Patent Application
20140360754
Due to the perils of ladder use in industrial settings and the general inconvenience of maintenance of pole-mounted items, industrial poles (e.g., lighting poles) have been developed that have a rotating pivot joint connecting upper and lower pole sections to lower the remote (e.g., top) end of the pole using the pivot joint. For example, rotating the top end to a level closer to the pole base may facilitate changing light bulbs or performing other maintenance. The upper pole section is attached to the pivot joint such that upper pole section rotates about an axis of rotation proximate to the bottom end of the upper pole section. The axis of rotation is not parallel with the longitudinal axis of the pole. Instead the pivot joint is mounted with the axis of rotation at an angle to both the upper and lower sections. In this way the nominal top end of the upper pole section travels downward in an arc corresponding to the rotational motion of the pivot joint. The system including the pivot joint and the coupled upper and lower sections of the pole may be called a pivoting pole assembly, swiveling pole assembly, etc. Some known systems also have a passage interior to the pole extending from the base end, through the joint, to the remote end, and wiring (wires, cables, etc.) running through the passage to the mounted item to provide power, communications, and so on.
The combination of an elongate object, an item mounted to the object, and wiring may be referred to as a wired pole assembly. Prior art pivot joints are adapted to rotationally connect an upper pole section to a lower pole section to facilitate access to items mounted remote from the base end, while allowing passage of wiring therethrough.
Generally, aspects of the present invention provide for accurately, reliably, easily, safely and/or rapidly raising and lowering elongate objects as part of a pivoting pole assembly; and allow the assembly to be precisely toggled between one or more operational orientations and access orientations. Aspects of the present invention may also protect the wiring from environmental conditions.
A first general embodiment of the present disclosure includes an environmentally robust pivot joint adaptor for use in a pivoting pole assembly. The pivoting pole assembly may include a lower pole section and an upper pole section. The pivot joint adaptor may include a lower adaptor comprising a lower pivot member defining a first central wiring passage; and an upper adaptor comprising an upper pivot member defining a second central wiring passage communicating with the first central wiring passage. The upper pivot member may be rotationally coupled to the lower pivot member and sharing a common axis of rotation. At least one of the lower adaptor and the upper adaptor may include a pole adaptor mounted at an operative angle to the axis of rotation. The pole adaptor may include an open end for receiving an end of a pole section, and an internal wiring tube communicating with the first central wiring passage and the second central wiring passage.
Upon the open end receiving the end of the pole section, the internal wiring tube may be configured to overlap the received end of the pole section forming a fluid tight connection to the pole section. The open end may communicate with a tubular member. The internal wiring tube may include a first end that protrudes from the open end along the longitudinal axis. The axis of rotation may intersect the first wiring passage and the second wiring passage. The axis of rotation may be coaxial with the first wiring passage and the second wiring passage. At least one of the lower adaptor and the upper adaptor may comprise a junction box module. The lower adaptor and the upper adaptor may each comprise a pole adaptor mounted at an operative angle to the axis of rotation. Each pole adaptor may be substantially cylindrical and the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical pole adaptor of the lower adaptor and the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical pole adaptor of the upper adaptor may be coaxial or offset.
The pivot joint adaptor may include an annular locking mechanism configured to selectably hold the upper pivot member immobile with respect to the lower pivot member. The annular locking mechanism may include one or more arcuate channels formed on at least one of the lower pivot member and the upper pivot member, the channels radially offset from the axis of rotation; and at least one guide member corresponding to each arcuate channel disposed on the other of the lower pivot member and the upper pivot member. The one or more arcuate channels and the at least one corresponding guide member may rotate with respect to one another such that the at least one guide member tracks along one of the one or more arcuate channels, and a range of relative rotation of the upper pivot member with respect to the lower pivot member is defined by the length of the channels. One or more of the at least one guide member may include an elongate member engaged with the other of the lower pivot member and the upper pivot member. One or more of the at least one guide member may include an elongate member engaged with the other of the lower pivot member and the upper pivot member. One or more of the at least one guide member may include at least one of: i) a threaded bolt; ii) a pin; iii) a dowel; iv) a rod; and v) a protrusion. The upper pivot member and the lower pivot member may include interlocking flange plates.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent from the following more particular descriptions of exemplary embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers generally represent like parts of exemplary embodiments of the invention.
