the Interstate 35 bridge in Minnesota. Old photos of the bridge show two gusset plates that were visibly bent as far back as 2003. That was four years before the bridge span collapsed into the Mississippi River. In that incident, 13 people were killed. 
     Another incident involves the Nov. 15, 1988 collapse of the 300 foot telescope in Green Bank, W. Va. It was discovered that the collapse was the result of the sudden failure of a gusset plate in the box girder which provided the main support for the antenna. 
     In the case of the AN/TPQ-37(V)9 Radar Antenna, there has been one unfortunate accident in which the antenna fell during maintenance and a soldier was killed. Hence there exists a need for an improved safety brace for use with such Radar Antennae. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a safety brace for supporting a radar antenna platform movable to an elevated tilted position by a drive shaft having a movable first member and a second member, wherein the first member is movable toward and away from the second member, comprising an elongated generally cylindrical tube formed of a separable first half tube portion and a second half tube portion. The first half tube portion and the second half tube portion are each generally C shaped in cross section and form longitudinal first and second seams when positioned alongside each other to form the generally cylindrical tube which has a first end and a second end. The safety brace has at least one separable coupling bracket secured to the first half tube portion and the second half tube portion and disposed across the first seam to maintain the first half tube and the second half portions in a generally closed seam configuration when the separable coupling bracket is in a closed position and to maintain the first half tube and the second half portions in an open seam configuration when the separable coupling bracket is opened. The safety brace has at least one hinged coupling bracket secured to the first half tube portion and the second half tube portion and disposed across the second seam to maintain the first half tube and the second half portions in a generally closed seam configuration when the hinged coupling bracket is in a closed position and to allow for opening of the second seam as the hinged coupling bracket is opened. 
     The safety brace has a first flange disposed at the first end of the elongated generally cylindrical tube and being configured to abut against the movable first member of the drive shaft. A second flange is disposed at the second end of the elongated generally cylindrical tube and is configured to abut against the second member of the drive shaft. A plurality of first gussets are disposed between the first flange and adjacent outer surface portions of the first half tube portion and the second half tube portion. A plurality of second gussets are disposed between the second flange and adjacent outer surface portions of the first half tube portion and the second half tube portion. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the safety brace further comprises three separable coupling brackets spaced apart along the first seam. 
     In another preferred embodiment, each separable coupling bracket comprises a first separable coupling member disposed on the first half tube portion and a second separable coupling member disposed on the second half tube portion; and a locking pin; the first and second separable coupling members each having an aperture therethrough which line up when the elongated generally cylindrical tube is in a closed configuration whereupon the locking pin can be inserted through the apertures of the first and the second coupling members and lock the elongated generally cylindrical tube in the closed configuration. The safety brace further comprises a lanyard secured at one end to the locking pin and at its other end to an adjacent hinged coupling bracket. 
     In yet another preferred embodiment, each hinged coupling bracket comprises a first hinged coupling member disposed on the first half tube portion and a second hinged coupling member disposed on the second half tube portion, and a hinge plate secured to the first and the second hinged coupling members across the second seam. The safety brace can comprise two hinged coupling brackets spaced apart along the second seam. 
     According to a preferred embodiment, each of the first and the second plurality of gussets is generally triangular with one edge secured to a corresponding end flange and another edge secured to a corresponding tube portion. 
     In an alternative embodiment, each of the generally C shaped first half tube portion and the generally C shaped second half tube portion are generally rectangular in cross section when in a closed configuration. Also each of the first flange and the second flange are generally rectangular. 
     In yet another alternative embodiment, the safety brace further comprises at least one generally C shaped handle secured to one of the separable first half tube portion and the second half tube portion. 
     According to another preferred embodiment, the second flange is configured and dimensioned to accommodate any non flat surface of the second member of the drive shaft against which the second flange abuts. The second flange together with corresponding adjacent sections of the first half tube portion and the second half tube portion are configured and dimensioned to form a notch to accommodate a grease fitting of the second member. The first flange is configured and dimensioned to accommodate any non flat surface of the first member of the drive shaft against which the first flange abuts. 
     The present invention is also directed to a safety brace system for supporting a platform movable to an elevated position by a ram having a base member, a lead screw and a moveable member. 
