Transportable Mast Assembly Guide Shaft and Guy Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transportable masts are either heavy, complex, and expensive to manufacture, or they lack stability and ease of setup due to their design, which complicates their rotation and alignment during antenna or equipment support.
Innovation Solution
A mast assembly with a guide shaft comprising a tubular pipe and multiple leg attachment collars made of optimized materials for strength and low friction, allowing for easy sliding and alignment of mast sections, and a guy control assembly for stabilization, enabling quick setup and retraction by a single person.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a single casted block is used for the supporting structure, then strength and stability are improved, but weight and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting structure is divided into multiple components: a base plate, vertical support elements, and connection elements. This segmentation allows each part to be manufactured separately using lighter materials and assembled together to achieve the required strength, eliminating the need for a heavy single casted block while maintaining structural integrity.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a single casted block is used for the supporting structure, then stability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The structure is segmented into standardized components that can be manufactured using common fabrication processes and assembled through simple connections, greatly reducing manufacturing complexity compared to a single casted block while maintaining stability through proper structural design.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple functional elements are merged into integrated components where possible, such as combining mounting surfaces, support functions, and connection features into unified elements, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining stability.
3Ease of operation
If friction reducing material is added to guide displacement, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Friction-reducing properties are applied locally at specific contact surfaces where guidance and sliding occur, such as using low-friction coatings or materials only on the guiding surfaces, rather than adding complex mechanical friction-reducing components throughout the structure.
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 a lightweight, stable, and cost-effective mast assembly that can be easily set up and retracted, ensuring proper alignment and stability of antennas or equipment, even in windy conditions, with reduced effort and wear, and without the need for additional friction-reducing components.
Implementation Method 1
cooperating through friction reducing material to guide the displacement of telescopic mast tubes when erecting the mast
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2A~2D
Figure 2E~2F
AI summary
The invention relates to a base for a transportable mast comprising a plurality of superimposed tubular mast elements, the base comprising a guide shaft with an opening for guiding the displacement of the tubular mast elements, legs connected to the guide shaft, for positioning the guide shaft at a distance above ground. The invention also relates to a mast assembly comprising the base, and a field base for limiting movement of the mast, and a guy control assembly for keeping the mast upright during erection or retraction of the mast.