Patent ID: 7828086

Claim:
A guide rail system for a tool configured to be raised and lowered within a telescoping tower structure having a stationary lower tower section and an upper tower section slidably coupled to said lower tower section, said upper tower section configured to be raised and lowered with respect to said lower tower section the system comprising: a) a pair of opposing first guide rails configured to be disposed on said lower tower section, said first guide rails substantially parallel and facing each other, said first guide rails further comprised of tubing, said tubing comprising rounded outside corners; b) a pair of opposing second guide rails configured to be disposed on said upper tower section, said second guide rails substantially parallel and facing each other, said second guide rails adjacent and substantially parallel to at least a portion of said first guide rails when said upper tower section is slidably coupled to said lower tower section; and c) at least one pair of guide wheels configured to be rotatably coupled to said tool, one of said at least one pair of guide wheels adapted to roll on one of said first opposing guide rails, the other of said at least one pair of guide wheels adapted to roll on the other of said first opposing guide rails whereby said guide wheels roll on said first guide rails as said tool is raised within said lower tower section said guide wheels further adapted to roll on said second opposing guide rails when said tool is raised from said lower tower section to said upper tower section within said tower structure, said guide wheels further comprising grooves configured to substantially contact said rounded outside corners of said tubing and to roll on said tubing, said guide wheels further comprising sidewalls that are configured not to contact said tubing as said guide wheels roll on said tubing.