360-degree observation tower with rising mast

Abstract

The invention relates to 360-degree observation towers with a rising mast which are intended for viewing tourist attractions from a height of 50-70 metres. The proposed 360-degree observation tower with a rising mast comprises: a base (1) fixed to a foundation and having a lifting mechanism with a three-dimensional form mounted thereon, said lifting mechanism being formed by interconnected extendable sections (3); a platform with a capsule (10) mounted thereon; and a hydraulic drive mounted for cooperation with the extendable sections. The lifting mechanism is configured in the form of a telescopic mast (2) consisting of sections (3), the first of which is fixed and the subsequent sections being extendable, which are connected to one another to form a rigid structure having a cross-section in the shape of an equilateral triangle. Each section (3) consists of vertical posts (4) arranged at the corners of an equilateral triangle and connected to one another by trusses (5). Each upper section (3) is mounted inside its corresponding lower section (3) with equal spacing between the sections. Mounted between each post (4) of a lower section and the corresponding post (4) of its upper section (3) is a plunger-type single-cavity hydraulic cylinder (6) with a hollow rod, which serves to transfer a hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic cylinder (6) of one section (3) to the hydraulic cylinder (6) of the next section (3). Mounted between the posts (4) of each section (3) from two sides are linear bearings consisting of guides (7) with carriages (8). The hydraulic drive comprises a hydraulic power unit (9) and is equipped with a control system.

Description

[0001] 360° observation tower on a rising mast

[0002] Scope of application

[0003] The invention relates to lifts intended for vertical lifting of people for viewing tourist sites from a height of 50 - 70 meters, namely to a circular viewing tower on a rising mast for vertical lifting of an observation platform, made in the form of a capsule. It is possible to place a restaurant or a cafe-bar in the tower capsule. In this case, the tower can be installed in any place where beautiful urban landscapes open up from a bird's eye view. In this case, the floor with tables installed on it will be able to rotate 360°.

[0004] The invention relates to lifts intended for vertical lifting of people for viewing tourist sites from a height of 50-70 meters, namely to all-round viewing towers on a rising mast intended for viewing tourist sites from a height of 50-70 meters, namely to lifts intended for vertical lifting of an observation platform made in the form of a capsule. It is possible to place a restaurant or a café-bar in the tower capsule. In this case, the tower can be installed in any place where beautiful urban landscapes are visible from a bird's eye view. In this case, the floor with tables installed on it will be able to rotate 360°.

[0005] Prior art

[0006] There are many towers around the world that are designed for leisure and entertainment, in which the observation platform for restaurants and shops is installed at a certain height. Therefore, elevators or stairs are used to transport visitors from the ground level to such a platform, usually located in the inner shaft of the tower. Thus, visitors are deprived of the opportunity to see during the ascent and descent. Designs are known that use transparent elevators outside the tower shaft, as in Masai Tower in Macau, Asia, but this has the additional inconvenience of the fact that external elevators can become unsightly over time and spoil the aesthetic appearance of the tower.

[0007] The tower designs described in UK Patent No. 655970 and in European Patent EP 0337673 are provided with observation platforms mounted on a tower that itself has the ability to rise or fall. In both cases, the tower has the ability to move up and down, folding in on itself, for example using a so-called "track" system (an articulated parallelogram bracket), or lowering itself completely into the ground. In this way, the observation platform in these devices can move from a lower position to an upper position. In both examples, a large horizontal or vertical surface area at ground level is required. In the "track" system, an increased surface area is required for greater heights, and in the latter example, the entire height of the tower must be placed below the ground surface. Therefore, the restrictions associated with the placement of the tower for viewing the area apply to both examples of a transformable tower.

[0008] There are strict UNESCO restrictions on the height of new buildings and structures in order to preserve existing historic urban landscapes.

[0009] Therefore, there was a need to create a simple and reliable design for a panoramic viewing tower that would allow for the height limitation in the folded state and provide the required lifting height.

[0010] A lift is known, intended for vertical lifting of a capsule with people (a circular observation tower), comprising a base with a spatially shaped scissor-type lifting mechanism installed on it, formed by interconnected sliding structural elements, each of which is made in the form of a series of hinged-connected levers, as well as a platform and a drive mounted with the possibility of interaction with the sliding structural elements. The lifting mechanism is made in the form of a mast, including three blocks, the longitudinal geometric axes of which in a horizontal section form an equilateral triangle, wherein each mast block contains two sliding structural elements, in which the last row of hinged-connected levers is made as half of the previous row, and the structural elements are rigidly fixed to each other by axes, respectively connecting the centers of the levers and the connection nodes of the rows.At the top, the mast blocks are rigidly connected to each other using a frame installed coaxially with the mast; in addition, the platform is rigidly fixed to the upper ends of the mast blocks and contains a capsule mounted on it.

