초록 ▼

A communications unit. At least one example includes a platform that has a tower assembly operably coupled thereto such that tower assembly is movable between a horizontally deployed position and a vertically deployed position relative to the platform. The tower assembly includes a plurality of tele

A communications unit. At least one example includes a platform that has a tower assembly operably coupled thereto such that tower assembly is movable between a horizontally deployed position and a vertically deployed position relative to the platform. The tower assembly includes a plurality of telescoping tower segments that are movably supported relative to each other such that they may be selectively manually deployed between a retracted position and the horizontally deployed position. The unit may further include a locking assembly that is configured to selectively and individually lock each of the plurality of telescoping tower segments in the horizontally deployed position. A deployment assembly operably interfaces with the tower assembly and is configured to selectively move the tower assembly between the horizontally deployed position and the vertically deployed position.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A communications unit, comprising: a platform; anda tower assembly operably coupled to said platform and being movable between a horizontally deployed position and a vertically deployed position relative to said platform, said tower assembly comprising:a plurality of telescoping tower segments mo

1. A communications unit, comprising: a platform; anda tower assembly operably coupled to said platform and being movable between a horizontally deployed position and a vertically deployed position relative to said platform, said tower assembly comprising:a plurality of telescoping tower segments movably supported relative to each other such that said plurality of telescoping tower segments may be selectively manually deployed from a retracted position to said horizontally deployed position, said plurality of telescoping tower segments comprising: a first tower segment movably coupled to said platform;a second tower segment telescopingly coupled to said first tower segment and being selectively manually movable relative to said first tower segment between a first fully retracted position and a first fully extended position;a third tower segment telescopingly coupled to said second tower segment and being selectively manually movable relative to said second tower segment between a second fully retracted position and a second fully extended position, said third tower segment being individually telescopingly movable relative to said second tower segment to any second telescoping position between said second fully retracted position and said second fully extended position without telescopingly extending said second tower segment relative to said first tower segment;a locking assembly configured to selectively and individually lock said second tower segment in said first fully retracted position and said first fully extended position and any first telescoping position therebetween and said third tower segment in said second fully retracted position and said second fully extended position and said any second telescoping position therebetween; andwherein said communications unit further comprises:a deployment assembly operably interfacing with said tower assembly and being configured to selectively move the tower assembly between said horizontally deployed position and said vertically deployed position and retain said tower assembly in said vertically deployed position. 2. The communications unit of claim 1 wherein said first tower segment is pivotally coupled to said platform and defines a first central tower space therewithin and wherein said second tower segment defines a second central tower space therewithin and is telescopingly received within said first central tower space and wherein said third tower segment is telescopingly received within said second central tower space. 3. The communications unit of claim 2 wherein said first tower segment, said second tower segment and said third tower segment are each triangular shaped when viewed from their respective ends. 4. The communications unit of claim 3 wherein said first tower segment comprises a first tower frame assembly comprising three first columns that are interconnected together by a collection of first struts and wherein said second tower segment comprises a second tower frame assembly comprising three second columns that are interconnected together by a collection of second struts and wherein said third tower segment comprises a third tower frame assembly comprising three third columns that interconnected together by a collection of third struts. 5. The communications unit of claim 4 wherein a bottom one of said second columns is movably supported on a corresponding bottom one of said first columns by at least one first roller assembly and wherein a bottom one of said third columns is movably supported on said bottom one of said second columns by at least one second roller assembly. 6. The communications unit of claim 5 further comprising: a first roller track system for telescopingly supporting said second tower segment within said first central tower space within said first tower segment; anda second roller track system for telescopingly supporting said third tower segment within said second central tower space within said second tower segment. 7. The communications unit of claim 6 wherein said first roller track system comprises: at least one elongate first track coupled to one of said first and second tower frame assemblies; andat least one first track roller attached to the other one of said first and second tower frame and corresponding to each of said at least one elongate first track to rollably interact therewith and wherein said second roller track system comprises:at least one elongate second track coupled to one of said second and third tower frame assemblies; andat least one second track roller attached to the other one of said second and third tower frame assemblies and corresponding to each of said at least one elongate second track to rollably interact therewith. 