Transportable rolling radar platform and system

• US 7,183,989 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2005
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Tietjen, Byron W.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEN, SHIH CHAO
• Application Number:
  US11/197,016
• Publication Number:
  US 20060139224A1
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 343/757, 343/758, 343/761, 343/766, 343/882
• US Class Current: 343/757
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/426 Scanning radar, e.g. 3D radar G01S13/66 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/9082 Rotating SAR [ROSAR]
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/03 Details of HF subsystems specially adapted therefor, e.g. common to transmitter and receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3216 where the road or rail vehicle is only used as transportation means
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/002 providing at least two patterns of different beamwidth; Variable beamwidth antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/04 for varying one co-ordinate of the orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/26 varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture H01Q3/12, H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence

Abstract

A transportable platform for a rolling radar array system has a base whereupon a track for an array wheel is provided. A segment of the track can be folded for transportation and deployed when the rolling radar array system is to be in an operational mode. The transportable platform has several adjustable supports for stabilizing and leveling the foldable segment of the track upon which the array wheel revolves as well as the base. The transportable platform may include a hitching element and a pair of wheels for towing and transportation.

Claims

1. A transportable platform for use in a rolling radar array system having an array mounted on a first side of a wheel, comprising:

a base having a peripheral edge;

a first circular track mounted on said base;

a second circular track, concentric with said first circular track, having a first segment mounted on said base, and a second segment foldably mounted on said base for moving between a folded position and a deployed position, said second segment extending beyond said edge when in said deployed position.

2. The transportable platform of claim 1, wherein said second segment is hingedly mounted on said base.

3. The transportable platform of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of supports depending from said base and said second segment.

4. The transportable platform of claim 3, wherein at least one of said supports comprises:

a longitudinal member; and

a flat, load-bearing member attached to a first end of said longitudinal member.

5. The transportable platform of claim 4, wherein said longitudinal member has an adjustable height.

6. The transportable platform of claim 1, further comprising an IFF antenna mounted on said base.

7. The transportable platform of claim 1, wherein said platform further comprises means for folding and unfolding said foldable second segment of said second circular track.

8. The transportable platform of claim 7, wherein said means for folding and unfolding said foldable second segment of said second circular track is a hydraulic mechanism.

9. A radar antenna system, comprising:

a radar array mounted on a first wheel, the first wheel having a circumferential portion shaped to engage a first circular track for revolving the radar array about the track, the first radar array having an axis normal to the first wheel, wherein the first wheel rotates about the axis as the radar array revolves around the track during operation; and

a transportable platform comprising;

a base having a peripheral edge;

a second circular track mounted on said base;

wherein said first circular track is concentric with said second circular track, and has a first segment mounted on said base, and a second segment foldably mounted on said base for moving between a folded position and a deployed position, said second segment extending beyond said edge when in said deployed position.

10. The radar system of claim 9, wherein said transportable platform further comprises a plurality of supports depending from said base and said foldable second segment.

11. The radar system of claim 10, wherein at least one of said supports comprises:

a longitudinal member; and

a flat, load-bearing member attached to a first end of said longitudinal member.

12. The radar system of claim 11, wherein said longitudinal member has an adjustable height.

13. The radar system of claim 9, further comprising an IFF antenna mounted on said base.

14. The radar system of claim 9, further comprising a sighting system for verifying the position of said foldable second segment, when said foldable second segment is deployed for operation.

15. The radar system of claim 14, wherein said sighting system is a laser sighting system.

16. A method for providing a transportable rolling radar system, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a base having a peripheral edge;

laying a first circular track on said base;

laying a second circular track on said base, said second circular track being concentric with said first track, and having a first segment mounted on the base and having a second segment foldably mounted on said base for moving between a folded position and a deployed position, said second segment extending beyond said edge when in said deployed position; and

mounting a radar array on a first wheel, the first wheel having a circumferential portion shaped to engage a first circular track for revolving the radar array about said second circular track, the first radar array having an axis normal to the first wheel, wherein the first wheel rotates about the axis as the radar array revolves around said circular track during operation.

17. The method of claim 16, said method further comprising the step of providing a mechanism for folding and unfolding said foldable second segment of second circular track.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said mechanism is a hydraulic mechanism.

19. The method of claim 16, said method further comprising the step of providing a plurality of supports, said supports depending on said base and said foldable second segment.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein at least one of said supports comprises:

a longitudinal member; and

a flat, load-bearing member attached to a first end of said longitudinal member.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of providing a system for verifying location of said foldable second segment, when said foldable second segment is unfolded and said first wheel is rotating on said second circular track.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein said system for verifying position of said second segment of said track, when said segment is deployed, is a laser sighting system.

23. A method of using a transportable rolling radar system having an array mounted on a first side of a wheel, said method comprising the steps of:

transporting a radar system to a desired location, said radar system comprising;

a base having a peripheral edge;

a first circular track mounted on said base;

a second circular track, concentric with said first circular track, having a first segment mounted on said base, and a second segment foldably mounted on said base for moving between a folded position and a deployed position, said second segment extending beyond said edge when in said deployed position, while said second segment being in folded position during said step of transporting said radar system;

moving said second segment to said deployed position; and

operating said system such that said wheel rolls about said second circular track.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of using a plurality of supports to level said foldable segment and said base, at least one of said supports comprising:

a longitudinal member; and

a flat, load-bearing member attached to a first end of said longitudinal member.

25. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of using a laser sighting system to verify a position of said second segment with respect to the position of said first segment.