Tilt towers, including tilt towers with pivot members attached to a swing tube thereof.
Antennas for receiving and transmitting electromagnetic wave communication are often provided in elevated structures for more efficient receiving and transmitting, such as communication in the 160 mhz to 960 mhz range. As the antennas themselves are mounted typically far off the ground, they are by their position inaccessible. When service or other maintenance is required, some antennas provide for a swing tube mechanism for bringing the removed end of the antenna close to the ground. By this functionality, the antenna itself is able to be reached by the serviceman. Antenna towers of this type are sometimes referred to as “tilt towers.”
Antenna tilt towers are known in the art for mounting an antenna to the removed end of a tower. Tilt towers allow a service man access to the antenna by removing a coupling and allowing a tilt or swing tube section of the antenna to rotate about the removed end of the mast or base tube from an antenna up (skyward) position to an antenna down (adjacent the ground providing access to the serviceman) position.
Antennas, themselves, however, typically need to be attached to a mounting member. More specifically, antennas are configured in a number of different ways. That is to say, antenna tower manufacturers may make antenna towers that may be adapted to a number of different antenna configurations (made by antenna manufacturing firms, not tower manufacturing firms), which configurations may attach to a tilting or rotating member of an antenna tower.
Heretofore, the antennas have been attached to the tilt members through a number of differently configured clamps, such as the following: CommScope, Inc. of Hickory, N.C. 28602, Part ## DB5091-3, DB375, DB365-OS, ASPA320, DB375-SPS, ASPR616, ASP617, DB365-SP7, DB365-SP9, DB370. Each of these clips or assembly clamps allows the user to attach one tube or pipe to another tube or pipe. One of the tubes or pipes may be held in a preselected alignment to a second tube or pipe. These clamps typically use multiple members and “all threads” and are sometimes called Andrew/Decibel Antenna Pipe to Pipe and Crossover Clamps.
Often, the single most time consuming procedure during the installation of a PTC Tilt-tower is the installation and alignment of the PTC antenna. Most PTC designs seem to use a clamp originally made by Andrews Corp. The clamp is called an Andrews Clamp and consists of a large number of all-threads, formed steel plate, nuts, and lock washers. The clamp must first be assembled, the antenna mounted, and the antenna aligned. This process may take between forty-five minutes and one hour.
In the prior art, on towers of great length, the Tilt-tube is broken into manageable lengths and connected by a flanges or slip joints. Normally these towers are shipped in three or more separate pieces and include an additional box of hardware. The coaxial cable, connector fittings, grounding material, and weatherproofing material are shipped separately. All of these pieces are then assembled in the field in all types of weather conditions and field environments.
Disclosed are multiple embodiments of an antenna tower adapted to or having one or more antennae near the removed end thereof, which will provide ease of maintenance to a serviceman who has to service the antenna attached to the tower and an antenna tower system for ease of assembly, shipping, and erecting. Structurally, these ends are achieved by providing a fixed base tube. At or near the removed end of the base tube, there is a tilt or swing tube pivotally attached. The swing tube may have a length of about twice the base tube. At or near the center of the swing tube is where it pivots about the removed end of the base tube. At the first end of the swing tube and the near end of the base, there is a coupling to uncouple the swing tube from the base, which coupling is typically located within reach of an average adult standing on the ground (about 1 foot to 8 feet). Near the second end of the swing tube is rotatably mounted an articulated antenna mount member, pivot pipe or tube. One or more antennae are typically mounted to the pivot tube on either or both sides of the pivot tube. In alternate embodiments, a configured member may be attached to the pivot tube which is adapted, in turn, to receive an antenna. The pivot pipe or tube is typically, but not necessarily, removably coupled to the removed end of the tilt or swing tube so that it is vertically aligned therewith. Indeed, in normal (non-service) position, the base tube, swing tube, and pivot tube (the pivot tube having the antenna mounted directly or indirectly thereto) form a linear elongated arrangement (see
In uncoupling the base tube from the swing tube, the removed end of the swing tube may be rotated such that it is near ground level. A second uncoupling reachable by an average adult standing on the ground will uncouple the pivot tube with respect to the swing tube so as to allow rotation of the pivot tube so that the antenna, mounted thereto, is easily accessible to the serviceman (see
In one embodiment of Applicant's device, a tilt tower comprises a fixed, generally perpendicular base tube having a removed end, a swing tube having a removed end and a center portion attached at the center portion pivotally to the removed end of the base tube. A pivot tube is provided for attaching antennae thereto pivotally mounted adjacent the removed end of the swing tube. The swing tube is removably coupled to the base tube. The pivot tube is removably coupled to the removed end of the swing tube, such that, in a coupled position, antennae mounted directly or indirectly to the pivot tube are spaced apart from the ground and in a service or use position with the swing tube rotated with respect to the base tube and the pivot tube rotated with respect to the swing tube, the antennae lay adjacent and close to the ground.
