Tower hoist, platform and davit system
AssigneeMatt's Arm, LLC
InventorJames S. Mayfield
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Hoists, platforms and davits are described as well as methods of securing same to telecommunication and other towers. The hoists, platforms and davits may be secured to the towers on a temporary basis using clamps. The clamps may include brackets and cables. The cables may be attached to the brackets, may wrap around the outer surface/perimeter of the tower pole/leg and may use tension to keep the bracket in place.
Claims35
A method of securing a hoist system to a tower comprising a tower top located above the ground, a tower bottom and a tower height extending from the tower top to the tower bottom, the tower comprised of one or more poles or legs, the method comprising assembling a hoist system by performing the following steps in any suitable order including simultaneously:
- a) securing an upper clamp bracket system to the tower by placing the upper clamp bracket system at least partially around a pole or leg of the tower;
- b) securing a lower clamp bracket system to the tower by placing the lower clamp bracket system at least partially around a pole or leg of the tower;
- c) securing a mast to at least one of the upper and lower clamp bracket systems, the mast comprising a top, a bottom, and a height extending from the top to the bottom;
- d) providing a mast clamp bracket system;
- and
- e) providing a hoist beam comprising a forward end, a rear end, a hoist beam length extending from the forward end to the rear end;
- wherein, at least after complete installation,
- i) the upper and lower clamp bracket systems connect the mast to the tower;
- ii) the upper clamp bracket system is located above the lower clamp bracket system;
- iii) the mast clamp bracket system is located above the upper and lower clamp bracket systems and connects the hoist beam rear end to the mast and wraps at least partially around the mast;
- iv) the hoist beam extends laterally from the mast and the mast clamp bracket system;
- v) the hoist beam further comprises at least one load-end sheave and at least one return sheave located rearwardly relative to the at least one load-end sheave;
- vi) a load line extends from below the hoist beam, at least partially around the at least one load-end sheave and at least partially around the at least one return sheave and then below the hoist beam;
- vii) a brace cable connects the hoist beam to the mast above the mast clamp bracket system and extends at an angle relative to the tower height and comprises an upper end connected to the mast and a lower end connected to the hoist beam;
- viii) the mast height is generally parallel to the tower height;
- ix) the mast top is above the tower top;
- and
- x) the mast bottom is above the tower bottom.
A method of securing a hoist system to a tower comprising a left tower pole or leg and a right tower pole or leg, the left tower pole or leg connected to the right tower pole or leg by a plurality of tower braces, the tower, the left tower pole or leg and the right tower pole or leg each having a top located above the ground, a bottom and a height extending from the top to the bottom, the method comprising assembling a hoist system by performing the following steps in any suitable order including simultaneously:
- a) securing a lower right clamp bracket system to the right tower pole or leg by placing the lower right clamp bracket system at least partially around the right tower pole or leg;
- b) securing an upper right clamp bracket system to the right tower pole or leg by placing the upper right clamp bracket system at least partially around the right tower pole or leg;
- c) securing a lower left clamp bracket system to the left tower pole or leg by placing the lower left clamp bracket system at least partially around the left tower pole or leg;
- d) securing an upper left clamp bracket system to the left tower pole or leg by placing the upper left clamp bracket system at least partially around the left tower pole or leg;
- e) providing a hoist beam comprising a forward end, a rear end, a hoist beam length extending from the hoist beam forward end to the hoist rear end;
- f) providing an upper cross beam and a lower cross beam;
- and
- g) providing a mast, the mast comprising a top, a bottom, and a height extending from the top to the bottom, wherein, at least after complete installation,
- i) the lower left clamp bracket system is at substantially the same height as the lower right clamp bracket system;
- ii) the lower cross beam extends between the lower left clamp bracket system and the lower right clamp bracket system and is oriented generally parallel to the ground and perpendicular to the tower height;
- iii) the upper left clamp bracket system is at substantially the same height as the upper right clamp bracket system;
- iv) the upper cross beam extends between the upper left clamp bracket system and the upper right clamp bracket system and is oriented generally parallel to the ground and perpendicular to the tower height;
- v) the upper cross beam, the upper left clamp bracket system and the upper right clamp bracket system are located above the lower cross beam, the lower left clamp bracket system and the lower right clamp bracket system;
- vi) the mast is connected to the lower cross beam by a lower cross beam bracket located between the lower left clamp bracket system and the lower right clamp bracket system;
- vii) the mast height extends generally parallel to the tower height;
- viii) the hoist beam is connected to the mast and extends laterally from the mast;
- ix) the hoist beam further comprises at least one load-end sheave and at least one return sheave located rearwardly relative to the at least one load-end sheave;
- x) a load line extends from below the hoist beam, at least partially around the at least one load-end sheave and at least partially around the at least one return sheave and then below the hoist beam;
- and
- xi) a brace cable connects the hoist beam to the mast and extends at an angle relative to the tower height and comprises an upper end connected to the mast and a lower end connected to the hoist beam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.