[0011] The vertical movement of the lift platform on which the capsule is installed is provided by a hydraulic drive and a scissor-type lifting mechanism (patent for utility model UA No. 114755, IPC B66 F3 / 00, B66 F3 / 22, published 10.03.2017).

[0012] However, this device is quite complex from a technical and technological point of view, since it requires increased precision in manufacturing, which in turn leads to significant increases in both manufacturing and operation of the product. The operating efficiency is low, and the lifting height is limited. Disclosure of the invention

[0013] The invention is based on the task of creating a circular observation tower on a rising mast, in which, due to a new arrangement of structural elements and their connections, a rigid structure is provided with an unchanged position of the vertical axis of the structure, which ensures uniform distribution of the load on the base fixed to the foundation, eliminating jamming and vibration during operation.

[0014] This technical solution allows using the proposed design for lifting / lowering a capsule with people while ensuring safety and comfort of operation. In addition, it allows reducing the height of the all-round viewing tower to a minimum when not in use, which will allow its construction in historical places of cities and towns while preserving urban landscapes.

[0015] The stated task is achieved by the fact that in a circular viewing tower on a rising mast, comprising a base, fixedly secured to a foundation, with a spatially shaped lifting mechanism installed on it, formed by retractable sections connected to each other, a platform with a capsule installed on it and a hydraulic drive mounted with the possibility of interaction with the retractable sections, according to the invention, the lifting mechanism is made in the form of a telescopic mast, consisting of a first fixed and subsequent retractable sections, connected to each other in a rigid structure with a regular triangle in cross-section, wherein each section consists of vertical posts located in the corners of the regular triangle and connected to each other by trusses. Each upper section is installed in the corresponding lower section with the same pitch.Between each of the lower section posts and the corresponding upper section post, a plunger, single-cavity hydraulic cylinder with a hollow rod is installed, which serves to transfer the working fluid from the hydraulic cylinder of one section to the hydraulic cylinder of the next section, in addition, between the posts of each section, on both sides, linear bearings are installed, consisting of guides of guides with carriages. The hydraulic drive, containing the hydraulic station, is equipped with a control system.

[0016] Moreover, the capsule is mounted on the platform of the last upper section of the lift. The capsule is designed to accommodate an observation deck, a café-bar or a restaurant.

[0017] In this case, the hydraulic drive control system provides hydraulic synchronization of the movement of the hydraulic cylinder rods, braking and emergency operation modes. Brief description of the drawings

[0018] The essence of the invention is explained by the drawings, where Fig. 1 is a general view of the telescopic lift; Fig. 2 is a view A-A in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a general view of the section; Fig. 4 is a general view of the truss; Fig. 5 is a general view of the rack; Fig. 6 is a general view of the carriage and guide pair.

[0019] Embodiment of the invention and industrial applicability

[0020] The circular surveillance tower on a rising mast (hereinafter referred to as the circular surveillance tower) comprises a base 1, fixedly secured to a foundation, with a spatially shaped lifting mechanism installed on it, made in the form of a telescopic mast 2, consisting of a first fixed section and subsequent retractable sections 3, connected to each other in a rigid structure with a regular triangle in cross-section. Each section consists of three vertical posts 4, installed at the vertices of an equilateral triangle. The posts are connected to each other by trusses 5.

[0021] The distance between the vertical axes of symmetry of the racks in the section decreases from the lower section to the upper sections. Each of the upper sections enters the corresponding lower section, with the same step. There may be more than three such sections in the lift.

[0022] Between each of the lower section posts and the corresponding upper section post, a hydraulic cylinder (HC) 6 is installed, which, when opened, ensures vertical upward movement of the post that is closer to the center of the lift, thereby ensuring the lifting of the upper section relative to the lower one.

[0023] Due to the linear bearing sections installed between the posts, consisting of guides 7 and carriages 8 inserted into them, the posts have the ability to move freely relative to each other along the vertical axis. Carriages 8, attached to posts 4 and inserted into guides 7, rigidly limit any displacement of the posts connected with their help, except for vertical.

[0024] The hydraulic drive contains hydraulic cylinders 6 and a hydraulic station 9. A capsule 10 is mounted on the platform of the last upper section of the lift, designed to accommodate an observation deck, a café-bar or a restaurant.

