This invention relates to a transportable contained tower system for providing a portable erectable tower system which can more easily be moved from one location to another using a standard but modified metal steel shipping container. This invention has numerous potential tower applications, such as among others, use for cell phone towers and antennas.
The proliferation of the usage of cell phones around the world has created a strong demand for additional cell phone coverage and hence additional towers carrying cell phone antennas. In some cases the demand requires a temporary cell phone tower before permanent can be installed, and others there may only be a temporary need for the cell phone tower. In some cases the temporary tower system may be used on a more permanent basis.
For many reasons the cell phone towers need to be placed in locations which are not readily accessible for equipment and it is desirable to have a mobile system in which the tower can be driven directly to the location where it's to be installed and cranes or other heavy equipment are not necessary to get the tower to the specific location. In some circles the tower systems are referred to as COWS, which stands for cells on wheels.
Shipping the towers to remote locations can be too time and resource intensive. On the other hand, there are new and used prefabricated standard shipping containers, typically made of steel, which are generally readily available and relatively inexpensive. Therefore, there has been a long felt but unsatisfied need for a sufficiently expandable tower system which can be fit within a standard shipping container for shipping, but which is also sufficiently expandable in remote locations to meet the needs of an installed temporary, semi-permanent or permanent tower system.
The needs of a remote tower system further include the need for electronics, cooling and other known components needed for such tower systems, which also need to be delivered to such locations and included within or attached to said modified standard steel shipping containers.
It is therefore an objective of aspects of this invention to provide a transportable contained tower system which utilizes a standardized steel shipping container for shipping and containment, and which then may be used as part of the tower anchor or framework for the tower as installed.
It is another objective of aspects of this invention to provide such a tower system as described in the preceding paragraph and further wherein the tower may be shipped in a supported horizontal or substantially horizontal orientation within the shipping container, but then may be re-oriented to a vertical position for the use and/or operation of the tower.
Embodiments of this invention provide such a tower system and have advantage of a fully self-contained tower system, including other tower system required or desired components, which can be housed by or attached to the contained tower system as transported.
While the invention was motivated in addressing some objectives, it is in no way so limited. The invention is only limited by the accompanying claims as literally worded, without interpretive or other limiting references to the specification, and in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.
Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will appear from the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings which form a part hereof. In carrying out the objects of this invention, it is to be understood that it's essential features are susceptible to change in design and structural arrangements, with only one practical and preferred embodiment being illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as required.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the following accompanying drawings:
Many of the fastening, connection, manufacturing and other means and components utilized in this invention are widely known and used in the field of the invention described, and their exact nature or type is not necessary for an understanding and use of the invention by a person skilled in the art or science; therefore, they will not be discussed in significant detail. Furthermore, the various components shown or described herein for any specific application of this invention can be varied or altered as anticipated by this invention and the practice of a specific application or embodiment of any element may already be widely known or used in the art or by persons skilled in the art or science; therefore, each will not be discussed in significant detail.
The terms a, an, and the as used in the claims herein are used in conformance with long-standing claim drafting practice and not in a limiting way. Unless specifically set forth herein, the terms a, an, and the, are not limited to one of such elements, but instead mean “at least one.
As will be appreciated by those of reasonable skill in the art, there are numerous embodiments to this invention, and variations of elements and components which may be used, all within the scope of this invention.
It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that while one of a plurality of standardized steel containers may be utilized to practice embodiments of this invention, this is not required and a custom build container may also be used, all as contemplated by embodiments of this invention. It will be further appreciated that while standard steel containers are plentiful and preferred, other materials may be utilized within the contemplation of this invention, such as alloys, aluminum, plastics, composites, and others.
While this particular configuration of spring pin is utilized, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that other biasing means for inserting attachment pins between tower structures may be utilized in the contemplation of this invention to provide for the secured expansion of one tower structure relative to another.
It is an advantage in using these pins a simple way to allow the relative securement of one tower structure relative to another so that the height of equipment, such as a boom truck with a boom that needs to reach the full height 386 as opposed to the reduced height 387 in order to fully extend and erect the tower system 300.
The tower structures are raised until the spring pins engage the spring pin apertures on the tower structure within the internal cavity of that tower structure, thereby securely fixing one tower structure relative to an adjacent tower structure from further vertical movement. It will also be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that one or more spring pins may be mounted on a given tower structure to help secure the tower structures with respect to one another, such as two spring pins, three spring pins or four spring pins around a given tower.
