Composite boom assembly

Abstract

An aerial boom assembly comprising a first member having a fixed length and comprising first and second ends, the second end being pivotally coupled to a mobile base. The aerial boom assembly comprises a second member pivotally coupled to the first member at the first end, the second member comprising an extension member slidably coupled to the second member along an inner channel of the second member. The first and second members are made from a composite material comprising a reinforcement material in a polymeric matrix.

1 . An aerial boom assembly comprising: 
 a first member having a fixed length and comprising first and second ends, the second end being pivotally coupled to a mobile base;    a second member pivotally coupled to the first member at the first end, the second member comprising an extension member slidably coupled to the second member along an inner channel of the second member;    wherein at least one of the first and second members are made from a composite material comprising a reinforcement material in a polymeric matrix.    
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement material is joined to the matrix material to produce an interface that enables sharing and transfer of load among composite constituent materials.  
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement material is at least one of chemically and mechanically joined to the matrix material.  
   
   
       4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement material comprises at least one of PAN, cellulose, pitch based nanotube carbon fiber, single or multiple wall nanotube carbon fiber, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement material comprises at least one of an untwisted bundle of continuous filaments, tape, cross-stitched preform, knitted preform, random fiber mat, braids, truss core fabric preforms, woven cloth with a pre-applied matrix material, woven cloth without a pre-applied matrix material, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement material comprises at least one of a metal, carbon, polyester, polyethylene, aramid, nylon, ceramic, quartz, fiberglass, boron, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the composite material is a laminated composite.  
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the laminated composite comprises sheets of continuous fiber material layered such that each sheet has the fiber material oriented in a given direction.  
   
   
       9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the matrix comprises a resin.  
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the resin comprises at least one of a thermoset, thermoplastic, polyester, vinyl ester, phenolic, epoxy, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile base comprises at least one of a fire fighting vehicle, a rescue vehicle, a crash vehicle, and a work vehicle.  
   
   
       12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a hollow piercing mechanism coupled to the extension member.  
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the second member comprises a telescoping arrangement for slidably coupling the extension member to the second member.  
   
   
       14 . The assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising a hydraulic mechanism for pivoting the first and second members and sliding the extension member.  
   
   
       15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the hydraulic mechanism comprises first and second pistons coupled to the mobile base and coupled to first and second links, the first and second links being coupled to the first member.  
   
   
       16 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the hydraulic mechanism further comprises third and fourth pistons coupled to the first member and coupled to third and fourth links, the third and fourth links being coupled to the second member.  
   
   
       17 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the hydraulic mechanism further comprises fifth and sixth pistons coupled to the second member and coupled to fifth and sixth links, the fifth and sixth links being coupled to the extension member.  
   
   
       18 . The assembly of  claim 17 , further comprising a fluid dispensing mechanism.  
   
   
       19 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the composite material comprises a carbon fiber based core and a fiberglass coating.  
   
   
       20 . A vehicle for firefighting and rescue operations, comprising: 
 a support structure having a support surface;    a plurality of wheels coupled to the support structure, wherein the wheels maintain the support structure above a surface;    a power source for powering the vehicle; and    an aerial boom assembly coupled to the support surface, the aerial boom assembly being made from a composite material comprising a reinforcement material suspended in a polymeric matrix.    
   
   
       21 . The vehicle of  claim 20 , further comprising a hollow piercing mechanism coupled to the aerial boom assembly.  
   
   
       22 . The vehicle of  claim 21 , wherein the aerial boom assembly comprises first and second members pivotally coupled together.  
   
   
       23 . The vehicle of  claim 22 , wherein the first member of the aerial boom has a fixed length and comprises first and second ends, the second end being pivotally coupled to the support surface.  
   
   
       24 . The vehicle of  claim 23 , wherein the second member comprises an extension member coupled to the second member by way of a telescopic arrangement.  
   
   
       25 . The vehicle of  claim 24 , wherein the telescopic arrangement comprises slidably coupling the extension member to the second member so that the extension member is able to move within an inner portion of the second member.  
   
   
       26 . The vehicle of  claim 25 , further comprising a hydraulic mechanism for moving the aerial boom assembly.  
   
   
       27 . The vehicle of  claim 20 , wherein the matrix comprises a resin.  
   
   
       28 . The vehicle of  claim 27 , wherein the resin comprises at least one of a thermoset, thermoplastic, polyester, vinyl ester, phenolic, epoxy, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       29 . The vehicle of  claim 28 , wherein the reinforcement material comprises at least one of metal, carbon, polyester, polyethylene, aramid, nylon, ceramic, quartz, fiberglass, boron, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       30 . A method for producing an aerial boom assembly, comprising: 
 providing a first member having a fixed length and comprising first and second ends, the second end being pivotally coupled to a vehicle;    providing a second member pivotally coupled to the first member at the first end, wherein the second member comprises an extension member coupled to the second member by way of a telescopic arrangement; and    producing the first and second members from a composite material utilizing a reinforcement material in a polymeric matrix.    
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising producing the polymeric matrix from at least one of a thermoset, thermoplastic, polyester, vinyl ester, phenolic, epoxy, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising producing the reinforcement material from at least one of metal, carbon, polyester, polyethylene, aramid, nylon, ceramic, quartz, fiberglass, boron, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the vehicle is at least one of a firefighting vehicle, a rescue vehicle, a crash vehicle, and a work vehicle.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising providing a hollow piercing mechanism coupled to the extension member.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising configuring the telescopic arrangement so that the extension member is slidably coupled to the extension member and the extension member is able to move within an inner portion of the second member.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising providing a hydraulic mechanism for moving the aerial boom assembly.