Electromechanical telescopic column assembly

1 . An electromechanical telescopic column assembly for supporting and moving military, communication, lighting and/or surveillance equipment, extending along an axis (V) and comprising:

a base suitable to be placed on a base plane;

movement means comprising a driving screw oriented along the axis (V), and

a plurality of tube assemblies telescopically configured configurable along the axis (V) between a compact configuration and an extended configuration, said plurality of tube assemblies comprising:

i) a head tube assembly comprising:

a head tubular member extending between a lower end of head tubular member and an upper end of head tubular member; and

a head piston attached to the lower end of head tubular member and engageable to the driving screw, wherein the head piston comprises a head piston body, at least one head horizontal latch, and at least one head elastic member that elastically connects the head piston body to the head horizontal latch, so as to cause a movement of the head horizontal latch;

ii) a main intermediate tube assembly comprising:

a main intermediate tubular member extending between a lower end of main intermediate tubular member and an upper end of main intermediate tubular member, said main intermediate tubular member comprising at least one seat suitable for receiving the head horizontal latch;

a main intermediate piston engaged to the driving screw and attached to the lower end of main intermediate tubular member; and

a main intermediate ring attached to the upper end of main intermediate tubular member and comprising at least one main intermediate sealing member engageable with the head tubular member; and

iii) a base tube assembly comprising:

a base tubular member extending between a lower end of base tubular member and an upper end of base tubular member;

a bottom attached to the base and having a hole where the driving screw is rotatably housed; and

a base ring attached to the upper end of base tubular member and comprising at least one sealing member engageable with the main intermediate tubular member,

wherein, in the compact configuration, the driving screw acts as a vertical latch which engages the head piston and keeps the head horizontal latch in an unlocked position, in which the head elastic member is compressed between the head piston body and the head horizontal latch and in which the head tubular member is disengaged from the main intermediate tubular member,

and wherein, in a movement of the electromechanical telescopic column assembly from the compact configuration to the extended configuration, a disengagement of the head piston from the driving screw allows the movement of the head horizontal latch which, being activated by an elongation of the head elastic member, translates horizontally from the unlocked position to a locked position, in which the head tubular member is locked to the main intermediate tubular member by an engagement of the head horizontal latch in a respective seat.

2 . The electromechanical telescopic column assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one secondary intermediate tube assembly arranged between the main intermediate tube assembly and the head tube assembly, said secondary intermediate tube assembly comprising:

secondary intermediate tubular member extending between a lower end of secondary intermediate tubular member and an upper end of secondary intermediate tubular member, said secondary intermediate tubular member comprising at least one bolt latch seat;

a secondary intermediate piston engageable to the driving screw and attached to the lower end of secondary intermediate tubular member, wherein said secondary intermediate piston comprises a secondary intermediate piston body, at least one intermediate horizontal latch, and at least one intermediate elastic member elastically connecting the secondary intermediate piston body and the intermediate horizontal latch to each other;

a secondary intermediate ring attached to the upper end of secondary intermediate tubular member and comprising at least one secondary intermediate sealing member engageable with the head tubular member,

wherein, in the compact configuration, the driving screw acts as a vertical latch and engages both the head piston and the secondary intermediate piston, so as to keep

the head horizontal latch in the unlocked position, wherein the head elastic member is compressed between the head piston body and the head horizontal latch and wherein the head tubular member is disengaged from the secondary intermediate tubular member,

b) the intermediate horizontal latch in an inactive position, wherein the intermediate elastic member is compressed between the secondary intermediate piston body and the intermediate horizontal latch and wherein the secondary intermediate tubular member is disengaged from the main intermediate tubular member,

and wherein, when moving the electromechanical telescopic column assembly from the compact configuration to the extended configuration:

the disengagement of the head piston from the driving screw allows the movement of the head horizontal latch which, being activated by the elongation of the head elastic member, translates horizontally from the unlocked position to the locked position, in which the head tubular member is locked to the secondary intermediate tubular member by an engagement of the head horizontal latch in a respective latch seat,

a subsequent disengagement of the secondary intermediate piston from the driving screw allows the intermediate horizontal latch, being activated by an elongation of the intermediate elastic member, to translate horizontally between the inactive position, in which the secondary intermediate tubular member is disengaged from the main intermediate tubular member, and an active position, in which the secondary intermediate tubular member is locked to the main intermediate tubular member and the intermediate horizontal latch engages the respective seat provided in the main intermediate tubular member.