     The safety brace system comprises an elongated generally cylindrical tube formed of a separable first half tube portion and a second half tube portion, the first half tube portion and the second half tube portion each being generally C shaped in cross section and forming longitudinal first and second seams when positioned alongside each other to form the generally cylindrical tube, the elongated generally cylindrical tube having a first end and a second end. The safety brace system has at least one separable coupling member secured to the first half tube portion and the second half tube portion and disposed across the first seam to maintain the first half tube and the second half portions in a generally closed seam configuration when the separable coupling member is in a closed position and to maintain the first half tube and the second half portions in an open seam configuration when the separable coupling member is opened. 
     The safety brace system also has at least one hinged coupling member secured to the first half tube portion and the second half tube portion and disposed across the second seam to maintain the first half tube and the second half portions in a generally closed seam configuration when the hinged coupling member is in a closed position and to allow for opening of the second seam as the hinged coupling member is opened A first flange is disposed at the first end of the elongated generally cylindrical tube and is configured to abut against the moveable member of the ram. A second flange is disposed at the second end of the elongated generally cylindrical tube and is configured to abut against the base member of the ram. 
     The safety brace system also has a plurality of generally triangular first gussets disposed between the first flange and adjacent outer surface portions of the first half tube portion and the second half tube portion; and a plurality of generally triangular second gussets disposed between the second flange and adjacent outer surface portions of the first half tube portion and the second half tube portion. 
     According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the safety brace system comprises a first separable coupling extension member disposed on and extending from the first half tube portion and a second separable coupling extension member disposed on and extending from the second half tube portion, and a locking pin. The first and second separable coupling extension members each have an aperture therethrough which line up when the elongated generally cylindrical tube is in a closed configuration whereupon the locking pin can be inserted through the apertures of the first and the second extension coupling members and lock the elongated generally cylindrical tube in the closed configuration. 
     In yet another preferred embodiment of the safety brace system, each hinged coupling member comprises a first hinged coupling member disposed on the first half tube portion and a second hinged coupling member disposed on the second half tube portion, and a hinge plate secured to the first and the second hinged coupling members across the second seam. 
     In one preferred embodiment of the safety brace system, each of the first and the second plurality of gussets is generally triangular with one edge secured to a corresponding end flange and another edge secured to a corresponding tube portion. The safety brace system further comprises at least one generally C shaped handle secured to one of the separable first half tube portion and the second half tube portion. 
     Also, the second flange is configured and dimensioned to accommodate any non flat surface of the base member of the ram against which the second flange abuts. Moreover, the second flange comprises lands to accommodate the non flat surface of the base member. The second flange together with corresponding adjacent sections of the first half tube portion and the second half tube portion are configured and dimensioned to form a notch to accommodate a grease fitting of the base member. 
     The safety brace system has a first flange which is configured and dimensioned to accommodate any non flat surface of the first member of the drive shaft against which the first flange abuts. 
     In addition to a safety brace, the system includes a transport case. 
     The present invention is also directed to a method for supporting a platform movable to an elevated position by a ram having a base member, a lead screw and a movable member. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the method for supporting a platform comprises providing a safety brace according to one embodiment of the present invention. The method also comprises positioning the elongated generally cylindrical tube in an open configuration about the drive shaft after the platform is raised; closing the elongated generally cylindrical tube about the lead screw; abutting the second flange against the base member of the ram; and lowering the platform and abutting the first flange against the movable member of the ram. In an alternative embodiment, the method further includes providing two or more different sized safety braces for use in supporting the platform. 
     The Radar Antenna Safety Brace of the present invention allows mechanics to perform maintenance safely with the antenna raised in the air. With the antenna up, this creates a hazardous work environment. 
     The brake on the motor is the only thing preventing the lead screw from rapidly descending. Furthermore, if the motor is inadvertently removed, the mechanic can be seriously injured or killed from the massive weight. 
