Marine antenna mount
First Claim
1. An antenna mount for mounting an antenna to a surface, comprising:
- a ballast housing supporting the antenna and including a dampener disposed in a lower area of said ballast housing dampening oscillations of said ballast housing induced by an external force;
a first gimbal, coupled to said ballast housing, and allowing at least one of said ballast housing and the antenna mount to rotate with respect to one of pitch and roll;
a yoke, coupled to said first gimbal;
a second gimbal, coupled to said yoke, and allowing at least one of said yoke and the antenna mount to rotate with respect to another of pitch and roll;
a mounting bracket, coupled to said second gimbal and to the surface, and rotating relative to said ballast housing with respect to pitch and roll; and
a radome substantially enclosing the antenna and coupled to at least one of said ballast housing, said yoke and said mounting bracket.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An antenna mount for a vehicle includes a two axis gimbaled mounting which allows the antenna to rotate in two axes. A pendular mass is provided to maintain the antenna in a particular orientation in the absence of any externally applied acceleration. A chamber is provided attached to the pendular mass for holding a viscous dampening fluid. The dampening fluid allows the antenna mount to rotate in response to an externally applied acceleration but serves to dampen any oscillations induced by an externally applied acceleration. The antenna mount maintains the antenna in substantially a predetermined position despite the influence of externally applied accelerations. Shock absorbers may be supplied to the gimbal mounting to aid in the dampening of large accelerations.
39 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An antenna mount for mounting an antenna to a surface, comprising:
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a ballast housing supporting the antenna and including a dampener disposed in a lower area of said ballast housing dampening oscillations of said ballast housing induced by an external force; a first gimbal, coupled to said ballast housing, and allowing at least one of said ballast housing and the antenna mount to rotate with respect to one of pitch and roll; a yoke, coupled to said first gimbal; a second gimbal, coupled to said yoke, and allowing at least one of said yoke and the antenna mount to rotate with respect to another of pitch and roll; a mounting bracket, coupled to said second gimbal and to the surface, and rotating relative to said ballast housing with respect to pitch and roll; and a radome substantially enclosing the antenna and coupled to at least one of said ballast housing, said yoke and said mounting bracket. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An antenna mount for mounting an antenna to a surface, comprising:
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a ballast housing and radome enclosure substantially enclosing the antenna and including a dampener disposed in a lower area of said ballast housing dampening oscillations of said ballast housing induced by an external force; a first gimbal, coupled to said ballast housing, and allowing at least one of said ballast housing and the antenna mount to rotate with respect to a first rotational axis; a yoke, coupled to said first gimbal; a second gimbal, coupled to said yoke, and allowing at least one of said yoke and the antenna mount to rotate with respect to a second rotational axis; and a mounting bracket, coupled to said second gimbal and to the surface, and rotating relative to said ballast housing with respect to the first rotational axis and the second rotational axis. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An antenna mount for mounting an antenna to a surface, comprising:
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ballast means for supporting the antenna, said ballast means including a dampener disposed in a lower area of said ballast means dampening oscillations of said ballast means induced by an external force; first gimbal means for allowing at least one of said ballast means and the antenna mount to rotate with respect to one of pitch and roll; a yoke, coupled to said first gimbal means; second gimbal means, coupled to said yoke, and allowing at least one of said yoke and the antenna mount to rotate with respect to another of pitch and roll; a mounting bracket, coupled to said second gimbal means and to the surface, and rotating relative to said ballast means with respect to pitch and roll; and a shock absorber connected to said ballast means and to a one of the antenna mount and the surface, said shock absorber dampening movement of said first and second gimbal means.
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Specification