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A support tower for large structures such as wind turbines generators, microwave structures, high voltage transmission lines or the like, constructed of telescopic sections with the lowermost section having an edge portion pivotally connected to a foundation to enable the tower sections to be transp

A support tower for large structures such as wind turbines generators, microwave structures, high voltage transmission lines or the like, constructed of telescopic sections with the lowermost section having an edge portion pivotally connected to a foundation to enable the tower sections to be transported to the site of installation. The tower sections are assembled at the installation site in a nested relationship, each within the adjacent lower tower section. The large load is mounted on the upper end of the uppermost tower section and the nested tower sections are then tilted upwardly to a vertical position. After the tower is tilted to its vertical position and securely connected to the foundation, the telescopic tower sections are vertically extended to position the load in a vertically elevated position.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A tower for supporting a large heavy structure or load from a tower foundation comprising a plurality of elongated, telescopically associated tower sections including a lowermost tower section having an edge portion adapted to be pivotally connected to said tower foundation to enable the tower se

1. A tower for supporting a large heavy structure or load from a tower foundation comprising a plurality of elongated, telescopically associated tower sections including a lowermost tower section having an edge portion adapted to be pivotally connected to said tower foundation to enable the tower sections to be pivoted from a generally horizontal nested position to a vertical in use position, a lower lift device interconnecting said lowermost tower section and a first upper tower section, and an upper lift device interconnecting said lowermost tower section and a second upper tower section to simultaneously extend said second upper tower section when said first upper tower section is extended by said lower lift device. 2. The tower as defined in claim 1, wherein said lower lift device is associated with the lower tower section and the first upper tower section and includes a plurality of parallel jack rods rigidly affixed to and within the lower tower section, the first upper tower section including a lower end slidable on said jack rods, each jack rod including a crawler jack having a structure engaging a lower flange on said first upper tower section to move the first upper tower section vertically in relation to the lower tower section. 3. The tower as defined in claim 1, wherein said upper lift device is associated with the first upper tower section and the second upper tower section and includes a plurality of parallel jack rods rigidly affixed to and within the first upper tower section, the second upper tower section including a lower end slidable on said jack rods, each jack rod including a crawler jack having a structure engaging a lower flange on said second upper tower section to move the second upper tower section vertically in relation to the first upper tower section. 4. The tower as defined in claim 2, wherein the crawler jacks are controlled by a unique computerized control system that permits the jacks to be operated in any combination of individual jacks, or all jacks simultaneously. 5. The tower as defined in claim 2, wherein multiple guide rollers are rigidly affixed to a top flange on each lower tower section to engage the external surface of the next upper tower section to guide telescopic movement of the upper tower sections in relation to each other and the lowermost tower section. 6. The tower as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the upper tower sections includes a skirt at a lower end thereof which supports a maintenance platform, multiple guide rollers affixed to the maintenance platform for engaging the internal surface of the adjacent lower tower section to guide telescopic movement of the upper sections in relation to each other and the lowermost tower section and to maintain equal circumferential spacing between adjacent tower sections. 7. The tower as defined in claim 1, wherein said lower lift device consists of a winch, pulley and cable mechanism wherein a number of winches anchored on the ground lift the first upper tower section by means of cables running from the winches around pulleys mounted on a top flange on the lower tower section, then extending downwardly through the top flange and a bottom flange on the first upper tower section, where they are affixed by means of ferrules and a spring compensator device. 8. The tower as defined in claim 7, wherein the winches are operated by a unique computerized control system that permits operation of any combination of individual winches or all winches simultaneously. 9. The tower as defined in claim 6, wherein a plurality of guide rollers are affixed to the bottom of the skirt of the first upper tower section such that they engage the internal surface of the lower tower section to guide telescopic movement of the tower sections in relation to each other and to maintain equal circumferential spacing between adjacent tower sections. 