[0025] The hydraulic drive for extending the sections is carried out by plunger, single-cavity hydraulic cylinders 6, in which the liquid under pressure, through the hollow rod of the hydraulic cylinder enters the cavity of the hydraulic cylinder sleeve. When the pressure in the cavity of the hydraulic cylinder increases, the rod begins to exit the hydraulic cylinder sleeve, thereby creating a working force. At the moment when the plunger, fixed on the hydraulic cylinder rod, reaches its extreme position in the hydraulic cylinder sleeve, it opens the valve installed in the hydraulic cylinder sleeve, through which the liquid passes into the rod of the hydraulic cylinder installed in the next section. So the process is repeated until all cavities of all hydraulic cylinders are filled, and the hydraulic cylinders themselves are completely opened. The extension of the sections is carried out by groups of hydraulic cylinders, three hydraulic cylinders in each group, installed one in each section, which will successively extend more than three mast sections.

[0026] To ensure coaxial load on the structure, each of the three hydraulic cylinders in the group is rotated 120 degrees from each other. The working fluid is supplied to the lower plungers of the first group of cylinders. The second group is connected to the first and, accordingly, the third group to the second, the fourth to the third, etc. to the corresponding external sleeves of the hydraulic cylinders. This creates three independent branches of more than 9 hydraulic cylinders connected in series.

[0027] For smooth, synchronous operation, the hydraulic drive provides a metered, equal flow of working fluid for both lifting and lowering in each of the three drive branches.

[0028] To ensure smooth, synchronous operation of the hydraulic drive, all three branches are combined into one flow, closed by a hydraulic lock, and controlled by one section of the proportional hydraulic distributor. A common brake valve is installed for lowering. All supplies to the cylinders are carried out through special emergency valves, which make it impossible to assemble the hydraulic cylinders in case of emergency situations. To assemble the lift when the emergency valve is triggered (closed) in the event of a pipeline rupture, a drain valve is installed on each supply.

[0029] The all-round viewing tower operates as follows. When the hydraulic drive is turned on, oil from the hydraulic station enters the hydraulic cylinders 6 under pressure. Three mast section posts, connected to each other by trusses, begin to rise vertically upward synchronously. After the three HCs installed in the upper section have fully opened, the pressure in the system increases to a value that ensures the lower section is raised.

[0030] This cycle is repeated more than twice. The number of cycles is equal to the number of sections, minus one.

[0031] The capsule is lowered under the action of gravity by an equal reduction in the volume of the working fluid in each of the three branches of the hydraulic drive using controlled flow regulators (brake valves).

[0032] The proposed technical solution allows for the creation of a structure of high rigidity and stability due to the spatial structure, the base of which is an equilateral triangle, and allows for the development of a device with virtually unlimited load capacity with high reliability and operational safety.

[0033] The proposed solution eliminates jamming of structural elements, vibration during operation, and smooth and silent lifting / lowering of the capsule provides comfort to users. In addition, the design of the sliding sections of the mast of the all-round viewing tower allows to reduce its height to a minimum when not in operation, which is important when using the tower in historical places of cities and towns, where there are height restrictions for the construction of new or reconstruction of old buildings in order to preserve the urban landscape for future generations in accordance with UNESCO requirements.

[0034] The proposed design makes it possible to install a panoramic viewing tower in close proximity to significant tourist sites that are the heritage of all mankind and are of great interest to tourists.

Claims

Invention formula 1. A circular observation tower on a rising mast, comprising a base fixedly secured to a foundation, with a spatially shaped lifting mechanism installed thereon, formed by retractable sections connected to each other, a platform with a capsule installed thereon and a hydraulic drive mounted with the possibility of interaction with the retractable sections, characterized in that the lifting mechanism is made in the form of a telescopic mast, consisting of a first fixed and subsequent retractable sections connected to each other into a rigid structure with a right triangle in cross-section, wherein each section consists of vertical posts located at the corners of a right triangle and connected to each other by trusses, each upper section is installed in the lower section corresponding to it with the same pitch, between each of the posts of the lower section and the post of the upper section corresponding to it a plunger single-cavity hydraulic cylinder with a hollow rod is installed,used to transfer the working fluid from the hydraulic cylinder of one section to the hydraulic cylinder of the next section, in addition, between the posts of each section, linear bearings are installed on both sides, consisting of guides with carriages, while the hydraulic drive containing the hydraulic station is equipped with a control system.

2. A circular viewing tower on a rising mast according to claim 1, characterized in that the capsule is mounted on the platform of the last upper section.

3. A circular viewing tower on a rising mast according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the hydraulic drive control system provides for hydraulic synchronization of the movement of the hydraulic cylinder rods, a braking and emergency operating mode.

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