     Generally, the brace comprises a tubular assembly with hinge and interlocking mechanisms that engage over the top of the lead screw. End flanges and gussets allow the brace or unit to rest against the top and bottom surfaces of the platform elevating mechanism. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following detailed description of the invention is made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a safety brace in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of the safety brace of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial enlarged view of the top end of the safety brace of  FIG. 1  illustrating the hinge assembly and also illustrating the top flange and gussets in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view taken of the tubes and flanges of the safety brace of  FIG. 1  in a preassembled form; 
         FIG. 5  is an assembled view of the tubes and flanges of the safety brace of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial enlarged view of the bottom end of the safety brace of  FIG. 4  illustrating the bottom flange in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along the direction of the arrows of the line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken along the direction of the line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 1  which illustrates the gussets positioned at the bottom end of the safety brace of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded view of an assembled carrying case for three different sized safety braces shown above before being inserted into the carrying case in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the top end of the safety brace of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view taken along the direction of the arrows of the line  11 - 11  in  FIG. 2  which illustrates the gussets positioned at the top end of the safety brace of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of the safety brace of  FIG. 5  and including the gussets and the hinge assemblies; 
         FIG. 13  is a partial enlarged view of the top end of the safety brace of  FIG. 1  illustrating an exploded view of one of the hinge assemblies in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view taken along the direction of the arrows of the line  14 - 14  in  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 15  is an assembled view of the safety brace of  FIG. 12  and including the bracket assemblies; 
         FIG. 16  is a partial enlarged view of the top end of the safety brace of  FIG. 15  illustrating a portion of one of the hinge assemblies and its coupling to a bracket assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view taken along the direction of the arrows of the line  17 - 17  in  FIG. 15 ; 
         FIG. 18  is a side assembled view of the safety brace of  FIG. 15  and inllustrating a handle according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 19  is an top end view taken along the direction of the arrows of the line  19 - 19  in  FIG. 18 ; 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view showing one of the handles before attachment to the safety brace as shown fully assembled in  FIG. 18 ; 
         FIG. 21  shows the safety brace of the present invention in use with a raised communications platform; 
         FIG. 22  shows the top end portion of the safety brace of the present invention deployed about the lead screw before the raised communications platform is lowered to rest securely on the top end of the safety brace; 
         FIG. 23  shows the top end portion of the safety brace of the present invention deployed about the lead screw after the raised communications platform is lowered to rest securely on top end of the safety brace; 
         FIG. 24  shows the bottom end portion of the safety brace of the present invention deployed about the lead screw after the raised communications platform is lowered to rest securely on the safety brace; 
         FIG. 25  shows the safety brace of the present invention deployed about the lead screw after the raised communications platform is lowered to rest securely on the safety brace; 
         FIG. 26  is a perspective view of a safety brace of the present invention in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 27  is a an exploded view of a carrying case for three difference sized safety braces in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the description herein with respect to the drawings, any reference to direction or orientation is purely informative and is employed for ease of reference. It is not intended as limiting the scope of the claims herein. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a top perspective view of a safety brace  10  which is formed of two generally semi-circular tubes, left tube  12  and right tube  14 . These are configured and sized so that when coupled together along their corresponding top longitudinal seam  16  shown in  FIG. 1  and bottom longitudinal seam  18  shown in  FIG. 2  which is a bottom perspective view of the safety brace  10 , they can fit around the drive shaft or lead screw of a hydraulic ram  19  shown in  FIG. 21 . In one embodiment, the drive shaft can be that of hydraulic ram used to raise and lower the radar antenna platform of the U.S. Army AN/TPQ-37(V)9 Radar Antenna. The safety brace of the present invention can also be used for drive shafts of other hydraulic rams to position other platforms. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the safety brace  10  has handle  20  for left tube  12  and handle  22  for right tube  14 . These handles  20 ,  22  are convenient for carrying the safety brace  10  and for positioning it around the drive shaft of the hydraulic ram  19 . The tubes  12 ,  14  are coupled along their top seam  16  by separable coupling bracket assemblies  24  that are each kept together by removable locking pin  26  and lanyard  28  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The landyard  28  is connected at its one end to removable locking pin  26  and at its other end to a U shaped bracket  30  as shown in  FIG. 3 . In this manner, the landyard  28  is readily available for use and helps keep the pin  26  from being lost or misplaced. In the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the safety brace  10  has three bracket assemblies  24  with one positioned near the center and the other equidistant from the center and near the ends of the safety brace  10 . Seam  18  is formed by coupling the tubes  12 ,  14  with two U-shaped hinged coupling bracket assembly  30 , one positioned near the top or upper end and the other positioned near the lower or bottom end of safety brace  10 . 
     The safety brace  10  has an upper or top flange  32  formed of two portions, a left portion  34  and a right portion  36 . A lower or bottom flange  38  is formed of three portions, a left portion  40  and a right first portion  42  and a right second portion  44 . The top and bottom left flange portions  34  and  40  are attached to the top and bottom end edges of left tube  12 . Similarly, the top right flange portion  36  is attached to the top end edge of right tube  14  and the bottom right flange portions  42  and  44  are attached to the bottom end edge of right tube  14 . 