10. The tower as defined in claim 1, wherein said upper lift device between the lower tower section and a second upper tower section includes a plurality of cables having one end attached to the upper end of the lower tower section and extending over a pulley mounted at an upper end of the first upper tower section and extending downwardly between the first upper tower section and the second upper tower section with the lower end of each cable being connected with a lower end of the second upper tower section in a manner that the second upper tower section will be elevated automatically when the first upper tower section is extended vertically toward the upper end of the lower tower section with the pulley on the upper end of the first upper tower section being moved upwardly and lifting the lower end of the second upper tower section toward the upper end of the first upper tower section. 11. The tower as defined in claim 10, wherein the upper end of the first upper tower section includes a plurality of sway control rollers engaging the external surface of the second upper tower section and the lower end of the second upper tower section including sway control rollers mounted on the lower end of the second upper tower section and in engagement with the internal surface of the first upper tower section to guide the movement of the upper tower sections and to maintain equal circumferential spacing between adjacent tower sections during extension of the tower sections. 12. The tower as defined in claim 11, wherein each of said sway control rollers is mounted on a pivotal bracket, said pivotal brackets at an upper end of the first upper tower section supporting the cable pulley at an outer end thereof to bias the sway control rollers against the external surface of the second upper tower section when the cable is tensioned by movement of the first upper tower section upwardly in relation to the lowermost tower section. 13. The tower as defined in claim 11, wherein said sway control rollers at the lower end of the second upper tower section include a pivotal supporting bracket attached to the lower end of the second upper tower section with the lift cables being attached to the pivotal brackets to bias the rollers outwardly into engagement with the internal surface of the first upper tower section when the cable is tensioned by movement of the first upper tower section upwardly in relation to the lowermost tower section. 14. The tower as defined in claim 13, wherein said lift cables are connected to an upper end of the lowermost tower section through a resilient connection to compensate for variation in dimensional relations between the tower sections and lift cables when the upper tower sections are being extended. 15. The tower as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the lower tower sections includes a flange at the top of the tower section oppositely oriented in relation to a matching flange on the bottom of the next upper tower section such that the two flanges will come together when the tower is fully extended telescopically and will allow the tower sections to be rigidly bolted together. 16. The tower as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the tower sections includes a collapsible personnel ladder section such that the ladder sections in the lower tower sections can be folded within the ladder section in the uppermost tower section while the tower sections are in the nested position and wherein the ladder sections will automatically extend into the proper position as the nested tower sections are extended telescopically. 17. The tower as defined in claim 1, wherein said edge portion of said lowermost tower section includes a removable hinge plate fastened to a bottom flange on the lower tower section for connection to a pin mechanism pre-installed on the foundation. 18. The tower as defined in claim 1, wherein the foundation is provided with embedded anchor bolt couplers that are recessed to permit the nested tower section to be tilted to the vertical position and rigidly affixed to the foundation without conflicting with anchor bolts protruding above the surface of the foundation. 19. The tower as defined in claim 1 wherein the foundation is provided with a recessed floor to permit the nested tower section to be tilted to the vertical position without conflicting with equipment mounted on the floor of the foundation. 20. The tower as defined in claim 1 together with a gin pole, winch, pulley and cable lifting mechanism for pivoting the nested tower sections from a horizontal position to a vertical position. 21. A tall tower for supporting heavy loads above a tower foundation which comprises a plurality of elongated tubular tower sections including at least an outer tower section and inner tower section each defined by a substantially continuous cylindrical peripheral wall and initially disposed in a generally horizontal position with said inner section nested within said outer section, said outer tower section having a hinge component adjacent its lower edge for pivotal attachment to said tower foundation to enable the nested tower sections to be pivoted from a generally horizontal position to a generally vertical position, said inner tower section supporting said heavy load when nested in said outer section, and a lift mechanism interconnecting said outer and inner tower sections to telescopically raise said inner tower section and said heavy load to an expanded tower height and fastening devices interconnecting said tower sections when in said expanded tower height. 