The present invention relates generally to the field of support systems for elevated objects, and more particularly to a system for raising and lowering a surveillance camera and/or other equipment.
It is often desirable to position a surveillance camera or other equipment at an elevated height, for example to improve the field of view and/or to prevent vandalism or theft. The present invention provides an improved elevated support system for a surveillance camera or other equipment.
In example embodiments, the present invention relates to an improved elevated support system for a surveillance camera or other equipment. The elevated support system of the invention allows the supported equipment to be selectively raised and lowered for service and/or to adjust the support position.
In one aspect, the present invention relates to a system for raising and lowering equipment. The system preferably includes a fixed support arm for attachment to an elevated support structure, a movable carriage for carrying the equipment, a cable extending between the fixed support arm and the movable carriage, and a winch for selectively spooling and unspooling the cable to raise and lower the movable carriage relative to the fixed support arm.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to an elevated support mechanism including an upper support member; a carriage movable between a raised position adjacent the upper support member, and a lowered position beneath the upper support member; a lifting system for raising and lowering the carriage; and a locking mechanism for securing the carriage in the raised position.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to an elevated support system for a surveillance camera. The support system preferably includes a support arm having a winch mounted thereto for raising and lowering the surveillance camera, a first upper pulley, an upper electrical contact, and an upper alignment guide member. The support system preferably also includes a carriage for mounting the surveillance camera to, and having at least one lower pulley, a lower electrical contact for cooperative engagement and disengagement with the upper electrical contact of the support arm, and a lower alignment guide member for cooperative engagement and disengagement with the upper alignment guide member. The support system preferably also includes a cable having a first end spooled onto the winch, extending over the first upper pulley, downward and around the at least one lower pulley, and back up to a second end affixed to the support arm.
These and other aspects and features of the invention will be understood with reference to the drawing figures and detailed description herein, and will be realized by means of the various elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following brief description of the drawings and detailed description are exemplary of depicted embodiments, and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed.
a and 1b are cross-sectional side elevation views of an elevated support system according to an example form of the present invention, with the supported object being in a lowered and raised position, respectively.
a and 3b are detailed views of the alignment and locking mechanisms of the elevated support system according to an example form of the present invention.
The present invention may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed invention. Any and all patents and other publications identified in this specification are incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.
Also, as used in the specification including the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural, and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment.
With reference now to the drawing figures, wherein like reference numbers represent corresponding parts throughout the several views,
The arm body 20 preferably encases electronic controller circuitry, power circuitry, power and video connectivity, and other components for transmitting video signals from the camera to a remote viewing and/or recording station, and for delivering power from a remote power source to the camera, associated lighting source(s), and/or the lift equipment. The lift equipment preferably comprises a centering and connecting mechanism 30, a winch 40, a sprocket and latch locking mechanism 50 and a pulley system 60 that supports a movable carriage or junction box 70 to which the camera housing 12 can be secured. The winch 40 preferably comprises an electric motor, optional gearing, and a spool or drum for winding and unwinding the cable or wire 80 used to raise and lower the camera housing 12 and junction box 70. The pulley system 60 preferably includes at least one upper pulley 60a (two are depicted) rotationally mounted to the arm body 20, and at least one lower pulley 60b (two are depicted) rotationally mounted to the junction box 70.
The system 10 can be activated either manually or automatically. In the automatic/remote version, a control unit is deployed at or near the base of the pole or mounting structure, or at a remote control station, to control the powered winch activity. In the manual version, a manual winch such as a pulley and crank arm mechanism are used in lieu of the powered winch. The junction box 70 preferably has the capacity to house one or more optional weights 90 to ensure appropriate disengagement of the junction box connectors from the centering and connecting mechanism 30. A weather seal 110 is preferably deployed at the base of the junction box 70 to ensure environmental protection of the electronic circuitry during operation. One or more sealed access doors 120 are preferably provided to allow for maintenance access to different parts of the system.
In an example mode of operation, in the top or raised position, as seen in
To raise the junction box 70, the “up” button on the remote activates the winch 40 in an opposite direction to retract the cable 80, raising the assembly of the junction box 70 and housing 12. At the top, the centering pins 71 of the centering and connecting mechanism 30 position the junction box 70, engaging contacts 130, 132 of the power and video connection, and a dual sensing and locking action preferably secures the junction box in its raised position. The electrical connection for delivering power and/or video signals to and from the surveillance camera or other supported equipment is made between the one or more upper electrical contacts 130 positioned on a lower face of a carrier or other portion of the support arm body which cooperatively couples with the one or more lower electrical contacts 132 on an upper face of the carriage; and the lower electrical contacts are in turn connected to input and/or output connections of the surveillance camera or other supported equipment mounted to the carriage. An optional LED on the remote unit indicates to the operator that the system is in position and secured. Because the video signal transmission and electrical power transmission cabling and equipment are maintained stationary in the arm body, and are not raised and lowered with the camera housing 12, the potential for tangling with the lift cables is eliminated.
