The disclosure generally relates to utility towers and, more particularly, to a tilt tower.
Tilt towers are used to mount utility equipment such as radios, cellular transceivers, and antennas at an elevated height above the ground. Tilt towers include a mast and a swing arm pivotally coupled to the mast. The mast is fixed to the ground. The utility equipment is mounted to the upper end of the swing arm. The swing arm pivots near a midpoint thereof to allow the utility equipment to be lowered for access by a user on the ground. The tilt tower thus removes the need for a user to climb the tower or the need for boom trucks or cranes to access the utility equipment.
Tilt towers suffer from a number of deficiencies, however. Pivot assemblies, for example, are used near an upper end of the mast or near a middle of the swing arm to pivotally couple the swing arm to the mast. Current pivot assemblies use a surface mounted axle welded to the face of the swing arm with stiffeners, and a mating bearing surface on the mast. The bearing interface is greased but otherwise exposed to the environment. When grease leaks or is depleted through use or weather exposure, the frictional forces make operation of the swing arm difficult. However, ensuring proper lubrication of the pivot assembly is difficult due to its high placement on the mast. The pivot assembly is also the only structure supporting the swing arm, resulting in high stress, high friction, and potential fatigue issues in the swing arm, axle, stiffeners, and welds. The stress, friction, and fatigue issues are especially problematic as tilt towers are scaled for larger and taller applications, such as cell towers.
Real estate for utility towers is also expensive and difficult to develop due to various circumstances, such as siting, regulatory compliance, and capital expenses. Once a tower is erected, the owner may want to add equipment or additional entities may be interested in locating their utility equipment on the tower (referred to as “co-locating”). Conventional tilt towers provide a single swing arm. Additional utility equipment can be mounted lower on the swing arm once the main, upper frame is full, but once the capacity of the single swing arm is exhausted, it is impossible to add new utility equipment.
When installed, the swing arms are designed to have rotational balance to make them easy and safe to rotate. Counterweights are coupled to the lower end of the swing arm to ensure rotational balance when a tilt tower is installed, but the weights are fixed to the swing arm and not readily adjustable. Whenever new utility equipment (e.g., antennas, radios, etc.), related accessories (e.g., mounts, feedlines, connectors, etc.) or environmental conditions (e.g., snow, ice, or bird's nests) add weight to the swing arm, the rotational balance of the swing arm changes. Lanyards are used to control the swing of the swing arm, but when these weight-change situations occur, rotating the swing arm can be difficult and potentially dangerous, especially when the swing arm's rotation accelerates faster than expected.
All aspects, examples and features mentioned below can be combined in any technically possible way.
An aspect of the disclosure provides a tilt tower, comprising: a mast fixed to ground; a swing arm including a tube with a hollow interior portion; and a bearing rotatably coupling the swing arm to a side of an upper end of the mast, the bearing including: a bearing seat coupled to the side of the upper end of the mast, an axle coupled to an exterior surface of the respective swing arm, wherein the axle includes a hollow interior portion connected to the interior of the tube of the swing arm, and a sealed roller bearing between the axle and the mast.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and a hollow interior of the axle open to the hollow interior portion of the tube of the swing arm through an opening in a side of the swing arm.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the axle is cylindrical and includes a uniform circumference throughout the length of the axle.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and a sealed roller bearing at least partially within a bearing seat of the bearing.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the axle includes a flange extending radially from a surface of the axle and is connected to the mast, and the bearing seat is at least partially about the flange.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and a flange is operatively coupled to a backing plate between the flange and the mast.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the bearing seat of the bearing includes a first portion including a first hemispherical bearing surface and a second portion including a second hemispherical bearing surface, where the first portion and the second portion collectively form a respective circular bearing surface about the axle.
Another aspect of this disclosure provide a tilt tower, including a mast fixed to ground; a swing arm; and a bearing rotatably coupling the swing arm to a side of an upper end of the mast, the bearing including: a bearing seat coupled to the side of the upper end of the mast, the bearing seat including first portion including a first hemispherical bearing surface and a second portion including a second hemispherical bearing surface, where the first portion and the second portion collectively form a circular bearing surface, an axle coupled to an exterior surface of the swing arm, and a sealed roller bearing between the axle and the mast.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the bearing seat is physically connected to the side of the upper end of the mast by at least two fasteners, and where the bearing seat is selectively removable from the side of the upper end of the mast.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the first hemispherical bearing surface and second hemispherical bearing surface collectively form the circular bearing surface about the sealed roller bearing.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the sealed roller bearing is a spherical sealed roller bearing.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the sealed roller bearing is at least partially within a bearing seat of the bearing.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the bearing seat is permanently fixed to the mast.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the second portion of the bearing seat is selectively removable from the mast.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the axle includes a flange extending radially from a surface of the axle and is connected to the mast, the first portion and the portion each between the axle and the mast.
