Telescopic support tower

Abstract

A support tower for heavy loads or large structures such as a wind turbine generators, constructed of a plurality of telescopic tower sections with the outer lower tower section having a lower end supported from a foundation and at least one or more inner upper tower sections telescoped in an initial vertical nested relation within the outer lower tower section. The heavy load is mounted on an upper end of the inner upper tower section while in the initial vertical nested relation. The inner upper tower section or sections are then lifted upwardly to an extended tower height by lift mechanisms and the tower sections are secured in vertically extended position by inter-engaging wedge joint structure with bolt fasteners extending through mating wedge surfaces to retain the telescopic tower sections vertically extended and position the heavy load in a vertically elevated position.

1 . A tower for supporting heavy loads above a tower Foundation, said tower comprising a plurality of elongated tubular tower sections including at least an outer lower tower section and an inner upper tower section each including a substantially cylindrical peripheral wall, said tower sections being telescopically nestable in a generally vertical position, said outer tower section having a lower end supported from said tower foundation to enable the inner tower section to be extended vertically, said inner tower section supporting said heavy load at an upper end thereof when nested in said outer tower section, a lift mechanism interconnecting said outer and inner tower sections to telescopically extend said inner tower section and lift said heavy load to an extended tower height, and coacting mating wedge surfaces on said outer tower section and said inner tower section to form a rigid wedge joint between a lower end of said inner tower section and an upper end of said outer tower section when said tower sections are vertically extended. 
   
   
       2 . The tower as defined in  claim 1 , wherein fasteners rigidly interconnect said wedge surfaces when said tower sections are extended to tower height. 
   
   
       3 . The tower as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said tower sections includes guide rollers to guide movement of said inner tower section when raised to an extended tower height. 
   
   
       4 . The tower as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said lift mechanism includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced jackrods mounted on said outer tower section, a crawler jack on each jackrod for vertical movement thereon, said crawler jacks engaging said inner tower section to raise said inner tower section to an extended tower height. 
   
   
       5 . The tower as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said lift mechanism includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced rope, pulley and winch assemblies associated with said tower sections to raise said inner upper tower section to an extended tower height. 
   
   
       6 . The tower as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said wedge structure on an upper end of said outer lower tower section includes a peripheral upwardly and inwardly inclined wedge ring, said wedge structure on said inner upper tower section including a downwardly and outwardly inclined wedge surface engaging the wedge ring on said outer lower tower section when the inner upper tower section is lifted vertically, said fasteners interconnecting said wedge ring and wedge surfaces to secure said tower sections in said extended tower height. 
   
   
       7 . The tower as defined in  claim 1 , wherein an upper end portion of said outer lower tower section and a lower end portion of said inner upper tower section each include inter-engaging wedge structures to limit upward movement of said inner upper tower section and align said sections when said inner upper section is in an elevated position, said fasteners interconnecting said wedge structures by extending through said wedge structures. 
   
   
       8 . A tower for supporting a heavy load from a tower foundation comprising at least two elongated, telescopically associated tower sections including a lower tower section supported vertically on said tower foundation and an upper tower section telescopically nestable in relation to said lower tower section, a lift mechanism interconnecting said lower tower section and said upper tower section, said lift mechanism including a plurality of generally parallel vertical jackrods and crawler jack assemblies interconnecting said lower tower section and said upper tower section to move said upper tower section vertically to an elevated position in relation to said lower tower section, an upper end portion of said lower tower section and a lower end portion of said upper tower section each including peripheral mating wedge assemblies which are interconnected to retain said upper tower section in said elevated position and in vertical alignment with said lower tower section. 
   
   
       9 . A tower for supporting heavy loads above a tower foundation which comprises a plurality of elongated tower sections including at least an outer tower section and an inner tower section nested in a vertical telescoped position with said inner tower section nested within said outer tower section, said outer tower section having a lower end mounted on said tower foundation to enable the nested vertically telescoped tower sections to be extended vertically, said inner tower section supporting said heavy load when nested in said outer tower section, and a lift mechanism interconnecting said outer and inner tower sections to telescopically raise said inner tower section and said heavy load to an extended tower height. 
   
   
       10 . The tower as defined in  claim 9 , wherein at least one of said tower sections includes upper sway rollers and lower sway rollers to guide movement of the inner tower section when raised to an extended tower height. 
   
   
       11 . The tower as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said lift mechanism includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced jackrods mounted in said outer tower section, a crawler jack on each jackrod for vertical movement thereon, said crawler jacks raising said inner tower section to an expanded tower height. 
   
   
       12 . A tower for supporting a heavy load from a tower foundation comprising at least two elongated, telescopically associated tower sections including a lower tower section supported vertically on said tower foundation and an upper tower section telescopically positioned in said lower tower section, a lift mechanism interconnecting said lower tower section and said upper tower section, said lift mechanism including a plurality of generally parallel vertical jackrod and crawler jack assemblies interconnecting said lower tower section and said upper tower section to move said upper tower section vertically to an elevated position in relation to said lower tower section, a lower end portion of said upper tower section including a plurality of peripheral low sway rollers guidingly engaged with a peripheral surface of said lower tower section, said lower tower section including a plurality of upper sway rollers to guide relative vertical movement of said tower sections. 
   
   
       13 . The tower claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising a second upper tower section telescopically positioned in said upper tower section positioned in said lower tower section, a second lift mechanism interconnecting said upper tower sections to simultaneously move said second upper tower section vertically in relation to said upper tower section positioned in said lower tower section when said jackrod and crawler jack assemblies move said upper tower section positioned in said lower tower section upwardly thereby simultaneously moving both upper tower sections vertically in response to vertical movement of said upper tower section positioned in said lower tower section by said jackrod and crawler jack assemblies. 
   
   
       14 . The tower as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein each of said jackrod and crawler jack assemblies includes a vertical jackrod fixed interiorly of said lower tower section, and a crawler jack vertically moveable on said jackrod, said jackrods being mounted vertically and generally parallel within said lower tower section, said crawler jacks engaging a lower end of said upper tower section for lifting it to said elevated position. 
   
   
       15 . The tower as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said upper tower section includes a vertical guide bar depending therefrom, said lower tower sections including opposed rollers engaging said guide bar to prevent rotation of said upper tower section during vertical movement in relation to the said lower tower section. 
   
   
       16 . The method of erecting a tall support tower having a plurality of elongated telescopic tower sections above a tower foundation comprising the steps of mounting an outer tower section in vertical position on said foundation, vertically inserting an inner tower section downwardly into said outer tower section, elevating said inner tower section vertically to an expanded tower height, limiting vertical movement of said inner tower section by coacting wedge structures on the upper end of said outer town section and lower end of said inner tower section and extending fastening members through the coacting wedge structures to secure said tower sections in expanded tower height. 
   
   
       17 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said step of elevating the inner tower section includes the step of engaging a lift mechanism with a lower end portion of said inner tower section and lifting the inner tower section to an expanded tower height. 
   
   
       18 . A tower for supporting heavy loads above a tower foundation, said tower comprising a plurality of elongated tubular tower sections including at least a lower tower section and an upper tower section each including a substantially cylindrical peripheral wall, said tower sections being telescopically nested and disposed in a generally vertical position, said lower tower section having a lower end supported from said tower foundation to enable said upper tower section to be extended vertically, said upper tower section supporting said heavy load at an upper end thereof when nested in said lower tower section, and a lift mechanism interconnecting said lower and upper tower sections to telescopically extend said upper tower section and lift said heavy load to an extended tower height, coacting structures on a lower end of said upper tower section and an upper end of said lower tower section, said coacting structures being rigidly connected when said upper tower section is vertically extended by fasteners interconnecting said coacting structures. 
   
   
       19 . The tower as defined in  claim 18 , wherein at least one of said tower sections includes guide rollers to guide movement of said upper tower section when raised to an extended tower height. 
   
   
       20 . The tower as defined in  claim 18 , wherein said lift mechanism includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced composite rope and pulley assemblies associated with said tower sections to raise said upper tower section to an extended tower height. 
   
   
       21 . The tower as defined in  claim 18 , wherein said coacting structures include a peripheral upwardly and inwardly inclined wedge ring on one of said tower sections and a downwardly and outwardly inclined wedge ring on the other of said tower sections for rigid engagement with said wedge ring when said one tower section is elevated to its extended tower height. 
   
   
       22 . A tower for supporting heavy loads above a tower foundation, said tower comprising a plurality of elongated tubular tower sections including at least a lower tower section and an upper tower section each including a perimeter structure, said tower sections being telescopically nested and disposed in a generally vertical position, said lower tower section having a lower end supported from said tower foundation to enable said upper tower section to be extended vertically, said upper tower section supporting said heavy load at an upper end thereof when said tower sections are nested and a lift mechanism interconnecting said lower and said upper tower sections to telescopically extend said upper tower section and lift said heavy load to an extended tower height, coacting connecting structures on a lower end of said upper tower section and an upper end of said lower tower section, said connecting structure being matingly and rigidly engaged when said tower sections are vertically extended, and fasteners interconnecting said connecting-structures when said tower sections are extended to tower height.