Patent ID: 8458970

Claim:
A support tower, comprising: a foundation; a base structure secured to said foundation; a platform unit secured to said base structure; a plurality of tubular structures stacked on top of said platform unit, each said tubular structure forming a respective central hollow opening, said plurality of tubular structures including a topmost tubular structure, said plurality of tubular structures including a first set of tubular structures having a first diameter and a second set of tubular structures having a second diameter, such that such second diameter of the second set of tubular structures is smaller than the first diameter of the first set of tubular structures; a tension cable, received through said central hollow openings of said tubular structures, and having a first end thereof secured to said platform unit and a second end thereof secured to said topmost tubular structure, so as to provide internal tensioning for securing said plurality of tubular structures; and a transition ring, constructed primarily of reinforced concrete, situated between said first set of tubular structures and said second set of tubular structures, said transition ring having a lower diameter corresponding to the first diameter of said first set of tubular structures, and having an upper diameter corresponding to the second diameter of said second set of tubular structures.