The following figures are part of the present specification, included to demonstrate certain aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure and referenced in the detailed description herein. Unless otherwise noted, figures are not drawn to scale.
The principles of the invention are explained by describing in detail specific example embodiments of devices, systems, and methods for facilitating access to an item mounted on a wired pivoting pole assembly while protecting the wiring from environmental conditions. A wired pole assembly may include wiring or cabling operatively coupled with the mounted item. The item could be, for example, a light fixture, remote camera, loudspeaker, or any other item.
General embodiments of the invention include an environmentally robust pivot joint adaptor. Generally, embodiments of the invention may include adaptors including pivot joints, connection apparatus, and sub-assemblies, and methods for their operation or construction. More specific example embodiments are described below.
Pivoting pole assemblies are known in the art.
Referring to
General embodiments of the present invention include an environmentally robust pivot joint adaptor. The pivot joint adaptor allows for connection of a lower pole section and an upper pole section to form a pivot joint assembly. The pivot joint adaptors of the present disclosure are advantageous over the prior art in ways that will become apparent from more particular descriptions of exemplary embodiments of the invention to follow.
Example embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and their practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Those skilled in the art will understand, however, that the invention may be embodied as many other devices, systems, and methods. For example, various aspects of the methods and devices may be combined in various ways or with various products, including existing products. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The scope of the invention is not intended to be limited by the details of example embodiments described herein. The scope of the invention should be determined through study of the appended claims.
Specific design details have been provided for illustration, but should not be considered limiting. Readers of skill in the art will recognize that many variations of pivot joints and pivoting pole assemblies may be implemented consistent with the scope of the invention as described by the appended claims.
Pivot joint adaptor 200 is environmentally robust in that it includes features that, upon completion of assembly, protect the wiring residing interior to the assembly. Pivot joint adaptor 200 includes a lower adaptor 212 comprising a lower pivot member 222 defining a first central wiring passage 232. Pivot joint adaptor 200 also includes an upper adaptor 210 comprising an upper pivot member 220 defining a second central wiring passage 230 communicating with the first central wiring passage 232. Upper pivot member 220 and lower pivot member 222 are cooperatively coupled to share a common axis of rotation 240 and allow relative rotation about the common axis of rotation 240, thus forming pivot joint 202 which pivotally connects upper adaptor 210 and lower adaptor 212. The axis of rotation 240 may intersect the first central wiring passage 232 and the second central wiring passage 230. Pivot joint components are discussed in greater detail below with reference to
In other embodiments, the mating surface may include other fasteners. Referring to
Turning to
In some cases, installation may include replacing previous pole installations. In such cases, it may be possible to use all or part of the previous pole in the construction of the pivoting pole assembly. The pole to be replaced may be wired into an existing electrical system. It is often necessary to rewire all or part of the pole.
Referring to
Assembly may be continued by assembling pivot joint adaptor 200 and engaging pole sections 250, 251 with the mating surface 216 of the corresponding adaptor assembly 210, 212, with wiring segments 260, 261 in place. Pivot joint adaptor 200 may be assembled by connecting and engaging pivot members 220, 222. Mating surface 216 may be engaged with a respective pole section (250, 251) by inserting the rim of the pole section into the open end 217 of the mating surface 216, into the annulus formed by the mating surface 216 and the internal wiring tube 218, and sliding the pole section axially until it comes to rest against the pivot member or other support member (not shown). Alternatively, fastener 209 may be engaged to support the pole section without support of the pole section from beneath. The extension of internal wiring tube 218 past the rim of mating surface 216 may facilitate insertion of the pole section 250, 251. Fastener 209 is engaged to prohibit movement of the pole section 250, 251 with respect to the mating surface 216.