Another aspect of this disclosure provides a tilt tower, including a mast fixed to ground; a swing arm; and a bearing rotatably coupling the swing arm to a side of an upper end of the mast, the bearing including: a bearing seat coupled to the side of the upper end of the mast, the bearing seat including a first portion including a first hemispherical bearing surface and a second portion including a second hemispherical bearing surface, an axle coupled to an exterior surface of the first swing arm, wherein the axle includes a hollow interior portion connected to the interior of the first swing arm, and a sealed roller bearing between the axle and the mast.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the seat is physically connected to the mast by at least two fasteners and is selectively removable from the side of the mast.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the first portion and the second portion collectively form a circular bearing surface.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the first hemispherical bearing surface includes a first arc length different from a second arc length of the second hemispherical bearing surface.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the first portion of the bearing seat is permanently fixed to the side of the upper end of the mast and the second portion of the first bearing seat is selectively removable from the side of the upper end of the mast.
Another aspect of this disclosure provides a tilt tower, comprising: a mast fixed to the ground; a first swing arm having a first end opposite a second end; a first bearing rotatably coupling the first swing arm to a first side of an upper end of the mast; and a first adjustable counterweight system in an interior of the second end of the first swing arm.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the first adjustable counterweight system includes a first elongated member within the interior of the first swing arm and configured to receive a first plurality of weights.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the first elongated member extends at least partially along a longitudinal extent of the swing arm.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and each weight in the first plurality of weights are immediately adjacent one another.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the first elongated member includes a threaded rod.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the first adjustable counterweight system includes an actuator operatively coupled to the first elongated member and allowing adjustment of a position of the first plurality of weights along the threaded rod.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the adjustable counterweight system includes a carrier operatively coupled to the first elongated member, the carrier configured to support the first plurality of weights, where each weight in the first plurality of weights is substantially U-shaped and a bottommost weight contacts the carrier.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and further comprising an opening in the pivot end of the first swing arm, the opening configured to allow a respective weight of the first plurality of weights to be added or removed from the first elongated member of the first adjustable counterweight system.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and further comprising a rotation limiter including: a first member extending radially from an exterior surface of an axle of the first bearing; a second member extending from the mast at a position to engage the first member at a first predetermined rotational angle of the swing arm relative to the mast in a first rotational direction; and a first energy absorber element on at least one of the first member and the second member to absorb energy in response to the first swing arm rotating to the predetermined rotational angle and the first member and the second member engaging to prevent further rotation.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and further comprising a third member extending from the axle at a position to engage a fourth member extending from the mast at a second predetermined rotational angle of the first swing arm relative to the mast in a second, opposite rotational direction to the first rotational direction; and a second energy absorber element on at least one of the third member and the fourth member to absorb energy in response to the first swing arm rotating to the second predetermined rotational angle and the third member and the fourth member engage to prevent further rotation.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and further comprising: a second swing arm; a second bearing rotatably coupling the second swing arm to a second side of the upper end of the mast opposite the first side of the upper end of the mast; and a second adjustable counterweight system in an interior of a proximal end of the second swing arm and including a second elongated member fixed within the interior of the second swing arm and configured to receive a second plurality of weights.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and further comprising a locking assembly coupling a proximal end of the second swing arm to a lower end of the mast, wherein the locking assembly includes: a first member coupled to the lower end of the mast; a second member coupled to the proximal end of the second swing arm; and a removable fastener for selectively coupling the first member to the second member to lock the second swing arm relative to the mast in an operative position of the tilt tower, and removable to allow rotation of the second swing arm relative to the mast.
