Hinge for servicing pole-mounted equipment

A controlled motion hinge assembly comprising:

• a base;
• a first actuator mount rotatably connected to the base to rotate about a first mount rotation axis, wherein the first actuator mount comprises a threaded bore extending along a bore axis that is perpendicular to the first mount rotation axis;
• a pivot arm pivotally coupled to the base to pivot about an arm pivot axis that is parallel to and spaced from the first mount rotation axis;
• a second actuator mount rotatably connected to the pivot arm to rotate about a second mount rotation axis that is parallel to and spaced from the first mount rotation axis and the arm pivot axis;
• a hinge pivotally connecting the base to the pivot arm such that the pivot arm is movable relative to the base about the arm pivot axis, wherein the pivot arm is movable between an extended position in which the first mount rotation axis is spaced from the second mount rotation axis by a first distance, and a retracted position in which the first mount rotation axis is spaced from the second mount rotation axis by a second distance, the second distance being less than the first distance;
• and
• an actuator shaft having a first shaft end, a second shaft end, and a threaded body extending along an actuator shaft axis between the first shaft end and the second shaft end, wherein:
• the first shaft end is configured to receive a drive torque about the actuator shaft axis;
• the second shaft end is connected to the second actuator mount to be rotatable about the actuator shaft axis at a fixed position along the actuator shaft axis;
• and
• the threaded body is in threaded engagement with the threaded bore of the first actuator mount such that an application of the drive torque causes the first actuator mount to move along the actuator shaft axis towards and away from the second actuator mount, to thereby move the pivot arm towards the retracted position and the extended position, respectively;
• and
• wherein the hinge comprises a first hinge bracket mounted to the base, a second hinge bracket mounted to the pivot arm, and a pivot pin connecting the first hinge bracket to the second hinge bracket.

A controlled motion hinge assembly comprising:

• a base;
• a first actuator mount rotatably connected to the base to rotate about a first mount rotation axis, wherein the first actuator mount comprises a threaded bore extending along a bore axis that is perpendicular to the first mount rotation axis;
• a pivot arm pivotally coupled to the base to pivot about an arm pivot axis that is parallel to and spaced from the first mount rotation axis;
• a second actuator mount rotatably connected to the pivot arm to rotate about a second mount rotation axis that is parallel to and spaced from the first mount rotation axis and the arm pivot axis;
• a hinge pivotally connecting the base to the pivot arm such that the pivot arm is movable relative to the base about the arm pivot axis, wherein the pivot arm is movable between an extended position in which the first mount rotation axis is spaced from the second mount rotation axis by a first distance, and a retracted position in which the first mount rotation axis is spaced from the second mount rotation axis by a second distance, the second distance being less than the first distance;
• and
• an actuator shaft having a first shaft end, a second shaft end, and a threaded body extending along an actuator shaft axis between the first shaft end and the second shaft end, wherein:
• the first shaft end is configured to receive a drive torque about the actuator shaft axis;
• the second shaft end is connected to the second actuator mount to be rotatable about the actuator shaft axis at a fixed position along the actuator shaft axis;
• and
• the threaded body is in threaded engagement with the threaded bore of the first actuator mount such that an application of the drive torque causes the first actuator mount to move along the actuator shaft axis towards and away from the second actuator mount, to thereby move the pivot arm towards the retracted position and the extended position, respectively;
• and
• a sheath surrounding the threaded body between the first actuator mount and the second actuator mount.

A pole assembly comprising:

• a first pole extending in a gravitational direction from a lower first pole end that is configured to be secured to an underlying surface, to an upper first pole end that is configured to be cantilevered above the underlying surface;
• a second pole extending from a proximal second pole end to a distal second pole end;
• and
• a controlled motion hinge assembly comprising:
• a base secured adjacent to the upper first pole end,
• a pivot arm secured to the proximal second pole end,
• a hinge pivotally connecting the base to the pivot arm such that the pivot arm is movable relative to the base about an arm pivot axis that is oriented perpendicular to the gravitational direction, wherein the pivot arm is movable between an extended position in which the second pole extends along the gravitational direction with the distal second pole end above the proximal second pole end, and a retracted position in which the second pole is oriented with the distal second pole end below the proximal second pole end, and
• an actuator configured to be manually operated, by an operator located on the underlying surface, to selectively move the pivot arm between the extended position and the retracted position;
• wherein the distal second pole end is positioned to be serviced by the operator located on the underlying surface when the pivot arm is in the retracted position.

A method for retrofitting a pole assembly comprising a first pole extending in a gravitational direction from a lower first pole end that is secured to an underlying surface, to an upper first pole end that is cantilevered above the underlying surface, the method comprising:

• providing a controlled motion hinge assembly comprising:
• a base,
• a pivot arm having a mounting structure,
• a hinge pivotally connecting the base to the pivot arm such that the pivot arm is movable relative to the base about an arm pivot axis that is oriented perpendicular to the gravitational direction, wherein the pivot arm is movable between an extended position in which the mounting structure is along the arm pivot axis relative to the gravitational direction, and a retracted position in which the mounting structure is below the arm pivot axis relative to the gravitational direction, and
• an actuator configured to be manually operated, by an operator located on the underlying surface, to selectively move the pivot arm between the extended position and the retracted position;
• securing the base to the upper first pole end;
• providing a second pole extending from a proximal second pole end to a distal second pole end;
• and
• securing the proximal second pole end to the pivot arm, such that the second pole is oriented along the gravitational direction above the first pole when the pivot arm is in the extended position, and the distal second pole end is located below the arm pivot axis when the pivot arm is in the retracted position.