A method of extending an electromechanical telescopic column assembly for supporting and moving military, communication, lighting and/or surveillance equipment, extending along an axis (V) and comprising:
- a base suitable to be placed on a base plane;
- movement means comprising a driving screw oriented along the axis (V), and
- a plurality of tube assemblies telescopically configurable along the axis (V) between a compact configuration and an extended configuration, said plurality of tube assemblies comprising:
- i) a head tube assembly comprising:
- a head tubular member extending between a lower end of head tubular member and an upper end of head tubular member;
- and
- a head piston attached to the lower end of head tubular member and engageable to the driving screw, wherein the head piston comprises a head piston body, at least one head horizontal latch, and at least one head elastic member that elastically connects the head piston body to the head horizontal latch, so as to cause a movement of the head horizontal latch;
- ii) a main intermediate tube assembly comprising:
- a main intermediate tubular member extending between a lower end of main intermediate tubular member and an upper end of main intermediate tubular member, said main intermediate tubular member comprising at least one seat suitable for receiving the head horizontal latch;
- a main intermediate piston engaged to the driving screw and attached to the lower end of main intermediate tubular member;
- and
- a main intermediate ring attached to the upper end of main intermediate tubular member and comprising at least one main intermediate sealing member engageable with the head tubular member;
- and
- iii) a base tube assembly comprising:
- a base tubular member extending between a lower end of base tubular member and an upper end of base tubular member;
- a bottom attached to the base and having a hole where the driving screw is rotatably housed;
- and
- a base ring attached to the upper end of base tubular member and comprising at least one sealing member engageable with the main intermediate tubular member,
- wherein, in the compact configuration, the driving screw acts as a vertical latch which engages the head piston and keeps the head horizontal latch in an unlocked position, in which the head elastic member is compressed between the head piston body and the head horizontal latch and in which the head tubular member is disengaged from the main intermediate tubular member,
- and wherein, in a movement of the electromechanical telescopic column assembly from the compact configuration to the extended configuration, a disengagement of the head piston from the driving screw allows the movement of the head horizontal latch which, being activated by an elongation of the head elastic member, translates horizontally from the unlocked position to a locked position, in which the head tubular member is locked to the main intermediate tubular member by an engagement of the head horizontal latch in a respective seat,
- the electromechanical telescopic column assembly further comprising at least one secondary intermediate tube assembly arranged between the main intermediate tube assembly and the head tube assembly, said secondary intermediate tube assembly comprising:
- a secondary intermediate tubular member extending between a lower end of secondary intermediate tubular member and an upper end of secondary intermediate tubular member, said secondary intermediate tubular member comprising at least one latch seat;
- a secondary intermediate piston engageable to the driving screw and attached to the lower end of secondary intermediate tubular member, wherein said secondary intermediate piston comprises a secondary intermediate piston body, at least one intermediate horizontal latch, and at least one intermediate elastic member elastically connecting the secondary intermediate piston body and the intermediate horizontal latch to each other;
- a secondary intermediate ring attached to the upper end of secondary intermediate tubular member and comprising at least one secondary intermediate sealing member engageable with the head tubular member,
- wherein, in the compact configuration, the driving screw acts as a vertical latch and engages both the head piston and the secondary intermediate piston, so as to keep
- the head horizontal latch in the unlocked position, wherein the head elastic member is compressed between the head piston body and the head horizontal latch and wherein the head tubular member is disengaged from the secondary intermediate tubular member,
- the intermediate horizontal latch in an inactive position, wherein the intermediate elastic member is compressed between the secondary intermediate piston body and the intermediate horizontal latch and wherein the secondary intermediate tubular member is disengaged from the main intermediate tubular member,
- and wherein, when moving the electromechanical telescopic column assembly from the compact configuration to the extended configuration:
- the disengagement of the head piston from the driving screw allows the movement of the head horizontal latch which, being activated by the elongation of the head elastic member, translates horizontally from the unlocked position to the locked position, in which the head tubular member is locked to the secondary intermediate tubular member by an engagement of the head horizontal latch in a respective latch seat,
- a subsequent disengagement of the secondary intermediate piston from the driving screw allows the intermediate horizontal latch, being activated by an elongation of the intermediate elastic member, to translate horizontally between the inactive position, in which the secondary intermediate tubular member is disengaged from the main intermediate tubular member, and an active position, in which the secondary intermediate tubular member is locked to the main intermediate tubular member and the intermediate horizontal latch engages the respective seat provided in the main intermediate tubular member,
- the method comprising:
- activating a rotation of the driving screw;
- starting an extension of the head tube assembly engaged with the driving screw the head piston, so as to keep the head horizontal latch in the unlocked position;
- completing the extension of the head tube assembly, wherein the disengagement of the head piston from the driving screw allows the head horizontal latch to translate to the locked position, in which the head tubular member is locked to the secondary intermediate tubular member by the engagement of the head horizontal latch in the respective latch seat;
- starting an extension of the secondary intermediate tube assembly arranged between the main intermediate tube assembly and the head tube assembly, said secondary intermediate tube assembly being engaged with the driving screw by the secondary intermediate piston, so as to keep the intermediate horizontal latch in the inactive position;
- completing the extension of the secondary intermediate tube assembly, wherein the disengagement of the secondary intermediate piston from the driving screw allows the intermediate horizontal latch to be moved into the active position, in which the secondary intermediate tubular member is locked to the main intermediate tubular member and the intermediate horizontal latch engages the respective seat;
- and
- extending the main intermediate tube assembly which remains engaged with the driving screw even when the electromechanical telescopic column assembly is fully extended.