Patent Application
20140270927
Antenna designs encompass a wide range of configurations and are used for a variety of different applications. For example, some antennas are designed for use at a fixed elevation angle and for rotation to a desired azimuth. Such antennas may be deployable from a stowed position or configuration to a deployed position in which the antennas are oriented at the fixed elevation or operating angle. Typically, an antenna is maintained at its operating angle by the means in which it was deployed or moved from its stowed position. However, in some cases, the means for deploying an antenna are not sufficient to maintain the antenna at the operating angle. Typically, various types of latches have been implemented to lock antennas in the operating angles once deployed.
Features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example, features of the invention; and, wherein:
Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended.
As used herein, the term “substantially” refers to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, an object that is “substantially” enclosed would mean that the object is either completely enclosed or nearly completely enclosed. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context. However, generally speaking the nearness of completion will be so as to have the same overall result as if absolute and total completion were obtained. The use of “substantially” is equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result.
As used herein, “adjacent” refers to the proximity of two structures or elements. Particularly, elements that are identified as being “adjacent” may be either abutting or connected. Such elements may also be near or close to each other without necessarily contacting each other. The exact degree of proximity may in some cases depend on the specific context.
An initial overview of technology embodiments is provided below and then specific technology embodiments are described in further detail later. This initial summary is intended to aid readers in understanding the technology more quickly but is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the technology nor is it intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Although typical antenna latches have been effective in locking and maintaining antennas at the operating elevation angles when deployed, the locations of the latches are not readily accessible by antenna operators. Additionally, operators may need to unlock the antenna for movement to a desired azimuth once the antenna has been deployed. Thus, typical antenna latch designs can hinder operator convenience and speed, as well as present safety concerns, in order for the operator to prepare an antenna for use.
Accordingly, a remote antenna deployment latch is disclosed that allows an antenna operator to operate a latch locking the antenna in an operating elevation angle as well as unlocking the antenna for movement to a desired azimuth during operation. The remote antenna deployment latch can include a latch assembly having a latch pin movable to alternately secure an antenna in, and release the antenna from, a deployed position. The remote antenna deployment latch can also include an azimuth pin movable to alternately lock and unlock rotation of the antenna about an azimuth axis. In addition, the remote antenna deployment latch can include a remote control assembly operably coupled to the latch pin and the azimuth pin to simultaneously secure the antenna in the deployed position and unlock rotation of the antenna about the azimuth axis.
In one aspect, a deployable antenna system is disclosed. The deployable antenna system can include an antenna movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, and rotatable about an azimuth axis, and a remote antenna deployment latch. The remote antenna deployment latch can comprise a latch assembly having a latch pin movable to alternately secure the antenna in, and release the antenna from, the deployed position. The remote antenna deployment latch can also comprise an azimuth pin movable to alternately lock and unlock rotation of the antenna about the azimuth axis. Additionally, the remote antenna deployment latch can comprise a remote control assembly operably coupled to the latch pin and the azimuth pin to simultaneously secure the antenna in the deployed position and unlock rotation of the antenna about the azimuth axis.
One embodiment of a deployable antenna system 100 is illustrated in
The deployable antenna system 100 can also include a remote antenna deployment latch 140 having a latch assembly 141, an azimuth pin 142, and a remote control assembly 143. The latch assembly 141 can include a latch pin 144 movable to alternately secure the antenna 110 in, and release the antenna from, the deployed position 101. The azimuth pin 142 can be movable to alternately lock and unlock rotation of the antenna 110 about the azimuth axis 104 by interfacing with the base 130, such as via an opening 131. The remote control assembly 143 can be operably coupled to the latch pin 144 and the azimuth pin 142 to simultaneously secure the antenna 110 in the deployed position 101 and unlock rotation of the antenna 110 about the azimuth axis 104. In one aspect, the remote control assembly 143 can simultaneously release the antenna 110 from the deployed position 101 and lock rotation of the antenna 110 about the azimuth axis 104.
The latch assembly 141 can be supported by a latch support arm 145 supported by the movable platform 120. The latch assembly 141 can include a hard stop 150 configured to interface with an antenna latching feature 111 and establish the deployed position 101 of the antenna 110. The latch assembly 141 can include one or more latch pin support members 151a, 151b to position the latch pin 144 relative to the hard stop 150. The position of the latch pin 144 relative to the hard stop 150 can facilitate contact with the antenna latching feature 111 when the latch pin 144 secures the antenna 110 in the deployed position 101. Contacting the antenna latching feature 111 with both the hard stop 150 and the latch pin 144 can form a coupling that has improved stiffness over mere contact between the antenna latching feature 111 and the hard stop 150. One benefit of a high stiffness coupling is improved antenna pointing accuracy, which can improve antenna performance for high frequency applications.
