Camera Lowering - [MG]² - MG Squared Lowering Systems & AASHTO Compliant Break-Away Wiring Systems

A Quick-disconnect Camera Lowering System

• Safe and simple ground level installation,
maintenance or replacement

• Costly and cumbersome lift trucks eliminated

• Eliminates ITS design constraints with regard to camera location or mounting height

• Maintenance cost drastically reduced

• Patented weatherproof contact connector allows adaptation for most ITS devices and cameras

• The field proven lowering system in use within the DOT

Simplify Surveillance/CCTV Camera Maintenance
The Camera Lowering System (CLS) by [MG]², Inc. is the original design for an individual lowering system for surveillance cameras. It was designed and derived from the Fixture Lowering System for luminaires (FLS) by [MG]² Inc. This special system has been sold throughout North America, Australia and in Asia. The system allows for a camera and its housing to be detached from its position atop a pole and lowered on a stainless steel wire aircraft cable to ground level. This provides for safe, simple, and quick camera installation, maintenance, and/or replacement. There is no need for electric cables to move over a pulley system - thereby avoiding snags and degradation of data and video cables. As well, the need for costly and cumbersome bucket trucks or lift trucks is eliminated. Further, depending upon the placement of the cameras, previously required lane closings, outriggers, crash trucks and cone crews for maintenance are eliminated. Maintenance cost and necessary personnel are considerably reduced. Cameras can be installed at any height to provide a greater field of view because height is not limited to the reach of large bucket trucks.

The Camera Lowering System utilizes a unique connector developed to operate multi- function surveillance cameras (color or black and white) as well as other ITS roadside devices. The specially designed connector pins allow for typical camera functions such as pan, tilt, and zoom as well as data transfer needs. The unit is rated for winds of 210 kilometers per hour (130 mph) with a 1.3 gust factor and a 1.6 safety factor. Thus, minimal, if any, movement is transferred to the mounted camera. Any camera or device may be mounted to the lowering system. Lifting and Lowering is done with a hand portable device/lowering tool.

The disconnect unit's design is self-aligning which enables the camera to lock into the same specified position every time the camera is raised or lowered. When in position, twin tracking support arms hold the weight of the unit so there is no tension in the control cable used for lowering and raising the camera and housing

Costs are less than other systems because the advantages result in cost efficient units with simple maintenance procedures. The system is ideally suited for surveillance needs in difficult locations such as on bridges, at rest areas, waste water treatment plants, power substations, and in rapid transit areas. The inclusion of a Camera Lowering System on any project will result in a more cost effective and easily maintained system.

HOW IT WORKS

The heart of every camera lowering system is the disconnect unit. Specially designed mechanical components assure precise alignment and positioning of the camera each time it is returned to its operating position after the camera has been serviced. The specially designed connector intrinsically handles all the multiple functions of the camera including power supply and video signal. Mechanical components, together with the connector, provide every disconnect unit with the features required for operating surveillance cameras at the highest level available for lowering systems. Pivoting Support Arms made up of twin supports, precision cast in stainless steel, pivot as they move through a tracking guide to a locked position. Once locked, they assure a balanced load without relying on cable tension, motor gearing, or breaking devices. 3-way Stabilizing Guides: Upon being raised into position but prior to connector engagement, there are three, stepped alignment and stabilizing guides integrated into the disconnect unit for specific purposes:

• First: A cast stainless steel guide post initially aligns the movable portion with the upper portion (fixed to the supporting pole).

• Second: A heavy duty key on the main guide post enters a stabilizing slot to stop rotation and align the support arms and connector.

• Third: Offset at 180° to the main guide post key, a second key and slot engage to finalize alignment and stabilize the disconnect unit immediately before the pins and sockets of the connector engage.

Click Here to see the 5
Operating Stages of the Connector
(PDF format: you will need Adobe®
Acrobat Reader® 4.0 or higher to view)

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