DESC:Field of the invention:
The present invention relates to the passive infrastructure of a telecommunication network; more particularly it relates to a telecom mast structure that is installed along with its portable reinforced cement concrete (RCC) footing foundation configured for sustaining specified wind loads and other environmental conditions, for effective telecommunication signal transmission.
Background of the invention:
The conventional ground-based telecom towers are designed for mounting telecom radio equipment, to work together as complete, ‘telecom cellular towers.’ The tower structures are designed in various geometrical types and configurations such as the lattice-angular, lattice-tubular, round-monopole, and polygonal-monopole. The structural capacity and features of the conventional, ground-based, telecom towers are designed by taking into consideration parameters such as the expected total quantity of radio equipment to be supported, the number of telecom service providers that it would be catering, specific regional wind conditions, and other site conditions. They are installed at one permanent location with specific regional wind loading and site conditions.
The existing ground-based telecom masts are anchored to and supported with permanently ground-integrated civil foundations and designed for predetermined, non-varying payloads, non-varying heights and non-varying wind loads. The existing ground-based telecom masts are either self-supported or guy rope supported. Telecom masts are provided to support telecommunication equipment which is comparatively much lighter in weight and smaller in size. Hence, the telecom masts are constructed out of leaner steel structures and are provided with the conventional, ‘in-situ’ civil foundations, for permanent installations. These masts are supported with multiple steel guy ropes, to compensate for their lean structural construction, to provide the requisite structural strength for specified antennae payloads, and stability against the specified wind loads.
In case the conventional towers are at the outset itself, designed and constructed for supporting future-envisaged higher loads, in addition to the initial telecom-gear payload, then these towers incur higher costs for their heavier structural construction, heavier foundations, logistics for heavier structures and for installations of the heavy structures; till such time that the expected additional future loads are made available and the revenue towards the additional capacity is recovered, which period may extend unlimitedly. Therefore, the economics of the telecom network project are adverse and risky.
In case the conventional towers are constructed only for initially available antennae payloads and other loads, without consideration of future incremental loads; catering to the future requirements requires high costs. These towers cannot be removed from the existing installed site and cannot be relocated easily and economically if a need arises. Even if they are successfully removed and relocated, the cost required for its ground-integrated civil foundations is completely depreciated and wasted. The timelines for building conventional foundations, from ‘excavation, reinforcing, casting to curing’, can stretch from 30 to 40 days and could result in delays for the Tower installation project and thus incurring additional costs. Further. in-situ Foundations may face installation issues arising due to inaccuracies in steel rebar fabrication, dimensional references of tower-anchoring bolts or the horizontal plane alignment of the foundation ‘cast-in-part’ interfaces, all leading to expensive corrective actions and delays in the tower installations. The conventional tower structures generally have a larger base, progressively tapering to narrower girths at higher levels. Their designs require a wider range of dimensionally varying structural elements which require a variety of fixtures, processes and materials for production, thus increasing costs and complexity in materials procurement, inventory, and overall project management.
The guy rope-supported, ground-based masts are usually deployed for permanent installations, which can be relocated if need arises, but the civil foundations prepared for the existing sites are wasted in their investment, and again foundations need to be re-cast at the new sites.
As such, the ground-based telecom towers as well as the guy supported ground masts suffer from drawbacks such as a lack of the provision for scalability, higher costs of construction, the need for RCC-intensive civil foundations, greater investment in resources such as humans, and pieces of equipment, extended timelines for installation, requirement of large land space, pollution of air, habitat, and land, and a need for corrective actions at the site. Moreover, these designs entail a wider range of dimensionally unequal structural elements, thus requiring an extended variety of fixtures, processes, and materials which increases the costs of procurement, production, inventory, and overall project management. Though the guy-supported, ground-based masts are usually deployed for permanent installations; which can be relocated if the need arises, the civil foundations prepared for the existing sites are wasted in their investment, and again foundations need to be re-cast at the new sites.
Accordingly, there exists a need to provide a telecom mast or tower, which not only overcomes drawbacks of the prior art; but also offers additional advantages that result in easy, economical, and efficient procurement and inventory control, production, delivery, installation, and commissioning.
Object of the Invention
