BACKGROUND

An adjustable strut may be utilized to brace an unstable structure. For example, one or more adjustable struts may be positioned to brace one or more unstable structures of a vehicle following an accident. In another example, one or more adjustable struts may be positioned to bear part, or all, of a weight of a wall, a ceiling, or a roof of an unstable structure. In yet another example, one or more adjustable struts may be positioned to reinforce one or more damaged structures within a ship, such as bulkheads, sections of a hull, or one or more hatches. Accordingly, an adjustable strut may be utilized by emergency services, or other users, in time-sensitive situations where there is a possibility of structural failure of one or more load-bearing elements.

In one example, an adjustable strut may comprise a pair of structural members configured to allow a user to adjust a length of the strut between a contracted position, configured for ease of portability and storage, and a fully-extended position. As such, a first structural member of an adjustable strut may be configured to slide into a bore of a second structural member in order to facilitate adjustment of a length of the strut as needed to brace an unstable structure. Often however, a user does not know the necessary length of the strut until one arrives at the location of the unstable structure. Further, standard adjustable struts are designed for shoring and bracing, and do not have the capability to alternatively function as a lifting device to an unstable structure. Rather, users must utilize independent devices such as pneumatic bags, pneumatic lifts, jacks, or other lifting means in conjunction with strut when a user needs a lifting device, and the user will then need to independently adjust the strut to properly brace/shore the lifted object in its new position.

Accordingly, a need exists for a device that allows an adjustable strut that is easily adjustable and can also function as a lifting device.

BRIEF SUMMARY

One or more of the above-mentioned needs in the art are satisfied by aspects described herein. According to one aspect, an adjustable strut may have an outer housing configured to receive an extendable member into a contracted position. The extendable member may have a threaded exterior along a portion or all of its length. The outer housing may have an extending mechanism attached to the top or placed on top of (e.g., onto the top edge) of the outer housing. The extending mechanism may be removable from, integrated into, or permanently fixed to the outer housing. The extending mechanism is configured to receive, engage, and/or contact at least a portion of the extendable member (e.g., a defined length of the threaded section or other section of the exterior of the extendable member). The extending mechanism may further have a gear system that engages with the threaded exterior of the extendable member so that user can adjust the length of the strut by extending or retracting the extendable member. Further, in adjusting the length of the strut, the extending mechanism allows the adjustable strut to also be used as a lifting device if already connected to a structure such as a vehicle.

According to another example aspect, the extending mechanism may also have an internal collar that engages the threaded exterior of the extendable member, for example by having threading sized and pitched to correspond to threads of the extendable member. The gear system may consist of at least two bevel gears. At least one bevel gear is attached to the internal collar of the extending mechanism so that rotating this bevel gear causes the internal collar of the extending mechanism to rotate. The at least one other bevel gear includes a shaft that extends away from the extending mechanism. By rotating this bevel gear's shaft, the gear system translates rotational motion caused by the user into rotational motion of the internal collar of the extending mechanism (e.g., the shaft may be connected to a handle, drill, or other mechanical device capable of providing rotational motion, or other device configured to power the extending mechanism such as pneumatic motor, hydraulic motor, an air motor, or an air ratchet, where these motors and/or power sources may be internal to the extending mechanism, external, and/or configured to supply rotation and/or power from a distance). This rotational motion of the internal collar of the extending mechanism, which in turn causes rotation of threads of the internal collar of the extending mechanism, interacts with the threads of the extendable member of the strut, causing the strut to move up or down depending on the direction of the rotation of the internal collar, to allow a user to adjust the length of the strut and selectively lift an object.

According to another example aspect, the gear system may consist of at least two bevel gears, at least one drive gear (e.g., a conical gear), and a worm drive that includes at least one worm that interacts with at least one worm gear. In this configuration, at least one bevel gear includes a shaft that extends away from the extending mechanism. This bevel gear interacts with the at least one other bevel gear, causing the other bevel gear to rotate on a different axis from the first bevel gear. The second bevel gear may share the same axis and shaft of the worm. When the second bevel gear turns, it causes the worm to turn, which interacts with the at least one worm gear, causing the worm gear to turn. The worm gear shares the same axis and shaft of the at least one drive gear. By turning the at least one worm gear, the at least one drive gear interacts with the threads of the extendable member to adjust the length of the strut.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. The Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the disclosed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the disclosed subject matter.