22. The tower as defined in claim 21, wherein at least one of said tower sections includes guide rollers to guide movement of the inner tower section when raised to an expanded tower height. 23. The tower as defined in claim 21, wherein said lift mechanism includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced jack rods rigidly mounted on said outer tower section, a crawler jack on each jack rod for vertical movement thereon, said crawler jacks being connected to said inner tower section to raise said inner tower section to an expanded tower height. 24. The tower as defined in claim 21, wherein said lift mechanism includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced cable, pulley and winch assemblies associated with said tower sections to raise said inner tower section to an expanded tower height. 25. The tower as defined in claim 21, wherein said inner tower section includes a peripheral flange extending outwardly at a lower end thereof, said outer tower section including a peripheral flange extending inwardly at an upper end thereof and above said flange on the inner tower section, said fastening devices interconnecting said flanges to secure said flanges in adjacent relation to retain said tower sections in said expanded tower height. 26. The tower as defined in claim 21, wherein said outer tower section includes a support flange at a lower end thereof, said tower foundation being provided with embedded anchor bolt couplers located not higher than a top surface of the foundation to permit the nested inner and outer tower sections to be tilted to vertical position without conflicting with anchor bolts projecting above the foundation, said couplers receive anchor bolts inserted through the flange on the outer tower section when the nested tower sections are in vertical position on the foundation. 27. A system for erecting a tall support tower for heavy loads on a tower foundation which comprises a plurality of elongated tower sections with an outer tower section having a lower end pivotally connected to said foundation and an inner tower section nested within said outer tower section while in horizontal position, a gin pole having a pivotally supported lower end, a cable and winch assembly associated with said gin pole and the horizontally positioned nested tower sections, said gin pole, cable and winch assembly lifting and tilting the nested tower sections from a horizontal position to a vertical position with said inner tower section supporting said heavy load, and a lift mechanism interconnecting s aid tower sections to telescopically raise said inner tower section and said heavy load to an expanded tower height. 28. The system for erecting a tall tower as defined in claim 27, wherein said lift mechanism includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced jack rods rigidly mounted on said outer tower section, a crawler jack on each jack rod for vertical movement thereon, said crawler jacks being connected to said inner tower section to raise said inner tower section to an expanded tower height. 29. The system for erecting a tall tower as defined in claim 27, wherein said lift mechanism includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced cable, pulley and winch assemblies associated with said tower sections to raise said inner tower section to an expanded tower height. 30. The method of erecting a tall support tower having a plurality of elongated telescopic tower sections above a tower foundation comprising the steps of positioning an outer tower section in horizontal position, pivotally connecting one end of the outer tower section to said foundation, assembling an inner tower section in nested relation to said outer tower section, tilting said nested tower sections from a horizontal position to a vertical position and raising the inner tower section to an expanded tower height, said step of tilting the nested tower sections to vertical position including the step of installing a gin pole in upwardly and outwardly angled relation to the final vertical position of the nested tower sections and lifting the nested tower sections by utilizing a winch, cable and pulley system associated with the gin pole and nested tower sections to pivot the nested tower sections about the pivotal connection to the foundation. 31. The method as defined in claim 30, wherein said step of positioning the outer tower section in horizontal position includes the steps of transporting the outer tower section on a transport vehicle, lifting and positioning the outer tower section in horizontal position with a lower end being positioned adjacent the foundation, pivotally connecting a lower end of the outer tower section to the foundation. 32. The method as defined in claim 30, wherein said step of raising the inner tower section includes the step of connecting a lift mechanism to a lower end of said inner tower section and lifting the inner tower section to an expanded tower height. 33. The tower as defined in claim 21, wherein said heavy load supported by said inner tower section is a wind turbine generator. 