The system 10 preferably comprises cooperating housing alignment components on the arm body 20 and on the junction box 70. For example, the inside periphery of the downward facing receiver of the arm body 20 preferably comprises one or more inwardly tapering wall portions 140 for guiding one or more cooperating tapered outer contact faces 142 about the outside periphery of the junction box 70 into alignment as the housing 12 moves into the raised position. The system also preferably comprises at least one sway plate 141. The sway plate(s) 141 is/are attached to the wall portions 140 and extend downward at an angle therefrom, helping to center the carriage 70 and prevent any swinging of the carriage 70 as it is raised into arm body 20. The contacts 130, 132 optionally also comprise one or more alignment guides for ensuring proper electrical contact.
The centering and connecting mechanism 30 and the latch locking mechanism 50 are shown in greater detail in
The cam 54 is rotationally actuated by rotation of an indexing wheel 55 affixed to the cam by a pawl 56 that is pivotally mounted to a carrier 57 that is slidably carried on the alignment pins 71 of the centering mechanism. In relation to the views represented in
To lower the carriage 70, the winch 40 is actuated to retract the cable 80 and raise the carriage 70 slightly, which in turn contacts and lifts the carrier 57, causing the pawl 56 to engage one of the pins on the indexing wheel 55 and rotate the indexing wheel and cam 54 by another 90° increment, allowing the retraction spring 53 to retract the locking plate 52 from the slot of the carriage locking arm 72. This releases the carriage 70 and allows it to be lowered (
The system 10 optionally also comprises one or more position and/or load sensors, and/or electronic and/or software implemented control systems. For example, a locking plate position sensor 160 senses the presence or absence of a projection or indicator portion 162, shown in
For example, when the user pushes an “up” button or otherwise actuates the device to raise the carriage 70 and camera or other equipment mounted thereto, the winch 40 is actuated by a controller to reel in cable 80, thereby raising the carriage toward the arm body 20. As the carriage 70 reaches the raised position, the alignment pins guide the carriage into position to connect the electrical contacts 130, 132. The carriage 70 lifts the carrier 57 of the locking mechanism 50, causing the pawl 56 to engage the indexing wheel 55 and rotate the cam 54, thereby engaging the locking plate 52 into the slot of the carriage locking arm 72. The locking arm up-down position sensor 170 senses the presence of the indicator portion 172 of the carriage locking arm 72, to signal that the carriage has been raised to its uppermost position, causing the winch controller to stop the winch. The locking plate position sensor 160 confirms that the locking plate is engaged, whereupon the winch 40 is briefly reversed to allow the carriage to lower slightly into a raised resting position until its weight is borne by the locking mechanism and tension on the cable 80 is released. The positioning of the carriage at this stage can be controlled by a position sensor, a load sensor, or by timing of the duration of the reverse operation of the winch. The carriage is thereby secured in the raised position for normal operation.
To lower the carriage and associated equipment for service or inspection, the user pushes a “down” button or otherwise actuates the device to lower the carriage 70. Initially, the winch controller reels in the cable to raise the carriage slightly, lifting the carrier 57 of the locking mechanism 50, and causing the pawl 56 to engage the indexing wheel 55 and rotate the cam 54, thereby disengaging the locking plate 52 from the slot of the carriage locking arm 72. The locking arm up-down position sensor 170 senses the presence of the indicator portion 172 of the carriage locking arm 72, to signal that the carriage has been raised to its uppermost position, causing the winch controller to stop the winch. The locking plate position sensor 160 confirms that the locking plate is now disengaged, whereupon the winch 40 is reversed to reel out the cable and lower the carriage back down to its lowered position.
As shown in
The spring stiffness of the torsion spring(s) 206 of the overload/unspooling mechanism 200 is/are selected to effectively counterbalance the weight of the camera housing and junction box, as well as any other equipment intended to be raised and lowered with the camera housing, to retain the bracket 202 in a neutral position (as shown in the figures). In the event too much force (i.e., greater than the anticipated maximum force) is applied to the cable 80 during raising or lowering (indicating the camera housing may have snagged on an obstruction during raising or something unintended is hanging on the camera housing during lowering), that force will overcome the bias of the retaining spring(s), causing the bracket 202 to pivot in a first direction (indicated as “+” in the figures), and actuating a sensor or switch 208 to shut down the winch motor to prevent overload damage to the winch motor and/or structural damage to the arm body, cable, or other components. In the event that less than the anticipated minimum force is applied to the cable 80 during raising or lowering (indicating the camera housing may have snagged on an obstruction during lowering, or is being lifted by a worker), the force applied by the torsion spring(s) 206 will overcome the force applied by the cable 80, causing the bracket 202 to pivot in an opposite second direction (indicated as “−” in the figures), also actuating a sensor or switch 208 to shut down the winch motor to prevent loose unspooling and potential tangling of the cable.
In an alternative embodiment, the upper pulley 60a is translationally mounted to slide back and forth on an axle, transverse to the length of the cable, as shown in
While the invention has been described with reference to certain depicted and example embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications, additions and deletions are within the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.
This application claims priority benefit to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/094,305 filed Sep. 4, 2008 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/154,463 filed Feb. 23, 2009, both of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61094305 | Sep 2008 | US | |
61154463 | Feb 2009 | US |