Patent Application
20230041618
The present application claims priority from and the benefit of Indian Patent Application No. 202121032986, filed Jul. 22, 2021, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
The disclosure relates to communication systems and, in particular, to a device for mounting a cross beam on a reflector in a base station antenna.
The information in this section merely provides background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art(s) for the present disclosure.
Cellular communications systems are used to provide wireless communications to fixed and mobile subscribers (herein “users”). A cellular communications system may include a plurality of base stations that each provide wireless cellular service for a specified coverage area that is typically referred to as a “cell”. Each base station may include one or more base station antennas that are used to transmit radio frequency (“RF”) signals to, and receive RF signals from, the users that are within the cell served by the base station. Base station antennas are directional devices that can concentrate the RF energy that is transmitted in certain directions (or received from those directions). A cellular base station antenna is the most critical consideration in an efficient cellular network, and it all depends on choosing the antenna with exactly the right physical characteristics for a specific application.
Most base station antennas comprise one or more linear or planar arrays of radiating elements that are mounted on a flat panel reflector assembly. The reflector assembly or the reflector may serve as a ground plane for disposing the radiating elements thereon and may also reflect RF energy that is emitted rearwardly by the radiating elements back in the forward direction. The reflector is configured to provide provisions for mounting multiple cross beams and/or metal parts of the base station antenna. The cross beams mounted on the reflector facilitate positioning additional components, for example, phase shifters, decoupling structures, radiating elements etc in the base station antenna and provide strength to the reflector. The cross beams are generally mounted with the reflector using fasteners.
More recently, different mounting means are utilized to mount the cross beams with the reflector in base station antennas. The cross beams and/or different metal parts are connected to a reflector side wall or a reflector choke using metal hardware elements or clips with the help of nuts, bolts, washers and likewise. The utilization of said hardware elements increases complexity in assembling or dis-assembling of the cross beams or other metal parts from the reflector. Furthermore, dedicated hardware elements are required for mounting the cross beams to the reflectors of different thickness. The utilization of plurality of hardware elements also increases an overall cost of the base station antenna including the manufacturing cost, assembling cost and material cost.
Accordingly, there remains a need of economic yet sustainable mounting elements for mounting the cross beams to reflectors in base station antennas.
The one or more shortcomings of the prior art are overcome by the mounting element as claimed, and additional advantages are provided through the provision of the mounting element as claimed in the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure.
Pursuant to the embodiments of the present disclosure, in an aspect, a device for mounting a cross beam in a base station antenna is provided. The device comprises a first knob formed on a first wall of the device, the first knob comprising a first shaft portion and a first head portion. The device further comprises a second knob formed on a second wall of the device, the second wall is arranged adjacent to the first wall, the second knob comprising a second shaft portion and a second head portion. The first shaft portion of the first knob is adapted to be received in a keyhole defined in the cross beam of the base station antenna. The second shaft portion of the second knob in adapted to be received in a first slot defined in a reflector of the base station antenna.
In another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, a size of the first head portion is more than a size of the first shaft portion of the first knob.
In another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, a size of the second head portion is more than a size of the second shaft portion of the second knob.
In another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the first head portion of the first knob is defined with a rib.
In another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the device comprises a third knob formed on a third wall of the device, the third wall is arranged adjacent to the first wall.
In another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the second wall and the third wall are interconnected by the first wall to form a unitary structure.
In another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the third knob is defined with a third shaft portion and a third head portion. A size of the third head portion is more than a size of the third shaft portion.
In another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, a length of the third shaft portion of the third knob is more than a length of the second shaft portion of the second knob.
In another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, a length of each of the second shaft portion and the third shaft portion of the second knob and the third knob, respectively, is at least equal to a thickness of the reflector.
In another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, at least one of the second wall and the third wall comprises one or more legs extending from the corresponding of the second wall or the third wall of the device, the at least one leg adapted to be received in a second slot defined adjacent to the first slot in the reflector.
In another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the device is manufactured by an injection moulding process to have a unitary structure.
In another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the device is manufactured from a polymer material having high tensile strength.
It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined together to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
The novel features and characteristics of the disclosure are set forth in the description. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the drawings may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure.