A method is provided for a ground based serviceman to service a tower having an antenna at the removed end thereof. The steps comprise providing a fixed generally perpendicular base tube adapted to engage a ground surface, the base tube having a removed end. A swing tube having a near end and a removed end and a center portion, pivotally attached to the removed end of the base tube. A pivot tube for attaching an antennae thereto is pivotally mounted adjacent the removed end of the swing tube. The swing tube is removably coupled to the base tube. The pivot tube is removably coupled to the removed end of the swing tube. In a coupled position, antennae mounted to the pivot tube are spaced apart from the ground and in an uncoupled service or use position with a swing tube rotated with respect to the base tube and the pivot tube rotated with respect to the swing tube, the antennae lay adjacent the ground. The method may include uncoupling the swing tube from the base; rotating the swing tube about 180° until the pivot tube is accessible to the serviceman; uncoupling the pivot tube from the removed end of the swing tube; rotating the pivot tube so elements of the antenna area accessible to the serviceman; servicing the antenna; and coupling the pivot tube to the swing tube; rotating the swing tube about 180°; and coupling the swing tube to the base. A method may include the step, following the second uncoupling, of locking the pivot tube to the base tube, and before the third rotating step, unlocking the pivot tube from the base tube.
In one embodiment of Applicants' device, a clamp or clip assembly is provided for attaching an antenna having a longitudinal member to a tiltable longitudinal member. A first clip is provide, the first clip having a tabular leg, a resilient gapped cylindrical section with a pair of spaced apart truncated walls (defining an inner space), and a pair of upstanding flat portions. Each flat portion has a first edge for engaging each of the truncated walls as, for example, by welding. A second clip may be provided, the second clip with a tabular leg, a resilient gapped cylindrical section having a pair of spaced apart truncated walls and defining an inner space, and a pair of upstanding flat portions, each flat portion having a first edge for engaging each of the truncated walls. A threadable fastener is dimensioned to engage openings in the two flats. The two clips are aligned and attached to a long mounting member with their gapped cylindrical sections aligned and adapted to receive the cylindrical member of the antenna therethrough.
The “Quick Clip” Antenna Clamp assembly may be constructed of a split pipe with tabs or flats to hold the clamping bolts and cage nuts. A formed steel clamp is utilized. The clamp is attached to a standoff constructed of steel bar and is then typically attached to either the Tilt-tower itself or the Articulated Antenna Mount. The “Quick Clip” Antenna Clamp can accomplish installation of an antenna in about five minutes. The antenna is lined up with the “Quick Clip” Antenna Clamps, slid through the clamps, aligned for proper propagation, and the clamping bolts are tightened into the cage nuts. Installation is complete.
The installation of Positive Train Control and Wayside Control Point Tilt-down or Fold-over towers is extremely time consuming and highly expensive. The standard installation procedure requires the assembly of many parts and accessories in an unfriendly outdoor environment. By Applicants preassembling the tower prior to shipment, field installation takes less time saving countless hours and huge outlays of money. The “Ship-to-Stand” Delivery Process is disclosed by Applicants to accomplish rapid field installation.
The first step in Applicants' assembly and shipping process is to provide a hinge for a two part swing tube, also sometimes called a Tilt-tube. Then, the coaxial cable is premeasured and the connectors, grounds and hoisting grip are installed at exact locations. The pre-fitted coax assembly is installed in the two-part tilt tube and secured. The tower is fully assembled, locked into a folded position, blocked, and strapped with synthetic bands or other suitable material. The towers are loaded onto the trailer and the load is blocked and secured. The “Ship-to-Stand” process saves over 50% of the time and installation cost of a conventional Tilt-down tower fully installed in the field. Applicants' preassembling the tower and pre-installing the accessory material can rapidly achieve the site installation process with a high level of accuracy not attainable during field installation.