An object of the present invention is to provide a telecom mast system that can be configured for lower initial payloads and scaled up in its strength and stability to support higher antenna payloads, later on as need arises.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a telecom mast system that can be configured to be supported with ‘add on’ structural elements, to its main steel structure and to its portable foundation, without any changes or modifications to the inherent structures.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a telecom mast system, the design of which can be modified to incorporate the ‘add-on’ structural elements, while the mast is already installed and effectively functional in the ‘live’ telecom signal transmission activity.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a telecom mast system with a portable, modular foundation.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a telecom mast system with a foundation capable of providing the requisite compressive and tensile reactions to the mast at its base.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a telecom mast system that exhibits stability against the wind-load, with minimized structural elements.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a telecom mast that can scaled up in height with modular mast segments.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a telecom mast system that is cost-effective.
Summary of the invention
Accordingly, the present invention provides a modular, portable, load-scalable telecom mast system comprising: a base footing, a mast assembly and a plurality of counterweight blocks. The base footing is constructed in a polygonal geometry using a plurality of footing blocks. Each individual footing block is arranged and connected to other footing block with footing block connectors to form the base footing. Each individual footing block is provided with a flanged joint interface facilitating erection of the mast assembly thereon. The mast assembly consists of a plurality of mast segments arranged vertically. Each individual mast segment is constructed in a lattice geometrical form with at least three pillar members and a plurality of bracing members cross connecting the pillar members. The at least three pillar members are having end-to-end connection with the at least three pillar members of an upper consecutive mast segment and a lower consecutive mast segment, while the at least three pillar members of a bottommost mast segment are having a lower end thereof connected to the flanged joint interfaces of the footing blocks. The plurality of counterweight blocks is peripherally arranged around the base footing with each individual counterweight block connected to the mast assembly at a plurality of connection nodes thereof with a plurality of guy ropes. The mast assembly of the present invention is constructed by vertically assembling a plurality of modular mast segments. Scaling up or truncation of the mast assembly height can be easily done by addition or removal of individual mast segments, at or from suitable levels of the existing mast assembly without disturbing the overall structural geometry and without compromising on the design and strength of the mast assembly.
Brief description of the drawings:
The embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.
Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in the accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in the context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments.
The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a portable-footing-based telecom mast system (100) in its installed state, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 shows an elevation, side view of the system (100) in its installed state, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 (a) top view of the system (100), showing a portable polygonal-shaped foundation structure (1), in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 (b) shows a detailed view of the portable foundation with its three individual footing blocks (1a) in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and
Figure 4 shows an elevated view of the mast’s modular, multiple-segmented structures (6), an enlarged view of one segment (6a) with its individual parts vertical leg member (6b), and diagonal bracings (6c); and a 3-dimensional view of the work platform (7) and the frame, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any diagrams herein represent conceptual views of illustrative systems embodying the principles of the present invention.
Detailed description of the embodiments:
The present invention discloses a system, a portable-footing-based telecom lattice mast system mounted on a pre-built modular RCC footing-foundation (base footing) and supported by guy ropes connected to a peripherally arranged counter-weight blocks. The mast assembly is constructed by vertically assembling a plurality of modular mast segments such that its overall structural geometry is uniform with coaxial, parallel shaped and equally sized individual mast segments, from bottom to top; so that if and when a need for scaling up or truncation of its height arises, it can be easily done by adding or removal of such individual mast segments, at or from suitable levels of the existing mast assembly without disturbing the overall structural geometry after the change; and yet provide a modified mast assembly with the requisite strength for its changed height. Thus, a design is provided for easy height scalability. The pre-built modular RCC base footing as well as the peripheral counter-weight blocks are installed in a shallow dug up trench with minimal ground preparation in terms of leveling, compacting and a PCC layer, without the need for a conventional, permanent RCC foundation as is conventionally integrated with the ground. The mast system of the present invention comprises a base footing, a mast assembly, and a plurality of counterweight blocks peripherally arranged around the base footing and connected to the mast assembly at a plurality of connection nodes thereof with a plurality of guy ropes.
The mast system of the present invention is a modular and upgradable for additional structural strength and stability by adding easily available, low-cost, ‘add-on’ structural elements such as the steel wire guy ropes to the mast segments, and by adding ‘add on’ modular counter-weight blocks, to the existing pre-built peripheral counter-weight blocks, without any changes in the inherent structure or bodies. The mast system of the present invention can be upgraded for its strength and stability while it is already installed and operational in supporting the live telecommunication signal transmission, without disturbing the installed structure. The mast system of the present invention can be scaled down in its strength and stability for deployment at locations with lower wind speeds and lower antennae payloads, by removal of the ‘add- on’ elements. This feature is useful in offering an optimized, economical solution to the telecom operator/service provider if the mast is initially or permanently required for lower wind speeds and lower antenna payloads.
