AIRCRAFT ANTENNA MOUNTING SYSTEM

• US 20150207214A1
• Filed: 04/09/2013
• Published: 07/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Wallace, Michael G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,614,272 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/12 Supports; Mounting means
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/28 Adaptation for use in or on aircraft, missiles, satellites, or balloons
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making

Abstract

A method of manufacturing is provided comprising forming a mounting plate adaptable to a plurality of models of aircraft, forming an adapter plate configured for use with the mounting plate, forming a radome configured to attach to the mounting plate, configuring a shape of the adapter plate to encompass at least one footprint of at least one antenna, and providing a plurality of hole patterns through the adapter plate corresponding to known hole patterns of the at least one antenna.

Claims

1. An antenna attachment apparatus, comprising:

a radome comprising at least one layer of composite material;

a mounting plate attached to the radome; and

an adapter plate associated with the mounting plate, the adapter plate being configured to fit a plurality of antennas.

2. The antenna attachment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of antennas comprise radio-frequency band antennas.

3. The antenna attachment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adapter plate is one of bonded to the mounting plate, welded to the mounting plate, fastened to the mounting plate, and comprises a single continuous component with the mounting plate.

4. The antenna attachment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adapter plate is shaped and comprises a plurality of holes and alignment features to accommodate attachment of the plurality of antennas.

5. The antenna attachment apparatus of claim 4, wherein the plurality of holes are arranged in fastener patterns.

6. The antenna attachment apparatus of claim 5, wherein the plurality of attachment and alignment holes arranged in fastener patterns accommodate a plurality of antenna models and wherein a first fastener pattern accommodates at least a first model of antenna and a second fastener pattern accommodates at least a second model of antenna.

7. The antenna attachment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adapter plate includes a common antenna attach horizontal attach plane.

8. The antenna attachment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adapter plate includes access pockets promoting bonding and grounding and includes an electromagnetic interference design characteristic.

9. The antenna attachment apparatus of claim 1, wherein a swept volume provides around a 0.50 inch clearance from an inside mold line of the radome.

10. The antenna attachment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the universal antenna attachment apparatus adapts to antennas transmitting signals using at least one of a Ka band and a Ku band.

11. A method of manufacturing comprising:

forming a mounting plate adaptable to a plurality of models of aircraft;

forming an adapter plate configured for use with the mounting plate;

forming a radome configured to attach to the mounting plate;

configuring a shape of the adapter plate to encompass at least one footprint of at least one antenna; and

providing a plurality of hole patterns through the adapter plate corresponding to known hole patterns of the at least one antenna.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising forming the radome to clear a plurality of antenna sweep volumes,

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising aligning the hole patterns in the attachment plate to position a corresponding antenna sweep volume within a radome clearance volume.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the adapter plate is one of bonded to the mounting plate, welded to the mounting plate, fastened to the mounting plate, and comprises a single continuous component with the mounting plate.

15. An aircraft comprising:

a fuselage configured for flight;

a radome comprising at least one layer of composite material;

a mounting plate attached to the radome; and

an adapter plate associated with the mounting plate, the adapter plate being configured to fit a plurality of antennas.

16. The aircraft of claim 15, wherein the plurality of antennas comprise radio frequency band antennas.

17. The aircraft of claim 15, wherein the adapter plate is one of bonded to the mounting plate, welded to the mounting plate, fastened to the mounting plate, and comprises a single continuous component with the mounting plate.

18. The aircraft of claim 15, wherein the adapter plate comprises a plurality of holes for attachment of the plurality of antennas, wherein the plurality of holes are arranged in fastener patterns, and wherein a first fastener pattern accommodates at least a first model of antenna and a second fastener pattern accommodates at least a second model of antenna.

19. The aircraft of claim 15, wherein the adapter plate includes one of a common antenna attach horizontal attach plane.

20. The aircraft of claim 15, wherein the adapter plate includes access pockets for bonding and grounding and includes an electromagnetic interference design characteristics.