     The safety brace  10  has generally triangular gussets  46  positioned by welding or other suitable methods between the top flange  32  and tubes  12  and  14  and also between the bottom flange  38  and tubes  12  and  14 . As shown for example in  FIGS. 3 ,  22  and  24 , one edge of generally triangular gusset  46  is welded or otherwise secured to a corresponding end flange and another edge is welded or secured to a corresponding tube portion. One edge hence is free. In alternative embodiments, the gussets can be rectangular or be formed of other geometrical shapes. 
     In the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  8  and  11 , there are three gussets  46  coupling each of flange portions  34 ,  36  and  40  with the corresponding end portions of tubes  12  and  14 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , there is one gusset  46  coupling each of the bottom flange portions  42  and  44  to the bottom end portion of right tube  14 . These gussets help provide increased strength which is critical in making certain that the safety brace  10  will perform properly and not collapse while personnel are working under the raised communications platform such as that for a radar antenna. In one embodiment, the gussets  46  are preferably uniformly spaced from one another with respect to flange portion  34 ,  36  and  40 . The gussets  46  with respect to bottom flange portions  42  and  44  are positioned generally at the midpoints of those flange portions. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the safety brace  10  has a U-shaped bracket  30  positioned adjacent each of top flange  32  and bottom flange  38 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the U-shaped bracket  30  is formed of a hinge  48  that is positioned on top of two like shaped angles  50 . The hinge  48  is fastened to the angles  50  by screws  52 . 
     In  FIG. 4 , the left tube  12  and right tube  14  are shown in separated pre-assembly form. Similarly the component top and bottom flanges  32  and  38  and their component flange portions  34  and  36  for top flange  32  and flange portions  40 ,  42  and  44  for the bottom flange  38  are shown in their pre-assembled form. The flange portions  34 ,  36 ,  40 ,  42  and  44  are fastened to their respective tubes by welding or other suitable methods.  FIG. 5  illustrates the flange components after being welded to the left tube  12  and right tube  14 . The flange portions  40 ,  42  and  44  of the bottom flange  38  have elevated lands  53 ,  55  and  57 , respectively, as shown in  FIG. 6  to help accommodate the seating of the safety brace  10  as will be further described below. The flange portions  40 ,  42  and  44  of bottom flange  38  form notches or openings  54  and  56 , as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . Notch  54 , as shown for example in  FIGS. 8 and 17 , is formed between bottom flange portions  40  and  42 . This notch  54  provides clearance in bottom flange  38  between the flange portions as the tube halves  12  and  14  open along top seam  16 . Similarly, notch  58 , as show for example in  FIGS. 3 ,  11  and  19 , is formed between top flange portions  34  and  36 . Notch  58  also provides clearance in the top flange  32  between the flange portions as the tube halves  12  and  14  open along top seam  16 . As to notch  56 , this is formed between flange portions  40  and  42 , as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 17 , and is also formed by a cutout in the adjacent wall of tube half  14 . As shown in  FIGS. 15 and 24 , notch  56  accommodates the seating of the bottom flange  38  about the grease fitting  68  of speed gear assembly  66 . 
     After the top and bottom flanges are attached to the tube halves, the gussets  46  can be attached to securely retain the top and bottom flanges together with the tube halves. As shown in  FIGS. 8 ,  10  and  11 , the assembled top flange  32  and bottom flange  38  have gussets  46  welded to the flange portions and the corresponding tube portions  12  and  14 . 
       FIG. 13  illustrates the assembly of the U-shaped bracket  30 . After the angles  50  all welded to the right tube  14  and left tube  12 , the hinge  48  is positioned on top of the angles  50  and fastened by means of screws  52  which pass through corresponding holes in the hinge  48  and the tapped holes in angles  50 . The other end of the lanyard  28  from bracket assembly  24  is secured to one of the angles  50  as shown in  FIG. 13 . The final assembled form of the U-shaped bracket  30  is shown in  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 14 . In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 14 , two U-shaped brackets  30  are positioned adjacent the ends of the safety brace  10 . 
