Patent Application
20140266943
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to antennas. More particularly, the invention relates to an antenna alignment adjustment assembly that enables fine adjustment in a simplified and compact structure.
2. Description of Related Art
Antennas may be highly directional. In addition to being closely boresight-aligned with one another, antennas and feed components contained therein forming an RF communications link may be rotationally aligned with respect to signal polarity.
Alignment mechanisms may be incorporated into the mounting arrangement of the antenna. Antenna mounts relying upon arc slots for controlled angular movement about a center axis of the arc slot are known. Fine adjustment of an arc slot-type antenna mount may be problematic as the fasteners associated with locking the mount at the desired position along the arc slot may have a significant amount of slop when loosened enough to enable movement, frustrating tightening the mount at the desired orientation and/or fine adjustment of the orientation. Application of finely threaded rod and boss arrangements to drive the mount along the arc slot, including a bias member to remove any slop are also known, for example as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,046,210 “Precision Adjustment Antenna Mount and Alignment Method” issued ion 16 May 2006 to Brooker et al. However, the multiple additional elements and clearance therebetween required for this type of arrangement may increase the size of the mount and/or overly complicate manufacture of the mount.
Antenna mounts utilizing gears are also known. However, gears and structure required for maintaining the gears in aligned engagement with each other may similarly increase the size, complexity and cost of the of the mount.
Antennas may be installed at exposed locations high atop towers. Improved installation and/or maintenance personnel safety is a constant concern of the radio tower industry. Therefore, installation and/or adjustment procedures with a reduced number of steps and low installer force requirements are desired. Further, antenna specific tools are not desired as each additional tool presents an additional cost, separate drop hazard and ongoing inventory requirement.
Competition in the reflector antenna market has focused attention on improving electrical performance and minimizing overall manufacturing, inventory, distribution, installation and maintenance costs. Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide an antenna alignment mechanism with a fine adjustment capability that overcomes deficiencies in the prior art.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, where like reference numbers in the drawing figures refer to the same feature or element and may not be described in detail for every drawing figure in which they appear and, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
The inventors have recognized that precision adjustment may be applied to an antenna alignment adjustment mechanism by forming an annular gear integral with one of two bodies rotatably coupled to one another and driving the annular gear with a pinion gear coupled to the other body. Thereby, the mechanism requirements may be simplified, a gear ratio between the annular gear and the pinion gear enabling precision adjustment by rotation of the pinion gear. The arrangement may be applied with respect to multiple axis of adjustment, enabling a compact mechanism adjustable in azimuth, elevation and/or polarization (boresight rotation).
A first exemplary embodiment of an alignment mechanism 2, as demonstrated in
Alternatively, for example as shown in
As best shown in
As shown in
One of the alignment mechanisms 2 may be applied to rotate the antenna along a rotation axis between the first body 4 and the second body 16 that is coaxial with a boresight of the antenna 26, for example as shown in
One of the alignment mechanisms 2 may be applied to rotate the antenna along a rotation axis between the first body and the second body that is parallel to a vertical plane of the antenna 26, for example as shown in
One of the alignment mechanisms 2 may be applied to rotate the antenna along a rotation axis between the first body and the second body that is parallel to a horizontal plane of the antenna 26, for example as shown in
To improve load distribution upon the alignment mechanisms 2, the first and second bodies 4, 16 may be applied as U-shaped brackets meshing between dual flange ends 34, an axis of rotation passing through the center of rotation 10 of an alignment mechanism 2 at one flange end 32 and through a corresponding arc slot 8 (first body 4) and rotation fastener 34 (coupled to second body 16) at the other flange end 32. Alternatively, dual flange ends 32 may be applied spaced apart from one another, for example as shown in
One skilled in the art will appreciate that the pinion gears 14 may alternatively be configured for rotation by coupling the pinion gears 14 to the shafts of motors which are mounted upon the respective second bodies 16, for example as shown in
The generally planar surfaces between the contacting portions of the first body 4 and the second body 16 may simplify manufacture. For example, the first and second bodies may be cost efficiently manufactured via injection molding, casting, metal stamping or the like.
The first body 4 and annular gear 12 have been demonstrated as a unitary portion. One skilled in the art will appreciate that “unitary”, as applied herein, is defined as describing the first body 4 and annular gear 12 as a single contiguous portion of homogeneous material. Therefore, a first body 4 and annular gear 12 thereof would not be the result of integrating separate sub-elements by welding, soldering, gluing or the like. In alternative embodiments, the annular gear 12 may be separately manufactured and then seated, for example, secured upon a sidewall of the arc slot 8, aligned to place the annular gear 12 within the arc slot 8 for engagement with the pinion gear 14, enabling for example, fabrication of the annular gear 12 of metal material and a remainder of the alignment mechanism of lighter and/or cheaper polymer material.
One skilled in the art will appreciate that the alignment mechanism 2 may enable antenna mounts 2 which may be configured with a reduced size and streamlined overall appearance. Further, precision alignment adjustments may be quickly applied with reduced strain upon the installation personnel, without specialized tools.
Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to materials, ratios, integers or components having known equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.
While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of the embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus, methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departure from the spirit or scope of applicant's general inventive concept. Further, it is to be appreciated that improvements and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention as defined by the following claims.