The mast system of the present invention is provided with a uniform segmented structure, with co-axial girth and leg members, for ease of scaling up the height of the mast by utilizing the majority of the existing segments and adding new modular segments as may be required, without needing any changes in their inherent construction and geometry. The mast system offers a design which provides maximum commonality in the mast assembly components, thus facilitating common inventory for individual mast segments and the mast system of various heights; and thereby enabling ease of procurement, stocking of spares; as well as ease in reducing the production cycle times, the cost of production processes and the cost of production tooling.
The mast system can be easily relocated to another location or site, along with its pre-built modular RCC base footing as well as the pre-built plurality of counter-weight blocks. The mast system of the present invention is possible to be dismantled to ‘completely knocked down’ condition, by dis-assembling its bolted structural members to ‘part’ level, and the base footing is possible to be dismantled because the footing blocks are bolted together and that are not integrated holistically and permanently with the ground. Similarly, the plurality of the counter-weight blocks can be individually removed from their installed positions. Accordingly, The mast system in fully dismantled condition can be then loaded on cargo vehicles for transportation to other locations/sites, as a complete mast knocked down and packed in ‘Kit’ form, in accordance with the present invention, without the need to leave behind and lose the foundation at existing site, as would have been the case with the conventional in-situ civil foundation.
As an optional unique design, the mast system of the present invention is provided with pre-built modular RCC base footing and pre-built, portable counter-weight blocks, that are constructed as box frames, out of light-weight steel or light-weight alloy/hybrid materials, and are provided with all-round meshed walls and openable-closable doors such that, loose stone aggregate materials can be poured and encapsulated within them to serve as ballast weight, and these box frames along with the stone aggregates, shall replace the conventional RCC structures of both – the ‘base footing as well as the counter-weight blocks, to considerably reduce the weight and construction costs vis-à-vis the construction in RCC; as well as the cost of logistics, which is also drastically reduced when transporting, as the low-cost loose stone aggregates can be easily removed and disposed-off locally, and that only the empty, light-weight box frames can be transported along with the mast system to the new alternate sites.
In the following description, for the purpose of explanation, specific details are set forth in order to provide an understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these details. One skilled in the art will recognize that embodiments of the present invention, some of which are described below, may be incorporated into a number of systems.
Throughout this application, with respect to all reasonable derivatives of such terms, and unless otherwise specified (and/or unless the particular context clearly dictates otherwise), each usage of:
“a” or “an” is meant to read as “at least one.”
“the” is meant to be read as “the at least one.”
References in the present invention to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” mean that a particular feature, structure, characteristic, or function described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.
Embodiments of the present invention include various steps, which will be described below. The steps may be performed by hardware components or may be embodied in machine-executable instructions, which may be used to cause a general-purpose or special purpose processor/controller programmed with the instructions or the logic circuit designed to perform the steps. Alternatively, steps may be performed by a combination of hardware, software, firmware and/or by human operators and the method steps of the invention could be accomplished by modules, routines, subroutines, or subparts of a computer program product.
If the specification states a component or feature "may' can", "could", or "might" be included or have a characteristic, that particular component or feature is not required to be included or have the characteristic.
As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of "a, an," and "the" includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on" unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. These embodiments are provided so that this invention will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, all statements herein reciting embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future (i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure).
Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail. For clarity of the description, known constructions and functions will be omitted. Parts of the description may be presented in terms of operations performed by a mechanical and/or an Electrical/Electronic system, using terms such as state, link, rotor, electronic counter and the like, consistent with the manner commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. As is well understood by those skilled in the art, these quantities take the form of data stored/transferred in the form of electrical, magnetic, or optical signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, and otherwise manipulated through mechanical and electrical components of the electromechanical systems; and the term electronic/electrical/computer system includes general purpose as well as special purpose data processing machines, switches, and the like, that are standalone, adjunct or embedded.
The present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. These reference numbers are shown in bracket in the following description and in the table below.

