초록 ▼

A telescoping mast has a plurality of elongate tubular sections which are telescopically attached to each other and an axial drive screw centrally located in the mast for extending and retracting the elongate tubular section. A gear assembly is connected to the drive screw for rotating the drive scr

A telescoping mast has a plurality of elongate tubular sections which are telescopically attached to each other and an axial drive screw centrally located in the mast for extending and retracting the elongate tubular section. A gear assembly is connected to the drive screw for rotating the drive screw. A nut carrier assembly is secured to tubular sections. Each nut carrier assembly has a threaded nut housed within a nut carrier. The threaded nut engages corresponding threads on the drive screw. A locking mechanism is provided for locking the gear assembly which has a first section surrounding a second section secured to the gear assembly. The second section has an elongated member extending from a surface of the second section. The first section has at least one slot for engaging the elongated member, thereby preventing rotation of the gear assembly.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A telescoping mast assembly, comprising: at least three elongate tubular sections, wherein a first, a second, and a third elongate tubular section each has an upper end and a lower end; wherein said second elongate tubular section is telescopically received by said firs

The invention claimed is: 1. A telescoping mast assembly, comprising: at least three elongate tubular sections, wherein a first, a second, and a third elongate tubular section each has an upper end and a lower end; wherein said second elongate tubular section is telescopically received by said first elongate tubular section; said third elongate tubular section is telescopically received by said second elongate tubular section; an axial drive screw centrally located in said mast assembly for extending and retracting said second and third elongate tubular sections; and, a nut carrier assembly secured to a bottom section of each of said second and third tubular sections, said nut carrier assemblies each comprises a threaded nut housed within a collar, said threaded nut engages corresponding threads on said drive screw; and a gear assembly for rotating said drive screw, said gear assembly housed within a gearbox housing; a braking mechanism comprising a locking cylinder and a locking plate mounted to said gearbox housing; and a cover plate mounted to said locking cylinder. 2. The mast assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said nut carrier assemblies further comprises a pair of springs on opposite sides of said threaded nut housed within said collar. 3. The mast assembly of claim 2, wherein each of said nut carrier assemblies comprises keys on opposite sides of said threaded nuts. 4. The mast assembly of claim 3, wherein each of said nut carrier assemblies further comprises slots on opposite ends of an inner diameter of each of said collars. 5. The mast assembly of claim 4, wherein each of said nut carrier assemblies further comprises a pair of retaining washers to secure said pair of springs in position. 6. The telescoping mast assembly of claim 1, wherein said drive screw is an elongate member with threads. 7. The telescoping mast assembly of claim 1, wherein said gear assembly is manually controlled by a crank. 8. The telescoping mast assembly of claim 1, wherein said gear assembly is driven by a motor. 9. The telescoping mast assembly of claim 1, wherein said first, second and third elongate tubular sections each comprises carbon fiber material. 10. The telescoping mast assembly of claim 1, wherein said first, second and third elongate tubular sections are concentric with each other. 11. The telescoping mast assembly of claim 1, wherein said gear assembly comprises a first gear, a second gear and a third gear which have interengaging teeth. 12. The mast assembly of claim 11, wherein said gear assembly further comprises a shaft extending through said first gear for rotating said gear assembly. 13. The mast assembly of claim 1, wherein said locking plate comprises a plurality of retaining members. 14. The mast assembly of claim 13, wherein said locking cylinder comprises a plurality of slots for receiving said retaining members. 15. The mast assembly of claim 14, wherein said braking mechanism further comprises a spring interposed between said locking plate and said locking cylinder. 16. The mast assembly of claim 15, wherein said cover plate is secured to said locking cylinder via fastening members. 17. The mast assembly of claim 16, further comprising a key extending from said gear box housing. 18. The mast assembly of claim 17, wherein said cover plate comprises a recess for selectively receiving said key of said gear box housing. 19. The mast assembly of claim 18, wherein said cover plate comprises a key extending from a top surface thereof. 20. The mast assembly of claim 19, wherein when said cover plate is pushed in a downward manner, said spring compresses and said retaining members are released from engagement with said slots, allowing said shaft of said gear assembly to rotate. 21. The mast assembly of claim 20, wherein when said cover plate is released from being pushed in a downward manner, said spring expands and said retaining members engage said slots, thus restricting said shaft of said gear assembly from rotating. 22. A telescoping mast, comprising: a plurality of elongate tubular sections which are telescopically attached to each other; an axial drive screw centrally located in said mast for extending and retracting said elongate tubular sections; a gear assembly connected to said drive screw for rotating said drive screw; and a locking mechanism for locking said gear assembly, said locking mechanism comprises a first section surrounding a second section secured to said gear assembly, wherein said second section comprises at least one elongated member extending from a surface of said second section; and wherein said first section comprises at least one slot for engaging said at least one elongated member, thereby preventing rotation of said gear assembly, wherein said locking mechanism first section comprises a cylinder; wherein said locking mechanism second section comprises a disk; and a cover member secured to an upper surface of said cylinder. 23. The telescoping mast of claim 22, wherein said disk is secured to said gear assembly. 24. The telescoping mast of claim 22, wherein said at least one elongated member comprises a plurality of fasteners spaced apart on said disk. 25. The telescoping mast at claim 22, wherein said cylinder comprises a plurality of slots spaced apart on an internal surface of said cylinder. 26. The telescoping mast of claim 22, further comprising a biasing member interposed between said disk and said cover member. 27. The telescoping mast of claim 26, wherein said biasing member comprises a spring. 28. The telescoping mast of claim 27, wherein said spring is received within a recess of said cover member. 29. The telescoping mast of claim 27, wherein when said spring is in an extended position, said at least one elongated member on said disk is in mating engagement with said at least one slot of said cylinder, thus preventing rotation of said input shaft. 30. The telescoping mast of claim 29, wherein when said spring is in a compressed configuration, said at least one elongated member is released from engagement from said at least one slot, thus allowing rotation of said input shaft. 31. The telescoping mast of claim 30, wherein said cover member further comprises an extension member which matingly engages an associated handle for rotating said input shaft.