US 5,570,546 AGranted

System for raising and lowering communications equipment

AssigneeAmerican High Mast Systems, Inc.

InventorsRobert S. Butterworth, David O'Brien

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Abstract

A system for lowering and raising telecommunications equipment along a mast pole. The system comprises a mast pole, a platform means, a frame means, a plurality of lift cables, a hoisting means and a transition means. The platform means surrounds the external surface of the mast pole and is moveable along the length thereof. The platform means is arranged for mounting of telecommunications equipment thereon. The frame means is attached at the open upper end of the mast pole shaft and comprises pulley means, means for guiding at least one lift cable and means for guiding at least one telecommunications cable, i.e., signal cable or power cable. Each lift cable has a first end connected to the platform means and extends through the guiding means and through the passageway of the mast pole. The hoisting means is secured to the lower end of the mast pole and is provided for selectively raising and lowering the platform means. The pulley means includes a winch cable having a free end. The transition means is located within the passageway of the mast pole and is provided to couple the second end of the lift cables to the free end of the winch cable. The transition means also provides a means for retaining at least one telecommunications cable therein.

A system for lowering and raising first telecommunications equipment along a mast pole, the first telecommunications equipment being connected with second telecommunications equipment positioned at ground level by means of at least one telecommunications cable, the telecommunications cable having a first end connected to the first telecommunications equipment and a second end connected to the second telecommunications equipment, the second end of the telecommunications cable being detachable from the second telecommunications equipment to enable the lowering and raising of the first telecommunications equipment, said system comprising:

a. an elongated mast pole having an open upper end, a lower end, an external surface and a passageway extending between said open upper end and said lower end;
b. platform means surrounding the external surface of said mast pole and moveable along a length thereof, said platform means being arranged for mounting of the first telecommunications equipment thereon;
c. frame means attached to said mast pole adjacent said open upper end, said frame means comprising pulley means, means for guiding at least one lift cable and means for guiding at least one telecommunications cable;
d. at least one lift cable having a first end and a second end, said first end being connected to said platform means, said lift cable extending over said pulley means, through said guiding means and through the passageway of said mast pole;
e. hoisting means coupled to the lower end of said mast pole, said hoisting means including a winch cable having a free end, said hoisting means being provided for selectively raising said platform means to an elevated position adjacent the upper end of said mast pole and lowering said platform means to a lowered position adjacent the lower end of said mast pole;
and
f. transition means located within the passageway of said mast pole, said transition means coupling the second end of said at least one lift cable to the free end of said winch cable, said transition means further comprising means for retaining at least one telecommunications cable.

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Abstract

Claims52