Although pivoting pole assembly 280 is shown with both upper adaptor 210 and lower adaptor 212 having a pole adaptor 214, in some embodiments only one of upper adaptor 210 and lower adaptor 212 includes pole adaptor 214, and the other adaptor assembly is secured to the respective pole section using a welded connection or the like, or the adaptor assembly and the respective pole section are cast as a single unit.
Referring to
As described above, the first component 310 and second component 320 may be rotationally coupled to one another to form a pivot joint 202. When assembled to form pivot joint 202, hub 313 extends from the first component 310 through the rotational plane, and abuts with the second component 320, which encircles hub 313. Collar 317 extends from the second component 320, and abuts and overlaps with perimeter 314, which collar 317 encircles. For example, the components may be joined so that inside surfaces 324 and 325 meet and central wiring passages 230, 232 are aligned to share a common axis 240. The first component 310 and second component 320 may be attached to assemble the pivot joint 202 by inserting threaded bolts (not shown) through channels 322 and engaging the bolts in at least two opposing threaded bolt holes 312. A rotational surface is defined where the components meet in the process of rotating.
Returning to
The arrangement of receiving holes, arcuate channels, and/or channel guides also provides an orienting alignment function. The design and placement of the guides and arcuate channels on the pivot joint 302 may dictate the range of motion of adaptor assemblies 210, 212 with respect to one another and thus the range of motion of pole sections 250, 251 (and of any mounted items). The range of rotation of the guides 207 with respect to arcuate channels 322 corresponds to the range of rotation of the upper adaptor 210. This range of rotation comprises a range of possible rotation defined by the one or more first channel ends 336 and the one or more second channel ends 338. When pivoting pole assembly is installed in a specific predetermined orientation, the channel ends 336, 338 represent hard stops at predetermined orientations for the upper pole section 250. The top end of the pole is pivotable through a range of motion corresponding to the arcuate channels.
The channel guides 207 and arcuate channels 322 form an annular locking mechanism that may provide a more uniform application of pressure over a larger rotational surface, thereby producing a configuration more reliably resistant to rotation. The locking mechanism is sufficient to prevent rotation due to the weight of the pole and may be sufficient to prevent rotation due to additional forces applied to the pole assembly (e.g., glancing blows from other objects at the worksite, a worker hanging or pulling, strong winds, etc.). The annular locking mechanism may also allow the center of the pivot joint to remain open so that wiring may be run more efficiently through objects coupled to the pivot joint 202.
Pivot joint 202 may provide for increased structural integrity for supporting the load of the elongate object to be attached for installation of the pivoting pole assembly. The load is distributed to a reinforced central hub and a collar. By distributing the load to multiple points across the inside face of the joint, pivot joint 202 provides increased structural strength and smoother rotation to a pivoting pole assembly, resulting in greater control of movement. Although the central hub 313 is shown as integral with first component 310, and collar 317 is shown as integral with component 320, in alternative embodiments, the hub, collar, or both may be integral with either first component or second component, or may be later attached to either component. Some pivot joints according to the present disclosure may include multiple collars, additional hubs, rings, or spokes, struts, and so on. In some embodiments, either or both of reinforced central hub and collar extend through a plane of rotation, providing further structural strength.
Pivot joint 202 may provide for increased structural integrity with respect to preventing ingress of moisture and the resulting break down of lubrication in the joint. These problems may lead to excessive friction, which may cause increased wear and a higher likelihood of dangerous non-uniform (i.e., start-stop) motion when rotating the joint.
Pivot joint 202 may further comprise a lubrication system including a lubrication port 295 (
The second component 420 has a second inside face 422. The body of the second component 420 defines a second substantially toroid central wiring passage 424, a perimeter 426, and one or more arcuate channels 428 corresponding to receiving holes 408. The channels 408 are located a radial distance from the common axis of rotation and extend through the second component 420. Each channel 408 includes a first channel end 432 and a second channel end 434.
