AU2022100034A4

AU2022100034A4 - Tower

Info

Publication number: AU2022100034A4
Application number: AU2022100034A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Roy MITCHELL
Original assignee: Onetide Modular Systems Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Onetide Modular Systems Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2021-08-25
Filing date: 2022-02-09
Publication date: 2022-03-10
Anticipated expiration: 2029-08-25
Also published as: AU2021221830A1

Abstract

The present invention provides a tower adapted to support a variety of appliances. The tower comprises a housing, a tower mount for mounting the tower relative to a surface, and an appliance mount for mounting the appliance to the tower. The tower incorporates a power generation means for supplying power to the tower and any attached appliance, wherein the tower generates the required power to operate the appliances. 1/6 27 Roof Section r -Satellite 25 WI-FZZ Top Adaptor Base 'CoringTower' mdule 171Array , Controls Figure 1 Lifting Main~assisEye Top Hat aihsss Systemsoo Adaptor Wind SwterTurbine Solar Array -7 Base Plate Controls, Powerand Comms Figure 2

Description

1/6 27 Roof Section r -Satellite

WI-FZZ

Top Adaptor

Base 'CoringTower' mdule 171Array

, Controls

aihsss Systemso

Figure 1 SwterTurbine

Lifting

Main~assisEye Top Hat Adaptor

Wind

Solar Array -7

Base Plate Controls, Powerand Comms

Figure 2

Tower

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention generally relates to a tower adapted to operate in remote locations, wherein the tower is adapted to support a variety of appliances, such as those which may be required for surveillance, warning systems, communications, radars.

BACKGROUNDART

[0002] Governments and various entities install towers to mount various appliances thereto. These include appliances for telecommunications, surveillance, warning systems and similar services.

[0003] When these towers are in an urban setting they are able to connect with/draw from the available services in that location. However, this is problematic in remote settings where power and communications are not available.

[0004] The preceding discussion of the background art is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention only. The discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to is or was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0005] It is an object of this invention to provide a tower which ameliorates, mitigates or overcomes, at least one disadvantage of the prior art, or which will at least provide the public with a practical choice.

[0006] The present invention provides a tower adapted to support a variety of appliances, the tower comprises

a housing;

a tower mount for mounting the tower relative to a surface;

an appliance mount for mounting an appliance to the tower;

a power generation means for supplying power to the tower and any attached appliance;

wherein the tower generates the required power to operate the appliances.

[0007] The tower may comprise a communication means. The communication means may allow for communications to and from the tower. The communications means may include satellite communications.

[0008] The power generation means may comprise a solar array, a wind turbine or both, or any means of independently generating power. The power generation means may comprise a storage means to store power generated by the power generation means. The storage means may be provided by a bank of rechargeable batteries.

[0009] The tower mount may extend below the surface to house sensitive equipment.

[0010] The tower mount may isolate the tower from the ground. The tower mount may act to protect the tower should the tower be hit by lightning.

[0011] The tower mount may allow for ease of replacement of tower.

[0012] The tower mount may restrict/prevent unauthorised removal of the tower.

[0013] The appliance mount may be adapted to support a number of different appliances, such as appliances for mobile networks, warning beacons, surveillance camera, weather monitoring equipment, radar, lighting.

[0014] The appliance mount may provide adaptors for appliances to be readily connected, whereupon the appliance is able to extract power from the tower. The adaptors may allow for appliances to readily connect to the tower's communication means.

[0015] The tower may be rated to the environmental conditions of the location it is to be placed.

[0016] The tower may house one or more drones. The tower may recharge the drone once the drone docks on the tower.

[0017] The towers may be installed on a mobile platform.

[0018] The towers may be easily moved and may be set up at locations where one or more appliances are required on a temporary basis.

[0019] The tower may be in communication with other towers. Towers may provide a boosting service to other towers.

[0020] The tower may provide a power outlet for connecting a variety of equipment, such as power tools, thereto, to extract power from the power generation means.

[0021] A local area network may be established by a plurality of towers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0022] Further features of the present invention are more fully described in the following description of several non-limiting embodiments thereof. This description is included solely for the purposes of exemplifying the present invention. It should not be understood as a restriction on the broad summary, disclosure or description of the invention as set out above. The description will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of the typical construction of a tower according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a view similar to figure 1 but with power generation means fitted thereto;

Figure 3 is a view similar to figure 3 with a beacon mounted thereto;

Figure 4 is a view of a tower according to a different arrangement having a global navigation satellite system secured thereto.

Figure 5 is a view of a tower according to a different arrangement having telecommunications boosting equipment secured thereto;

Figure 6 is a view of a tower according to a different arrangement having a camera/surveillance equipment secured thereto,

Figure 7 is a view of a tower according to a different arrangement having tracking and radio broadcasting equipment secured thereto,

Figure 8 is a view of a tower according to a different arrangement radar equipment secured thereto,

Figure 9 is an array (two) of towers according to a different arrangement, the towers being adapted to communicate with each other, one tower having a drone housed thereon; and

Figure 10 is an array (two) towers according to a different arrangement, the towers being adapted to communicate with each other, one tower having a drone housed thereon, one tower being adapted to detect aircraft.

