Radar antenna safety brace

A safety brace system for supporting a platform movable to an elevated position by a ram having a base member, a lead screw and a moveable member, comprising:

• an elongated generally cylindrical tube formed of a separable first half tube portion and a second half tube portion, said first half tube portion and said second half tube portion each being generally C shaped in cross section and forming longitudinal first and second seams when positioned alongside each other to form the generally cylindrical tube, said elongated generally cylindrical tube having a first end and a second end;
• at least one separable coupling member secured to said first half tube portion and said second half tube portion and disposed across said first seam to maintain said first half tube and said second half portions in a generally closed seam configuration when said separable coupling member is in a closed position and to maintain said first half tube and said second half portions in an open seam configuration when said separable coupling member is opened;
• at least one hinged coupling member secured to said first half tube portion and said second half tube portion and disposed across said second seam to maintain said first half tube and said second half portions in the generally closed seam configuration when said hinged coupling member is in the closed position and to allow for opening of the second seam as the hinged coupling member is opened;
• a first flange disposed at said first end of said elongated generally cylindrical tube and being configured to abut against the movable member of the ram;
• a second flange disposed at said second end of said elongated generally cylindrical tube and being configured to abut against the base member of the ram;
• a plurality of generally triangular first gussets disposed between said first flange and adjacent outer surface portions of said first half tube portion and said second half tube portion;
• and
• a plurality of generally triangular second gussets disposed between said second flange and adjacent outer surface portions of said first half tube portion and said second half tube portion, said first flange is configured and dimensioned to accommodate any non flat surface of the moveable member of the ram against which the first flange abuts.

A method of supporting a platform movable to an elevated position by a ram having a base member, a lead screw and a moveable member, comprising:

• providing a safety brace comprising:
• an elongated generally cylindrical tube formed of a separable first half tube portion and a second half tube portion, said first half tube portion and said second half tube portion each being generally C shaped in cross section and forming longitudinal first and second seams when positioned alongside each other to form the generally cylindrical tube, said elongated generally cylindrical tube having a first end and a second end;
• at least one separable coupling member secured to said first half tube portion and said second half tube portion and disposed across said first seam to maintain said first half tube and said second half portions in a generally closed seam configuration when said separable coupling member is in a closed position and to maintain said first half tube and said second half portions in an open seam configuration when said separable coupling member is opened;
• at least one hinged coupling member secured to said first half tube portion and said second half tube portion and disposed across said second seam to maintain said first half tube and said second half portions in a generally closed seam configuration when said hinged coupling member is in a closed position and to allow for opening of the second seam as the hinged coupling member is opened;
• a first flange disposed at said first said first end of said elongated generally cylindrical tube and being configured to abut against the moveable member of the ram;
• a second flange disposed at said second end of said elongated generally cylindrical tube and being configured to abut against the base member of the ram;
• a plurality of first gussets disposed between said first flange and adjacent outer surface portions of said first half tube portion and said second half tube portion;
• and
• a plurality of second gussets disposed between said second flange and adjacent outer surface portions of said first half tube portion and said second half tube portion;
• positioning said elongated generally cylindrical tube in an open configuration about the lead screw after the platform is raised;
• closing said elongated generally cylindrical tube about the lead screw;
• abutting said second flange against the base member of the ram;
• and
• lowering the platform and abutting said first flange against the movable member of the ram.