Portable reflector antenna assembly

• US 4,868,578 A
• Filed: 07/13/1987
• Issued: 09/19/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Datron Advanced Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Datron Systems, Inc. (Datron World Communications, Inc.)
• Inventors: Thomas, Delmer L., Bruinsma, Robert F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holloway, B. R. R.
• Application Number:
  US07/073,169
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 343/765, 343/766, 343/840, 343/878, 343/880, 343/881, 343/882
• US Class Current: 343/882
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1235 Collapsible supports; Means for erecting a rigid antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/125 Means for positioning

Abstract

A portable reflector antenna assembly which is readily assemblable and disassemblable for use in the field has a triangular base frame employing three beam members which are joined together at their ends with hinge type knuckles which are slidably positioned on three legs. The legs have integral cup shaped pads near the bottom ends thereof and are driven into the ground until the cups abut against the ground to provide lateral and vertical support in the soil. The frame can be adjusted on the legs for both height and leveling by virtue of the slidable movement of each of the knuckles along the legs, and when in the desired position are clamped to the legs by means of lever-cam actuated draw bolts. The reflector member of the antenna is supported along its rim by means of pivotal supports and clamps, the bottom edge of the antenna being slidably adjustable in azimuth along the curved front beam member of the frame and clamped to the front beam member by means of clamping members. The top edge of the reflector member is supported for slidable adjustment in elevation along a shaft which is pivotally supported on a rear leg and which rises upwardly from said leg. The reflector, after having been adjusted in elevation along the shaft, is clamped to the shaft in the desired elevation position. A compass and levels are provided for leveling and adjusting the triangular frame in azimuth, an azimuth scale being provided on the curved beam and an elevation scale on the shaft to facilitate the positioning of the antenna in desired azimuth and elevation positions.

Claims

1. A portable reflector antenna assembly for installation on the ground comprising:

a plurality of vertically oriented legs positioned relative to each other on the ground to form a predetermined geometrical configuration,

a plurality of beam members removably mounted on said legs and extending therebetween to form a frame having said geometrical configuration, said beam members being slidably adjustable along said legs to bring the frame to a desired position relative to the ground, one of said beam members being curved, one of said legs being positioned opposite said curved beam member,

means for clamping said beam members to said legs with the frame in said desired position comprising hand operated lever cam actuators and draw bolts which are actuated by said actuators,

a shaft removably mounted on said one of said legs for pivotal positioning thereon about the longitudinal axis of said one of said legs and about an axis normal to said longitudinal axis, said shaft extending upwardly from said frame,

an antenna reflector removably supported between said shaft and said curved beam member, said reflector having an edge portion,

a top of said edge portion of said reflector being mounted on said shaft for pivotal motion relative thereto about an axis substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said shaft and for slidable positioning therealong to bring said reflector to a desired elevation position, at least one bottom edge portion of said reflector being mounted on said curved beam member for pivotal motion about an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said curved beam member and for slidable positioning therealong to bring said reflector to a desired azimuth position,

means for clamping said reflector to said shaft in said desired elevation position comprising a hand operated lever-cam actuator and a draw bolt which is actuated by said actuator, and

means for clamping said reflector to said curved beam in said desired azimuth position comprising clamp members, said curved beam member having a grooved portion, a hand clamp threadably engaging each of said clamp members and extending therethrough, in clamping engagement with the grooved portion of the curved beam member.

2. The antenna assembly of claim 1 wherein said predetermined geometrical configuration is triangular and said legs and said beam members are both three in number.

3. The antenna assembly of claim 1 wherein said legs are driven into the ground and further including cup shaped pads through which the ends of each of said legs are fitted, the pads abutting against the ground to stabilize the legs.

4. The antenna assembly of claim 1 wherein a pair of bottom edge portions of said reflector are mounted on said curved beam member.

5. The antenna assembly of claim 1 and further including levels and a compass mounted on said frame for use in leveling and orienting said reflector.