AU4871800A - Adjustable mounting for an antenna dish - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: HILLS INDUSTRIES LIMITED Actual Inventor: Barry GRIGGS Address for Service: MADDERNS, 1st Floor, 64 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Invention title: ADJUSTABLE MOUNTING FOR AN ANTENNA DISH Details of Associated Provisional Application No: Based on Provisional Application No PQ 1791 dated 22nd July 1999 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us.

This invention relates to a mounting arrangement for a dish antenna, and more specifically to a mounting arrangement which incorporates an improved means for effecting fine adjustment of the elevation of the dish antenna or aerial.

Many different types of mounting systems for adjustably mounting dish antennas and aerials on the roof of a building are known to the applicant. The majority of these systems, however, are not entirely satisfactory in that they do not allow the antenna or aerial to be accurately locked in a given elevation so as to provide the strongest possible signal. A common complaint from antenna installers is that although the systems permit adjustment of the elevation and azimuth of the dish antenna for achieving reasonably accurate aiming of the antenna (ie with the orbiting satellites), it is difficult to effect final locking of the antenna mount, after its orientation has been set, without causing a very small degree of angular movement sufficient to upset the quality of the receiving signal. It will be appreciated that an angular adjustment of less than one degree may be sufficient to affect the signal quality. There is a need therefore for a mounting arrangement which permits fine adjustment of the angular orientation of the antenna or aerial once the antenna has been roughly aimed and secured in that position.

S 20 It is the main object of the present invention therefore to provide an antenna mounting system which allows a fine adjustment of the elevation of the antenna after the initial rough elevation and azimuth adjustments have been performed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an antenna mounting arrangement for direct multi-satellite television which is of extremely simple and inexpensive construction, and which permits the orientation of the antenna to be quickly and readily effected and subsequently accurately aimed by permitting fine elevation adjustment.

Broadly according to this invention therefore, an improved antenna mounting arrangement which permits the antenna to be adjusted about vertical and horizontal axes, comprises a first channel bracket adapted for connection to an antenna mounting pole by fastener means whereby the first bracket can be angularly adjusted about the vertical axis of the pole (azimuth adjustment), and a second channel bracket adapted for attachment to a support frame of the antenna, said second channel bracket being pivotally mounted to said first bracket by means of a pair of vertically spaced transversely extending pivot fastening bolts which permit relative angular adjustment between said brackets, one of said pivot fastening bolts (hereinafter "the first pivot bolt") being keyed to said second bracket, the other of the said pivot fastening bolts, when in a loosened condition, permitting the second channel bracket to pivot about the axis of said first pivot bolt through an arc so as to provide course elevation adjustment of the antenna, wherein rotation of the first pivot bolt provides fine elevation adjustment of the antenna, with said other pivot bolt in a tightened condition.

Desirably, the keying of the first pivot bolt to the second channel bracket is achieved 15 by means of key hole shaped openings formed in opposite side walls of the second •channel bracket and which co-operates with spaced apart radial nibs or lugs formed on the shank of the bolt, arranged so that rotation of the bolt effects an angular adjustment, preferably up to two degrees, of the second channel bracket relative to the first channel bracket. The first bolt is fully tightened once the fine adjustment has been made and the antenna correctly positioned.

Desirably the opposite side walls of the second channel bracket are snugly received within the channel opening formed by the opposite side walls of the first channel bracket, with the first and second pivot fastening bolts passing through respective aligned openings formed in the side walls of the brackets.

Preferably the opposite side walls or flanges of the first channel bracket are provided with transversely aligned arcuate slots along which the second pivot bolt is guided for arcuate movement when the second channel bracket is pivotally adjusted about the axis of the first pivot bolt. The arcuate slots have a length which is selected so that an initial course adjustment of the second channel bracket can be achieved about an elevation axis coinciding with the axis of the first pivot bolt.

Preferably the nibs or lugs on the shank of the first pivot bolt are formed by a cold pressing operation.

It is a feature of the present invention that fine elevation adjustment of the dish antenna can be achieved in a simple inexpensive manner.

