Patent GB-635123-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to means for connecting together the sections of a collapsible mast, girder or the like
IPC: E04C3/00
Filed: 1946-08-06
Abstract: 635,123. Hinges and pivots. LE ROY, M. Aug. 6, 1946, No. 23331. [A Specification was laid open to inspection under Sect. 91 of the Acts, Feb. 10, 1947.] [Class 65 (ii)] [Also in Group X] Relates to a system of interconnected panels arranged in rows, e.g. in rows of three as shown in Fig. 7, adjacent rows being pivotally connected together about parallel transverse axes so as to be relatively angularly displaceable from a position in which they are co-planar and thus, for example, permitting the system of panels to be wound on a drum, and the panels of each row being pivotally connected together about longitudinal axes so as to permit the panels to be pivoted transversely from a co-planar position to form a mast or girder &c. e.g. of triangular cross-section as shown in Fig. 2. Four adjacent panels A, B, Fig. 3, in one row, and A<SP>1</SP>, Bl in an adjacent row, in such a system, have their adjacent corners provided with hinge eyes m, i, m<SP>1</SP>, i<SP>1</SP>, respectively, engaging one above the other over a longitudinal axis formed in two aligned oppositely threaded parts a, a<SP>1</SP>, pivotally secured together by a transverse axis b, the threaded ends of the parts a, a<SP>1</SP> being screwed into sockets d, d<SP>1</SP> located within the uppermost and lowermost hinge eyes m, m<SP>1</SP> respectively and secured inside tubes e, e<SP>1</SP>, forming parts of the panels A, A<SP>1</SP>. The hinge eye i<SP>1</SP> of the panel B<SP>1</SP> engages with a square shoulder a<SP>2</SP> on the part a<SP>1</SP> so that transversal rotation of the panel B<SP>1</SP>, in one direction, with respect to the adjacent panels causes the threads of the parts a, a<SP>1</SP> to screw into the sockets d, d<SP>1</SP>, which together with the tubes e, e<SP>1</SP> move nearer one another, thus clamping the hinge eyes m, m<SP>1</SP>, i, il together. Thus rotation of the outer panels of a system to form a mast of triangular cross-section as shown in Fig. 2 causes the superimposed panels to. be drawn rigidly together, while on reverse rotation to the co-planar position the clamping between the panels is slackened. The extent of the clamping between the panels is adjustable since the socket d<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 3, is vertically adjustable within another socket d2 secured inside the tube e<SP>1</SP>, the socket d<SP>1</SP> being locked in its adjusted position by a nut h. Fig. 7 shows the means by which the outer panels of a system are connected together after rotation to form a mast. Outer hinge eyes n, p, p<SP>1</SP>, n<SP>1</SP> secured to the panels B, C, B<SP>1</SP>, C<SP>1</SP> are located one above the other in the assembled mast position, a T-headed locking pin q, screwthreadedly mounted at the outer bottom comer of each panel B, C<SP>1</SP>, inside the uppermost hinge eye n, engaging in a cup n<SP>2</SP> secured within the hinge eye n<SP>1</SP> at the outer top comer of each panel B, C<SP>1</SP>, the cup n<SP>2</SP> being formed with a lateral gate to receive the head of the pin q. The pins q have flat side portions and hinge eyes p, p<SP>1</SP> on the panels C, BI fit laterally over the pins q through slots cut to the thickness of the flat portions. A slight rotation of each pin q secures it within the hinge eyes p, p<SP>1</SP> and the cup n2.