Another aspect of this disclosure provides a tilt tower, including a mast fixed to the ground; a swing arm having a first end opposite a second end; a bearing rotatably coupling the swing arm to a side of an upper end of the mast, and an adjustable counterweight system in an interior of the second end of the swing arm, the adjustable counterweight system including: an elongated member fixed within the interior of the swing arm and configured to receive a plurality of weights, an actuator coupled to the elongated member to allow adjustment of a position of the plurality of weights along the elongated member.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the elongated member extends at least partially along a longitudinal extent of the swing arm.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the elongated member is substantially cylindrical.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and each weight in the plurality of weights includes a substantially circular exterior profile.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the elongated member includes a threaded rod, and wherein the actuator moves a carrier longitudinally along the threaded rod.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and further comprising a rotation limiter including: a first member extending radially from an exterior surface of an axle of the bearing; a second member extending from the mast at a position to engage the first member at a first predetermined rotational angle of the swing arm relative to the mast in a first rotational direction; and a first energy absorber element on at least one of the first member and the second member to absorb energy in response to the swing arm rotating to the predetermined rotational angle and the first member and the second member engaging to prevent further rotation.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and further comprising a third member extending from the axle at a position to engage a fourth member extending from the mast at a second predetermined rotational angle of the first swing arm relative to the mast in a second, opposite rotational direction to the first rotational direction; and a second energy absorber element on at least one of the third member and the fourth member to absorb energy in response to the first swing arm rotating to the second predetermined rotational angle and the third member and the fourth member engage to prevent further rotation.
Another aspect of this disclosure provides a tilt tower, including a mast fixed to the ground; a first swing arm having a first end opposite a second end; a first bearing rotatably coupling the first swing arm to a first side of an upper end of the mast: a first adjustable counterweight system in an interior of the second end of the first swing arm, including: a first elongated member within the interior of the first swing arm and configured to receive a first plurality of weights, and a first actuator coupled to the elongated member to allow adjustment of a position of the first plurality of weights along the first elongated member, a second swing arm having a first end opposite a second end; a second bearing rotatably coupling the second swing arm to a second side of the upper end of the mast opposing the first side of the upper end of the mast, wherein the second side is positioned on the mast vertically closer to the ground than the first side; and a second adjustable counterweight system in an interior of the second end of the second swing arm and including: a second elongated member within the interior of the second swing arm and configured to receive a second plurality of weights, and a second actuator coupled to the elongated member to allow adjustment of a position of the second plurality of weights along the second elongated member.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and a tilt tower, comprising: a mast fixed to ground; a first swing arm; a first bearing rotatably coupling the first swing arm to a first side of an upper end of the mast; a second swing arm; and a second bearing rotatably coupling the second swing arm to a second side of the upper end of the mast opposing the first side of the upper end of the mast.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the first bearing and the second bearing each include: a bearing seat coupled to a respective side of the upper end of the mast; an axle coupled to an exterior surface of the respective swing arm, wherein each bearing seat includes a first portion including a first hemispherical bearing surface and a second portion including a second hemispherical bearing surface, wherein the first portion and the second portion collectively form a respective circular bearing surface; and a sealed roller bearing between the respective axle and the respective bearing seat.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the first portion of each bearing seat is permanently fixed to the respective side of the upper end of the mast, and the second portion of each bearing seat is selectively removable from the respective side of the upper end of the mast.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and each axle includes a hollow interior, and each swing arm includes a tube having an interior, wherein the hollow interior of the respective axle is open to the interior of the tube of the respective swing arm through an opening in a side of the respective swing arm.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and each axle includes a flange extending radially from a surface of each respective axle and at an end of each respective axle, and wherein each bearing seat at least partially encloses the respective flange.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and further comprising a rotation limiter including: a first member extending radially from an exterior surface of a respective axle; a second member extending from the mast at a position to engage the first member at a first predetermined rotational angle of a respective swing arm relative to the mast in a first rotational direction; and a first energy absorber element on one of the first member and the second member to absorb energy when the respective swing arm rotates to the predetermined rotational angle and the first member and the second member meet to prevent further rotation.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the first swing arm and the second swing arm include a substantially rectangular cross-sectional area.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the first swing arm and the second swing arm have different lengths.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and at least one of the first and second swing arms is a single structure.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and at least one of the first and second swing arms includes at least two tubular structures, wherein the two tubular structures are telescopically coupled.