[0023] According to an embodiment the present invention provides a tower which is capable of autonomous operation. The tower is able to generate its own power to power the appliance(s) mounted thereto, but also to power its own equipment. The tower is an independent unit allowing it to be readily installed and replaced without the need for skilled installers. The tower is particularly designed for operation in remote locations but can also be readily deployed in temporary installations.

[0024] The tower also enables ready replacement of the appliance(s) and may also allow for the tower to be re-tasked with the ready replacement of one appliance(s) with a different appliance(s).

[0025] Referring to figure 1 a tower 11 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is provided. As depicted in the various figures, the tower 11 is adapted to support a variety of appliances 13.

[0026] The tower 11 comprises a housing 15 which provides support for the appliances 13 and houses the equipment for the tower 11.

[0027] The tower comprises a tower mount 17 for mounting the tower relative to a surface 19. The tower mount 17 extends below the surface to house sensitive equipment. The tower mount comprises a set of bolts 21 allowing for ease of replacement of tower should it be required.

[0028] The tower also provides an appliance mount 23 for mounting an appliance 13 to the tower 11. The appliance mount 23 is configured to support a variety of different appliances, providing the tower with significant flexibility. The appliance mount incorporates a number of adaptors (not shown). Once the appliance 13 is secured to the appliance mount the power and communications cables (not shown) of the appliance can easily be connected to the towers power supply and communication services by plugging into the adaptors.

[0029] The tower 11 also comprises a power generation means for supplying power to the tower 11 and any attached appliance 13 such that the tower generates the required power to operate the appliances 13 and its own equipment. The power generation means noted in figure 2 comprises a solar array 25 and a wind turbine 37.

[0030] The tower 11 comprises a communications means, for receiving and transmitting data and other communications, and incudes equipment 27 for satellite communications.

[0031] As shown in figure 6 the tower provides a power outlet 31 for connecting a variety of equipment, such as a power tool 33, thereto. The appliance 13 secured to the tower 11 in figure 6 are a set of cameras 35. The power generation means of this tower is provides by dual wind turbines 37.

[0032] As noted in figures 9 and 10 the tower 11 houses a drone 39. The tower recharges the drone once the drone is received on the dock 41 on the tower.

[0033] Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to the skilled addressee are considered to fall within the scope of the present invention. The present invention is not to be limited in scope by any of the specific embodiments described herein. These embodiments are intended for the purpose of exemplification only. Functionally equivalent products, formulations and methods are clearly within the scope of the invention as described herein. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0034] Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well known technologies are not described in detail.

[0035] Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

[0036] The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.

[0037] Reference to positional descriptions and spatially relative terms), such as "inner," "outer," "beneath", "below", "lower", "above", "upper" and the like, are to be taken in context of the embodiments depicted in the figures, and are not to be taken as limiting the invention to the literal interpretation of the term but rather as would be understood by the skilled addressee.

[0038] Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as "first," "second," and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.

[0039] It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "on", "engaged", "connected" or "coupled" to another element/layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element/layer or intervening elements/layers may be present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements/layers should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., "between", "adjacent"). As used herein the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0040] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms "comprise", "comprises," "comprising," "including," and "having," or variations thereof are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Claims

1. A tower adapted to support a variety of appliances, the tower comprises

a housing;

a tower mount for mounting the tower relative to a surface;

an appliance mount for mounting an appliance to the tower;

wherein the tower generates the required power to operate the appliances.

2. The tower according to claim 1 comprising a communications means.

3. The tower according to claim 2 wherein the communications means allows communication to and from the tower.

4. The tower according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the communications means includes satellite communications.

5. The tower according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the power generation means comprise a solar array, a wind turbine or both.

6. The tower according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the power generation means comprises a storage means to store power generated by the power generation means.

7. The tower according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the tower mount extends below the surface to house sensitive equipment.

8. The tower according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the tower mount isolates the tower from the ground.

9. The tower according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the tower mount protects the tower should the tower be hit by lightning.

10. The tower according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the tower mount allow for ease of replacement of tower.

11. The tower according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the tower mount prevents unauthorised removal of the tower.

12. The tower according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the appliance mount is adapted to support a number of different appliances, such as appliances for mobile networks, warning beacons, surveillance camera, weather monitoring equipment, radar, lighting.

13. The tower according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the appliance mount provides adaptors for appliances to be readily connected, wherein the appliance is able to extract power from the tower.

14. The tower according to claim 13 wherein the adaptors allow for appliances to readily connect to the tower's communication means.

15. The tower according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the tower is rated to the environmental conditions of the location it is to be placed.

16. The tower according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the tower houses one or more drones, the tower recharging the drone once the drone docks on the tower.

17. The tower according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the tower is installed on a mobile platform.

18. The tower according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the tower provides a power outlet for connecting a variety of equipment, such as power tools, thereto, to extract power from the power generation means.

19. A local area network established by a plurality of towers according to any one of the preceding claims .