8. The communications unit of claim 2 wherein said deployment assembly comprises: a deployment arm comprising a first leg portion pivotally coupled to said platform and a second leg portion projecting from said first leg portion at an obtuse angle relative thereto, said second leg portion operably interfacing with said first tower segment, said deployment arm movable between an unactuated position wherein said first tower segment is retained in at least one of said retracted position and said horizontally deployed position and an actuated position wherein said deployment arm moves said tower assembly from said horizontally deployed position to said vertically deployed position; and means for moving the deployment arm between said actuated and unactuated positions. 9. The communications unit of claim 2 wherein said third tower segment defines a third central tower space therewithin and wherein said plurality of telescoping tower segments further comprises a fourth tower segment telescopingly received within said third central tower space. 10. The communications unit of claim 1 wherein said first tower segment comprises at least three first columns that are interconnected together to define a first central tower segment area therebetween and wherein said second tower segment is telescopingly received within said first central tower segment area and comprises at least three second columns that are interconnected together to define a second central tower segment area therebetween and wherein said third tower segment is telescopingly received within said second central tower segment area and comprises at least three third columns that are interconnected together and wherein said locking assembly comprises: at least one first lock member positioned between at least one of said first columns and a corresponding one of said second columns adjacent thereto, each said at least one first lock member movable between a first unlocked position wherein said second tower segment is movable within said first central tower segment area and a first locked position wherein said at least one of said first columns and said corresponding one of said second columns are immovably locked together; andat least one second lock member positioned between at least one of said second columns and a corresponding one of said third columns adjacent thereto, each said at least one second lock member being movable between a second unlocked position wherein said third tower segment is movable within said second central tower segment area and a second locked position wherein said at least one of said second columns and said corresponding one of said third columns are immovably locked together. 11. The communications unit of claim 10 wherein at least one of said first lock members is cam-actuated. 12. The communications unit of claim 11 wherein said at least one of said first lock members comprises: first and second clamp bases supported for movable travel relative to each other between said unlocked position and said locked position wherein a portion of said at least one of said first columns and another portion of said corresponding one of said second columns are clamped between said first and second clamp bases; anda manually-actuatable cam operably interfacing with said first and second clamp bases to selectively move said first and second clamp bases between said unlocked position and said locked position and to selectively retain said first and second clamp bases in said locked position. 13. The communications unit of claim 12 wherein said first clamp base comprises opposed first retaining contours formed thereon wherein one of said opposed first retaining contours corresponds to an outer contour of said portion of said at least one of said first columns and wherein another of said opposed first retaining contours corresponds to another outer contour of said another portion of said corresponding one of said second columns and wherein said second clamp base comprises opposed second retaining contours formed thereon wherein one of said opposed second retaining contours corresponds to said outer contour of said portion of said at least one of said first columns and wherein another of said opposed second retaining contours corresponds to said another outer contour of said another portion of said corresponding one of said second columns. 14. The communications unit of claim 1 wherein said platform is electrically groundable and wherein said communications unit further comprises: a shell supported on said platform and being electrically grounded thereto, said shell having a plurality of exterior wall portions fabricated from electrically conductive material;an enclosure having a common exterior wall portion with said shell and being attached thereto, said common exterior wall portion being lined with a magnetic shield material; andat least one power supply cable entering said enclosure through said common exterior wall portion and said magnetic shield material. 15. The communications unit of claim 1 comprising a fourth tower segment telescopingly coupled to said third tower segment and being selectively manually movable relative to said third tower segment between a third fully retracted position and a third extended position, said fourth tower segment being individually telescopingly movable relative to said third tower segment without telescopingly extending said second tower segment relative to said first tower segment and said third tower segment relative to said second tower segment. 