Another aspect of this disclosure provides a tilt tower, comprising: a mast fixed to ground; a first swing arm; a first bearing rotatably coupling the first swing arm to a first side of an upper end of the mast; a second swing arm; a second bearing rotatably coupling the second swing arm to a second side of the upper end of the mast opposing the first side of the upper end of the mast; and a locking assembly coupling a respective swing arm to the mast, wherein each locking assembly includes: a first member coupled to the mast; a second member coupled to the respective swing arm; and a removable fastener for selectively coupling the first member to the second member to lock the respective swing arm relative to the mast in an operative position of the tilt tower, and removable to allow rotation of the respective swing arm relative to the mast.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the first bearing is coupled to the mast vertically above the second bearing and wherein the swing arms are different lengths.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the first swing arm and the second swing arm include a substantially rectangular cross-sectional area.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the first swing arm and the second swing arm have different lengths.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and at least one of the first and second swing arms is a single structure.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and at least one of the first and second swing arms includes at least two tubular structures, wherein the two tubular structures are telescopically coupled.
Another aspect of this disclosure provides a tilt tower, comprising: a mast fixed to ground; a first swing arm having a first length; a first bearing rotatably coupling the first swing arm to a first side of an upper end of the mast; a second swing arm having a second length less than the first length; a second bearing rotatably coupling the second swing arm to a second side of the upper end of the mast opposing the first side of the upper end of the mast; and an adjustable counterweight system in an interior of an end of each swing arm.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and each adjustable counterweight system includes: an elongated member within an interior of each respective swing arm and configured to receive a plurality of weights; and an actuator operatively coupled to the elongated member and allowing adjustment of a position of the respective plurality of weights along a respective elongated member.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the respective elongated member extends partially along a longitudinal extent of the respective swing arm.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and further comprising an opening in each swing arm, each opening configured to allow a weight of the respective plurality of weights to be added or removed from the respective elongated member of the respective adjustable counterweight system.
Two or more aspects described in this disclosure, including those described in this summary section, may be combined to form implementations not specifically described herein.
The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
These and other features of this disclosure will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings that depict various embodiments of the disclosure, in which:
It is noted that the drawings of the disclosure are not necessarily to scale. The drawings are intended to depict only typical aspects of the disclosure and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the disclosure. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements between the drawings.
As an initial matter, in order to clearly describe the current disclosure, it will become necessary to select certain terminology when referring to and describing relevant machine components within the illustrative application of a utility tower. When doing this, if possible, common industry terminology will be used and employed in a manner consistent with its accepted meaning. Unless otherwise stated, such terminology should be given a broad interpretation consistent with the context of the present application and the scope of the appended claims. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that often a particular component may be referred to using several different or overlapping terms. What may be described herein as being a single part may include and be referenced in another context as consisting of multiple components. Alternatively, what may be described herein as including multiple components may be referred to elsewhere as a single part.
In addition, several descriptive terms may be used regularly herein, and it should prove helpful to define these terms at the onset of this section. These terms and their definitions, unless stated otherwise, are as follows. As used herein, “proximal” and “distal” are terms that indicate a location of a structure relative to a point of reference, such as an end of a swing arm of a tilt tower that may change location during operation. The term “proximal” corresponds to a structure typically closer to the viewer, and the term “distal” refers to a location typically farther from the viewer.
It is often required to describe parts that are at different radial positions with regard to a center axis. The term “axial” refers to movement or position parallel to an axis, e.g., a rotational axis of a tilt tower. The term “radial” refers to movement or position perpendicular to an axis, e.g., an axle of a swing arm of a tilt tower. In cases such as this, if a first component resides closer to the axis than a second component, it will be stated herein that the first component is “radially inward” or “inboard” of the second component. If, on the other hand, the first component resides further from the axis than the second component, it may be stated herein that the first component is “radially outward” or “outboard” of the second component. Finally, the term “circumferential” refers to movement or position around an axis, e.g., a circumferential exterior surface of an axle of a tilt tower. As indicated above, it will be appreciated that such terms may be applied in relation to the axis of the turbomachine.
In addition, several descriptive terms may be used regularly herein, as described below. The terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” may be used interchangeably to distinguish one component from another and are not intended to signify location or importance of the individual components.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. “Optional” or “optionally” means that the subsequently described event may or may not occur or that the subsequently described feature may or may not be present and that the description includes instances where the event occurs, or the feature is present and instances where the event does not occur or the feature is not present.
Where an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” “coupled to,” or “mounted to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected, coupled, or mounted to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The verb forms of “couple” and “mount” may be used interchangeably herein.
