Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Shaft – vehicle shell attached; e.g. – antenna
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-19
2001-07-17
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3636)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Shaft, vehicle shell attached; e.g., antenna
C052S118000, C224S546000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260310
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
The invention relates to an integrated system to mount masts on mobile platforms. The mounting system secures the mast in an approximately horizontal attitude on the vehicle or shelter during storage or transportation. The system may be adapted for mounting on the side, or on the top, of vehicles or shelters. When installed on the military's High Mobility Multi Wheeled Vehicle (with or without shelter attached), hereinafter referred to as “HMMWV”, the system is suitable for airlift by military C-130 aircraft and for external airlift by helicopters. During equipment set up, the mounting system permits the mast, with its associated payload, to be safely and expeditiously tilted to the vertical.
Masts have been widely employed for radio antennas, lights and a variety of other fixtures, such as instrumentation and telemetry packages, loud speakers, video cameras, atmospheric detection devices, and similar devices. Many applications involve mobile systems, where it is necessary to deploy the equipment from a secured, strap down condition during transit to a deployed configuration for system operation. The mobile systems used by the military and emergency services may have to be airlifted to a theater of operations. On arrival, they may have to travel cross country, and be set up at a remote site under adverse weather conditions and on sloping terrain.
Large masts with heavy payloads are increasingly in demand to provide a wide variety of services over extended ranges. Because of their length, these masts are often transported in a horizontal attitude attached to the exterior of the vehicle or shelter. It therefore becomes necessary for such masts to be raised to the vertical before they can be put into operation. Combined weight of mast and payload can easily exceed three hundred pounds, generating very large moments which can be hazardous if not managed with care.
For masts which are too long for vertical mounting, it would be highly desirable to provide a horizontal vehicle or shelter mast mounting system which permits safe and expeditious tilting to the vertical using minimum manpower. The mounting system must be easy to use on level or sloping ground and during adverse weather conditions, including strong winds. In the transport mode, the system must be capable of securing the mast under all conditions during off road and on road driving, and also when the vehicle is loaded on a flatbed for road or rail transportation. The system must minimize impact on vehicle handling, and any intrusion into the driver's field of view should be insignificant. For military applications, it would be important for the equipment to be compatible with, and to be economical in the use of, tactical transport aircraft, and to be suitable for external air transport by helicopter.
OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved mast mounting system for vehicles and shelters.
An additional object is to provide a basic design which is sufficiently versatile that versions may be provided for centerline or side mounting on mobile platforms.
An additional object of the mast mounting system is that it shall provide secure transportation and storage of the mast under all conditions to be encountered during off road and on road driving.
A further object of the mast mounting system is that, with the mast installed, it shall be suitable for loading, unloading, and air transportation within the C-130 airplane.
A further object of the invention is that the standard minimum separation between contiguous vehicles on the C-130 airplane does not need to be increased, even when the mast is longer than the vehicle.
A further object of the invention is that, with the mast installed, the vehicle shall remain suitable for external air transport by helicopter.
A still further object of the invention is to permit safe, efficient and expeditious operation by a crew of two persons.
An additional object of the design is to permit safe operation by a one person crew.
An additional objective of the invention is to provide good access to the mast top in the early stages of equipment deployment so as to facilitate attachment of payload and guy ropes by the crew.
Yet another object of the design is to permit the crew to tilt the mast up from the transit condition to the vertical with any payload within the mast's capacity.
Another object of the invention is that it shall be safely operable with any payload within the mast's capacity in wind speeds to thirty (30) miles per hour.
A further object of the invention is that it shall be operable on ground sloping up to 10 degrees in any direction relative to the vehicle.
An additional object of the design is to provide the capability to release the mast from the shelter or vehicle once the mast is vertical, so that the vehicle may be driven away from the mast.
A still further object of the invention is that, following deployment and separation of the vehicle from the mast, it shall be possible with a two person crew to safely, efficiently and expeditiously restore the mast to the transport condition on the vehicle. In addition, it shall be an objective of the invention that it shall be possible for a one person crew to safely carry out the restoration operation.
REFERENCES:
patent: 840489 (1907-01-01), Healey
patent: 2611580 (1952-09-01), Troche et al.
patent: 4923103 (1990-05-01), Sauber
patent: 5168680 (1992-12-01), Matlock
patent: 5657913 (1997-08-01), Cucheran et al.
patent: 5718087 (1998-02-01), Featherstone et al.
Habibi Farhad
Price Tim
Cuomo Peter M.
Fisher Michael J
Mouzavires William E.
Tim Price, Inc.
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