In one aspect, the remote control assembly 143 can be supported by the movable platform 120. In some embodiments, the remote control assembly 143 can be mechanically coupled to the latch pin 144 and the azimuth pin 142. The remote control assembly 143 can have a lever 160 configured to cause movement of the latch pin 144 and the azimuth pin 142. For example, the lever 160 can cause movement of a yoke 161 coupled to the latch pin 144 and the azimuth pin 142. The yoke 161 can mechanically move the latch pin 144 via a push-pull cable 162a. In one aspect, the yoke 161 can also mechanically move a second latch pin located on an opposite side of the antenna 110 via push-pull cable 162b. By including a second latch pin in contact with a second antenna latching feature on the opposite side of the antenna 110, stiffness of the antenna couplings in the deployed position can be improved over using only a single latch pin. Thus, in some embodiments, the remote control assembly 143 can remotely move multiple latch pins at once for securing or releasing the antenna. Although no springs are shown, it should be recognized that some embodiments can incorporate one or more springs tending to bias movement of the latch pin 144 and/or the azimuth pin 142.
In addition, the yoke 161 can mechanically move the azimuth pin 142. Thus, as the yoke 161 moves, one or more latch pins 144 can be caused to move, as well as the azimuth pin 142. In some embodiments, the yoke 161 can be hydraulically or pneumatically coupled to the latch pin 144 and/or the azimuth pin 142 such that movement of the yoke operates a piston to hydraulically or pneumatically move the latch pin 144 and/or the azimuth pin 142. Additionally, some embodiments can combine mechanical, hydraulic, and/or pneumatic couplings between the yoke 161 and the latch pin 144 and/or the azimuth pin 142 in order to cause movement of the latch pin 144 and/or the azimuth pin 142 in response to movement by the yoke 161. The common connection between the yoke 161, the latch pins 144, and the azimuth pin 142 can therefore facilitate simultaneous operation of the latch pins 144 and the azimuth pin 142. The lever 160 can comprise any suitable type of lever for moving the yoke 161. In some aspects, the lever 160 comprises a toggle lever, an over cam lever, an over center lever, or any other lever operable to move between two positions and cause linear movement of the yoke 161. With such a lever 160, the latch pin 144 and the azimuth pin 142 can be caused to move fully between latched/unlatched positions and unlocked/locked positions, respectively.
It should be recognized that the antenna 110 can be moved from the deployed position 101 to the stowed position 102 by reversing the order of the operations discussed above with respect to
As shown in
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method for facilitating use of a deployable antenna is disclosed. The method can comprise providing a latch assembly having a latch pin movable to alternately secure an antenna in, and release the antenna from, a deployed position. The method can also comprise providing an azimuth pin movable to alternately lock and unlock rotation of the antenna about an azimuth axis. Additionally, the method can comprise facilitating simultaneous operation of the latch pin and the azimuth pin, wherein the antenna is secured in the deployed position and rotation of the antenna about the azimuth axis is unlocked. It is noted that no specific order is required in this method, though generally in one embodiment, these method steps can be carried out sequentially.
In one aspect, the method can further comprise facilitating simultaneous operation of the latch pin and the azimuth pin comprises operably coupling a remote control assembly to the latch pin and the azimuth pin. In another aspect, the remote control assembly can comprise a lever operably coupled to a yoke, wherein the yoke mechanically moves the azimuth pin and is coupled to a push-pull cable to mechanically move the latch pin.
It is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention disclosed are not limited to the particular structures, process steps, or materials disclosed herein, but are extended to equivalents thereof as would be recognized by those ordinarily skilled in the relevant arts. It should also be understood that terminology employed herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.
As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary. In addition, various embodiments and example of the present invention may be referred to herein along with alternatives for the various components thereof. It is understood that such embodiments, examples, and alternatives are not to be construed as de facto equivalents of one another, but are to be considered as separate and autonomous representations of the present invention.
Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the description, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of lengths, widths, shapes, etc., to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.
While the foregoing examples are illustrative of the principles of the present invention in one or more particular applications, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications in form, usage and details of implementation can be made without the exercise of inventive faculty, and without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the claims set forth below.
