Telescoping Light Pole With Spring Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial lighting systems face challenges in accessing pole-mounted lights safely due to environmental conditions and the instability introduced when lowering the fixture, which can lead to safety hazards and damage to internal wiring.
Innovation Solution
A telescoping light pole system with a spring-assisted mechanism and a locking assembly that allows for safe height adjustment of the light fixture while maintaining the operational axis, incorporating a fluid-tight wiring chamber to protect electrical wiring from environmental hazards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the light fixture is lowered for maintenance access, then worker safety is improved, but the stability of the fixture and internal wiring is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The pole is divided into telescoping sections (upper support and lower support) that can be independently moved. The light fixture is attached to the upper support, which can be lowered relative to the lower support, allowing maintenance access while keeping the base stable and protected.
Solution Approach 2:
The upper support is nested within the lower support, with the upper support sliding through a passage in the lower support. This nested configuration allows the upper support to be lowered for maintenance while remaining constrained and protected within the lower support structure, maintaining stability.
2Strength
If the pole structure is made rigid for stability, then structural strength is improved, but the ability to adjust height for maintenance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The pole structure incorporates dynamic elements including a telescoping upper support that can move vertically within the lower support, and a biasing member (spring) that provides controlled movement. The locking assembly allows the structure to be locked in position when stability is needed and unlocked when adjustment is required, providing both strength and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The pole's effective height can be changed by moving the upper support relative to the lower support. The biasing member allows controlled change in the compressed state of the spring, enabling the upper support to be lowered to different positions for maintenance access while maintaining structural integrity through the locking mechanism.
3Ease of repair
If the wiring is exposed for easy access, then ease of repair is improved, but protection from environmental conditions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The wiring is nested within the telescoping pole structure, specifically within the upper support and lower support passages. This nested configuration provides inherent protection from environmental conditions while allowing access to the wiring through the locking assembly and passage system when maintenance is required.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking assembly and passage system act as an intermediary between the need for wiring protection and the need for wiring access. The passage provides a protected pathway for the wiring, while the locking assembly allows controlled access to the wiring within the passage without exposing it to the external environment.
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 system enhances safety by allowing single-worker maintenance, reduces labor costs, and provides robustness against environmental conditions like high winds and moisture, ensuring the longevity of the pole support system.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member biasing the upper support to the extended position
Data Source
AI summary
A pole support system suitable for lighting fixtures. The system may include a lower support; a guide member interior to the lower support; a telescoping upper support inside the lower support and axially movable between an extended position and a retracted position, the upper support being at least partially received in an annular space between the lower support and the guide member; a biasing member biasing the upper support to the extended position; and a locking assembly partially surrounding the lower support at one end of the lower support. The locking assembly may include a body having a passage in which the upper support slides therethrough, and enclosing the passage at a first end while maintaining the passage in fluid communication with the interior of the lower support; and a lock configured to selectably engage the upper support to constrain axial motion of the upper support.