Abstract:
A portable surveillance system having an easily transportable skid-type base structure that forms a support for a portable tower apparatus. Stabilizers are extendably mounted to the base structure. The tower components include a base member affixed to the base plate, a pivot bracket affixed to an upper end of the base member, a tower member pivotally mounted to the pivot bracket on the base member and one or more removable tower members that may be installed to achieve a desired height for the tower once it is pivoted to an upright orientation by manipulating a cable and pulley system. Various equipment mounts are provided on the tower to mount equipment such as an aerometer, a tower light, a wind direction vane, a video camera, a microwave telecom dish, or other equipment thereon. The ability to rapidly deploy the tower of invention enables rapid deployment for surveillance and other uses.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/376,588, which application was filed with the Patent and Trademark Office on Apr. 30, 2002. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates generally to a portable tower that may be used for quick set up of surveillance equipment or other types of equipment as desired. More particularly, the invention relates to a portable tower having an adjustable height and which is easy to manipulate into an upright position. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to the present invention there is provided an improvement in a portable tower apparatus that may be used for surveillance or other purposes. The portable surveillance system has a base structure that forms a support for the portable tower apparatus. The base structure is preferably a portable skid type structure. Stabilization outriggers are preferably slidably mounted to the base structure. Preferably, an equipment cabinet is affixed to the base plate to house equipment such as a drop down computer shelf and a standard telecommunications rack that are used to communicate with equipment mounted on the tower. The equipment housing is preferably provided with an HVAC unit to cool the equipment. The upright tower components include a vertical base member affixed to the base plate proximate a center of the base plate, a pivot bracket affixed to an upper end of the vertical base member, a lower tower member pivotally mounted to the pivot bracket on the vertical base member and one or more removable tower members that may be installed to achieve a desired height for the tower once it is positioned in an upright orientation. The tower includes a winch used to manipulate a cable and pulley system to selectively position the tower in an upright position. A variety of equipment mounts are provided on the removable tower member to mount equipment such as an aerometer, a single obstruction tower light, a wind direction vane, a video camera, a microwave telecom dish, or other equipment. 
   A better understanding of the present invention, its several aspects, and its advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the attached drawings, wherein there is shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the portable surveillance system shown in an extended assembled configuration. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the portable surveillance system shown in a retracted and disassembled configuration. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is important to understand that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the embodiments and steps described herein. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in a variety of ways. It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , shown is a portable surveillance system designated generally  10 . Portable surveillance system  10  has a base structure designated generally  12 . Base structure  12  has a first longitudinal member  14  that is preferably a structural steel channel, although other materials may be used. A second longitudinal member  16  is provided parallel to first longitudinal member  14 . A first pair of tubular members  18  are affixed to a first end of first longitudinal members  14  and second longitudinal members  16 . Tubular members  18  are preferably formed of square tubes, although other shaped tubular members may be used. First pair of tubular members  18  have an inner tube  20  and an outer tube  22 . A leveling guide  24  ( FIG. 1 ) may be provided on outer tube  22  or at another location to assist in leveling portable surveillance system  10 . A second pair of tubular members  30  are affixed to a second end of first longitudinal member  14  and to second end of second longitudinal member  16 . The second pair of tubular members  30  is also made up of an inner tube  32  and outer tube  34 . 
   A base plate  36  is affixed to base structure  12 . The base plate  36  has a first side  38  adjacent to first longitudinal member  14  and a second side  40  adjacent to a second longitudinal member  16 . Additionally, base plate  36  has a first end  42  adjacent to the first pair of tubular members  18  and base plate  36  has a second end  44  adjacent to the second pair of tubular members  30 . 
   A first stabilization outrigger  50  is slidingly received within a first end of inner tube  20  of the first pair of tubular members  18  ( FIG. 1 ). First stabilization outrigger  50  is selectively extended outwardly therefrom. The first stabilization outrigger  50  has a terminal end designated generally  52 . Terminal end  52  is preferably provided with a tower guy wire point  54  and an outrigger tiedown plate  56  affixed thereto. 
   A second stabilization outrigger  60  is slidingly received within a first end of the outer tube  34  of the second pair of tubular members  30  ( FIG. 1 ). Second stabilization outrigger  60  is selectively extended outwardly therefrom. The second stabilization outrigger  60  has a terminal end designated generally  62 . Terminal end  62  preferably has a tower guy wire point  64  and an outrigger tiedown plate  66  affixed thereto. 