16. A method of installing a communications unit in a remote location, comprising: moving a communications unit of claim 1 to the remote location while the plurality of telescoping tower segments are retained in a stored position wherein said second tower segment is in said first fully retracted position and said third tower segment is in said second fully retracted position;moving the plurality of telescoping tower segments from the stored position to the horizontally deployed position;locking the plurality of telescoping tower segments together to retain the tower assembly in the horizontally deployed position; andactuating the deployment assembly to move the locked tower assembly to the vertically deployed position. 17. A portable communications unit, comprising: an electrically groundable portable platform; anda tower assembly operably coupled to said portable platform and being movable between a horizontally deployed position to a vertically deployed position relative to said portable platform, said tower assembly comprising: at least four concentric tower segments movably supported in a telescoping orientation relative to each other for selective movement between a retracted position and said horizontally deployed position and wherein a largest one of said tower segments is supported for movement relative to said portable platform between said horizontally deployed position and said vertically deployed position;a plurality of manually actuatable lock assemblies for locking said tower assembly in said horizontally deployed position;a deployment arm comprising a first leg portion pivotally coupled to said portable platform and a second leg portion projecting from said first leg portion at an obtuse angle relative thereto, said second leg portion operably interfacing with said largest one of said tower segments, said deployment arm movable between an unactuated position wherein said largest one of said tower segment is retained in at least one of said retracted position and said horizontally deployed position and an actuated position wherein said deployment arm moves said tower assembly from said horizontally deployed position to said vertically deployed position;a hydraulically actuatable cylinder for moving the deployment arm between said actuated and unactuated positions and wherein said portable communications unit further comprises:a shell supported on said portable platform and being electrically grounded thereto, said shell having a plurality of exterior wall portions fabricated from electrically conductive material;an enclosure having a common exterior wall portion with said shell and being attached thereto, said common exterior wall portion being lined with a magnetic shield material; andat least one power supply cable entering said enclosure through said common exterior wall portion and said magnetic shield material. 18. The portable communications unit of claim 17 wherein said largest of said tower segments defines a first central tower space and wherein said at least four telescoping tower segments further comprises: a second tower segment movably supported within said first central tower space on a plurality of first rollers, said second tower segment defining a second central tower space;a third tower segment movably supported within said second central tower space on a plurality of second rollers, said third tower segment defining a third central tower space; anda fourth tower segment movably supported within said third central tower space on a plurality of third rollers. 19. The portable communications unit of claim 18 wherein said largest tower segment, said second tower segment, said third tower segment and said fourth tower segment each at least comprise a first column, a second column and a third column and wherein said portable communications unit further comprises: first means for selectively locking said first, second and third columns of said largest tower segment to said first, second and third columns, respectively of said second tower segment;second means for selectively locking said first, second and third columns of said second tower segment to said first, second and third columns, respectively of said third tower segment; andthird means for selectively locking said first, second and third columns of said third tower segment to said first, second and third columns, respectively of said fourth tower segment. 20. A communications unit, comprising: a platform; anda tower assembly operably coupled to said platform and being movable between a horizontally deployed position and a vertically deployed position relative to said platform, said tower assembly comprising: a plurality of telescoping tower segments comprising: a first tower segment comprising at least three first columns that are interconnected together to define a first central tower segment area therebetween;a second tower segment telescopingly received within said first central tower segment area and comprising at least three second columns interconnected together to define a second central tower segment area therebetween;a third tower segment telescopingly received within said second central tower segment area and comprising at least three third columns that are interconnected together; anda locking assembly comprising: at least one first lock member positioned between at least one of said first columns and a corresponding one of said second columns adjacent thereto, each said at least one first lock member movable between a first unlocked position wherein said second tower segment is movable within said first central tower segment area and a first locked position wherein said at least one of said first columns and said corresponding one of said second columns are immovably locked together and wherein said at least one of said first lock members comprises:first and second clamp bases supported for movable travel relative to each other between said unlocked position and said locked position