In order to more fully explain the present invention, a preferred embodiment thereof is described hereunder in some further detail with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein: Figures la and lb are side elevational views of a dish antenna adjustably mounted on an antenna support pole with the antenna shown in "as assembled" and "adjusted" positions, respectively; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the mounting bracket assembly shown in Figure 1 (with the support pole omitted); *o.

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the mounting bracket arrangement 0..20 shown in Figure 1; while Figure 4 is a perspective view similar to Figure 3 showing the mounting arrangement in its assembled condition (the mounting pole and the dish antenna being omitted for the sake of clarity).

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a dish antenna assembly 10 which is supported on a mounting pole 11 by means of an adjustable mounting bracket assembly 12 which is adapted to permit the antenna 13 to be adjusted in two degrees of freedom, ie elevation adjustment about a horizontal transverse axis and azimuth adjustment about a vertical axis coinciding with the axis of the pole 11.

The bracket mounting assembly 12 includes a first channel bracket 15 adapted for connection to the pole 11, and a second channel bracket 16 pivotally supported by the bracket 15 and being adapted for securement to the support frame of the dish antenna 13. The channel bracket 16 has a pair of parallel transversely spaced apart opposite side flanges 17, 17' which snugly locate within the channel defined by the parallel opposite side flanges 18, 18' of the first channel 15 and adjustably mounted with respect thereto by means of upper and lower pivot bolts 19, 20 which extend through both pairs of flanges 17, 17' and 18, 18', with each of the bolts 19, 20 having a shank 21, 22 respectively which terminates at its free end in a threaded portion 23 for receiving a securing nut 24. With the nuts 24 fully tightened the brackets 15, 16 are firmly secured together.

S'The pair of flanges 18, 18' of the channel bracket 15 have formed therein aligned arcuate guide slots 26, the slots 26 aligning with circular holes 27 formed in the S. 15 opposite flanges 17, 17' of the second channel bracket 16, with the lower bolt .:i extending through the aligned slots 26 and holes 27. This arrangement permits rough or coarse elevation adjustment of the bracket 16 about the axis of the upper bolt 19, when the lower pivot bolt 20 is in a loosened condition.

oo 20 The upper pivot bolt 19 is keyed to the flanges 17, 17' of the second channel bracket 16 by means of a pair of spaced apart longitudinally aligned radial nibs or lugs 29 formed on the shank 21 and which are located on the shank so that, when the bolt 19 is inserted, the nibs 29 engage in key hole shaped openings 31 formed in the flanges 17, 17' located vertically above the holes 27.

The openings 31 are shaped and sized so that, with the lower pivot bolt 20 fully tightened, the bracket 16 can undergo limited angular adjustment about the axis of the bolt 20 by rotating the bolt 19..

To enable the keyed bolt 19 to pass through the flanges 18, 18' of the channel bracket flange 18 is formed with a key hole shaped opening 32 which is surrounded by an outwardly bell shaped formation 33, while a normal sized circular hole 34 is formed in the opposite flange 18' it being appreciated that the leading nib or lug 29 on the shank 21 is axially spaced a short distance from the plane of the flange 18'. The bell shaped formation 33 is also designed to provide additional axial clearance between the nib 29 adjacent the head end of the bolt 19 and the plane containing the key hole opening 32.

In accordance with conventional design, the channel bracket 15 is adjustably clamped to the upper end of the post or pole 11 by means of U shaped clamping bolts 36 having threaded ends for receiving clamping nuts. With the clamping bolts 36 in a loosened condition, the bracket assembly 12 can be pivoted about the axis of the pole 11 to the required angular extent before being locked in position by tightening the nuts on the U bolts 36. This provides the necessary azimuth adjustment for the dish antenna 13.

eeeoo S. 15 The channel bracket 16 is secured to the frame of the antenna 13 by means of a pair of vertically spaced transverse strap members 38 which are integrally formed with and locate at opposite ends thereof, the straps 38 being fastened to the frame by means of ••co suitable fasteners.