   A third stabilization outrigger  70  is slidingly received within a second end of the outer tube  22  of the first pair of tubular members  18  ( FIG. 1 ). Third stabilization outrigger  70  is selectively extended outwardly therefrom. Third stabilization outrigger  70  has a terminal end designated generally  72 . Terminal end  72  preferably has a tower guy point  74  and an outrigger tiedown plate  76  affixed thereto. 
   The fourth stabilization outrigger  80  is slidingly received within a second end of the inner tube  32  of the second pair of square tubes  30  ( FIG. 1 ). Fourth stabilization outrigger  80  is selectively extended outwardly therefrom. Fourth stabilization outrigger  80  has a terminal end designated generally  82 . Terminal end  82  preferably has a tower guy point  84  and an outrigger tiedown plate  86  affixed thereto. 
   An equipment cabinet  90  is preferably affixed to base plate  36  proximate first end  42  of base plate  36 . However, equipment cabinet  90  may be located anywhere upon a portable surveillance system as preferred by a user. Equipment cabinet  90  is preferably formed of a frame of 4″×4″ square tubing having a 1/16″ sheet metal exterior. Equipment cabinet  90  preferably has a first door  92 , a second door  94 , an inner wall  96 , an outer wall  98 , and a top surface  100 . Equipment cabinet  90  preferably defines an interior area having located therein a drop down computer shelf (not shown), a 19″ standard telecommunications rack (not shown), and 1″ styrofoam insulation covering the inner surfaces of first door  92 , second door  94 , inner surface of inner wall  96 , inner surface of outer wall  98  and inner surface of top surface  100 . In a preferred embodiment, an HVAC unit  102  is affixed to outer wall  98  for cooling the interior of equipment cabinet  90 . Preferably, a 2000 BTU Dantherm Classic AC or a 2000 BTU Kooltronic AC is used, although other units may also be used. A stabilizer brace  110  is preferably affixed to inner wall  96  of equipment cabinet  90 . However, stabilizer brace  110  may be positioned in other locations as desired. 
   A vertical base member  112  is affixed to base plate  36 . Preferably, vertical base member  112  is proximate the center of base plate  36 . A pivot bracket  120  is affixed to an upper end of the vertical base member  112 . A second leveling guide  121  is preferably provided on an upper component, e.g. pivot bracket  120 , to assist with leveling portable surveillance system  10 . A tower winch  122  is affixed to the vertical base member  112 . Tower winch  122  selectively retracts and extends tower winch cable  123 . A base member guide pulley  124  is located on the vertical base member  112 . Preferably, the base member guide pulley  124  is positioned below the tower winch  122 . A ground bar  126  is affixed to a lower end of the vertical base member  112 . 
   A lower tower member  130  is pivotally mounted to pivot bracket  120  on the vertical base member  112 . Lower tower member  130  has a base end  132  and a receiving end  134 . Lower tower member  130  defines a ground bar receptacle  136  ( FIG. 2 ) for establishing a selectively interlocking relationship with ground bar  126  when the lower tower member  130  is pivoted to an upright position ( FIG. 1 ). A tower member guide pulley  140  is located proximate the base end  132  of the lower tower member  130 . 
   Tower winch cable  123  engages base member guide pulley  124  that is affixed to vertical base  112 . Tower winch cable  123  also engages tower member guide pulley  140  located on lower tower  130 . Tower winch cable  123  then attaches to attachment member  142 , which is affixed to base member  112 . 
   At least one removable tower member segment  150  is provided for selectively affixing to receiving end  134  of lower tower member  130 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , additional removable tower segments  150  may be provided to provide a selectively adjustable height of the portable surveillance system  10 . Auxiliary equipment mount  152  may be provided on the one or more removable tower members  150 . A mounting pad  160  is affixed to an upper end of an uppermost removable tower member  150 . A multi-module  162  may be provided for affixing to mounting pad  160 . Multi-module  162  may be provided with a first mounting bar  164  ( FIG. 2 ) or multiple mounting bars, e.g. first mounting bar  164  and a second mounting bar  166  ( FIG. 1 ). Multi-module  162  is provided with a plurality of mounting locations, e.g. mounting locations  170   a–b  ( FIG. 2 ) or  170   a–e  ( FIG. 1 ). Mounting locations  170   a–d  are suitable for mounting equipment such as an aerometer  172  ( FIG. 1 ), a single obstruction tower light  174  ( FIG. 1 ), a wind direction vane  176  ( FIG. 1 ), a video camera  178  ( FIG. 1 ), a microwave telecom dish  180  ( FIG. 1 ), or other devices used for information gathering surveillance or other purposes. 