The first component 410 and second component 420 may be rotationally coupled to one another to form a pivot joint, as described above. For example, first component 410 and second component 420 may be joined so that inside faces 402 and 422 meet and toroid central wiring passages 404, 424 are aligned. The rotational surfaces contact in a rotational plane and rotate about the common axis, which is perpendicular to the rotational plane.
Protrusions (not shown) may be adapted for engagement with the first component 410 (e.g., bolts), or may be manufactured integral to the first component 410 (e.g., studs). That is, the first component 410 and protrusions may be formed from the same continuous piece of material. For example, the first component 410 and protrusions may be cast or molded in one mold. Alternatively, the first component 410 and protrusions may be machined or otherwise cut as one continuous piece from the same block or sheet of plastic or metal. Other parts may also be formed integrally with the first component 410 or second component 420.
An annular locking mechanism may be formed from protrusions and arcuate channels.
To provide for re-orienting the elongate object to access mounted items for repair, maintenance, and the like, the bolts may be loosened sufficiently to allow rotation when desired. The upper pole section may be oriented to place the item at a lower elevation that better facilitates access to the item when access is required, and then re-oriented to restore the item to a higher elevation for daily operation. Channel ends therefore prevent overshoot when lifting a connected upper pole section into an operational orientation, which may provide simpler, easier, safer, and/or more precise operation.
The optimal operational orientation may correspond to a perfect vertical orientation (i.e., 90 degrees from horizontal) for the upper pole section, or just past a perfect vertical orientation so that minimal effort is required to be exerted by a user to maintain the upper pole section in position with the guide against the channel end while the pivot joint is tightened or otherwise locked in place. The optimal operational orientation may also correspond with the preferred or maximum height for a mounted item or for an item otherwise attached to the upper pole section.
The optimal target orientation may correspond to a horizontal orientation or a slightly above or below horizontal orientation. The optimal target orientation may be configured to provide access to the mounted item at an optimum access elevation. The optimum access elevation may include various elevations according to the item to be maintained or replaced, the schedule of maintenance or replacement, the operating environment, number of available workers, ergonomic or safety concerns, union rules, government or association regulations, local population preferences, and so on.
For example, in some implementations the pivot joint may be used to place a light pole section in a predetermined optimal access orientation for performing maintenance work on the mounted item (such as, for example, a light fixture). This optimal orientation may locate the light fixture at an elevation to facilitate maintenance, such as, for example, a height just above a walkway, an average waist height for personnel, an average chest height for personnel; a point somewhere between; or any other desired predetermined elevation to optimize one or more maintenance operations. After maintenance is concluded, disclosed embodiments allow personnel to return the light pole section to a predetermined optimal operational orientation (such as, for example, 90 degrees from horizontal) which may be the section's nominal orientation throughout its operational lifetime.
In some implementations, the alignment stop may be used to further lock the pivot joint from rotating. The alignment stop may be threaded. A secondary receiving hole 312″/408″ may be used to receive a secondary stop to lock the upper object section 406 in place at the ends of the range of rotation, or as a safety device to provide a minimum possible elevation until the stop is removed.
For example, a secondary threaded receiving hole 312′/408′ may be configured so that, upon at least one guide abutting at least one first channel end (optimal operational orientation), a secondary receiving hole is aligned with a second channel end, so that upon engagement with the secondary receiving hole 312′/408′ the threaded alignment stop abuts or nearly abuts the second channel end, thereby preventing rotation away from the optimal operational orientation.
As used herein, the term “operative angle” means an angle of between 5 degrees and 85 degrees.
The discussion above has focused primarily on embodiments of the invention for use with pivoting pole assemblies for industrial light poles. Other embodiments may be used with other types of elongate objects, or in other environments. It should be understood that the inventive concepts disclosed herein are capable of many modifications. To the extent such modifications fall within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents, they are intended to be covered by this patent.