wherein a portion of said at least one of said first columns and another portion of said corresponding one of said second columns are clamped between said first and second clamp bases; anda manually-actuatable cam operably interfacing with said first and second clamp bases to selectively move said first and second clamp bases between said unlocked position and said locked position and to selectively retain said first and second clamp bases in said locked position, said locking assembly further comprising:at least one second lock member positioned between at least one of said second columns and a corresponding one of said third columns adjacent thereto, each said at least one second lock member being movable between a second unlocked position wherein said third tower segment is movable within said second central tower segment area and a second locked position wherein said at least one of said second columns and said corresponding one of said third columns are immovably locked together and wherein said communications unit further comprises:a deployment assembly operably interfacing with said tower assembly and being configured to selectively move the tower assembly between said horizontally deployed position and said vertically deployed position and retain said tower assembly in said vertically deployed position. 21. The communications unit of claim 20 wherein said first clamp base comprises opposed first retaining contours formed thereon wherein one of said opposed first retaining contours corresponds to an outer contour of said portion of said at least one of said first columns and wherein another of said opposed first retaining contours corresponds to another outer contour of said another portion of said corresponding one of said second columns and wherein said second clamp base comprises opposed second retaining contours formed thereon wherein one of said opposed second retaining contours corresponds to said outer contour of said portion of said at least one of said first columns and wherein another of said opposed second retaining contours corresponds to said another outer contour of said another portion of said corresponding one of said second columns. 22. A communications unit, comprising: a platform; anda tower assembly operably coupled to said platform and being movable between a horizontally deployed position and a vertically deployed position relative to said platform, said tower assembly comprising: a first tower segment pivotally coupled to said platform and defining a first central tower space therewithin;a second tower segment defining a second central tower space therewithin and being telescopingly received within said first central tower space; anda third tower segment telescopingly received within said second central tower space, said second and third tower segments being movably supported relative to each other such that said second and third tower segments may be selectively manually deployed from a retracted position to said horizontally deployed position;a locking assembly configured to selectively and individually lock each of said plurality of telescoping tower segments in said horizontally deployed position; anda deployment assembly operably interfacing with said tower assembly and being configured to selectively move the tower assembly between said horizontally deployed position and said vertically deployed position and retain said tower assembly in said vertically deployed position said deployment assembly comprising a deployment arm that comprises a first leg portion that is pivotally coupled to said platform and a second leg portion projecting from said first leg portion at an obtuse angle relative thereto, said second leg portion operably interfacing with said first tower segment, said deployment arm movable between an unactuated position wherein said first tower segment is retained in at least one of said retracted position and said horizontally deployed position and an actuated position wherein said deployment arm moves said tower assembly from said horizontally deployed position to said vertically deployed position; andmeans for moving the deployment arm between said actuated and unactuated positions. 23. A method of installing a tower unit in a remote location, comprising: providing a tower unit comprising: a platform; anda tower assembly operably coupled to said platform and being movable between a horizontally deployed position and a vertically deployed position relative to said platform, said tower assembly comprising:a plurality of telescoping tower segments each being movably supported relative to each other and configured to be selectively manually movable between a corresponding fully retracted position and a corresponding fully deployed position while said tower assembly is in said horizontally deployed position;at least one locking clamp associated with each of said plurality of telescoping tower segments for selectively clamping said telescoping tower segment in any position between and including said corresponding fully retracted and said corresponding fully deployed position; anda deployment assembly operably interfacing with said tower assembly and being configured to selectively move the tower assembly between said horizontally deployed position and said vertically deployed position and retain said tower assembly in said vertically deployed position and wherein said method further comprises:moving said tower unit to the remote location while the plurality of telescoping tower segments are retained in said fully retracted position;moving the plurality of telescoping tower segments from the fully retracted position to the horizontally deployed position;locking the plurality of telescoping tower segments together to retain the tower assembly in the horizontally deployed position; andactuating the deployment assembly to move the locked tower assembly to the vertically deployed position.