Detail A of
Applicants provide, as illustrated in
Pivot pipe or articulating antenna mount 16 is seen to have a near end 16a, a removed end 16b, and a center 16c. Swing tube 14 articulates about removed end 12a by engagement of the approximate center portion 14c of swing tube pivotally with removed end 12b of base tube 12. The swing tube/base pivoting action is accomplished to provide access for a serviceman (standing on the ground) to remove end 14b of swing tube 14, so as to uncouple the pivot tube or articulating antenna mount from the swing tube. Such uncoupling will allow the pivot tube or articulating antenna mount 16 to assume the generally horizontal position indicated in
Turning to
To maintain tilt tower 10 with base tube 12, swing tube 14, and pivot pipe 16 longitudinally aligned in its normal position, coupler 18 is provided to couple near end 14a of swing tube 14 adjacent near end 12a of base 12 as seen in
Likewise, to maintain the normal position of tilt tower 10 as illustrated in
With reference to
Similar structure may be seen in
Turning to
The base tube may be 6 inch square tubing or other sized and configured tubing suitable to the size of the tilt tower. The base plate may be 16 inches by 16 inches galvanized steel, 1¼ inch thick. The swing tube may be comprised of 4 inch square ¼ inch wall tubing or any other suitable material. The pivot tube may be comprised of 2 inch, schedule 10, 2⅜ inch OD pipe, 5 ft. 8 in. long or round stock.
A locking nut 136 may be threaded on axle 130 to locate the axle on one of the two members, here on pivot tube 16, which locking has the effect of preventing longitudinal axial movement of axle 130. Coil spring 140 is entrained upon axle 130 and compressed between locating nut 136 and flat washer 142 laying against the tube side wall as illustrated in
Articulated antenna mount pivot tube may be 2 inch O.D. schedule 10 pipe and holes 128/126 of pivot assembly 124 or elements of pivot assembly 24 may be provided in a position that is not centered (that is, offset) between the removed ends 16a/16b of the pivot pipe. In an alternate preferred embodiment, hole 128 is closer to removed end 16b than near end 16a so that the pivot pipe will be safely locked at about a 90-degree angle about 4 feet+/− above ground level for servicing the antenna. Pivoting swing tube and/or pivoting pivot tube may be counterweighed so as to pivot in a non-abrupt fashion, counterweight to place appropriate masses at appropriate locations along the lighter ends to counteract unbalanced rotation.
In
Applicants' locking position assembly 100 is comprised of a locking pin hole 102 fashioned at the near end 16a (or removed end) of the pivot tube 16. Near base 12, as seen in
The base, swing, and pivot tubes may have cutouts at various areas to carry coaxial and other cable elements from the antenna to the base, which cutouts are strategically located to allow for pivoting of the elements of the tower 10.
In
In particular,
The function of the H-mount 144, or other suitably configured interchange member, is to directly or indirectly engage an antenna(s) to the removed end 14b of swing tube 14 in a manner that spaces the antenna away from the swing tube and in a manner which may allow more antenna members to be engaged with the tower in pivotal arrangement with the swing tube.
In
Plate 156 may be provided at the top or removed end of swing tube 14 and a correspondingly dimensioned and placed plate 154 may be provided on the H-mount as seen in
It is noted that half moons 106 may be configured to receive square stock if engaging a square stock tube (looking more like an upside down U) or may be half moon, that is, have a generally constant radius of curvature when receiving round stock. In either case, the term “half moon” is used and half moons are typically located to the bottom portion of the base and adapted to snugly receive elements of the pivot tube or, indeed of the antenna or H-mount. That is to say, any form of mating assembly may be provided to engage the tube or elements located thereto with respect rigidly and removably to the lower end of the base tube.
Turning now to
Antenna mount member, pivot tube 16 is typically also cylindrical in cross-section and may have a removed end 16b and a near end 16a, the removed end 16b including a tab 20a or other attachment means to engage it with a tilt member. A pivot hole 128 may be located along the longitudinal axis of the antenna mount member 16, here, in a generally centrally located portion 16c. Pivot hole 128 may receive a cylindrical member or axle to rotate or pivot as set forth hereinabove. In any case, the antenna mount member or pivot tube 16 is typically cylindrical and elongated, and the antenna typically has a cylindrical and elongated member engaged therewith.