While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the FIGS. and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
Before describing detailed embodiments, it may be observed that the novelty and inventive step that are in accordance with the present disclosure resides in a device for mounting a cross beam on a reflector of a base station antenna. It is to be noted that a person skilled in the art can be motivated from the present disclosure and modify the various constructions of the device of base station antenna and the steps of performing the method of the present disclosure. However, such modification should be construed within the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings are showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.
In the present disclosure, the term “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment or implementation of the present subject matter described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.
The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusions, such that a device that comprises a list of components does not include only those components but may include other components not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus proceeded by “comprises . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or apparatus.
The terms like “at least one” and “one or more” may be used interchangeably or in combination throughout the description.
The device described in the present disclosure is configured to mount a cross beam with a reflector of the base station antenna (hereinafter referred to as “antenna”); when compared to the existing systems, the device eliminates the requirement of hardware elements for example: bolts, nuts, washers and the likewise, reducing the number of components that the installer needs to loosen i.e. by eliminating the requirement of said components, for example: nuts, bolts, screws etc, and thus, reducing an overall cost of the antenna. Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the device may be utilized to mount the cross beam with reflectors having different thickness. The device thus reduces the requirement of dedicated fastening or mounting means for mounting the cross beam with the reflectors of different thickness. The device is defined having a unitary structure which is manufactured from molding processes, for example: injection molding process and the likewise. However, different forming processes may be utilized to form a unitary structure of the device, in accordance with the present disclosure.
Pursuant to embodiments of the present disclosure, a device for mounting a cross beam in a base station antenna is provided. The device comprises a first knob formed on a first wall of the device, the first knob comprising a first shaft portion and a first head portion. The device further comprises a second knob formed on a second wall of the device, the second wall is arranged adjacent to the first wall, the second knob comprising a second shaft portion and a second head portion. The first shaft portion of the first knob is adapted to be received in a keyhole defined in the cross beam of the base station antenna. The second shaft portion of the second knob in adapted to be received in a first slot defined in a reflector of the base station antenna.
In an embodiment, a size of the first head portion is more than a size of the first shaft portion of the first knob.
In accordance with further embodiments, a size of the second head portion is more than a size of the second shaft portion of the second knob.
In an embodiment, the first head portion of the first knob is defined with a rib.
Further, in an embodiment, the device comprises a third knob formed on a third wall of the device, the third wall is arranged adjacent to the first wall.
Furthermore, in an embodiment, the second wall and the third wall are interconnected by the first wall to form a unitary structure.
In an embodiment, the third knob is defined with a third shaft portion and a third head portion. A size of the third head portion is more than a size of the third shaft portion.
In an embodiment, a length of the third shaft portion of the third knob is more than a length of the second shaft portion of the second knob.
In an embodiment, a length of each of the second shaft portion and the third shaft portion of the second knob and the third knob, respectively, is at least equal to a thickness of the reflector.
In an embodiment, at least one of the second wall and the third wall comprises one or more legs extending from the corresponding of the second wall or the third wall of the device, the at least one leg adapted to be received in a second slot defined adjacent to the first slot in the reflector.
In an embodiment, the keyhole is provided at opposite ends in the cross beam of the base station antenna
In an embodiment, the device is manufactured by an injection moulding process to have a unitary structure.
In an embodiment, the device is manufactured from a polymer material having high tensile strength.
Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible same numerals will be used to refer to the same or like parts.
Embodiments of the disclosure are described in the following paragraphs with reference to
The reflector 30 may provide provisions for mounting one or more cross beams 20, as shown in
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the device 10 for mounting the cross beam 20 to the reflector 30 of the base station antenna comprises a first wall 11 and a second wall 12. Referring to
The first wall 11 of the device 10 is having a first knob 14 extending along a vertical axis X-X. The vertical axis X-X is defined as an axis passing through a centre of the first wall 11, as shown in
The first head portion 141 is formed at a free end of the first shaft portion 140. The first shaft portion 140 may be defined with a cylindrical profile, but not limited to the same. A size of the first head portion 141 is more than a size of the first shaft portion 140. The first shaft portion 140 is defined having a length measured from the outer surface of the first wall 11 to the first head portion 141. The length of the first shaft portion 140 is pre-determined based on a thickness of the cross beam 20. The length of the first shaft portion 140 of the first knob 14 is determined such that the cross beam 20 fits in between the first head portion 141 of the first knob 14 and the outer surface of the first wall 11 of the device 10. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the length of the first shaft portion 140 is at least equal to the thickness of the cross beam 20.