20 To stiffen the bracket assembly 12 and prevent deformation or distortion of the flanges of the brackets 15, 16, there is provided a rigid rectangular spacer plate 39 which locates between the flanges 17, 17' and has an upper hooked end 40 which hooks over the upper pivot bolt 19.

The procedure for adjusting the angular position of the dish antenna 13, during its installation, is carried out as follows. Initially, coarse elevation adjustment of the dish antenna 13 is achieved by having the lower pivot bolt 20 in a loosened condition, while the upper pivot bolt 19 is in a near tightened condition, thereby enabling the antenna mounting bracket 16 to be pivoted about the axis of the pivot bolt 19. Once this rough vertical adjustment has been made, the pivot bolt 20 is fully tightened and final fine elevation adjustment of the antenna 13 is achieved by rotating the head of the partly tightened pivot bolt 19, eg with a spanner, which effects limited angular 6 rotation of the bracket 16 about the axis of the pivot bolt 20. The dish antenna 13 should then be accurately adjusted to focus directly upon the required satellite. The bolt 19 is then fully tightened.

It will be appreciated that prior to effecting the elevation adjustment of the antenna, it is normal procedure for the azimuth angle of the dish to be adjusted first by rotating the bracket assembly 12 as a unit about the axis of the pole 11.

It will be appreciated that a number of variations to the above described embodiment can be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended that all such variations will be considered to lie within the scope of the present invention.

ooooo A brief consideration of the above described embodiment will indicate that the Ve...

15 invention provides for an extremely simple and inexpensive antenna mounting arrangement by which the necessary elevation and azimuth adjustments can be quickly and easily achieved by a single installer, and which makes use of simple e sheet metal brackets.

o oo• o*

Claims (4)

1. An improved mounting arrangement for an antenna, comprising; a first mounting bracket or channel section adapted for connection to an antenna mounting pole whereby the first bracket can be angularly adjusted about the vertical axis of the pole; a second mounting bracket having a first portion adapted for attachment to a support frame of the antenna, and a channel portion which engages with said first channel bracket; a pair of spaced transversely extending parallel pivot fastening bolts extending through aligned flanges of the brackets for pivotally mounting said second bracket to said first bracket and permitting relative angular adjustment between said oo••• brackets; 15 the improvement comprising keying means for keying one of said pivot fastening bolts (hereinafter "said first pivot bolt") to said second bracket and arranged so that when the other of said pivot fastening bolts is in a tightened Go.. condition, rotation of said first pivot bolt causes the second bracket to undergo limited pivotal movement about the axis of said other of said pivot bolts so as to 20 provide fine elevation adjustment of the antenna, said other of said pivot fastening bolts, when in a loosened condition, permitting the second bracket to pivot about the axis of said first pivot bolt through an arc so as to provide coarse elevation adjustment of the antenna.

2. A mounting arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said keying means comprises spaced apart radial nibs or lugs formed on the shank of said first pivot bolt, said nibs or lugs engaging keyhole shaped openings formed in opposing flanges of the channel portion of said second bracket, arranged so that rotation of said first pivot bolt provides an angular adjustment, preferably up to of the second bracket relative to the first channel bracket.

3. A mounting arrangement according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the channel portion of said second bracket has its flanges snugly received within the channel opening formed by the flanges of the first channel bracket.

4. A mounting arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the opposite flanges of the first channel bracket are provided with transversely aligned arcuate slots along which said other of said pivot bolts is guided for movement when the second bracket is pivotally adjusted about the axis of said first pivot bolt. A mounting arrangement according to claim 4 wherein said arcuate slots have a length which is selected so that an initial coarse adjustment of the second bracket is achieved about an elevation axis coinciding with the axis of the first pivot bolt. °o•15 6. A mounting arrangement according to claim 2 wherein said nibs or lugs on OR o:i• the shank of said first pivot bolt are formed by a cold pressing operation. *Goo S041. 7. An adjustable mounting arrangement for an antenna substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying 20 drawings. C Dated this 21st day of July, 2000 e a HILLS INDUSTRIES LIMITED By their Patent Attorneys MADDERNS