3 . The electromechanical telescopic column assembly of claim 2 , comprising at least two secondary intermediate tube assemblies arranged successively, so that in the extended configuration:

the intermediate horizontal latch of a first secondary intermediate tube assembly preceding the main intermediate tube assembly engages the seat;

the intermediate horizontal latch of a second secondary intermediate tube assembly following the head tube assembly engages the latch seat of the first secondary intermediate tube assembly; and

the head horizontal latch of the head tube assembly engages the latch seat of the second secondary intermediate tube assembly.

4 . The electromechanical telescopic column assembly of claim 2 , wherein the head horizontal latch and the intermediate horizontal latch each comprise:

a head suitable for engaging the seat and/or the latch seat, said head having at least one housing hole where the head elastic member or the intermediate elastic member are at least partially housed;

a ring slidably engageable to the driving screw, said ring, when engaged to the driving screw, defining the unlocked position of the head horizontal latch and the inactive position of the intermediate horizontal latch; and

a body having a reduced section with respect to the head, said body defining a ring seat where the ring is housed.

5 . The electromechanical telescopic column assembly of claim 4 , wherein the head, the ring and the body are made in one piece to form the head horizontal latch or the intermediate horizontal latch, or only the ring and the body are made in one piece.

6 . The electromechanical telescopic column assembly of claim 4 , wherein the ring is shaped to have a lower flared surface which, in a movement of the electromechanical telescopic column assembly from the extended configuration to the compact configuration, acts as an opening for the driving screw, and wherein said driving screw, engaging and crossing the ring, moves the head horizontal latch from the locked position to the unlocked position and/or the intermediate horizontal latch from the active position to the inactive position.

7 . The electromechanical telescopic column assembly of claim 4 , wherein the head piston body and the secondary intermediate piston body each comprise at least one abutment projection suitable to act as an abutment point for the head elastic member or the intermediate elastic member, said head elastic member or intermediate elastic member being at a first end housed in the housing hole and at a second opposite end being in abutment with the abutment projection, so that:

in the compact configuration, the head elastic member and the intermediate elastic member are compressed between the housing hole and the abutment projection, and

in the extended configuration, the ring is disengaged from the driving screw to allow the head elastic member and the intermediate elastic member to extend, so as to cause the head horizontal latch and the intermediate horizontal latch to translate and engage the latch seat and the seat.

8 . The electromechanical telescopic column assembly of claim 4 , wherein the ring develops concentrically around a ring axis that is substantially coaxial to the axis (V) when the electromechanical telescopic column assembly is in the compact configuration, and wherein when the electromechanical telescopic column assembly is in the extended configuration, the ring axis is spaced transversely to the axis (V).

9 . The electromechanical telescopic column assembly of claim 2 , wherein the head piston and the secondary intermediate piston each comprise a guide band made of a material with a low coefficient of friction, optionally the material with a low coefficient of friction being a material belonging to the family of polymers, said guide band being suitable for sliding on an internal surface of the secondary intermediate tubular member and/or of the main intermediate tubular member.

10 . The electromechanical telescopic column assembly of claim 2 , wherein the secondary intermediate tubular member and the main intermediate tubular member each comprise at least one lower external band respectively positioned on an external surface of the secondary intermediate tubular member and of the main intermediate tubular member, said lower external band being made of a material with a low coefficient of friction, optionally the material with a low coefficient of friction being a material belonging to the family of polymers, and being suitable for sliding on an internal surface of a further secondary intermediate tubular member and/or of the main intermediate tubular member and/or of the base tubular member.

11 . The electromechanical telescopic column assembly of claim 2 , wherein the secondary intermediate tubular member, the main intermediate tubular member and the base tubular member each comprise an upper internal band respectively arranged on an internal surface of the secondary intermediate tubular member, of the main intermediate tubular member and of the base tubular member, said upper internal band being made of a material with a low coefficient of friction, optionally the material with a low coefficient of friction being a material belonging to the family of polymers, and being suitable for sliding on an external surface of the head tubular member and/or of the secondary intermediate tubular member and/or of the main intermediate tubular member.

