US1325053A - Telescoping tower - Google Patents

Description

F. c. ST EIDLE, TELESCOPING TOWER. APPLICATION HLED APR-24.15MB.

Patented Dec; 16, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l- F. c. STEIDLL TELESCOPING TOWER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 24. I918.

LQL Q-5 Q53D Patented 1190. 16,1919

. I 4 SHEETS -SHEET Z- p F. c. STEIDLE. TELESCOPING TOWER. APPHCATION FILED APR. 24. 1918. 0

Patented Dec 16,1919.

7m 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED C. STEIDLE, OF MILAN, MICHIGAN.

TELESCOPIN G TOWER.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, FRED C. STEIDLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milan, in the county of Washtenaw and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telescop ing Towers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in extension towers or masts, and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a telescopic mast or tower which is operated by pneumatic means, and in which the varioussections' are raised,- beginning with the bottom section-and ending with the top.

A further object of my invention is to provide an extension mast in which the various sections arerendered water tight in both extended or telescoped position, so that the mast may be used in connection with a submarine for wireless signaling as well as in connection with military automobiles for signal work, such as a look-out tower.

' A further object of my invention is to provide novel means includinga special form of plunger valve for each section, whereby the sections are elevated in succession and may be lowered in the same order; that is to say, the lower section is lowered first and then the succeeding sections, to the top.

Other objects of my invention will appear in the following specification and the novel features of theinvention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application and in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the mast in its extended position, as applied to a sub marine, portions of the latter being shown in section;

-Fig. 2 is a sectional detailed view of a. portion of the lower part of the mast;

Fig. 3 is a detailed section of a portion of the upper part of the mast when the latter is in its collapsed position;

Fig. 4 is a section along the line 4 4" of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a section along the line 5"-5" of Fig. 2';

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through a portion of the mast s owing the lower ends of the sections when the mast is collapsed;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

Application filed April 24, 1918. Serial No. 230,435.

purpose. In thedrawings it is shown for submarine use. The main deck of the submarine is shown at 1, the packing between the base of the tower and the deck at 1", and the superstructure at 2. Secured to the deck lis a base portion having a bottom 3 and integral cylindrical walls 4. At the upper end of the walls 4 is an integral reduced portion 5 which is threaded at 6 as shown in the drawings. Disposed within the walls 4 and contiguous thereto is areinforcing rin 7. Between the upper end of the reinforcing ring and the shoulder 6", formed by the reduced portion 6, is a plate 8, this plate being dish-shaped as shown in the drawing and forming a partition between the base portion and the bottom section of the mast. A resilient gasket 9 is disposed between the edges of the plate 8 and the shoulder 6".

Arranged to pass through the basev 3 is an air or steam inlet pipe 10. This pipe is threaded into the plate 8, as shown in the drawings, and is provided with a control valve 11 and also with a check valve 12. The lower end of the pipe 10 is designed to communicate with a suitable source of compressed air or steam (not shown). A second pipe 13 is also threaded into the plate 8 and passes through the base 3. This pipe is provided with a control valve 14 and with a pressure gage 15. Adjustable packing glands l0 and 13 are provided for the pipes 10 and 13, respectivel Extending through the walls 4 of the support and through the reinforcing ring 7 is a shaft 16 which bears at each end a reel 17. This shaft is also provided with packing glands 18 so as to make the device, water 24 1and forining a cone clutch member. will be obviousthat when the handle 21 1S turned the :clutch member 24 is rotated.

Cod eratin with the clutch member. 24 is a shdable c utch' member 26 which is frustum shaped and which is slidable along'the shaft 16.i The shaft- 16 is slottedas shown the slot-27 and which .thus permits longituwhile it provides rotary movement of'the shaft' 16 -when the clutch member 26 is turned. In Fig. 7 it will be seen that the hi 1 b of theclutch member 26 isprovided with a groove-29 in which is disposedayoke preferably ot a cy 3 recess.33-.intojwhic u gasket 34 "This gaslre -to-extend beyond'the'upper end f 35 tengainstthe underFs'ide of l the-ring,

at the end of the 'bellcrank lever 30 which has an .operatinghandle or rod 30",", When the-latter pulled downwardly theclutch member 2653 rought into operative engageto-the shaft 16':t o rotate'therew ith means of keys 17" or in any-other suitablemanner. Screwedtowheth' "dd' rtio'n'6 ofthe base is th'el botto' a as; to rsserowir; at a l tter, it will obsplrlv drical-member'3l and to the la On opposite sides hf therin 'are disposed Each ofthe'telescopid sectionsisiprovided with; a plunger valve. A{ description of one of these plunger valves will s'uflice for all sincethey are piecisely the same 'in construc- 37 threaded at 37"- to receivethe adjacent upper section 38. The reduced portion 37 or any suitableidevicew slide freely on the interior of the cylinder 3.1, but in order that there should be -no leakage of air. I provide the rings 46. As manyvrings may be provided as are necessary to form an air tight plunger, the number depending upon the size of the parts.