     According to one embodiment of a method of assembly of the safety brace  10 , the bracket assemblies  24  can be attached to the left and right tubes  12 ,  14  as shown in  FIGS. 15 ,  16  and  17 . While three bracket assemblies  24  are shown in  FIG. 15 , additional bracket assemblies  24  can be used if desired. Preferably one bracket assembly  24  is positioned adjacent to each of top flange  32  and bottom flange  38 . A third bracket assembly  24  is positioned at about the middle of the safety brace  10  as shown in  FIG. 15 . Referring to  FIG. 17 , the bracket assembly  24  is formed of three like shaped extension members or tabs  59 . One of the extension members is fastened by welding to right tube  14  while the other two extension members  59  are welded to the left tube  12 . The right tube  14  extension number  59  is positioned between the of the two extension members  59  welded to the left tube  12 . Each of the extension members  59  has an opening which is dimensioned to allow a locking pin  26  to pass through the opening. The lanyard  28 , as shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , is attached to the locking pin  26  by means of a clip  27  which fits about the locking pin  26 . The one end of the lanyard  28  is connected to the clip  27  and at its other end to one of the angles  50  of U-shaped bracket  30 . In this fashion, the lanyard  28  is made readily available so that the pin  26  is not lost or misplaced during use. 
     The U-shaped handles  20  and  22  can next be welded to the left tube  12  and right tube  14 , respectively as shown in  FIGS. 18 ,  19  and  20 . These handles  20  and  22  are useful during the positioning and deployment of the safety brace  10  about the hydraulic ram  19  of a communications platform. 
     The safety brace  10  is shown in  FIG. 21  supporting a platform  60  for a communications device such as a radar antenna. To achieve this supporting operation, the handles  20 ,  22  are used to place the safety brace  10  in the appropriate position. The tube halves  12  and  14  are opened after the locking pins  26  of bracket coupling assemblies  24  are removed from the extension members  59 . The tube halves open via the hinges  48  of the U-shaped brackets  30  and are placed around the lead screw  62  which is coupled to the ballscrew receptacle  64  as shown in  FIG. 22 . The opening of the tube halves  12  and  14  is aided by the clearances provided by notch  54  in the bottom flange and notch  58  in the top flange  32 . The bottom flange  38  rests against the speed gear assembly  66  with the notch  56  clearing the grease fitting  68  as shown in  FIG. 24 . The top flange  32  rests against the ballscrew receptacle  64  as shown in  FIG. 23 . Both halves of the tubes  12  and  14  are closed while using the handles  20  and  22  until the holes in the interlocking tabs or extension members  59  align. A locking pin  26  is then placed through the three holes of the extension members  59  to ensure proper installation of the safety brace  10 . This is repeated for multiple locking bracket coupling assemblies  24  where applicable. The antenna is lowered so that the ballscrew assembly  64  shown in  FIGS. 22 and 23  comes to within about 0.5 inches of the top flange  32  after the operator is safely out of the way. After further proper positioning, the top and bottom flanges  32  and  38  securely abut the ballscrew receptacle  64  and rests on the speed gear assembly  66  as shown in  FIG. 25  so that the safety brace  10  supports the platform  60 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 20 and 24 , the elevated portions or lands  53 ,  55  and  57  of bottom flange portions  40 ,  42  and  44  help to accommodate the irregular surface of the speed gear assembly  66 . As shown, the bolt heads  70  rest against the non elevated portions or lands of the respective bottom flange portions. The elevated portions  53 ,  55  and  57  rest on the top face surface  72  of the speed gear assembly  66  as shown in  FIG. 24 . The final supporting configuration of safety brace  10  is shown in  FIG. 25 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, the safety brace  100  can be rectangular in cross-section as shown in  FIG. 26 . In this embodiment the left and right tubes  112  and  114 , respectively, are U-shaped in cross-section. In this embodiment, each tube has two edges. For example, as shown in  FIG. 26 , tube  114  has two longitudinal edges  121  and  123 . Similarly tube  112  has edges, only one of which  125  is shown in  FIG. 26 . The embodiment in  FIG. 26  has similar components as those in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . For convenience and ease of reference, the similar components in  FIG. 26  use the same reference number which is increased by 100 in the  FIG. 26  embodiment. When assembled by means of bracket coupling assemblies  124  and U-shaped coupling assemblies  130 , the cross-section of the finely assembled safety brace  100  is generally rectangular. In this embodiment, the top flange is formed of two flange portions  134  and  136  that together are also rectangular when assembled and positioned about the lead screw  62 . Similarly, the bottom flange  138  is formed of two flange portions  140  and  142  that when assembled are also rectangular and are configured to allow for notch  156  to accommodate the grease fitting  68  of the speed gear assembly  66 . In this embodiment, three gussets  146  are used to further secure each of the four various flange portions  134 ,  136 ,  140  and  142  to the corresponding tube halves  112  and  114 . 