12 . The electromechanical telescopic column assembly of claim 11 , wherein the head piston body is provided with an abutment surface suitable for abutting the upper internal band of the secondary intermediate tubular member, so as to define a maximum extension of the head tubular member.

13 . The electromechanical telescopic column assembly of claim 10 , wherein the secondary intermediate tubular member, the main intermediate tubular member and the base tubular member each comprise an upper internal band respectively arranged on the internal surface of the secondary intermediate tubular member, of the main intermediate tubular member and of the base tubular member, said upper internal band being made of a material with a low coefficient of friction, optionally the material with a low coefficient of friction being a material belonging to the family of polymers, and being suitable for sliding on an external surface of the head tubular member and/or the external surface of the secondary intermediate tubular member and/or of the main intermediate tubular member, and wherein

an engagement between the lower external band of the secondary intermediate tubular member with the upper internal band of a subsequent secondary intermediate tubular member, defines a maximum extension of the secondary intermediate tubular member;

an engagement between the lower external band of the subsequent secondary intermediate tubular member with the upper internal band of the main intermediate tubular member defines a maximum extension of the subsequent secondary intermediate tubular member; and

an engagement between the lower external band of the main intermediate tubular member with the upper internal band of the base tubular member defines a maximum extension of the main intermediate tubular member.

14 . The electromechanical telescopic column assembly of claim 2 , wherein the driving screw comprises a threaded portion whose height along the axis (V) is substantially the same as a height of the head tubular member so that, upon completion of an extension of the head tubular member, the head tube assembly allows the secondary intermediate piston or the main intermediate piston to engage the driving screw.

15 . The electromechanical telescopic column assembly of claim 1 , wherein at the upper end of head tubular member there is a coupling member for installation of the military, communication and lighting and/or surveillance equipment is provided.

16 . The electromechanical telescopic column assembly of claim 1 , wherein the movement means further comprise a transmission system for returning motion to the driving screw and a transducer, the transducer optionally being a multi-turn absolute encoder, engaged to said transmission system.

17 . A method of extending an electromechanical telescopic column assembly for supporting and moving military, communication, lighting and/or surveillance equipment, extending along an axis (V) and comprising:

a base suitable to be placed on a base plane;

movement means comprising a driving screw oriented along the axis (V), and

a plurality of tube assemblies telescopically configurable along the axis (V) between a compact configuration and an extended configuration, said plurality of tube assemblies comprising:

i) a head tube assembly comprising:

a head tubular member extending between a lower end of head tubular member and an upper end of head tubular member; and

a head piston attached to the lower end of head tubular member and engageable to the driving screw, wherein the head piston comprises a head piston body, at least one head horizontal latch, and at least one head elastic member that elastically connects the head piston body to the head horizontal latch, so as to cause a movement of the head horizontal latch;

ii) a main intermediate tube assembly comprising:

a main intermediate tubular member extending between a lower end of main intermediate tubular member and an upper end of main intermediate tubular member, said main intermediate tubular member comprising at least one seat suitable for receiving the head horizontal latch;

a main intermediate piston engaged to the driving screw and attached to the lower end of main intermediate tubular member; and

a main intermediate ring attached to the upper end of main intermediate tubular member and comprising at least one main intermediate sealing member engageable with the head tubular member; and

iii) a base tube assembly comprising:

a base tubular member extending between a lower end of base tubular member and an upper end of base tubular member;

a bottom attached to the base and having a hole where the driving screw is rotatably housed; and

a base ring attached to the upper end of base tubular member and comprising at least one sealing member engageable with the main intermediate tubular member,

wherein, in the compact configuration, the driving screw acts as a vertical latch which engages the head piston and keeps the head horizontal latch in an unlocked position, in which the head elastic member is compressed between the head piston body and the head horizontal latch and in which the head tubular member is disengaged from the main intermediate tubular member,

and wherein, in a movement of the electromechanical telescopic column assembly from the compact configuration to the extended configuration, a disengagement of the head piston from the driving screw allows the movement of the head horizontal latch which, being activated by an elongation of the head elastic member, translates horizontally from the unlocked position to a locked position, in which the head tubular member is locked to the main intermediate tubular member by an engagement of the head horizontal latch in a respective seat,