The first head portion 141 of the knob 14 is defined having a rib 142 extending in an upward direction along the vertical axis X-X. The first head portion 141 of the knob may be defined having a size more than a size of the shaft portion 140 of the knob 14. According to an exemplary embodiment, the first head portion 141 is defined having a circumference more than a circumference of the shaft portion 140 of the knob 14. The circumference of the first head portion 141 facilitates locking of the device 10 with the cross beam 20, once the first knob 14 is received in the rectangular slot of the keyhole 21 of the cross beam 20. The first head portion 141 abuts against the longitudinal surface of the cross beam 20, preventing a vertical displacement of the cross beam 20 with respect to the knob 10.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first head portion 141 is defined having a circular profile which is initially received in the circular slot of the keyhole 21 in the cross beam 20. The circular profile of the head portion 141 may be defined having a cross section more than a cross section of the first shaft portion 140. The rib 142 extending from the first head portion 141 may be defined having a rectangular profile to provide maximum surface for the user's finger to push the device 10 into the rectangular slot of the keyhole 21 in the cross beam 20.
The second wall 12 of the device 10 is having a second knob 15 extending laterally from the outer surface of the second wall 12, along a horizontal axis Y-Y. The horizontal axis Y-Y is defined as an axis passing through centre of the second wall 12 and intersects perpendicularly with the vertical axis X-X, as shown in
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the second shaft portion 150 is defined having a length measured from the outer surface of the second wall 12 to the second head portion 151 of the knob 15. The length of the second shaft portion 150 is predetermined based on a thickness of the side wall 32 of the reflector 30 to which the device 10 is configured to be mounted. The length of the second shaft portion 150 is determined such that the side wall 32 fits in between the second head portion 151 and the outer surface of the second wall 12. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the length of the second shaft portion 150 of the second knob 15 is at least equal to the thickness of the side wall 32 of the reflector 30.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for mounting a cross beam 20 to a reflector 30 by a device 10 is described. The method comprises the steps of mounting the cross beam 20 to one of a pair of side walls 32 of the reflector 30 by the device 10. The same method steps may be implemented to mount the cross beam 20 to another side wall 32 of the reflector 30 by another device 10. Referring to
According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a device 10 comprises a third wall 13 extending orthogonal to the first wall 11, as shown in
The device 10 may be formed through an injection moulding process to form a unitary structure. However, the device may also be formed through other forming processes like—3D printing process and likewise to form a unitary structure with lesser defects. The device 10 may be formed from any polymer material having high tensile strength. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the device 10 is formed from a nylon or ABS material possessing high tensile strength.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the device for mounting cross beam of the base station antenna to the reflector do not require any hardware elements for example: nuts, bolts, washers etc. The utilization of said device reduces the hardware inventory to mount the cross beam with the reflector.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the utilization of device for mounting purpose reduces an overall cost of the base station antenna, including the manufacturing cost, assembling cost and maintenance cost.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the device utilizes a press fit mechanism to reduce mounting time of the cross beam with the reflector.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the same device may be utilized to facilitate mounting of the cross beam with the reflector having different reflector or side wall thickness.
The various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present disclosure is not limited to the illustrated embodiments; rather, these embodiments are intended to fully and completely disclose the subject matter of the disclosure to those skilled in this art. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Thicknesses and dimensions of some components may be exaggerated for clarity.
Spatially relative terms, such as “under”, “below”, “lower”, “over”, “upper”, “top”, “bottom” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the FIGS. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the FIGS. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “under” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “over” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term“under” can encompass both an orientation of over and under. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
Herein, the terms “attached”, “connected”. “interconnected”, “contacting”, “mounted”, “coupled” and the like can mean either direct or indirect attachment or contact between elements, unless stated otherwise.
Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity. As used herein the expression “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes” and % or “including” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the particular features of this disclosure, it will be appreciated that various modifications can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other modifications in the nature of the disclosure or the preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.
The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.
Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles and the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the disclosure. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form a part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.
The numerical values mentioned for the various physical parameters, dimensions or quantities are only approximations and it is envisaged that the values higher/lower than the numerical values assigned to the parameters, dimensions or quantities fall within the scope of the disclosure, unless there is a statement in the specification specific to the contrary.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202121032986 | Jul 2021 | IN | national |
