Expandable Light Tower Pivoting Mounting System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable lighting solutions lack versatility and stability for outdoor use, particularly in varying orientations and harsh environments, and often require additional stabilizers for secure positioning.
Innovation Solution
An expandable light tower with a telescoping assembly and mounting system that allows for secure attachment to a mobile unit, enabling pivoting and orientation adjustments between vertical, horizontal, and inclined positions, utilizing a telescoping assembly and light-mounting assembly with a hitch mounting system for stability and ease of transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a portable lighting unit is designed to be mounted to a mobile unit, then mobility and versatility are improved, but stability and secure positioning deteriorate without additional stabilizers
Solution Approach 1:
The light tower incorporates a telescoping assembly with multiple telescoping units that can be extended or retracted based on operational needs. This dynamic structure allows the tower to adapt its height and configuration, providing both mobility during transport and stability when extended for illumination, eliminating the need for separate stabilizers
2Adaptability or versatility
If a telescoping assembly is used to allow extension and retraction, then adaptability and ease of handling are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The telescoping assembly consists of multiple telescoping units where inner units are nested within outer units. This nesting arrangement allows the structure to compact to a small size for transport while extending to a larger size for operation, achieving high adaptability without requiring complex mechanical systems
3Adaptability or versatility
If mounting means are coupled to allow pivoting about a transverse axis, then versatility for various orientations is improved, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting means includes a pivot mechanism that allows the telescoping assembly to rotate about a transverse axis, enabling the light tower to assume vertical, horizontal, and inclined orientations. This dynamic positioning capability provides versatility for different operational scenarios while maintaining a relatively simple structural design through the use of a single axis of rotation
Data Source
AI summary
Expandable light towers suitable for mounting to a mobile unit, and methods for their use. Such an expandable light tower includes a telescoping assembly comprising first and second telescoping units. The second telescoping unit is telescopically received in the first telescoping unit to configure the expandable light tower to have retracted and extended configurations. The light tower further includes a light-mounting assembly mounted to the second telescoping unit and a mounting assembly coupled to the first telescoping unit and adapted to mount the telescoping assembly to a hitch of a mobile unit. The mounting assembly enables the telescoping assembly to pivot about a transverse axis.