the electromechanical telescopic column assembly further comprising at least one secondary intermediate tube assembly arranged between the main intermediate tube assembly and the head tube assembly, said secondary intermediate tube assembly comprising:

a secondary intermediate tubular member extending between a lower end of secondary intermediate tubular member and an upper end of secondary intermediate tubular member, said secondary intermediate tubular member comprising at least one latch seat;

a secondary intermediate piston engageable to the driving screw and attached to the lower end of secondary intermediate tubular member, wherein said secondary intermediate piston comprises a secondary intermediate piston body, at least one intermediate horizontal latch, and at least one intermediate elastic member elastically connecting the secondary intermediate piston body and the intermediate horizontal latch to each other;

a secondary intermediate ring attached to the upper end of secondary intermediate tubular member and comprising at least one secondary intermediate sealing member engageable with the head tubular member,

wherein, in the compact configuration, the driving screw acts as a vertical latch and engages both the head piston and the secondary intermediate piston, so as to keep

the head horizontal latch in the unlocked position, wherein the head elastic member is compressed between the head piston body and the head horizontal latch and wherein the head tubular member is disengaged from the secondary intermediate tubular member,

the intermediate horizontal latch in an inactive position, wherein the intermediate elastic member is compressed between the secondary intermediate piston body and the intermediate horizontal latch and wherein the secondary intermediate tubular member is disengaged from the main intermediate tubular member,

and wherein, when moving the electromechanical telescopic column assembly from the compact configuration to the extended configuration:

the disengagement of the head piston from the driving screw allows the movement of the head horizontal latch which, being activated by the elongation of the head elastic member, translates horizontally from the unlocked position to the locked position, in which the head tubular member is locked to the secondary intermediate tubular member by an engagement of the head horizontal latch in a respective latch seat,

a subsequent disengagement of the secondary intermediate piston from the driving screw allows the intermediate horizontal latch, being activated by an elongation of the intermediate elastic member, to translate horizontally between the inactive position, in which the secondary intermediate tubular member is disengaged from the main intermediate tubular member, and an active position, in which the secondary intermediate tubular member is locked to the main intermediate tubular member and the intermediate horizontal latch engages the respective seat provided in the main intermediate tubular member,

the method comprising:

activating a rotation of the driving screw;

starting an extension of the head tube assembly engaged with the driving screw the head piston, so as to keep the head horizontal latch in the unlocked position;

completing the extension of the head tube assembly, wherein the disengagement of the head piston from the driving screw allows the head horizontal latch to translate to the locked position, in which the head tubular member is locked to the secondary intermediate tubular member by the engagement of the head horizontal latch in the respective latch seat;

starting an extension of the secondary intermediate tube assembly arranged between the main intermediate tube assembly and the head tube assembly, said secondary intermediate tube assembly being engaged with the driving screw by the secondary intermediate piston, so as to keep the intermediate horizontal latch in the inactive position;

completing the extension of the secondary intermediate tube assembly, wherein the disengagement of the secondary intermediate piston from the driving screw allows the intermediate horizontal latch to be moved into the active position, in which the secondary intermediate tubular member is locked to the main intermediate tubular member and the intermediate horizontal latch engages the respective seat; and

extending the main intermediate tube assembly which remains engaged with the driving screw even when the electromechanical telescopic column assembly is fully extended.

18 . A method of retracting a telescopic column assembly for supporting and moving military, communication, lighting and/or surveillance equipment, extending along an axis (V) and comprising:

a base suitable to be placed on a base plane;

movement means comprising a driving screw oriented along the axis (V), and

a plurality of tube assemblies telescopically configurable along the axis (V) between a compact configuration and an extended configuration, said plurality of tube assemblies comprising:

i) a head tube assembly comprising:

a head tubular member extending between a lower end of head tubular member and an upper end of head tubular member; and

a head piston attached to the lower end of head tubular member and engageable to the driving screw, wherein the head piston comprises a head piston body, at least one head horizontal latch, and at least one head elastic member that elastically connects the head piston body to the head horizontal latch, so as to cause a movement of the head horizontal latch;

