Aircraft antenna mounting system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An antenna attachment apparatus, comprising:
- a mounting plate attached to a fuselage of an aircraft;
a radome attached to the mounting plate, the radome comprising a composite material;
an adapter plate attached to the mounting plate, the adapter plate having a plurality of different patterns of holes and fasteners, wherein ones of the plurality of different patterns of holes and fasteners are configured to fit corresponding ones of a plurality of different models of antennas, whereby the adapter plate allows the plurality of different models of antennas to be installed or uninstalled on the adapter plate without removing the mounting plate or the radome from fuselage of the aircraft.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of manufacturing is provided comprising forming a mounting plate adaptable to a plurality of models of aircraft, forming an adapter plate configured for use with the mounting plate, forming a radome configured to attach to the mounting plate, configuring a shape of the adapter plate to encompass at least one footprint of at least one antenna, and providing a plurality of hole patterns through the adapter plate corresponding to known hole patterns of the at least one antenna.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An antenna attachment apparatus, comprising:
-
a mounting plate attached to a fuselage of an aircraft; a radome attached to the mounting plate, the radome comprising a composite material; an adapter plate attached to the mounting plate, the adapter plate having a plurality of different patterns of holes and fasteners, wherein ones of the plurality of different patterns of holes and fasteners are configured to fit corresponding ones of a plurality of different models of antennas, whereby the adapter plate allows the plurality of different models of antennas to be installed or uninstalled on the adapter plate without removing the mounting plate or the radome from fuselage of the aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method comprising:
-
forming a mounting plate adaptable to a plurality of different models of aircraft; forming an adapter plate configured for use with the mounting plate; forming a radome configured to attach to the mounting plate; configuring a shape of the adapter plate to encompass at least both of a first footprint of a first antenna and a second, different footprint of a second antenna; and providing a plurality of hole patterns through the adapter plate, wherein the plurality of hole patterns includes at least both of a first pattern that is configured to mount the first antenna and a second hole pattern that is configured to mount the second antenna. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. An aircraft comprising:
-
a fuselage configured for flight; a mounting plate attached to the fuselage; a radome attached to the mounting plate, the radome comprising a composite material; an adapter plate attached to the mounting plate, the adapter plate having a plurality of different patterns of holes and fasteners, wherein ones of the plurality of different patterns of holes and fasteners are configured to fit corresponding ones of a plurality of different models of antennas, whereby the adapter plate allows the plurality of different models of antennas to be installed or uninstalled on the adapter plate without removing the mounting plate or the radome from fuselage of the aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A method of changing antennas installed on an aircraft having a mounting plate attached to a fuselage of the aircraft, a radome attached to the mounting plate, and an adapter plate attached to the mounting plate, the adapter plate having a plurality of different patterns of holes and fasteners, wherein ones of the plurality of different patterns of holes and fasteners are configured to fit corresponding ones of a plurality of different models of antennas, the method comprising:
-
detaching a first antenna from a first pattern of holes and fasteners in the adapter plate without removing the mounting plate or the radome from the fuselage of the aircraft; and attaching a second antenna to a second pattern of holes and fasteners in the adapter plate without removing the mounting plate or the radome from the fuselage of the aircraft, wherein the second antenna is a second model different than a first model of the first antenna, and wherein the first pattern is different than the second pattern.
-
Specification