Table:
Ref no. Component Ref. No. Component
1 Base footing 5 Guy rope
1a Footing blocks 6 Mast assembly
1b Flanged joints 6a Mast segment
1c Footing block connectors 6b Pillar member
2 Counter-weight blocks 6c Bracing member
3 Guy rope anchorages 7 Work platform
4a
Connection nodes 8 Topmost segment
4b 9 Top frame
4c
Referring to Figures 1 to 4, a portable-footing-based telecom mast system (100) (hereinafter referred to as “the mast system (100)”) is described herewith, in accordance with the present invention. The mast system (100) comprises a base footing (1), a mast assembly (6), and a plurality of counterweight blocks (2). The mast system (100) is a complete vertical structure along with its ‘pre-built modular RCC base footing (1), designed to bear dead-loads, wind loads and earthquake loads, when installed directly on the ground as a ‘free-standing structure’ in a shallow excavated trench ranging from 0.50M to maximum 1.00M depth; on a suitable ground base available with a soil-bearing capacity of minimum 50Kn/m².
The base footing (1) is constructed using a plurality of footing blocks (1a). Each individual footing block from the plurality of footing blocks (1a) is arranged and connected to other individual footing block with footing block connectors (1c) to form the base footing (1) of a polygonal geometry. Each footing block from the plurality of footing blocks (1a) is provided with a flanged joint (1b). In an embodiment, the footing blocks (1a) are constructed in any geometrical shape and size suitable for the stability of the system (100).
In a preferred embodiment each individual footing block (1a) is a reinforced cement concrete (RCC) structure, constructed out of conventional cement concrete, and reinforced with steel rebar and/or steel wire mesh. In alternative embodiments, the RCC structure is constructed in a composite blend of conventional cement concrete and a grout-based quick-curing polymer concrete, reinforced by steel plates, steel rebar, steel wire mesh, and/or glass fiber reinforced plastic mesh; or any other materials seen fit as per the stability requirements of the structure and the various applicable engineering standards. In another embodiment, the footing blocks (1a) are constructed as structural box frames of light-weight steel or alloy/hybrid materials and provided with meshed walls and openable-closable doors such that, loose stone aggregate materials can be poured and encapsulated within them to serve as ballast weight. Each individual footing block is configured with internal steel or suitable reinforcements, such that the plurality of footing blocks (1a) derives the requisite load-bearing strength and can effectively disperse the loads incidental on them, to the ground beneath, as well as offer the resistive tensile reactions against the uplifting wind forces.
In an embodiment, the footing block connectors (1c) steel brackets suitability positioned at the interfacing sides of the footing blocks, bolted to each other. Each individual footing block connector is welded to the internal steel reinforcement within the footing block.
The possible horizontal misalignment of the base footing (1) due to the undulations in the surface of the ground beneath it, could affect the verticality of the system (100). To prevent the possible horizontal misalignment of the base footing (1), the footing block geometry is essentially controlled during manufacturing with the use of template tooling and the leveling of all footing blocks at the site of installation is done with the use of water-level tube, during the installation.
The mast assembly (6) consists of a plurality of mast segments (6a) arranged vertically. Each mast segment from the plurality of mast segments (6a) is constructed in a lattice geometrical form with at least three pillar members (6b) and a plurality of bracing members (6c) cross connecting the pillar members (6b) forming the lattice geometry. In an embodiment, the at least three pillar members (6b) are hollow pipes having a round cross section or a square cross section. In another embodiment, the bracing members from the plurality of bracing members (6c) are any one of hollow pipes, hollow tubes, ‘C’ channels, angles and rods. In another embodiment, the bracing members (6c) are connected to the at least three pillar members (6b) of the mast segment by bolting or riveting or welding.
The mast assembly (6) is vertically connected to the base footing (1) via interfacing flanges provided on the flanged joints (1a) and also on the pillar members (6b) of the bottom most segment (6a). The at least three pillar members (6b) of the plurality of mast segments (6a) are having a lower end thereof connected either to the flanged joint (1b) of the base footing (1) or to an upper end of the at least three pillar members (6b) of a lower consecutive mast assembly (6). The at least three pillar members (6b) of the plurality of mast segments (6a) are having an upper end thereof connected to a lower end of the at least three pillar members (6b) of an upper consecutive mast assembly (6).
The plurality of counterweight blocks (2) is peripherally arranged around the base footing (1), with each individual counterweight block anchored to the mast assembly (6) at a plurality of connection nodes (4) thereof with a plurality of guy ropes (5). Each individual guy rope is anchored to a connection node (4a/4b/4c) of the mast assembly (6) with a guy rope anchorage (3).
The plurality of counterweight blocks (2) is peripherally arranged around the base footing (1) in a way that both the base footing (1) and the counterweight blocks (2) generate a resisting-moment to counter the toppling-moment exerted on the mast assembly (6) by wind loads.