34. A tower for supporting a heavy load from a tower foundation comprising at least two elongated, telescopically associated tower sections including a lower tower section supported vertically on said tower foundation and an upper tower section telescopically nested in relation to said lower tower section, a lift mechanism interconnecting said lower tower section and said upper tower section, said lift mechanism including a plurality of generally parallel vertical jack rod and crawler jack assemblies interconnecting said lower tower section and said upper tower section to move said upper tower section vertically to an elevated position in relation to said lower tower section, each of said jack rod and crawler jack assemblies including a vertical jack rod rigidly fixed interiorly of said lower tower section, and a crawler jack vertically moveable on said jack rod, said jack rods being mounted vertically and generally parallel within said lower tower section, said crawler jacks engaging a lower end of said upper tower section for lifting it to said elevated position. 35. The tower as defined in claim 34, wherein an upper end portion of said lower tower section and a lower end portion of said upper tower section, when in elevated position, are connected by fasteners to retain said upper tower section in said elevated position. 36. A tower for supporting a heavy load from a tower foundation comprising at least two elongated, telescopically associated tow er sections including a lower tower section supported vertically on said tower foundation and an upper tower section telescopically nested in relation to said lower tower section, a lift mechanism interconnecting said lower tower section and said upper tower section, said lift mechanism including a plurality of generally parallel vertical jack rod and crawler jack assemblies interconnecting said lower tower section and said upper tower section to move said upper tower section vertically to an elevated position in relation to said lower tower section, an upper end portion of said lower tower section and a lower end portion of said upper tower section each including a peripheral radially extending flange, said flanges being disposed in adjacent relation when said upper tower section is in said elevated position and fasteners interconnecting said flanges to retain said upper tower section in said elevated position in relation to said lower tower section, said flange on said lower end portion of said upper tower section including apertures slidably receiving said jack rods of the jack rod crawler jack assemblies to guide vertical movement of said upper tower section in relation to said lower tower section. 37. The tower as defined in claim 36, wherein said upper tower section telescopes within said lower tower section, said jack rod and crawler jack assemblies being positioned within said lower tower section. 38. A tower for supporting a heavy load from a tower foundation comprising at least two elongated, telescopically associated tower sections including a lower tower section supported vertically on said tower foundation and an upper tower section telescopically nested in relation to said lower tower section, a lift mechanism interconnecting said lower tower section and said upper tower section, said lift mechanism including a plurality of generally parallel vertical jack rod and crawler jack assemblies interconnecting said lower tower section and said upper tower section to move said upper tower section vertically to an elevated position in relation to said lower tower section, a lower end portion of said upper tower section including a plurality of peripheral guide rollers guidingly engaged with a peripheral surface of said lower tower section to guide relative vertical movement of said tower sections. 39. The tower as defined in claim 38, wherein an upper end portion of said lower tower section and a lower end portion of said upper tower section each include a peripheral radially extending flange, said flanges being disposed in adjacent relation when said upper tower section is in said elevated position and fasteners interconnecting said flanges to retain said upper tower section in said elevated position in relation to said lower tower section. 40. The tower as defined in claim 36, wherein each of said jack rod and crawler jack assemblies includes a vertical jack rod rigidly fixed interiorly of said lower tower section, and a crawler jack vertically moveable on said jack rod, said jack rods being mounted vertically and generally parallel within said lower tower section, said crawler jacks engaging a lower end of said upper tower section for lifting it to said elevated position. 41. A tower for supporting a heavy load from a tower foundation comprising at least two elongated, telescopically associated tower sections including a lower tower section supported vertically on said tower foundation and an upper tower section telescopically nested in relation to said lower tower section, a lift mechanism interconnecting said lower tower section and said upper tower section, said lift mechanism including a plurality of generally parallel vertical jack rod and crawler jack assemblies interconnecting said lower tower section and said upper tower section to move said upper tower section vertically to an elevated position in relation to said lower tower section, and a second upper tower section telescopically nested in relation to said u pper tower section nested in said lower tower section, a second lift mechanism interconnecting said upper tower sections to simultaneously move said second upper tower section vertically in relation to said upper tower section nested in said lower tower section when said jack rod and crawler jack assemblies move said upper tower section nested in said lower tower section thereby simultaneously moving both upper tower sections vertically in response to vertical movement of said upper tower section nested in said lower tower section by said jack rod and crawler jack assemblies.