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US 8,522,511 B2Granted
Methods and apparatus for mast system with enhanced load bearing
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorsMatthew D. Thoren, Joseph C. DiMare, Cameron B. Goddard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for providing a mast system including a telescoping mast having first and second mast sections, the mast having a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, the first mast section including an inner surface having ribs disposed thereon, and, the second mast section including a coupling mechanism to engage the ribs on the first mast section for enabling axial movement of the second mast section with respect to the first mast section.
Claims12
A mast system, comprising:
- a telescoping mast having coaxial first and second mast sections, the mast having a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration;
- the first mast section including an inner surface having load-bearing ribs disposed thereon, wherein the ribs include a bulbous portion extending from a stem extending from an inner surface of the first mast section, and
- the second mast section including a coupling mechanism to engage the ribs on the first mast section for enabling only axial movement of the second mast section with respect to the first mast section,
- wherein the coupling mechanism includes channels having respective bushings to capture the ribs, the bushings having an undulating surface with alternating raised and non-raised sections forming longitudinal first gaps defined by a height of the raised sections and a height of the non-raised sections to allow debris passage, wherein a second gap is defined by opposing surfaces of the first and second mast sections to allow debris passage, and wherein a third gap is defined by raised sections of the bushing and interfacing surfaces of the ribs.
1 more element
A method, comprising:
- forming a telescoping mast having first and second mast sections, the mast having a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration;
- employing load-bearing ribs on an inner surface of the first mast section to engage a coupling mechanism on the second mast section, wherein the ribs include a bulbous portion extending from a stem extending from an inner surface of the first mast section;
- and
- configuring the ribs and the coupling mechanism to enable axial movement of the second mast section with respect to the first mast section;
- wherein the coupling mechanism includes channels having respective bushings to capture the ribs, the bushings having an undulating surface with alternating raised and non-raised sections forming longitudinal first gaps defined by a height of the raised sections and a height of the non-raised sections to allow debris passage, wherein a second gap is defined by opposing surfaces of the first and second mast sections to allow debris passage, and wherein a third gap is defined by raised sections of the bushing and interfacing surfaces of the ribs.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.