Dual Swing Arm Tilt Tower With Adjustable Counterweight Balance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Tilt towers face issues with pivot assembly lubrication difficulties due to high placement, leading to stress, friction, and fatigue problems, and have limited capacity for additional utility equipment, with fixed counterweights that become imbalanced by weight changes.

Innovation Solution

A tilt tower design featuring a sealed roller bearing system with a hollow axle and adjustable counterweight system to reduce friction and stress, allowing for easier maintenance and increased capacity with dual swing arms and adjustable counterweights.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a surface mounted axle with stiffeners and greased bearing interface is used, then the pivot assembly can be constructed with simple components, but lubrication becomes difficult due to high placement and grease leaks or depletion occur leading to high friction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepivot assembly constructionVSAvoidswing arm operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional greased bearing interface with a self-lubricating composite material system. The composite material incorporates PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) and graphite fibers within a metal matrix, providing inherent lubrication properties that eliminate the need for external grease application and maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The self-lubricating composite material provides automatic lubrication through its inherent material properties. The PTFE and graphite components continuously reduce friction at the bearing interface without requiring external intervention, making the system self-maintaining throughout its operational life.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Device complexity

If the pivot assembly is the only structure supporting the swing arm, then the design is simple, but high stress, high friction, and potential fatigue issues occur in the swing arm, axle, stiffeners, and welds

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport structure designVSAvoidswing arm durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the support function into multiple independent elements: the primary pivot assembly, secondary support brackets distributed along the mast, and reinforcement ribs integrated into the swing arm structure. This segmentation distributes the load and eliminates single-point failure risks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite materials in the pivot assembly bearing surfaces, using a metal matrix reinforced with PTFE and graphite fibers. This composite construction provides both structural strength to handle high loads and self-lubricating properties to reduce friction and prevent fatigue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Device complexity

If a single swing arm is provided, then the tower structure is simple, but additional utility equipment cannot be added once the capacity of the single swing arm is exhausted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetower structureVSAvoidequipment capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the mast with multiple standardized mounting interfaces and multiple swing arms that can independently support equipment. This universal design allows the same tower structure to accommodate various equipment configurations and enables easy expansion from one to multiple swing arms without requiring a complete redesign.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Ease of operation

If fixed counterweights are coupled to the lower end of the swing arm, then the swing arm achieves rotational balance when installed, but the rotational balance changes when weight changes occur from new equipment or environmental conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveswing arm rotationVSAvoidrotational balance adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces fixed counterweights with an adjustable counterweight system. The counterweights can be repositioned along the swing arm or added/removed as needed, allowing the system to dynamically adapt to changing weight conditions from new equipment installations or environmental factors like snow and ice accumulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 solution provides reliable and low-maintenance operation, reduces stress and fatigue, and allows for the addition of more utility equipment by maintaining rotational balance and accommodating weight changes.

Implementation Method 1

a sealed roller bearing between the axle and the mast

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRoller bearing: Roller

Data Source

PatentUS20240175283A1Tilt tower with two swing arms

Publication Date: 2024.05.30 ZERO CLIMB TOWER CO LLC

AI summary

A tilt tower including a mast fixed to ground, a first swing arm, and a first bearing rotatably coupling the first swing arm to a first side of an upper end of the mast. The tilt tower further includes a second swing arm and a second bearing rotatably coupling the second swing arm to a second side of the upper end of the mast opposing the first side of the upper end of the mast.