In a preferred embodiment each individual counterweight block (2) is a reinforced cement concrete (RCC) structure, constructed out of conventional cement concrete, and reinforced with steel rebar and/or steel wire mesh. In alternative embodiments, the RCC structure is constructed in a composite blend of conventional cement concrete and a grout-based quick-curing polymer concrete, reinforced by steel plates, steel rebar, steel wire mesh, and/or glass fiber reinforced plastic mesh; or any other materials seen fit as per the strength and stability requirements of the structure and the various applicable engineering standards.
In another embodiment, each individual counterweight block (2) is constructed as box frames of light-weight steel or hybrid materials and provided with meshed walls and openable-closable doors so that, loose stone aggregate materials can be poured and encapsulated within them to serve as ballast weight.
The base footing (1) allows the mast assembly (6) to be a ‘free-standing structure’ on the earth/ground, in a stable condition against specified wind and other loads by providing the counterweight to the mast assembly (6) at its base. The additional counterweight is provided by the peripherally arranged plurality of counter-weight blocks (2). The counterweights at the base and at the periphery generate the resisting moment to counter the toppling moment exerted on the mast assembly (6), by wind loads. The base footing (1) also helps in dispersing the compressive forces acting on the mast assembly (6) through its reinforced structure, effectively over the ground surface area, in combination with the tensile reactions provided by the peripherally arranged plurality of counter-weight blocks (2), with a combined effect that the compressive loads on the base footing are considerably reduced, thus requiring a lower soil-bearing capacity of the ground, to support the mast assembly (6) at maximum specified wind loads.
The above two phenomena helps to eliminate the need for the heavy ground-integrated RCC civil foundations, which are conventionally necessary to provide the requisite ground reactions to tall structures, and that which required higher soil bearing capacities or entail higher costs of construction or limit the installation of the mast (tower) in locations where the sufficient soil bearing capacity is not available. The base footing (1) is suitably designed for flexibility of its configurations for optimizing the ground surface area, viz-a-viz the soil bearing capacities, starting from 50 Kn/sq.m upwards. The base footing (1) is designed to require minimal ground preparation processes for installation at site; only requiring activities such as – digging a shallow trench, laying a layer of stone aggregates or PCC and leveling the same. The base footing (1) is only freely placed on top of the stone aggregate layer or the PCC at site.
In a preferred embodiment, the mast assembly (6) consists of three vertical pillar members (6b) arranged in reference to each other at an angle of 60º forming a triangular vertical segment with multiple cross-bracing members (6c) that are connected diagonally from three sides, to form a lattice geometry, from top to bottom of the triangular vertical segment. The first, bottom-most mast segment (6a) is connected to the footing-interfaces (1b) at the interface flange joints (1b) of the three pillar members (6b). The bracing members (6c) are bolted to the pillar members (6b) of each of the segments (6a), in lattice geometry to provide the requisite rigidity and strength for sustaining & transferring the forces acting on the mast assembly (6) towards the base footing (1) and thereby to the ground.
In an alternative embodiment, the telecom mast assembly (6) consists of more than three pillar members (6b), with a variety of bracing (6c) geometries and plurality.
In a preferred embodiment, the complete mast assembly (6) is constructed by horizontally assembling the respective pillar (6b) and bracing members (6c) together on the ground. The horizontally assembled mast assembly (6) is then hoisted by means of a mobile crane, positioned vertically, and bolted at its interfaces (1) on the footing structure (1).
In an alternative embodiment, the mast assembly (6) is built up by first assembling the plurality of mast segment (6a) horizontally on the ground and then sequentially placing the mast segments on top of the bottom-most mast segment, with the use of a mobile crane, to achieve the specified full height of the telecom mast.
In another alternative embodiment, the mast assembly (6) is erected by manually constructing each individual mast segment (6a) part by part, connecting each pillar member (6b) and each bracing member (6c) to its respective connections sequentially in the vertical direction on the footing itself, manually by trained ‘rigger’ technicians those who are trained and qualified for working at heights. The bottom-most segment (6a) is first constructed by manually positioning and connecting the pillar (6b) and bracing members (6c) to their respective interfaces, in the vertical condition. The subsequent segments are constructed by the rigger technicians, by climbing on the bottom-most segment, by lifting and installing each part to its respective location, by means of specially provided tools and tackles; and subsequently so assembling the entire mast in the similar manner.
In an embodiment, the mast assembly (6) is constructed with cylindrical monopole configuration, with each monopole segment connected to the other by means of bolted flange connections. In yet another alternative embodiment, the telecom Mast segment assembly (6) may be constructed with tapered monopole configuration, wherein each tapered segment is connected to the other by means of a wedge/swage shaped geometry created at the interface of segments.
In yet another alternative embodiment, the telecom mast assembly (6) is constructed with individual mast segments (6a) having a meshed form, built out of steel re-bars/TMT bars with a spiral geometry.
The topmost segment of the mast assembly (6) comprises of a work platform (7). The work platform (7) has a foldable ‘trap-door’ arrangement for providing ease of access through it and then to be used as a safe platform for riggers/technicians during the installation / maintenance of antennae payload. The topmost segment of the telecom mast assembly (6) provides for mounting the antennae payloads and further provides a frame at top to mount lightning arrester rod and aviation lamp.