-Openi n'gs 474 are; provided which pass;

through the ring or cap 32 and through the gasket 34, the purpose of these openings bemg to permit'the air which is between the sections of .the tower, .to escape as the plunger is movmg upward and thus allows nection that Fig. 2 showstheiplunger in its uppermost "position. I

Referring now; to ,Figs. 3 and-6, it \villbe seen that. the various sections of the mast I "may be collapsed or telesc0ped.= The rin s ment with the clutch memberflii thus transinitting the movement of the worm gear 24 to the shaft 16;""f1he ,pulieysl'f areifsecured- 32 which are associated with the upper en s [of the cylinders such as those shown at 38,

48 and 49,. are provided ,with flanges 32- for their -respective cylinders'and which when thecg glev s collapsed, overl e the air 6, the plunger of, thegcylinder bears" the cylinder 38. aejplu'nger of the cylinder 38 bca'rs'the cyltieln ast pr tower, but it 'willb e derstoo thatgas inany as'are necessary lnight lbej used-, ivithout departing .fronfthe spirit or. the'scopeof the invention. "It'a'vill i be seen'thatthe plunger secured to'thc bot- .tom of the or top section ;is just a straight plunger without a valve, "as no air -is-to pass at any time. The uppermost cyl inder section which in the present instance is the scction'49 may bear a platform, or aerials Referring mow -to Fig. *1,

cured to theeye-bolts 35 of i thtr uppermost mast section 49. From thence they pass do\\ -'n\vardly through the eye-bolts 35 to the has an integral top 39 whichis PrOVided- SectiOH 48.and through the eye-bolts of the with a conical valveseat- 40. "The top 39 is provided with downwardly extending sleeve or socket 4L- A valve 42 of conical shape is secured at the endof a bolt 43,- the bolt being threaded into the valve so as to turn freely with respect thereto when desired.

The socket 41 is provided with an integral other sections pulling. on astraight line or each section. being drawn directly into the 48; and'soon. Ind-he drawings I have" four. oithese cylmdeis, forming, four 4 l ave shown therein PlllhWll'eS 51, these,\ res being seone below it, being secured to the reels '17,

said Y wires being adjusted to the proper lengthto be fully taken up when the tower is extended. Other guy-wires such as those shown at 52 (seeFig. 1), may also be used and these wires are preferably wound on spring drun'ls' such as that shown at 53, Fig. 1, these drums being carried by anysuitablc support such as the deck of the submarine and. placed in the various-positions or directions in whichthe wlre is drawn.

Fronrthe foregoing description of the various parts of the device the operation thereof-may befreadily understood. We will as- Leas es sume that the tower or mast is collapsed. he various sect ons will then be in the posltion shown in Figs. and 6. In Fig. 6 1t will be seen that the valves 4:2 otthe various automatically ting the air within the sections are open. '.lhe valve ofthe section 31 rests on the plate 8 while the succeeding valves are held in'open position by their contact with the valve stems beneath them.

When it is desired to elevate the tower or mast, the valve 11 is opened and the compressed air or steam is admitted thrimghthe pipe 10 directly into the interior of the plunger valve 56, and the free flow of air pressure through the large inlet pipe 10 causes the plunger. 36 to rise. The instant this plunger is moved, its valve =12 will be,

closed because the spring has been adjusted at such tension that it will close. Th plunger valve moves upwardly until the shoulder on the plunger is backing ring or gasket 3 4, making the first or lower point air tight/ When this occurs the, air pressure becomes great enough to force open valve so to admit air past the valve to raise the plunger valve in the next section 38. In the'same manner the succeeding sections are extended one'at a time. The air in the space between two adjacent sections, for instance, the sections 31 and 38, escapes through the vent holes 47 as the plunger valve 36 is carried upward and this prevents the formation of an air cushion and allows the plunger valve to seat properly as shown. In the meantimethe pull wires 51 have been playing out, due to the fact that the reels 17 are free to move, the clutch being disengaged when tension is exerted on the cables. The guy wires 52 unwind from the spring drums 53.

lVhen the mast or tower has been extendcd so that there is no further movement the fact will be indicated by'a rise ol pressure in the pressure gage so that the control valve 11 may be turned to prevent further on trance of air.

In collapsing the tower. the valve 14 is opened and the weight of the mast causes the latter to move the plunger of the cylinder 31 downwardly as fast as the air escapes. This, of course,can be regulated. \Vhen the cylinder 38 has reached its lowermost position then the valve 42 of the cylinder 31'will have engaged the plate 8,- (see Fig. 6), thus opening the valve and permitcylinder 38 to escape past the valve. The plunger of the cylinder 38 will now begin to move downwardly and will carry with it those sections which are supported by it. When it reaches its lowermost position the end of the valve stem c. the head otthe bolt will engage the stem of the valve immediately below it and will force the valve to open so as to permit the air to pass out from the interior of thenext upper section. Thus the action continues seated tightly against the other sections for until all of the sections have been collapsed in the manner shown in Figs. 3 and 6.

