EP0096959A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Microwave antenna assemblies
Assignee: Commscope Technologies AG
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Filing: 1983-04-29
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-04-29
Abstract
Abstract A parabolic collapsible rooftop microwave antenna (12, 13) for direct satellite-to-consumer TV transmission pivots in the direction of the aperture axis about a horizontal pivot axis (29'a, b) in response to excessive wind forces. The antenna has a cross-head theodolite-type mount (28) adjustable for azimuth and elevation, with a horizontal pivot that provides axial displacement if the axial wind force exceeds a predetermined threshold force. This limits the torque transmitted to the roof on which the antenna is mounted to a reasonably low level. Various torquesensitive horizontal pivots are described including a torqued pivot bolt, torqued slide bolts (43a, b) disposed in arcuate slots (42) for limit-stop action, shear pins for quick release action, and biased springs for collapse and self-restoration to the initial vertical position in response to transient wind force exceeding a threshold force set by the spring bias.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter F. Weir
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 14:35
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/08; H01Q1/084; H01Q1/12; H01Q1/125; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S343/00; Y10S343/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A reflector-type microwave antenna assembly (10) adapted for rooftop mounting, said antenna assembly comprising a parabolic reflector dish (12) for receiving microwave signals and reflecting said signals into a waveguide (13,15), and antenna mount means (25) for securing said reflector dish (12) to a rooftop (11) in a predetermined geometric configuration for receiving said microwave signals from a satellite characterised in that said mount means (25) is arranged to maintain said predetermined geometric configuration so long as a predetermined component of the velocity of the wind in the vicinity of the antenna assembly (10) is below a predetermined velocity, and for permitting said reflector dish (12) to move to a different geometric configuration in response to said component of wind velocity having a value above the predetermined velocity, said different geometric configuration reducing the wind load on said antenna assembly (10) at wind velocities above the said predetermined velocity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
A reflector-type microwave antenna assembly (10) adapted for rooftop mounting, said antenna assembly comprising a parabolic reflector dish (12) for receiving microwave signals and reflecting said signals into a waveguide (13,15), and antenna mount means (25) for securing said reflector dish (12) to a rooftop (11) in a predetermined geometric configuration for receiving said microwave signals from a satellite characterised in that said mount means (25) is arranged to maintain said predetermined geometric configuration so long as a predetermined component of the velocity of the wind in the vicinity of the antenna assembly (10) is below a predetermined velocity, and for permitting said reflector dish (12) to move to a different geometric configuration in response to said component of wind velocity having a value above the predetermined velocity, said different geometric configuration reducing the wind load on said antenna assembly (10) at wind velocities above the said predetermined velocity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the antenna mount means (25) comprises movement- limiting means (42a,42b) for limiting the range of movement of the antenna assembly (10) away from said predetermined geometric configuration to prevent structural damage to the antenna assembly (10).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the antenna mount means (25) comprises manual geometric-configuration adjusting means (29,43a,43b) for initially setting said predetermined geometric configuration and for restoring the predetermined geometric configuration after the antenna dish (12) has moved to said different geometric configuration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the manual geometric-configuration adjusting means (29,43a,43b) further comprises means for manually selecting said predetermined velocity over a range of selectable velocities.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the antenna mount means (25) comprises means (52a,52b) for suddenly reducing the capacity of the antenna assembly (10) to withstand wind force when a predetermined wind velocity is exceeded.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the antenna mount means (25) comprises automatic means (51a,51b) for restoring the antenna assembly (10) said predetermined geometric configuration when the velocity of said component of the wind velocity falls below the predetermined velocity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that said automatic restoring means (51a,51b) is operable to restore the antenna assembly (10) to the predetermined geometric configuration from either of two opposite directions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
91 words
An antenna mount for a parabolic reflector (12) characterised by the combination of at least one mounting rib (31) secured to the back of the reflector (12), a mounting pad (26,27), a cross-head (28) attached to the mounting pad (26,27) and having a generally horizontal pivot means for accepting at least one generally horizontal pivot bolt (29) for securing said at least one mounting rib (31) to the cross-head (28), with a variable degree of horizontally pivoting static friction, depending on the torque used to tighten the horizontal pivot bolt (29).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
91 words
An antenna mount for a parabolic reflector (12) characterised by the combination of at least one mounting rib (31) secured to the back of the reflector (12), a mounting pad (26,27), a cross-head (28) attached to the mounting pad (26,27) and having a generally horizontal pivot means for accepting at least one generally horizontal pivot bolt (29) for securing said at least one mounting rib (31) to the cross-head (28), with a variable degree of horizontally pivoting static friction, depending on the torque used to tighten the horizontal pivot bolt (29).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
90 words
An antenna mount as claimed in claim 8, characterised by a slide bolt (43a) and an arcuate slot means (42a) having an arcuate slot centered about the pivot axis (296), for receiving the slide bolt (43a) connecting said at least one mounting rib (31 1 ) to the cross-head (28) and permitting angular motion of the mounting rib (31') about the generally horizontal pivot axis (29) within a limited angular range, the end of range positions being established when the slide bolt (43a) abuts the ends of the slot (42a).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
98 words
An antenna mount as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, characterised by at least one shear pin (52a) offset from the-pivot axis (29) and fixedly securing the cross-head (28) to said at least one mounting rib (31"), so that the reflector (12) is held in a fixed position until a wind-generated torque loading on the reflector (12) exceeds a limit proportional to the shear force capacity of the shear pin (52a), whereupon the pin (52a) shears to permit the reflector (12) to pivot, thereby suddenly reducing the capacity of the mount (25) to react against wind force.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
96 words
An antenna mount as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, characterised by at least one spring-loaded detent-type pin (71) offset from the pivot axis (29) and fixedly securing the cross-head (28) to said at least one mounting rib (31"), so that the reflector (12) is held in a fixed position until a wind-generated torque exceeds a limit proportional to the shear force capacity of the detent pin (71), whereupon the detent pin (71) releases to permit the reflector (12) to pivot, thereby suddenly reducing the capacity of the mount (25) to react against wind force.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
103 words
An antenna mount as claimed in any one of claims 8-11 characterised by at least one mounting rib (31") with a first arcuate slot (58a) centered about the pivot axis (29), the cross-head (28) has a similarly shaped and centered second arcuate slot (57a) adjacent the first slot (58a), a biased ring-type compression spring (51a) with retaining tabs (59,60) is disposed in both arcuate slots (57a,58a), so that the spring (51a) tends to keep the first and second slots indexed prohibiting substantial pivoting of the reflector (12) until the wind-generated torque exceeds a limit proportional to the bias force of the spring (51a).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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