In a specific embodiment, the mast system (100) is vertical structure having a 40m tall mast assembly (6), capable of holding one or more telecom operator antennae payload of 4G or 5G technology, at wind speeds of 140, 170, 180 or 200 kms/hr without conventional civil foundations. The antennae payload includes the telecom elements like RF Antenna, MW antenna and remote radio units. The mast system 100 as per present invention can be configured for varying heights, antennae payloads, wind speed sustenance, ground footprints, base utility payloads; and combinations thereof as shown in figure 1.
The mast system (100) of the present invention, with its unique design features facilitates Maximized commonality of the structural components; as well as a reduction in the complexity of manufacturing; thereby reducing the costs and delivery timelines. Cost and delivery timelines are reduced due to easy procurement of standard materials, thereby reducing costs and delivery timelines as also inventory control.
The mast system (100) of the present invention provides ease of the installation and safety to personnel due to its symmetrical construction with narrow girth. The easy and fast installation of the mast system (100), due to its prebuilt portable foundations and peripheral counter-weight blocks (2) eliminates the deep excavations, intensive and extended civil work at site; and reduces the contingencies and costs.
The mast system (100) of the present invention provides flexibility in its design to facilitate the increase in its structural strength and stability to sustain higher antennae payload and wind-load, to cater for changing and enhanced load requirements, by only adding to it certain ‘add-on’ structural and stability elements, and without the need for any major modifications to its main, inherent steel structure or its foundation. The work of such increase in payload and wind load capacity can be done while the existing mast is already installed and in its functional condition of supporting the live load of telecommunications equipment at the site. Thus, the work of upgrading the mast and its foundation is done very easily, economically, quickly and safely. Whenever there is a need for increasing the site capacity for higher antennae payloads, the already installed mast can be used by adding the add-on elements to make it suitable for higher payloads and/or wind load requirements.
The mast system (100) of the present invention can be de-installed and shifted from an existing telecom site-location, to another site-location for its re-installation, in complete condition, with all its structural elements, including its ‘portable footing’ type civil foundations (the base footing (1)) and ‘portable Peripheral Counter-weight Block (2), so that there is no loss of any of the portions of the Assets, which are already invested in the form of the Telecom Mast and its Foundation. Thus, if the need for relocation of the Mast(s) arises, the financial investments in the passive infrastructure such as Mast and the Foundations are secured without any loss.
The mast system (100) of the present invention provides lowering of the initial Capex up to 40% in mast structures and related foundation work; and approximately 30 – 50% savings in deployment of human resources and construction equipment during Mast installations. It saves about three to four weeks of installation time.
The mast system (100) of the present invention provides a quicker earnings & competitive edge to tower companies and their value chain, due to lesser time required for installations and quicker project completion – the revenue generation by the Mast deployed via the telecom services, starts earlier; and also gives competitive edge for quicker delivery of these services to end-customers – four times quicker start off for revenue generation.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omission and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but such are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the scope of the present invention.
,CLAIMS:We Claim
1. A modular, portable, load-scalable telecom mast system (100) comprising:
a base footing (1), the base footing (1) consisting of a plurality of footing blocks (1a), each footing block from the plurality of footing blocks (1a) arranged and connected to other footing block with footing block connectors (1c) to form the base footing (1) of a polygonal geometry, each footing block from the plurality of footing blocks (1a) provided with a flanged joint interface (1b);
a mast assembly (6), the mast assembly (6) consisting of a plurality of mast segments (6a) arranged vertically, each mast segment from the plurality of mast segments (6a) constructed in a lattice geometrical form with at least three pillar members (6b) and a plurality of bracing members (6c) cross connecting the pillar members (6b) forming the lattice geometry, the at least three pillar members (6b) having end-to-end connection with the at least three pillar members (6b) of an upper and a lower successive mast segments (6a), while the at least three pillar members (6b) of a bottommost mast segment having a lower end thereof connected to the flanged joint interfaces (1b), and
a plurality of counterweight blocks (2) peripherally arranged around the base footing (1), each counterweight block from the plurality of counterweight blocks (2) anchoring the mast assembly (6) at a plurality of connection nodes (4) thereof with a plurality of guy ropes (5).
2. The mast system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the footing blocks from the plurality of footing blocks (1a) are constructed with a reinforced cement concrete and reinforced with a steel rebar or a steel wire mesh or a glass fiber reinforced plastic mesh or a combination thereof.

