Antenna mast transport and deployment system

• US 7,000,357 B1
• Filed: 04/30/2003
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Richardson, Theodore Alden, Roberge, Raymond Arthur, Stearns, Craig Kimbal
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US10/426,817
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• Field of Search: 521/11, 521/18, 52/40, 521/10, 343/901, 343/713, 343/715, 343/711, 280/1
• US Class Current: 52/110
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1235 Collapsible supports; Means for erecting a rigid antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3216 where the road or rail vehicle is only used as transportation means

Abstract

A light antenna mast group (LAMG) provides antenna masts coupled to a vehicle cap structure which is disposed on the top of a light truck, which in one embodiment can be a high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV). The vehicle cap structure includes antenna mast deployment mechanisms, hinged rotator assemblies, an antenna storage system, and a plurality of spring loaded guide wire spools, all adapted to make deployment of the antenna masts rapid and simple.

Claims

1. An antenna apparatus, comprising:

a support frame adapted to couple to a rear end of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle is a motorized vehicle; and

a vehicle cap structure coupled to the support frame, wherein the vehicle cap structure is adapted to cover a substantial portion of the vehicle, and wherein the vehicle cap structure includes;

at least one antenna mast coupled to the vehicle cap structure;

a first antenna mast deployment mechanism coupled to the at least one antenna mast and adapted to linearly move the at least one antenna mast in a direction substantially parallel to a major axis of the vehicle; and

a second antenna mast deployment mechanism coupled to the at least one antenna mast and adapted to rotate the at least one antenna mast to a substantially vertical orientation.

2. The antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support frame and the vehicle cap structure are adapted to couple to a vehicle weighing less than fifteen thousand pounds.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle cap structure is adapted to deploy the at least one antenna mast to a vertical height of at least eighty-four feet.

4. The antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support fame and the vehicle cap structure frame adapted to couple to a high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle, HMMWV.

5. The antenna apparatus of claim 4, wherein the support frame is adapted to couple to a rear cross beam of an isolated frame associated with the HMMWV.

6. The antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one antenna mast is capable of carrying a head load of at least two hundred fifty pounds when deployed to a height of at least eighty-four feet.

7. The antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one antenna mast is capable of carrying a head load of at least two hundred fifty pounds iii winds greater than ninety-six miles per hour when deployed to at least eighty-four feet.

8. The antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one antenna mast is tubular and has a maximum cross-sectional dimension greater than one hundred seventy millimeters.

9. The antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one antenna at is comprised of telescoping tubes.

10. The antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first antenna mast deployment mechanism includes:

an outer slide rail;

an inner slide rail coupled to the at least one antenna mast and disposed with the outer slide rail and in moveable contact with the outer slide rail; and

a screw rod coupled to the inner and the outer slide rails and adapted to move the inner slide rail relative to the outer slide rail when turned.

11. The antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second antenna mast deployment mechanism includes a reduction gear assembly.

12. The antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle cap structure further includes at least two antenna rotators coupled to the at least one antenna mast.

13. The antenna apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least two antenna rotators are coupled to the at least one antenna mast with a hinge.

14. The antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle cap structure further includes at least two antennas removeably coupled to the at least one antenna mast, each of the at least two antennas including an antenna dish, each of the at least two antennas capable of being removed from the at least one antenna mast and stowed on the vehicle apart from the at least one antenna mast.

15. The antenna apparatus of claim 14, wherein the vehicle cap structure further includes an antenna storage system coupled to the vehicle cap structure and adapted to hold the at least two antennas during transport of the vehicle, the antenna storage system adapted to slide and to pivot to facilitate access to the at least two antennas and to facilitate removal of the at least two antennas from the antenna storage system.

16. The antenna apparatus of claim 15, wherein the antenna storage system includes:

a mounting tray adapted to couple to the at least two antennas, the mounting tray having first and second mounting tray portions adapted to slide and pivot relative to each other;

at least one hinge coupled to the first and second mounting tray portions;

at least one spring coupled to the first and second mounting tray portions; and

at least one damper coupled to the first and second mounting tray portions.

17. The antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle cap structure further includes:

at least one guide wire spool including a guide wire, the guide wire spool removeably coupled to the at least one antenna mast, the guide wire adapted to couple proximate to a telescoping joint associated with the at least one antenna mast; and

a spring return mechanism coupled to the guide wire spool and adapted to tension the guide wire.

18. A vehicle, comprising:

a support frame coupled to a rear end of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle is a motorized vehicle; and

a vehicle cap structure coupled to the support frame, wherein the vehicle cap structure provides a covering over a substantial portion of the vehicle, and wherein the vehicle cap structure includes;

at least one antenna mast coupled to the vehicle cap structure;

a first antenna mast deployment means coupled to the at least one antenna mast and adapted to linearly move the at least one antenna mast in a direction parallel to a major axis of the vehicle; and

a second antenna mast deployment mechanism a coupled to the at least one antenna mast and adapted to rotate the at least one antenna mast to a substantially vertical orientation.

19. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the vehicle weighs less an fifteen thousand pounds.

20. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the vehicle cap structure is adapted to deploy the at least one antenna mast to a vertical height of at least eighty-four feet.

21. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the vehicle includes a high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle, HMMWV.

22. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the support frame is adapted to couple to a rear cross beam of an isolated frame associated with HMMWV.

23. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the at least one antenna mast is capable of carrying a head load of at least two hundred fifty pounds when deployed to a height of at least eighty-four feet.

24. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the at least one antenna mast is capable of carrying a head load of at least two hundred fifty pounds in winds greater than ninety-six miles per hour when deployed to at least eighty-four feet.

25. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the at least one antenna mast is tubular and has a maximum cross-sectional dimension greater than one hundred seventy millimeters.

26. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the at least one antenna mast is comprised of telescoping tubes.

27. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the first antenna mast deployment mechanism includes:

an outer slide rail;

an inner slide rail coupled to the at least one antenna mast and disposed with the outer slide rail and in moveable contact with the outer slide rail; and

a screw rod coupled to the inner and the outer slide rails and adapted to move the inner slide rail relative to the outer slide rail when turned.

28. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the second antenna mast deployment mechanism includes a reduction gear assembly.

29. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the vehicle, cap structure further includes at least two antenna rotators coupled to the at least one antenna mast.

30. The vehicle of claim 29, wherein the at least two antenna rotators are coupled to the at least one antenna mast with a hinge.

31. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the vehicle cap structure further includes at least two antennas removeably coupled to the at least one antenna mast, each of the at least two antennas including an antenna dish, each of the at least two antennas capable of being removed from the at least one antenna mast and stowed on the vehicle apart from the at least one antenna mast.

32. The vehicle of claim 31, wherein the vehicle cap sure further includes an antenna storage system coupled to the vehicle cap structure and adapted to hold the at least two antennas during transport of the vehicle, the antenna storage system adapted to slide and to pivot to facilitate access to the at least two antennas and to facilitate removal of the at least two antennas from the antenna storage system.

33. The vehicle of claim 32, wherein the antenna storage system includes:

a mounting tray adapted to couple to the at least two antennas, the mounting tray having first and second mounting tray portions adapted to slide and pivot relative to each other;

at least one hinge coupled to the first and second mounting tray portions;

at least one spring coupled to the first and second mounting tray portions; and

at least one damper coupled to the first and second mounting tray portions.

34. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the vehicle cap structure further includes:

at least one guide wire spool including a guide wire, the guide wire spool removeably coupled to the at least one antenna mast, the guide wire adapted to couple proximate to a telescoping joint associated with the at least one antenna mast; and

a spring return mechanism coupled to the guide wire spool and adapted to tension the guide wire.