Maintenance platform for a rolling radar array

• US 20060132370A1
• Filed: 08/09/2005
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Tietjen, Byron W., Allen, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,199,764 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/757
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S13/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/426 Scanning radar, e.g. 3D radar G01S13/66 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/9082 Rotating SAR [ROSAR]
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/03 Details of HF subsystems specially adapted therefor, e.g. common to transmitter and receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3216 where the road or rail vehicle is only used as transportation means
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/002 providing at least two patterns of different beamwidth; Variable beamwidth antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/04 for varying one co-ordinate of the orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/26 varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture H01Q3/12, H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence

Abstract

A maintenance platform for use in a rolling radar array system has a base capable of accommodating at least one person. The base is movably coupled to a support frame, along which the base can move along the longitudinal axis of the support frame rails. The height of support frame is generally equal to the radius of the rolling radar array wheel. The maintenance platform is coupled to weight assembly such that the base of the platform will be in a generally horizontal orientation when the radar array wheel is stopped.

Claims

1. A maintenance platform for use in a rolling radar array system having an array mounted on a first side of a wheel, and a weight assembly movable along a directing trail mounted about a circumference of a back side of said wheel, thereby generating a moment for causing said wheel to roll about a track, said maintenance platform comprising:

a support frame coupled to the weight assembly; and

a base movably coupled to said support frame, said base being capable of accommodating at least one person.

2. The maintenance platform of claim 1, wherein said base is generally horizontally oriented when the wheel is stopped.

3. The maintenance platform of claim 1, wherein said support frame comprises at least one rail having a longitudinal axis, said base movable along a radial axis of said wheel.

4. The maintenance platform of claim 1, wherein said support frame has a height extending to about one half of the diameter of said wheel.

5. The maintenance platform of claim 1, wherein said base is motor-driven.

6. The maintenance platform of claim 1, wherein said base is moveably coupled via wheels with said support frame.

7. The maintenance platform of claim 1, further comprising:

a retaining structure comprising;

a guard rail extending above the perimeter of said base; and

a plurality of vertical support bars, said vertical support bars coupling said guard rail to said base.

8. A radar system, comprising:

a radar array mounted on a wheel;

a circular track mounted to the interior of the wheel opposite the radar array; and

a weight assembly that is coupled to the circular track and capable of moving along the circular track thereby generating a moment for causing the wheel to roll along a path; and

a maintenance platform attached to said magnetized carriage, said maintenance platform comprising a base capable of accommodating at least one person.

9. The radar system of claim 8, further comprising a cover, said cover covering said carriage assembly, said maintenance platform and the interior side of said radar wheel, said cover comprising:

a substantially circular structure comprising at least one fixed wall member, said wall member defining at least one opening; and

a door for covering said opening, said door openably connected to said wall member.

10. The radar system of claim 9, wherein said door is hingedly connected to said fixed wall member.

11. The radar system of claim 8, wherein said system further comprises a means for enabling access to said maintenance platform from the rolling platform.

12. The radar system of claim 11, wherein said means for enabling access said is a ladder.

13. A method for enabling access to a portion of an array in a rolling radar system, said radar system comprising an array mounted on the first side of a wheel, and a weight assembly movable in a tangent along the circumference of said wheel, thereof to generate a moment causing the wheel to roll along a track, said method comprising the steps of:

attaching a support frame to said weight assembly;

providing a base capable of accommodating at least one person; and

movably coupling said base to said support frame.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said method further comprises the step of providing a retaining structure, said retaining structure comprising:

a guard rail extending above the perimeter of said base; and

a plurality of vertical support bars, said vertical support bars coupling said guard rail to said base.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said method further comprises the step of providing wheels to movably couple said base to said support frame.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said method further comprising the step of providing a means for enabling access to said maintenance platform from the rolling platform.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said means is a ladder.

18. A method for providing access to a location on a portion of a radar array in a rolling radar system, said radar system comprising a radar array mounted on a first side of a wheel, said array having an axis normal to said array, said array rotating about said axis while said wheel revolving along a track, said wheel having a weight assembly mounted on a second side of the wheel, said method comprising the steps of:

rotating said wheel until said weight assembly is substantially below the selected location; and

moving a base, said base being capable of accommodating at least one person, of a maintenance platform, said maintenance platform being attached on top of said weight assembly, until said base is at a desired position relative to the selected location.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said radar system further comprises a cover covering a second side of said wheel, said cover defining at least one opening, said method further comprising the steps of:

opening a door in said cover, said door openably closing said opening, to enable access to said weight assembly.