While the sections are being collapsed, the guy wires 52 are being wound up by means of the spring drums 53 and the cables 51 are being re-wound on the reels 1'? by the use of the worm drive and the clutchsoi'i the shaft 16.. When the valve 14 is opened to allow air to pass from the tower, the rod 302 is pulled downwardly which shifts the clutch member 26 into engagement with the clutch member 24, so that when the shaft 16 is revolved by means of the worm gearing the tower. sections will be positively collapsed. The power for propelling the shaft 16 to rewind the pull cables 51 may be hand power or any other suitable means on the submarine. By means of the clutch any suitable power can be used with no danger of breaking the cables as the operator in holding down the control rOd' 30 can throw the clutch in or out at will and can bring to hear more or less pressure locking the clutch. tightly or loosely as the cable is taken up and thus controlling the movement of the tower sections at will. It will be observed that the worm gearing forum a powerful means for rotating the reels, so that the sections may be positively forced dowmvardly in the manner do scribed, the pull wires 51 acting, inv this instance, ascablcs for positively collapsing the sections and drawing each section di-- rectly into the next larger section.

Normally the clutch members 26 and 24* are held out of engagement by means of the spring 26, but may be brought into engage ment as stated by pulling down on the handle 30*. When the handle released, the spring forces the clutch members apart.

he use of pneumatic means for elevating and lowering the to tver obviates the dang rs of sudden movement since the con.- trol valves can be manipulated so as to raise or lower them as fast or as slowly as desired, and as a whole the tower will positively extend and collapse regardless of any climatic conditions or on an angle or inclined position.

I claim 1. An extension tower or mast comprising a plurality of telescopic sections, plun gers disposed within certain of said s ctions, each oi said plungers being provided with a spring-pressed valve for normally cutting oil communication between adjacent sections, the plunger of one'sectipn being socured to and supporting the ad acent upper section, pneumatic means for ca'usingthe movement of said, plungers and the sections to which they are sccl'u'cd' whereby the mast may be extended, cables secured to the uppermostsection, guide means earned by the receiving the cable and means for positively winding in the cable when the mast is being collapsed, said lastnamed means comprising clutch, a shaft,

a reel carried by the shaft for receiving the cable and a Worm gearing for rotating the shaft by means of the said. clutch.

2. An extension tower or mast comprising a plurality of telescopic sections,

"-plungers disposed within certain of said whereby the mast may be extended, cables secured' to the uppermost section, guide.

means carried by the other sections for receiving the cable: and means for positively Win-ding in the cable when the mast is collapsed, said last-named means comprising a clutch,a shaft, a reel carried by the shaft for receiving the cable and a Wormgearing for rotating the clutch and the shaft.

' 3. An extension tower or mast coinprlsing a base having a threaded portion, a tower section screwed to said threaded portion, a cap for said towersection provided with a central opening and vent holes which avoid the formation. of air cushions, a plunger for said section havin a threaded )ortion a second tower section. secured to said threaded portion and arranged to extend through the central opening in the cap. a valve seat carried by said plunger, avalve and spring means for holding said valve normally tos'aid seat and n'lcans for adjusting the tension of the spring.

4. An extension tower or mast comprising a base having a threaded portion, a tower section screwed tosaid threaded portion, a cap for said tower sect-ion provided with a central opening and vent holes, 'a plunger for said section having a threaded portion, a second tower section secured to said threaded portion and arranged to extend through the central. openingin the cap, a

valve carried by said plunger, a valve andspring'nieans for holding said valve normally to said seat, means for adjusting the tension of the spring and a gasket carried by said cap and arranged to he engaged by a portion of said plunger, said cap and said gasket havinga series of vent openings for permitting the escape of air between the sections.

5. An extension towe'fr or mast comprising a plurality of telescopic sections each section comprising a cylinder, a cap for certain of said sections said cap having a central opening arranged to receive the adjacent section, a plunger disposed in; certain of said sections and being secured to the adjacent section, said plunger having a centrally disposed valve seat,- a valve, a valve stem adjustably secured to said valve-and being provided with a head, a spring arranged to hear on a portion of the plunger at one end and upon said head at the other end and extensions carried by the plunger-and arranged to engage said head for lin'iitingthe movement of the valve.

6. An extension tower or mast comprising a plurality of telescopic sections each section comprising a cylinder, acap for certain ol said sections said cap having vent holes and a central opening arranged to receive the adjacent section, 'a plunger disposed in certain of said sections and being secured to the-adjacent section, said plunger having a centrally disposed valve seat, a valve, a valve stem adjustably secured to said valve and being provided with a head, a spring arranged to bear on a portion of the plunger at one end and upon said head at the other end extensions carried by the plunger and arranged to engage said head for limiting the movement of the valve, meansfor admitting compressed air or steam into the interior o'fthe section containing the plunger and means for withdrawing the air therefrom.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

rare 0. s'rEinL'r.

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