   At least one guy wire mount  182  is located on at least the uppermost removable tower member segment  150 . Guy wires  184  ( FIG. 1 ) are affixed to the guy wire mount  182  and to the tower guide points  54 ,  64 ,  74 ,  84  which are located at the terminal ends  52 ,  62 ,  72 ,  82  of telescopic stabilization outriggers  50 ,  60 ,  70  and  80 . 
   In practice, the portable surveillance system  10  of the invention may be rapidly deployed in a desired location for a variety of purposes including weather monitoring, observation or communications. Other uses include quick set up of surveillance at airports or other facilities that may required increased security. In use, the portable surveillance system  10  is transported to and positioned at a desired location. First stabilization outrigger  50 , second stabilization outrigger  60 , third stabilization outrigger  70  and fourth stabilization outrigger  80  are extended from their positions within tubular members  20 ,  22 ,  32  and  34 . Portable surveillance system  10  is then leveled by using leveling guides  24  and  121 . Before raising lower tower member  130 , a user should determine the desired height of the portable surveillance system  10 . Then, one or more removable tower member segments  150  may be installed accordingly. 
   First, a removable tower segment  150  is inserted into receiving end  134  of lower tower member  130  and secured thereto. Second, additional removable tower segments  150  may be installed if desired. Finally, a mounting pad  160  should be secured to an upper end of the uppermost removable tower segment  150 . At this time, a desired piece of equipment such as an aerometer  172 , a wind direction vane  176 , a video camera  178 , a telecom dish  180  or another piece of equipment may be installed on mounting pad  160  as desired. Alternatively, a multi-module  162  may be provided with one or more of an aerometer  172 , tower light  174 , a wind direction vane  176 , a video camera  178 , a microwave telecom dish  180  or other measurement or observation equipment installed on multi-module  162 . Multi-module  162  is then secured to mounting pad  160 . If it is desired to mount additional equipment upon the portable surveillance system  10  then additional equipment may be secured to auxiliary equipment mounting location  152 . If desired, outrigger tiedown plates  56 ,  66 ,  76  and  86  may be used to secure the portable surveillance system  10  to a location with either stakes, bolts or other means. 
   To set up portable surveillance system  10  in an upright position, lower tower member  130  is pivoted about pivot bracket  120  and away from stabilizer brace  110  with tower winch  122 . By spooling winch cable  123  onto tower winch  122 , tower winch cable  123  acts to pull tower member guide pulley  140  towards base member guide pulley  124 . This continues until lower tower member  130  is vertically oriented. At this time ground bar  126  may be used to engage ground bar receptacle  136  on a lower end of lower tower member  130  thereby securing lower tower member  130  in a vertical orientation. 
   Once the lower tower member  130  and tower member segments  150  are raised into an upright position ( FIG. 1 ) with equipment and/or multi-module section  162  affixed thereto, guy wires  184  may be affixed to guy wire mount  182  and to each of tower guide wire points  54 ,  64 ,  74  and  84  on stabilization outriggers  50 ,  60 ,  70  and  80 . 
   Instruments  172 ,  176 ,  178 ,  180 , or other instruments communicate data to a processing and storing device located within equipment cabinet  90 . Preferably, equipment cabinet  90  is provided with HVAC unit  102  to keep processing and memory storage devices at an appropriate temperature. HVAC unit  102 , computing and storage devices and equipment  172 ,  176 ,  178 ,  180 , or other instruments may be provided with external power, or with an onsite generator. If appropriate, equipment  172 ,  176 ,  178 ,  180 , or other instruments may be powered with batteries and/or solar power or by other devices. 
   While the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment(s) set for herein for purposes of exemplification, but is to be limited only by the scope of the attached claim or claims, including the full range of equivalency to which each element thereof is entitled.