Will-Burt Stiletto Telescoping Mast for Worldwide Military Use
23 July 2003
The Will-Burt Company today announced the introduction of its automatic self-locking “Stiletto” Telescoping Screw-Drive Mast designed specifically for military mobile and field communications and surveillance. Made of carbon fiber composite, the lightweight yet sturdy mast allows for accuracy, greater payloads and field maintainability.
“The mast technology and the drive mechanism make this mast unique,” said Don Barlow, Will-Burt Sales Manager. “The critical components are designed for long life, reliability and safety.”
The sections of the mast are held up with redundant latch mechanisms, the screw drive mechanism is designed so it will not back-drive and the friction clutch is torque-limiting to eliminate over-travel. These features translate into improved safety and reliability. The motor-driven Stiletto remains extended and locked even during power failures, and has positive retraction.
Additional features of the Stiletto are abundant, including rapid deployment, 450-pound pull-down force, and significantly reduced maintenance requirements.
While the mast is typically made of carbon fiber composite tubes, fiberglass and aluminum sections can be supplied.
Non-rotating, the Stiletto has high antenna pointing accuracy in twist and bending even at 10 degrees tilt. Optional height read-out is available.
As for rapid deployment, which is critical in military operations, erection time for a 6 meter mast with power takes less than 1.5 minutes and the emergency manual extension and retraction can be accomplished in 3.5 minutes.
Reduced maintenance and downtime is a conscious design goal. Routine maintenance (greasing) takes only 60 seconds; depot maintenance (greasing and replacing the eight drive nuts) takes only two to four hours; and, complete overhaul takes just eight hours.
“The cost to own the mast is minimized because the only scheduled field maintenance is to regrease the screw every 650 cycles,” said Barlow. “Also, there is no disassembly of the mast or payload for routine scheduled lubrication and there’s an inexpensive and fast two- to four-hour depot level overhaul at 2600 cycles.”
The small, 1.5 square feet Stiletto allows it to be mounted internally or externally on a HMMWV or shelter. Manufactured for military use, it qualifies under Mil-Std 810 environmental standards for transportation altitude, operating and storage temperature, solar radiation, rain, humidity, fungus, salt fog, sand and dust, ice and snow loading, vibration and shock. The mast has also been subjected to Will-Burt’s in-house reliability and life cycle testing.
Lightweight at 180 pounds for the 6-meter mast, the Stiletto Telescoping Mast line offers 4m, 6m, 10m and 15m models and is designed for both domestic and international use.
More detailed information about the “Stiletto” Telescoping Screw-Drive Mast can be found on Will-Burt's website or requested by calling (330) 682-7015.
The Will-Burt Company, located in Orville, Ohio, is an employee-owned, ISO 9001-certified company that manufactures precision-engineered solutions for a variety of commercial, mobile, industrial and military applications. A world leader in the manufacture of pneumatic and mechanical telescoping masts and accessories, Will-Burt capabilities include all phases of the contract manufacturing process from tool and die development to fabrication, powder coating, electronics and turn-key assembly for products from bank vaults and vehicle mounted roof lighting to dockside power pedestals and ladders.
