Radome Attachment Band Clamp

• US 20130002515A1
• Filed: 08/31/2012
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Andrew LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Renilson, Ian, HILLS, Chris, WRIGHT, Alastair D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,083,083 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/872
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/14 Reflecting surfaces; Equivalent structures electromagnetic shields H01Q1/526
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/16 curved in two dimensions, e.g. paraboloidal

Abstract

A band clamp for coupling a radome to a distal end of a reflector dish for improving the front to back ratio of a reflector antenna, is provided with an inward projecting proximal lip and an inward projecting distal lip. The distal lip is dimensioned with an inner diameter equal to or less than a reflector aperture of the reflector dish. The proximal lip may be provided with an inward bias dimensioned to engage the reflector dish in an interference fit and/or turnback region dimensioned to engage an outer surface of a signal area of the reflector dish in an interference fit. A variety of different configurations of protruding portions extending from the band clamp may be applied to further improve electrical performance.

Claims

1. A band clamp for coupling a radome to a distal end of a reflector dish, comprising:

a band with an inward projecting proximal lip and an inward projecting distal lip;

the distal lip dimensioned with an inner diameter less than or equal to a reflector aperture of the reflector dish;

the proximal lip provided dimensioned to engage an outer surface of the reflector dish in an interference fit.

2. The band clamp of claim 1, wherein the proximal lip is provided with a turnback region dimensioned to engage an outer surface of a signal area of the reflector dish.

3. The band clamp of claim 1, further including a protruding portion extending from an outer diameter of the band clamp;

the proximal lip, the distal lip and the protruding portion provided as a unitary contiguous portion.

4. The band clamp of claim 3, wherein a distal edge of the protruding portion is serrated.

5. The band clamp of claim 3, wherein a distal edge of the protruding portion is castellated.

6. The band clamp of claim 3, wherein the protruding portion extends toward a proximal end of the reflector dish.

7. The band clamp of claim 3 wherein the protruding portion has a length dimensioned as a multiple of one quarter wavelength of a desired operating frequency of the reflector dish.

8. The band clamp of claim 3, wherein the protruding portion extends outward at an angle of approximately 60 degrees from a longitudinal axis of the reflector dish.

9. The band clamp of claim 3, wherein the protruding portion extends from an outer diameter of the band clamp;

the protruding portion forming at least one choke groove open to a distal end of the reflector dish.

10. The band clamp of claim 9 wherein a width of the choke groove is dimensioned as a multiple of one quarter wavelength of a desired operating frequency of the reflector dish.

11. The band clamp of claim 9, wherein the at least one choke groove is two concentric choke grooves.

12. The band clamp of claim 1, wherein the proximal lip contacts the reflector dish along an annular protrusion provided in a distal sidewall of the proximal lip.

13. The band clamp of claim 1, wherein an inward edge of the proximal lip is biased inward to form the interference fit.

14. The band clamp of claim 1, wherein the distal lip transitions to the proximal lip along a continuous arc segment.

15. The band clamp of claim 1, wherein a choke groove open to an outer diameter of the band is provided in an outer diameter of the band.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the band is formed by extrusion.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the band is formed by injection molding and metalizing.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the band is formed by progressive punching.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the band is formed by stretch forming.

16. A method for manufacturing a band clamp for coupling a radome to a distal end of a reflector dish, comprising the steps of:

forming a band with an inward projecting proximal lip and an inward projecting distal lip;

the distal lip dimensioned with an inner diameter less than or equal to a reflector aperture of the reflector dish;

the proximal lip provided dimensioned to engage an outer surface of the reflector dish in an interference fit.