It will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that there may be other embodiments of the invention disclosed, such as a contained tower system comprising: a rigid transportation container; a tubular first tower structure mounted within the transportation container such that it is positionable in a substantially horizontal travel position and in a substantially vertical operational position, the first tower structure being tubular with a first tower structure internal cavity; a tubular second tower structure with a second tower structure internal cavity and which is slidably disposed within the first tower structure internal cavity, the second tower structure including a first tower spring aperture; a third tower structure slidably disposed within the second tower structure internal cavity; a first tower spring pin mounted to an outer surface of the first tower structure with an inwardly biased pin extending through a first spring pin aperture in the first tower structure; and such that when the second tower structure is slid to an extended position relative to the first tower structure, the biased pin of the first tower spring spring pins into the first tower spring aperture in the second tower structure to secure the second tower structure relative to the first tower structure.
Further embodiments to that in the preceding paragraph may include a tower system as recited the preceding paragraph, and: further wherein the second tower structure includes a second tower spring aperture, and further wherein the tower system further comprises a second tower spring pin mounted to an outer surface of the first tower structure with an inwardly biased pin extending through a second spring pin aperture in the first tower structure; and such that when the second tower structure is slid to its extended position relative to the first tower structure, the biased pin of the second tower spring pins into the second tower spring aperture to secure the second tower structure relative to the first tower structure; further comprising a second tower spring pin mounted to an outer surface of the second tower structure with an inwardly biased pin extending through a first spring pin aperture in the second tower structure; and such that when the third tower structure is slid to an extended position relative to the second tower structure, the biased pin of the second tower spring spring pins into the first tower spring aperture in the third tower structure to secure the third tower structure relative to the second tower structure; and/or further comprising a hydraulic cylinder mounted within the tower structures and disposed to slide the second tower structure with respect to the first tower structure.
In other and further method embodiments, a method of erecting a tower system is disclosed comprising: providing a rigid transportation container trailer; providing a tower framework pivotally mounted to the trailer chassis; providing a tubular first tower structure mounted to the tower framework positioned in a substantially horizontal travel position, the first tower structure being tubular with a first tower structure internal cavity and including a first tower spring pin mounted to an outer surface of the first tower structure with an inwardly biased pin extending through a first spring pin aperture in the first tower structure; providing a tubular second tower structure with a second tower structure internal cavity and which is slidably disposed within the first tower structure internal cavity, the second tower structure including a first tower spring aperture; and sliding the second tower structure outward from the internal cavity of the first tower structure until the biased pin of the first tower spring spring pins into the first tower spring aperture in the second tower structure to secure movement of the second tower structure relative to the first tower structure.
In yet another embodiment, a method of erecting a tower system is provided, comprising: providing a rigid transportation container with an internal cavity; providing a tower framework mounted within the internal cavity of the transportation container; providing a tubular first tower structure pivotally mounted to the tower framework positioned in a substantially horizontal travel position, the first tower structure being tubular with a first tower structure internal cavity and including a first tower spring pin mounted to an outer surface of the first tower structure with an inwardly biased pin extending through a first spring pin aperture in the first tower structure; providing a tubular second tower structure with a second tower structure internal cavity and which is slidably disposed within the first tower structure internal cavity, the second tower structure including a first tower spring aperture; providing a third tower structure slidably disposed within the second tower structure internal cavity; providing second tower spring pin mounted to an outer surface of the second tower structure with an inwardly biased pin extending through a first spring pin aperture in the second tower structure; sliding the third tower structure outward from the internal cavity of the second tower structure until the biased pin of the second tower spring pins into the first tower spring aperture in the third tower structure to secure movement of the third tower structure relative to the second tower structure; and sliding the second tower structure outward from the internal cavity of the first tower structure until the biased pin of the first tower spring pins into the first tower spring aperture in the second tower structure to secure the second tower structure relative to the first tower structure.
In a further embodiment to that disclosed in the preceding paragraph, a method of erecting a tower system is disclosed and further wherein an internal hydraulic cylinder is used to slide the third tower structure outward from the internal cavity of the second tower structure until the biased pin of the second tower spring spring pins into the first tower spring aperture in the third tower structure to secure movement of the third tower structure relative to the second tower structure.
In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the means herein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/460,230, filed Feb. 17, 2017.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20180274258 A1 | Sep 2018 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62460230 | Feb 2017 | US |