Hot air de-icing of satellite antenna with cover
First Claim
1. A system for reducing accumulations of moisture on a front reflecting surface of a satellite antenna having an outer lip comprising:
- a flexible cover having an opening which is dimensioned to mount on said outer lip of said antenna with the cover positioned over said front reflecting surface of said satellite antenna so as to define a space between said front reflecting surface of said antenna and said cover whereby said cover reduces accumulations of frozen precipitation on said front reflecting surface of said satellite antenna while permitting satellite signals to pass therethrough;
an air supply system which provides unheated air to said space between said cover and said front reflecting surface so as to induce positive pressure in said space with respect to said surrounding atmosphere so as to reduce the accumulation of moisture within said space;
a heating system that provides heat to said space between said front surface of said antenna and said cover so as to maintain said cover at a temperature sufficient to reduce accumulations of frozen precipitation on said cover;
a sensing system which senses the temperature and the presence of moisture of the atmosphere surrounding said satellite antenna; and
a controller which receives signals from said sensing system wherein said controller activates said air supply system upon said sensing system detecting the presence of a preselected quantity of moisture and wherein said controller activates said heating system upon detecting that said temperature of said atmosphere surrounding said satellite antenna is in a predetermined range of temperatures.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for preventing the interruption of satellite communications between an earth antenna and a satellite during inclement weather. The system is comprised of a cover, which covers the antenna and substantially prevents the accumulation of snow and precipitation on the antenna, and a heating system which provides heated air to a space between the cover and the antenna to inhibit snow from sticking to the cover and also to inhibit the formation of frozen moisture on the cover during freezing rain and freezing fog conditions. In one embodiment, the system has an electric, gas or oil heater and a blower system which draws air from the space between the cover and the antenna, heats this air and then recirculates the heated air back to the space. Further, the heating system is equipped with a temperature and moisture sensor unit and a controller. The sensor detects the ambient temperature and humidity conditions which are received by the controller to enable heater and blower system to operate within the predetermined temperature and humidity ranges.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for reducing accumulations of moisture on a front reflecting surface of a satellite antenna having an outer lip comprising:
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a flexible cover having an opening which is dimensioned to mount on said outer lip of said antenna with the cover positioned over said front reflecting surface of said satellite antenna so as to define a space between said front reflecting surface of said antenna and said cover whereby said cover reduces accumulations of frozen precipitation on said front reflecting surface of said satellite antenna while permitting satellite signals to pass therethrough; an air supply system which provides unheated air to said space between said cover and said front reflecting surface so as to induce positive pressure in said space with respect to said surrounding atmosphere so as to reduce the accumulation of moisture within said space; a heating system that provides heat to said space between said front surface of said antenna and said cover so as to maintain said cover at a temperature sufficient to reduce accumulations of frozen precipitation on said cover; a sensing system which senses the temperature and the presence of moisture of the atmosphere surrounding said satellite antenna; and a controller which receives signals from said sensing system wherein said controller activates said air supply system upon said sensing system detecting the presence of a preselected quantity of moisture and wherein said controller activates said heating system upon detecting that said temperature of said atmosphere surrounding said satellite antenna is in a predetermined range of temperatures. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for reducing accumulation of moisture on a front reflecting surface of a satellite antenna having an outer lip comprising:
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a flexible cover having an opening which is dimensioned to mount on said outer lip of said antenna with the cover positioned over said front reflecting surface of said satellite antenna so as to define a space between said front reflecting surface of said antenna and said cover whereby said cover reduces accumulations of frozen precipitation on said front reflecting surface of said satellite antenna while permitting satellite signals to pass therethrough; an air supply system which provides unheated air to said space between said cover and said from reflecting surface so as to induce positive pressure in said space with respect to said surrounding atmosphere so as to reduce accumulations of moisture in said space and so that said flexible cover deforms outward from the lip of the antenna so as to form a convex shape which facilitates in the shedding of moisture from said cover; a heating system that provides heat to said space between said front surface of said antenna and said cover so as to maintain said cover at a temperature sufficient to reduce accumulations of frozen precipitation on said cover; a sensing system which senses the temperature and the presence of moisture of the atmosphere surrounding said satellite antenna; a controller which receives signals from said sensing system wherein said controller activates said air supply system upon said sensing system detecting the presence of moisture and wherein said controller activates said heating system upon detecting both the presence of moisture and that the temperature of the atmosphere surrounding said satellite antenna is in a predetermined range of temperatures at the time moisture was detected. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of preventing frozen precipitation from interrupting communications with a ground based satellite antenna comprising the steps of:
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positioning a flexible cover on a lip of the antenna on a front concave side of said satellite antenna so as to define an enclosed space between said cover and a front reflecting surface of said antenna so as to reduce accumulations of frozen precipitation on said concave surface of said antenna while permitting satellite signals to pass therethrough; sensing the presence or absence of moisture in the atmosphere surrounding said satellite antenna; sensing the temperature of the atmosphere surrounding said satellite antenna; supplying unheated air to said space between said cover and said front reflecting surface of said antenna so as to induce a positive air pressure within said space with respect to said atmosphere upon detecting the presence of a predetermined quantity of moisture in said atmosphere; and supplying heat to said space between said cover and said front reflecting surface upon detecting that the temperature of said atmosphere is within a predetermined temperature range. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification