Folding tower

Abstract

A multi-section folding tower for supporting wind turbines, windmills, power generation, communication, lighting, and measurement machines comprises an upper tower section and a lower tower section pivotally connected at an upper hinge, a lever, and a lower hinge attaching the lower tower section to an anchor foundation not requiring concrete wherein equipment mounted to the top of the tower is accessible by lowering a portion of the tower. The two tower sections and lever are assembled on the ground by connecting the upper and lower sections with a hinge, and the lower tower section is hinged to the tower foundation. The hinged tower sections are raised by first pulling the lower tower section to a vertical position, and a removable installation wheel attached to the tower top enables the lower section to be raised to a vertical position. The upper section is raised to a vertical position by pulling the lever.

1 . A foundation system for a folding tower having at least three legs, comprising:
 a plurality of anchors, the anchors comprising elongated members configured to penetrate into an underlying surface to secure the foundation system relative to the underlying surface;   a centroid absorber;   a plurality of force distribution members extending from the centroid absorber and configured to distribute forces applied to the tower, at least one force distribution member for each tower leg, the force distribution members distributing a first portion of said forces to the anchors, and a second portion of said forces to the centroid absorber, wherein a sum of the first and second portions equals a total force transferred by the tower to the anchors and the absorber; and   a first hinge configured to be attached to at least one of the legs of the tower;   a first leg mount attached to one of the force distribution members and disposed between the first hinge and said force distribution member.   
     
     
         2 . The foundation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second hinge configured to be attached to at least one of the legs of the tower. 
     
     
         3 . The foundation system of  claim 2 , further comprising a second leg mount attached to one of the force distribution members and disposed between the second hinge and said force distribution member. 
     
     
         4 . The foundation system of  claim 2 , wherein the first hinge comprises a first axis of rotation, wherein the second hinge comprises a second axis of rotation, and wherein the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are coaxial. 
     
     
         5 . The foundation system of  claim 1 , wherein the number of anchors is equal to or greater than the number of tower legs. 
     
     
         6 . The foundation system of  claim 1  wherein the centroid absorber is configured to offset tensile and compressive forces transferred by the folding tower to the plurality of force distribution members. 
     
     
         7 . The foundation system of  claim 6  wherein the centroid absorber dampens forces applied by the folding tower to the plurality of force distribution members. 
     
     
         8 . The foundation system of  claim 1  wherein the force distribution members dampen forces applied by the folding tower to the plurality of force distribution members. 
     
     
         9 . A folding tower comprising:
 a hinged base portion;   an anchor, wherein the hinged base portion is configured to rotate relative to the anchor; and   a damping system, wherein the damping system couples the base portion to the anchor, the damping system comprising
 a lever bar having a first end and an opposite second end, wherein the base portion and anchor are coupled to the lever bar near the first end, 
 a first energy storing element, wherein the first energy storing element is coupled to the lever bar near the second end, and 
 a second energy storing element, wherein the second energy storing element is coupled to the lever bar near the second end, and wherein the second energy storing element extends from the lever bar in a direction that is generally opposite to a direction that the first energy storing element extends from the lever bar. 
   
     
     
         10 . The folding tower of  claim 9 , wherein the anchor and the second energy storing element engage a common ground surface. 
     
     
         11 . The folding tower of  claim 9 , wherein the base portion is hingedly coupled to the damping system. 
     
     
         12 . The folding tower of  claim 10 , further comprising a bracing member, wherein the bracing member is generally aligned with the lever bar, and wherein the bracing member is coupled to the base portion and to the first energy storing element. 
     
     
         13 . The folding tower of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second energy storing elements comprise springs. 
     
     
         14 . A foundation system for a folding tower, the foundation system comprising:
 a plurality of damping systems, wherein at least one damping system comprises a hinged leg mount;   a base rigidly attached to an underlying surface; and   a force distribution system attached to the base and configured to reduce loads applied to the base,   wherein each of said plurality of damping systems is coupled to the force distribution system and to the base.   
     
     
         15 . The foundation system of  claim 14 , wherein each of said plurality of damping systems comprises a leg mount configured to support a leg of a folding tower. 
     
     
         16 . The foundation system of  claim 15 , wherein each leg mount is disposed on at least one force absorbing member. 
     
     
         17 . The foundation system of  claim 16 , wherein each damping system comprises a plurality of force absorbing members. 
     
     
         18 . The foundation system of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the plurality of damping systems comprises a leg mount that is not hinged. 
     
     
         19 . The foundation system of  claim 14 , wherein two of the plurality of damping systems comprise hinged leg mounts, wherein each of the two hinged leg mounts include hinges, and wherein each of the two hinges is coaxially aligned with the other hinge. 
     
     
         20 . A folding tower comprising:
 a first portion;   a second portion, wherein the first portion is configured to rotate relative to the second portion between at least a first position and a second position;   a pivot, the pivot located between the first portion and the second portion, the pivot defining an axis of rotation for the first portion relative to the second portion,   a lever, the lever including an elongated structure that is substantially collinear with the first portion;   a boom, the boom including an elongated structure that is substantially perpendicular to the first portion; and   at least one connector, the connector including a first end and a second end, the first end attached to the first portion, and the second end attached to the boom.   
     
     
         21 . The folding tower of  claim 20 , further comprising a second connector, the second connector including a first end a second end, the first end attached to the lever, and the second end attached to the boom. 
     
     
         22 . The folding tower of  claim 21 , wherein the first and second connectors are flexible tension members. 
     
     
         23 - 83 . (canceled)