Antenna mount member or pivot tube 16 is seen to have a first clip 200 and a second clip 202 in spaced apart relation, but longitudinally aligned so as to receive the antenna as set forth in more detail below.
As seen in
First clip 200 is seen to include a depending leg 204, which may be tabular and engage at a weldment 206, to the outer surface of the antenna mount member. Indeed, leg 204 may be tabular in nature with the long side 204, as illustrated in the Figures, attached so that it is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the antenna mount member 16.
Opposite edge 204a is edge 204b attached, by weldments 206 or other suitable means, to a gapped generally cylindrical section 208, which define an interior space 209. Truncated walls 210/212 define removed ends of gapped cylindrical section 208 and define the gap “Dgap” therebetween. Gapped cylindrical section 208 is dimensioned to receive a straight, elongated cylindrical portion of the antenna therethrough. Truncated walls 210/212 have upstanding first and second tabular flats 214/216, which extend upwards, typically in a plane parallel to the plane of leg 204. Further, it is seen that flats 214/216 are tabular in nature and may have openings 218/220 or slots therein. Openings 218/220 are dimensioned to receive a fastener 222/224 (bolt and nut combination) therethrough, which fastener has a shaft long enough to bridge the gap Dgap. Washer or seal 219 is dimensioned to allow some compression of gapped, cylindrical section 208 against the antenna member by compression of flats 214/216, but not too much to allow deformation.
The diameter of gap cylindrical section 208 is typically equal to or preferably slightly greater than the diameter of the elongated section of the antenna DiaAnt that it is designed to receive, with the fastener loosened therein. After the cylindrical section of the antenna is entrained in the at least two clips 200/202, the fastener may be entrained upon the first and second openings 218/220 and threaded down to close the gap until the inner walls defining gap cylindrical section 208 are snugly and tightly upped against the outer surface of the longitudinal section of the antenna.
Clips 200/202 are comprised of a resilient material, such as mild steel. The dimensions set forth on the two sheets are nominal and dimensions may be made larger or smaller as necessary.
Although Applicant's clip assembly is shown with an embodiment of a tilt tower that includes a second tilting member near the removed end thereof, pivot tube 16 herein, an embodiment of Applicant's clip assembly may be used with any straight member capable of mounting an elongated member thereto.
In
Applicants disclose a Break Down Tilt Tower Assembly 300 in
Turning first to the novel Break Down Tilt Tower Assembly 300 in a folded, ready to ship condition, in
Turning back to
The added pull rope 334 is typically dimensioned to a length sufficient to allow the user to pull the removed end 324b up to access slot 322 to allow the coax assembly to engage the antenna in ways known in the art. Removed end 324b can be tied to clevis 336 typically after fold out of swing tube to position C as seen in
Turning to
As seen in
Hinge plates 350/352 are configured to rigidly engage the hinged ends 308/310 by weldment or other suitable means on the walls opposite each of the facing sides 356/358. Plate 352 has ears 355/357 configured to fit adjacent ears 351/353 of plate 350 as seen in
Holes 60 are seen to define a hinge axis HA which is in the plane of and adjacent to hinge facing sides 356/358 as best seen in
In the folded position, or position A as seen in
At the installation site, as seen in
While the term “tube” or “pipe” is used, it is intended to cover round, square or any other suitable cross-sectional configurations. Pivot member is intended to include pivot tube, H-mount or any other member configured to hold an antenna as well as to releasably, pivotally engage a removed end of the swing tube.
Western Towers' tilt towers may be used in a variety of communication situations. Towers for the Positive Train Control program being one such situation. However, Western Towers' tilt towers may be used by a variety of consumer applications, including, but not limited to, petroleum industry applications, weather reporting applications, solar panel installations, and other applications that require wireless radio communications.
Although the invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. On the contrary, various modifications of the disclosed embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications, alternatives, and equivalents that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
This is a continuation patent application that claims the benefit and priority of and incorporates herein by reference co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/473,848, filed May 17, 2012, which in turn claims priority to and benefit of US Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/487,033, filed May 17, 2011; Ser. No. 61/590,880, filed Jan. 26, 2012; Ser. No. 61/595,268, filed Feb. 6, 2012; Ser. No. 61/596,332, filed Feb. 8, 2012; and Ser. No. 61/600,947, filed Feb. 20, 2012.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 13473848 | May 2012 | US |
Child | 14267000 | US |