     To accommodate different degrees of elevation of the antenna platform, different sized safety braces  210 ,  310  and  410  can be made and kept on hand as shown in  FIG. 9 . In one preferred embodiment, the three different sized safety braces can be 44 inches, 22 inches and 11 inches long. As shown in  FIG. 29 , the largest sized safety brace  210  has three bracket coupling assemblies  224  and two U-shaped brackets  230 . The middle sized safety brace  310  has two bracket coupling assemblies  324  and two. U-shaped brackets  330 . Finally the smallest sized safety brace  410  has one bracket assembly  424  and one U-shaped bracket  430 . In alternative embodiments and in addition to employing each of safety braces  210 ,  310  and  410  individually, various combinations of two or more of the safety braces  210 ,  310  and  410  can be used. If desired, various combinations of two or even three of the different sized safety braces  210 ,  310  and  410  can be used to accommodate various amounts of elevation of the antenna platform. For example, safety braces  210  and  310 ,  210  and  410 ,  310  and  410  can be used. Alternatively, all three can be used. Depending on the platform to be raised, more than three safety braces can be employed. One advantage is that several smaller sized safety braces can be more easily handled by personnel rather than a much larger single unit safety brace that might be required for a greater degree of elevation. 
     To provide for convenient transportation and to protect the safety braces from damage, a case  500  is provided to safely carry these various sized safety braces  210 ,  310  and  410 . Referring to  FIGS. 27 and 9 , a case  500  includes a bottom rectangular box portion  502  and a top rectangular box portion  504  which are hinged together along common seam  506 . 
     The bottom box  502  has a handle  508  and a pair of wheels  510  to facilitate handling and movement of the case  500 . The inner surfaces of the top and bottom portions  502 ,  504  are corrugated as shown in  FIG. 27  for increased strength. Four foam inserts  512 ,  514 ,  516  and  518  are configured and dimensioned to fit within bottom box  502 . Inserts  512 ,  514  and  516  have corresponding and cooperating cutouts as shown in  FIGS. 27 and 9  to receive and secure the different sized safety braces  210 ,  310  and  410 . The different sized safety braces can be inserted into the cutouts along the direction of the dotted lines shown in  FIG. 9 . Two foam inserts  520  and  522  are configured and dimensioned to fit within the top box  504  as shown in  FIGS. 27 and 9 . Top box  504  has four latches  524  which are sized to fit snugly within corresponding latch receivers  526  on bottom box  502  so as to allow for secure closure of the case  500 . 
     The different sized safety braces will allow for different angles of elevation of the antenna platform depending on the application. The tube is split longitudinally to allow the assembly to go over a mechanical lead screw. It is locked in place with interlocking tabs or extension members  59  and a quick release pin  26 . The pin contains a lanyard that will keep it with the assembly. Flanges rest against the bolts or plate at both the top and bottom. The bottom part of the assembly contains a notch for the grease fitting. The entire assembly can be made of aluminum 6061-T6 to make it lightweight. However, other material can be used. Two handles make the system ergonomic. 
     A wind load of 50 mph was simulated on the antenna using the computational fluids analysis program, CF Design. Given the geometry of the antenna and lead screw, the compressive loads through the safety brace were calculated. Extensive finite element analysis (FEA) using COSMOS was performed on the three different size safety braces to ensure the strength and to optimize the final design. FEA was run without the gussets revealing a stress concentration where the flange joins the tubing. FEA was then run with the gussets of the present invention, showing that the stress concentration was eliminated. According to the analysis, the configurations provided herein can handle a load four times the predicted load before it will break, giving a safety factor of four with the worst case loading scenario. 
     While the present invention has been described in connection with what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to these herein disclosed embodiments. It is to be further understood that other features and modifications to the foregoing detailed description are within the contemplation of the present invention, which is not limited by this detailed description. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that any number of configurations of the present invention and numerous modifications and combinations of materials, components, arrangements and dimensions can achieve the results described herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. Accordingly, the present invention should not be limited by the foregoing description, but only by the appended claims.