Equipment tower

Abstract

An equipment tower includes a base having a base support, a pivot support pivotally connected to the base support at a fulcrum point and equipment mounted on the pivot support. A detachable winch is releasably securable to the equipment tower, the winch having a cable that is attachable to the pivot support. The equipment tower is operable by pivoting movement of the pivot support between a maintenance configuration, in which the equipment is lowered, and the erected configuration, in which the equipment is elevated. When the winch is secured to the base and the cable is attached to the pivot support, operation of the winch controls the pivoting movement of the pivot support.

1 . An equipment tower operable between an erected configuration and a maintenance configuration, the equipment tower comprising:
 a base having a base support;   a pivot support pivotally connected to the base support at a fulcrum point;   equipment mounted on the pivot support; and   a winch mounting for releasably securing a detachable winch to the equipment tower, the winch having a cable that is attachable to the pivot support;   wherein the equipment tower is operable by pivoting movement of the pivot support between the maintenance configuration, in which the equipment is lowered, and the erected configuration, in which the equipment is elevated; and   wherein, when the winch is secured to the winch mounting and the cable is attached to the pivot support, operation of the winch controls the pivoting movement of the pivot support.   
     
     
         2 . The equipment tower of  claim 1  wherein:
 the base support comprises a generally upright elongate member having a proximal end fixed to the base and a distal end; and 
 the pivot support comprises an elongate member having a proximal end adapted to be attached to the cable and a distal end, wherein the fulcrum point is between the proximal end and the distal end of the pivot support and, on the base support, the fulcrum point is located at the distal end of the base support. 
 
     
     
         3 . The equipment tower of  claim 1  wherein the equipment is supported on an equipment support that is slidably mounted to the pivot support so as to be slidable relative to the pivot support. 
     
     
         4 . The equipment tower of  claim 3  wherein the equipment support is telescopically mounted to the pivot support. 
     
     
         5 . The equipment tower of  claim 3  wherein the equipment support is selectively securable to the pivot support in a plurality of different positions during sliding movement relative to the pivot support. 
     
     
         6 . The equipment tower of  claim 3  wherein the base support, the pivot support and the equipment support are coaxially aligned in the erected configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The equipment tower of  claim 1  further comprising an aperture in the base support that allows the cable of the winch to pass through the base support to attach to the pivot support. 
     
     
         8 . The equipment tower of  claim 1  wherein during operation between the erected configuration and the maintenance configuration, the pivot support pivots relative to the base support through an angle of greater than 90°. 
     
     
         9 . The equipment tower of  claim 1  further comprising a stop flange provided on the base support, the stop flange adapted to abut the pivot support and limit the pivoting movement of the pivot support in the maintenance configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The equipment tower of  claim 1  wherein the pivot support is releasably securable to the base support in the erected configuration to prevent pivoting movement of the pivot support. 
     
     
         11 . The equipment tower of  claim 1  wherein the equipment includes at least one solar panel. 
     
     
         12 . The equipment tower of  claim 11  wherein the at least one solar panel is pivotably mounted to the equipment support. 
     
     
         13 . The equipment tower of  claim 1  wherein the equipment includes at least one light. 
     
     
         14 . The equipment tower of  claim 1  wherein the equipment includes at least one camera. 
     
     
         15 . The equipment tower of  claim 1  wherein the base includes at least one battery and an electrical conduit is provided through the base from the battery to an interior of the base support. 
     
     
         16 . The equipment tower of  claim 1  wherein the equipment includes at least one battery for powering other items of equipment on the equipment support. 
     
     
         17 . An equipment tower according to  claim 1  and a detachable winch, the detachable winch being mounted on the winch mounting of the equipment tower.