Embodiments of the disclosure include a tilt tower. The tilt tower includes a mast fixed to ground, a swing arm including a tube with a hollow interior portion, and a bearing rotatably coupling the swing arm to a side of an upper end of the mast. The bearing includes a bearing seat coupled to the side of the upper end of the mast, an axle coupled to an exterior surface of the respective swing arm, where the axle includes a hollow interior portion connected to the interior of the tube of the swing arm, and a sealed roller bearing between the axle and the mast. Embodiments of the disclosure also include a tilt tower comprising: a mast fixed to the ground; a first swing arm having a first end opposite a second end; a first bearing rotatably coupling the first swing arm to a first side of an upper end of the mast; and a first adjustable counterweight system in an interior of the second end of the first swing arm. Embodiments of the disclosure also include a tilt tower including a mast fixed to ground, a first swing arm, and a first bearing rotatably coupling the first swing arm to a first side of an upper end of the mast. The tilt tower further includes a second swing arm and a second bearing rotatably coupling the second swing arm to a second side of the upper end of the mast opposing the first side of the upper end of the mast. The tilt tower with a bearing, as described herein, provides a sealed bearing that does not require as frequent lubrication and provides better frictional performance, ensuring reliable and easier operation of the swing arm. The hollow axle allows routing of wiring through the bearing. The tilt tower also reduces stress and fatigue, extending the lifespan of the tower, and allows for scaling for larger and taller applications, such as cell towers. The provision of two swing arms allows for addition of utility equipment beyond what is currently available. The adjustable counterweight system allows adjustment of the counterweights to maintain safe use of the tower by ensuring rotational balance.
Tilt tower 100 may include a swing arm 114 having an operative or first end 116 (hereafter “first end 116”) opposite a second end 117. Swing arm 114 may allow lowering of first end 116 of tilt tower 100 for, e.g., maintenance and improvements. First end 116 may be the elevated end in an operative state (
In some embodiments, shown in
With regard to the description of tilt towers 100 and 101 hereafter, it is understood that structure references as part of a single swing arm 114 arrangement of tilt tower 100 in
Each swing arm 114, 114A, and 114B may include any durable material (e.g., metal, wood) capable of withstanding the stress and environment tilt tower 100 may experience. Swing arms 114, 114A, and 114B may each take the form of a single structure, i.e., swing arms 114, 114A, and 114B may each be a unitary structure. Alternatively, as shown in
Tilt tower 100 may include a bearing 128 rotatably coupling swing arm 114 to a side 134 of upper end 106 of mast 104. In some embodiments, shown in
Still referring to
In some implementations, axles 142 may be cylindrical and may include a uniform circumference C (
Referring to
Each adjustable counterweight system 174 may further include a carrier 194, where carrier 194 is configured to support plurality of weights 180, i.e., a plurality of individual weights 188. Carrier 194 may be any device capable of carrying pluralities of weights 180 relative to elongated member 178. By moving weights 188 along elongated member 178 using carrier 194, the balance and/or speed of rotation of swings arms 114, 114A, and 114B may be altered and/or controlled, e.g., increased or decreased. In embodiments with swing arms 114A and 114B, as shown in
Each adjustable counterweight system 174 may further include an actuator 186 (
As mentioned previously, each adjustable counterweight system 174 may include respective pluralities of weights 180 therein. Tilt tower 100 may include opening 196 (
Referring to
The various embodiments described herein can be used alone on a tilt tower 100 or together in any combination.
Embodiments of the disclosure provide various technical and commercial advantages, examples of which are discussed herein. The tilt tower with a bearing, as described herein, provides a sealed bearing that does not require as frequent lubrication and provides better frictional performance, ensuring reliable and easier operation of the swing arm. The hollow axle allows routing of wiring through the bearing. The tilt tower also reduces stress and fatigue, extending the lifespan of the tower, and allows for scaling for larger and taller applications, such as cell towers. The provision of two swing arms allows for addition of utility equipment beyond what is currently available. The adjustable counterweight system allows adjustment of the counterweights to maintain safe use of the tower by ensuring rotational balance.
Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term or terms, such as “about,” “approximately” and “substantially,” are not to be limited to the precise value specified. In at least some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value. Here and throughout the specification and claims, range limitations may be combined and/or interchanged; such ranges are identified and include all the sub-ranges contained therein unless context or language indicates otherwise. “Approximately” or “about,” as applied to a particular value of a range, applies to both end values and, unless otherwise dependent on the precision of the instrument measuring the value, may indicate +/−10% of the stated value(s).
The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the disclosure in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure and the practical application and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosure for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63385259 | Nov 2022 | US |