3. The mast system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the footing blocks from the plurality of footing blocks (1a) are constructed with a composite blend of conventional cement concrete and a grout-based quick-curing polymer concrete and reinforced with a steel rebar or a steel wire mesh or a glass fiber reinforced plastic mesh or a combination thereof.

4. The mast system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the footing block connectors (1c) are provided on a common interface of two footing blocks (1a).

5. The mast system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the footing block connectors (1c) are steel brackets provided with bolting arrangement.

6. The mast system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower end of each pillar member of a bottommost mast segment is connected to each of the flanged joint (1b) of the base footing (1) with interfacing flanges.

7. The mast system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least pillar members (6b) of the consecutive mast segments (6a) are connected with interfacing flanges.

8. The mast system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bracing members (6c) are connected to the at least three pillar members (6b) of the mast segment by bolting, or inter-locking joints, or riveting or welding

9. The mast system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a topmost segment (8) of the mast assembly (6) is provided with a top frame (9) for mounting a lightning arrestor and an aviation lamp.

10. The mast system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the position of the connection nodes (4a, 4b, 4c..) of the plurality of connection nodes (4) is decided depending upon the support required from the guy ropes (5) at the specific heights of the mast.
11. The mast system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the individual guy rope from the plurality of guy topes (5) is anchored to a connection node (4a/4b/4c) with a guy rope anchorage (3).

12. The mast system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the footing blocks (1a) are constructed in any geometrical shape and size suitable for the stability of the system (100).

13. The mast system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base footing (1) is constructed as a monolithic structure.

14. The mast system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of counterweight blocks (2) is peripherally arranged around the base footing (1) in a way that both the base footing (1) and the counterweight blocks (2) generate a resisting moment to counter a toppling moment exerted on the mast assembly (6) by wind loads.

15. The mast system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least three pillar members (6b) are hollow pipes having a round cross section or a square cross section.

16. The mast system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bracing members from the plurality of bracing members (6c) are selected from hollow pipes, hollow tubes, ‘C’ channels, angles and rods.

17. The mast system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the footing blocks of the plurality of footing blocks (1a) are constructed as box frames of light-weight steel or alloy and provided with meshed walls and a closable opening for pouring and encapsulating loose stone aggregate materials there within to serve as ballast weight.

18. The mast system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the counterweight blocks of the plurality of counterweight blocks (2) are constructed as box frames of a light-weight steel or an alloy and provided with meshed walls and a closable opening for pouring and encapsulating loose stone aggregate materials there within to serve as ballast weight.
Dated this 6th day of August, 2024