Connection Cradle for Mounting Cellular Tower on Billboard
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cellular towers require significant real-estate and structural investment due to their height, while billboards also occupy substantial space, leading to wasted resources as there is no effective integration of these structures.
Innovation Solution
A connection cradle apparatus comprising a bottom flange, top flange, and housing components that are assembled onto a billboard's vertical support column and horizontal torsion bar, allowing a cellular tower to be mounted atop and integrated with the billboard structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If cellular towers are erected separately from billboards, then each structure can be independently optimized, but significant real-estate and structural resources are wasted due to no shared utilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cellular tower structure with the billboard structure by integrating a connection cradle that attaches to the billboard's vertical support column and horizontal torsion bar. This combination allows the cellular tower to be mounted atop the billboard, enabling shared utilization of structural resources and reducing the total real-estate occupation that would occur if the structures were erected separately.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection cradle serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the cellular tower, utilizes the existing billboard structure (vertical support column and horizontal torsion bar), and enables co-location of both structures. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making the billboard structure serve dual purposes - both as a advertising medium and as structural support for the cellular tower.
2Area of stationary object
If cellular towers are mounted on billboards using a connection cradle, then space utilization is optimized and real-estate is reduced, but the structural complexity of the mounting mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection cradle is divided into multiple components including a bottom flange, top flange, and housing, which are assembled together to form the complete mounting structure. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while working together to reduce the overall footprint, addressing the contradiction between space reduction and structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection cradle design allows the cellular tower structure to be nested within or atop the billboard structure. The housing of the connection cradle circumscribes and reinforces the assembled structure, creating a nested configuration that maximizes space utilization while managing structural complexity through hierarchical assembly.
3Productivity
If multiple cellular towers are mounted on a single billboard, then space utilization is maximized, but the structural load and complexity of the mounting system increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connection cradle extends the billboard structure vertically by adding a vertical support column extension and housing that circumscribes the assembled structure. This dimensional extension allows multiple cellular towers to be mounted on a single billboard by utilizing the vertical space and reinforced structure, thereby maximizing space utilization efficiency while distributing structural loads through the extended vertical support system.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The connection cradle enables efficient use of billboard real-estate by reducing the footprint needed for cellular tower installations, allowing multiple towers to be mounted on a single billboard, thus optimizing space utilization.
Implementation Method 1
The bottom flange which is welded to the vertical support column of the billboard using numerous gussets to connect the bottom flange to the vertical support column
Implementation Method 2
Threaded rods inside the hollow tubes bolted together compress the top flange to the bottom flange
Implementation Method 3
The hollow tubes are then welded to the top side of the bottom flange and the bottom side of the top flange
Implementation Method 4
a housing having a plurality of annular components that may be welded together to create a cylindrical housing that circumscribes and reinforces the assembled connection cradle
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a connection cradle that is assembled for mounting a cellular tower on a billboard having a vertical support column and a horizontal torsion bar supporting the billboard's signage. The cradle includes a bottom flange having tubes extending axially outwards from an annular rim of the bottom flange having components that are bolted to create the annular rim that is affixed to the vertical support column along the outer cross-section using gussets welded to the vertical support column to attach the bottom flange therewith. A top flange having hollow tubes extending axially outwards from the annular rim, where each of the hollow tubes accommodate the tubes of the bottom flange. A housing having annular components, welded together to create a cylindrical housing that circumscribes the assembled cradle. The cellular tower is mounted on the billboard by placing the vertical support column inside the billboard and atop the cradle.