Extendible mast with integrated transmission element
AssigneeRTL Materials Ltd.
InventorMatthew Howe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An extendible mast (1) for deploying equipment comprises a composite member formed from plural fibre reinforced layers (75) laminated together in a matrix material in the form of a shell that is constructed and arranged so as to be configurable between a coiled form and an extended form. When extended the member is resiliently biased in the form of an elongate tube having a slit along its length formed by longitudinal edges of the member. One or more electrical conductors (50) extend along at least part of the longitudinal extent of the member for making connection to the equipment. The conductors are integrated between two or more layers within the laminate.
Claims21
1-20. (canceled)
An extendible mast for deploying equipment, comprising:
- a composite member formed from plural fiber reinforced layers laminated together in a matrix material in the form of a shell that is constructed and arranged so as to be configurable between a coiled form and an extended form, wherein when extended the composite member is resiliently biased in the form of an elongate tube having a slit along its length formed by longitudinal edges of the composite member and wherein when coiled the composite member is opened out at the longitudinal edges to a flattened form and wound about an axis extending transversely to the longitudinal extent of the composite member;
- and,
- one or more electrical conductors extending along at least part of the longitudinal extent of the composite member for making connection to the equipment, wherein the one or more electrical conductors are integrated between two or more layers within the laminate.
An extendible mast for deploying equipment, comprising:
- a composite member formed from plural fiber reinforced layers laminated together in a matrix material in the form of a shell that is constructed and arranged so as to be configurable between a coiled form and an extended form, wherein when extended the composite member is resiliently biased in the form of an elongate tube having a slit along its length formed by longitudinal edges of the composite member and wherein when coiled the composite member is opened out at the longitudinal edges to a flattened form and wound about an axis extending transversely to the longitudinal extent of the composite member;
- and,
- one or more transmission elements extending along at least part of the longitudinal extent of the composite member for making connection to the equipment, wherein the one or more transmission elements are between two layers within the laminate and wherein at least one layer of the laminate is at least partially removed to accommodate at least one of the one or more transmission elements, wherein at least one of the one or more the transmission elements is one or more of electrical conductor for data and at least one of a power, an optical fiber element, a hose for fluid flow.
A method of deploying equipment, the method comprising:
- at least one of extending and retracting an extendible mast according to any preceding claim, the extendible mast supporting and/or positioning an apparatus, wherein the extendible mast comprises:
- a composite member formed from plural fiber reinforced layers laminated together in a matrix material in the form of a shell that is constructed and arranged so as to be configurable between a coiled form and an extended form, wherein when extended the composite member is resiliently biased in the form of an elongate tube having a slit along its length formed by longitudinal edges of the composite member and wherein when coiled the composite member is opened out at the longitudinal edges to a flattened form and wound about an axis extending transversely to the longitudinal extent of the composite member, and
- one or more electrical conductors extending along at least part of the longitudinal extent of the composite member for making connection to the equipment, wherein the conductors are integrated between two or more layers within the laminate;
- and
- providing services to the apparatus via the one or more electrical conductors.
A method of manufacturing a mast having a composite member formed from plural fiber reinforced layers laminated together in a matrix material in the form of a shell that is constructed and arranged so as to be configurable between a coiled form and an extended form, wherein when extended the composite member is resiliently biased in the form of an elongate tube having a slit along its length formed by longitudinal edges of the composite member and wherein when coiled the composite member is opened out at the longitudinal edges to a flattened form and wound about an axis extending transversely to the longitudinal extent of the composite member and one or more electrical conductors extending along at least part of the longitudinal extent of the composite member for making connection to equipment, wherein the one or more electrical conductors are integrated between two or more layers within the laminate, the method comprising:
- laying up layers of fiber and a transmission element or electrical conductors in a mould or on a former or in a continuous forming process;
- and
- applying at least one of heat and pressure to consolidate into a composite product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.