TELESCOPIC MAST

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a telescopic mast. In some embodiment, the telescopic mast includes at least two telescope members with parallel walls. One of the at least two telescopic members including at least two adjoining telescopic sections, with one of the at least two adjoining telescope sections being thinner than the others of the at least two adjoining telescope sections, so that a telescope section can be passed respectively into and out of a telescope section positioned round it in a telescope member. This telescope section positioned round it can be passed into and out of a further telescope section in a further telescope member. The telescopic mast further including elastic elements/actuators fitted between the adjacent telescopic sections, the elastic elements/actuators equalize and bear the dead weight and the useful load on the telescopic mast.

Claims

1. Telescopic mast comprising: at least one or more telescopic members with parallel walls, a first telescopic member including at least two adjoining telescopic sections, one of the at least two adjoining telescopic sections is thinner than the other of the at least two adjoining telescopic sections, wherein the one of the at least two adjoining telescopic sections is configured and arranged to be passed respectively into and out of the other telescopic section positioned round, and so that it can be passed into and out of a further telescopic section in another telescopic member of the at least one or more telescopic members; and elastic elements/actuators fitted along the longitudinal axis of the mast between adjacent telescopic sections, the elastic elements/actuators configured and arranged to equalize and bear the dead weight of the telescopic mast and the useful load on the telescopic mast.

2. The telescopic mast according to claim 1, further including a telescoping means configured and arranged for extending or retracting the telescopic mast and fitted in a space between the individual telescopic sections.

3. The telescopic mast according to claim 1, characterized in that elastic elements/actuators are configured and arranged to form a cavity extending through a longitudinal axis of the mast.

4. The telescopic mast according to claim 1, further including one or more guide rails/slides are provided for each telescopic member, the one or more guide rails/slides are distributed along a circumference of the telescopic member, whereby the telescopic mast is configured and arranged to be secured against rotation occurring between the one or two telescopic sections about a central/longitudinal axis (azimuth) of the mast.

5. The telescopic mast of claim 1, wherein a cross-section of the at least two adjoining telescopic sections are a polygonal shape, round shape, or oval shape.

6. The telescopic mast of claim 2, wherein the telescopic means includes belts or wires running over pulleys/guides, and the telescopic means is configured and arranged to be driven electrically, pneumatically, hydraulically and/or manually.

7. The telescopic mast of claim 3, wherein the cavity is configured and arranged to contain internal cable extending to and communicatively coupled to a useful load at a distal end of the telescopic mast.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0045] The invention is described in more detail referring to the drawing, where

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a section through the longitudinal axis of a telescopic mast, in the telescoped-out state according to the invention, showing [0047] belt or wire for extension (A) or retraction (B), [0048] spring elements/actuators (C) for equalizing/bearing the dead weight/the load of the mast components and the useful load on the mast [0049] internal cable routing (D) in the mast up to the useful load (I) [0050] drive mechanism (H) (hydraulic, electric, manual and/or pneumatic) [0051] a mast with 5 mast sections

[0052] FIG. 2 shows a section through the longitudinal axis of a telescopic mast, in the retracted state according to the invention [0053] in this example the slides/guide rails (E) are supplemented with slides/guide rails [0054] (E1) at the top of the mast tubes.

[0055] FIG. 3 shows a cross-section through a telescopic mast, showing [0056] in this example, a mast with hexagonal mast sections/tubes (A) [0057] pulleys (B) for belts or wires for extension (A) or retraction [0058] spring elements/actuators (C) for equalizing/bearing the dead weight/the load of the mast components and the useful load on the mast [0059] internal cable routing (D) in the mast up to the useful load [0060] drive mechanism (H) (hydraulic, electric, manual and/or pneumatic) [0061] a mast with 5 mast sections (A) [0062] slides/guide rails (E) are fitted between the mast tubes

[0063] FIG. 4 shows a schematic drawing of a telescopic mast with 3 mast sections mounted on a vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0064] FIGS. 1-3 show various sectional views of the same structure.

[0065] FIG. 1 shows a telescopic mast with five sections 1, showing a section through a single telescope member 1. The telescope member 2 comprises a first telescope section 3, a second telescope section 4, a third telescope section 5 and a fourth telescope section 6. Telescope section 3 is of smaller dimension than the first telescope section 2, so that the second telescope section 2 can be inserted over the first telescope section. It is possible to provide several telescope sections round the telescope member shown, or a further telescope section, which is positioned inside the telescope member 3 shown.

[0066] In the embodiment shown, the telescope sections are provided with a polygonal cross-section e.g. hexagonal (FIG. 3) or orthogonal etc. Alternatively, the telescope sections may be provided with other shapes of cross-section, for example circular.

[0067] Straps or wires for extending the mast A, or for retracting the mast B, are fitted in the gap between the sections. These may be a long wire or strap, whereby sections of the mast are moved arbitrarily when the drive H rotates. When, as illustrated, the rotation is clockwise F, the mast is extended, and when the rotation is anticlockwise G the mast is retracted. These wires/straps may also be fastened on sections so that all sections move simultaneously. Using a combination of the above two methods for moving the mast, some sections can be controlled while others move arbitrarily. For example, it is possible to have section 3 always run out first and in last.

[0068] Furthermore, elastic elements/actuators C are fitted that support the individual sections, and by dimensioning them so that they equalize the load (the dead weight) of sections and load etc. above the elastic element this will equalize said load/weight and the drive system will thus only overcome friction in the mast system during movement of the telescopic mast. As a result, the mast can be moved with a much reduced energy consumption as it will not be lifting the loads.

[0069] FIG. 2 shows the mast in the retracted state, also showing an example of divided guide rails/slides E. The lowest E1 is fitted lowest and externally on the internal telescope section 3 and slides internally over the external telescope section 2. The upper guide rail/slide is fitted internally at the top of the external telescope section 2 and slides externally over the internal telescope section 3.

[0070] As can be seen from FIG. 3, guide rails/slides E are fitted. The guide rail/slide E is mounted at the bottom externally, e.g. on the telescopic tube 3 supported on the inside of the telescopic tube 2 and with a length that does not exceed the length of the overlap between the two mast sections illustrated 7.

[0071] The guide rails/slides E may be divided into two (viewed along the longitudinal axis of the mast) with one mounted as described above and the other mounted at the top of the external mast section 2 in the above example but so that the total length of the two guide rails/slides does not exceed the overlap 7 of the sections.

[0072] By fitting a number of guide rails/slides (2 or more) round polygonal mast sections, the mast is at the same time secured against rotation between the individual sections (azimuth) viewed along the longitudinal axis of the mast.

[0073] An example is also shown of pulleys B for wires/straps A/B for the mast telescope drive H optionally with a recess in guide rails/slides E for this, alternatively guide rails/slides E or wires/straps A/B are fitted on each of their surfaces on a polygonal mast section.

[0074] FIG. 4 shows an example of a mast fitted in/on an armoured vehicle.

[0075] Here, the telescopic mast is shown mounted on a wheeled vehicle, but it may alternatively be a track-laying vehicle. A useful load is mounted at the top of the mast. This useful load may for example be antenna equipment, observation equipment, lamps, weapons or other equipment.