ii) a main intermediate tube assembly comprising:

a main intermediate tubular member extending between a lower end of main intermediate tubular member and an upper end of main intermediate tubular member, said main intermediate tubular member comprising at least one seat suitable for receiving the head horizontal latch;

a main intermediate piston engaged to the driving screw and attached to the lower end of main intermediate tubular member; and

a main intermediate ring attached to the upper end of main intermediate tubular member and comprising at least one main intermediate sealing member engageable with the head tubular member; and

iii) a base tube assembly comprising:

a base tubular member extending between a lower end of base tubular member and an upper end of base tubular member;

a bottom attached to the base and having a hole where the driving screw is rotatably housed; and

a base ring attached to the upper end of base tubular member and comprising at least one sealing member engageable with the main intermediate tubular member,

wherein, in the compact configuration, the driving screw acts as a vertical latch which engages the head piston and keeps the head horizontal latch in an unlocked position, in which the head elastic member is compressed between the head piston body and the head horizontal latch and in which the head tubular member is disengaged from the main intermediate tubular member,

and wherein, in a movement of the electromechanical telescopic column assembly from the compact configuration to the extended configuration, a disengagement of the head piston from the driving screw allows the movement of the head horizontal latch which, being activated by an elongation of the head elastic member, translates horizontally from the unlocked position to a locked position, in which the head tubular member is locked to the main intermediate tubular member by an engagement of the head horizontal latch in a respective seat,

the electromechanical telescopic column assembly further comprising at least one secondary intermediate tube assembly arranged between the main intermediate tube assembly and the head tube assembly, said secondary intermediate tube assembly comprising:

a secondary intermediate tubular member extending between a lower end of secondary intermediate tubular member and an upper end of secondary intermediate tubular member, said secondary intermediate tubular member comprising at least one latch seat;

a secondary intermediate piston engageable to the driving screw and attached to the lower end of secondary intermediate tubular member, wherein said secondary intermediate piston comprises a secondary intermediate piston body, at least one intermediate horizontal latch, and at least one intermediate elastic member elastically connecting the secondary intermediate piston body and the intermediate horizontal latch to each other;

a secondary intermediate ring attached to the upper end of secondary intermediate tubular member and comprising at least one secondary intermediate sealing member engageable with the head tubular member,

wherein, in the compact configuration, the driving screw acts as a vertical latch and engages both the head piston and the secondary intermediate piston, so as to keep

the head horizontal latch in the unlocked position, wherein the head elastic member is compressed between the head piston body and the head horizontal latch and wherein the head tubular member is disengaged from the secondary intermediate tubular member,

the intermediate horizontal latch in an inactive position, wherein the intermediate elastic member is compressed between the secondary intermediate piston body and the intermediate horizontal latch and wherein the secondary intermediate tubular member is disengaged from the main intermediate tubular member,

and wherein, when moving the electromechanical telescopic column assembly from the compact configuration to the extended configuration:

the disengagement of the head piston from the driving screw allows the movement of the head horizontal latch which, being activated by the elongation of the head elastic member, translates horizontally from the unlocked position to the locked position, in which the head tubular member is locked to the secondary intermediate tubular member by an engagement of the head horizontal latch in a respective latch seat,

a subsequent disengagement of the secondary intermediate piston from the driving screw allows the intermediate horizontal latch, being activated by an elongation of the intermediate elastic member, to translate horizontally between the inactive position, in which the secondary intermediate tubular member is disengaged from the main intermediate tubular member, and an active position, in which the secondary intermediate tubular member is locked to the main intermediate tubular member and the intermediate horizontal latch engages the respective seat provided in the main intermediate tubular member,

the method comprising:

activating a rotation of the driving screw;

retracting the main intermediate tube assembly engaged with the driving screw;

engaging the secondary intermediate piston with the driving screw, so as to return the intermediate horizontal latch to the inactive position, in which the secondary intermediate tubular member is released from the main intermediate tubular member;

retracting the secondary intermediate tube assembly;

engaging the head piston with the driving screw, so as to return the head horizontal latch to the unlocked position, in which the head tubular member is disengaged from the secondary intermediate tubular member; and

retracting the head tube assembly, so as to bring the telescopic column assembly into the compact configuration.