EP0007831A1 - Apparatus for adjusting the azimuth and elevation angles of an electromagnetic wave reflector - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for the orientation adjustment in azimuth and in elevation of a wave reflector. The device comprises a plate (1) for fixing to a reference surface of the reflector (R), a cradle (10) integral with the plate and supporting a pivoting element (12) movable in the adjustment site plane at a readable angle relative to the cradle, said element (12) movable in elevation supporting an element (15) mounted rotating around an axis perpendicular to the pivot axis in elevation, and constituting a movable element in azimuth at a readable angle relative to the element (12) movable in elevation, said element (15) movable in azimuth carrying an aiming scope (22) movable in elevation, and the assembly -mobile in elevation and azimuth carrying a spirit level (24) allowing '' bring the reflector to the displayed site by jamming the bubble, as well as establish by adjustment of fixing of the plate on the reflector the verticality of the pivot axis in azimuth.

Description

The invention relates to the adjustment of wave reflectors, such as those used in particular for radio links, called passive reflectors in the far field.

A passive reflector is said to be "in the far field" when its distance to one or the other of the antennas of the radio link is at least equal to 2 D ² / λ, D being the diameter or the vertical dimension of the opening la larger: antenna or passive.

The passive reflector in far field is used in the case where the optical visibility between the two active ends to be joined by the radio link does not exist, and where the link budget is such that a reflector of relatively small dimensions allows to obtain a sufficient margin and therefore a good quality of connection.

In the mountains, the passive reflector is used to cross ridges separating two points which are often not far from each other in the horizontal plane. In this case, the use of the passive reflector is advantageous, since it requires practically no maintenance and above all it avoids the construction of a station with active relay in hard to reach places.

In the plain, the passive reflector is often used to directly access the telephone exchange in a city when it is not directly visible from the other end of the radio link. Such an arrangement avoids the construction of a terminal radio station and the transfer of signals received by cables to the telephone exchange.

Such a passive reflector usually consists of a non-deformable metallic flat panel (generally made of aluminum alloy which combines lightness, good conductivity and unalterability over time) installed on a pylon with the interposition of support means adjustable along two perpendicular pivot axes. , one to be able to obtain the site and the other the desired azimuth.

It is in particular necessary to precisely adjust the orientation in azimuth and in site of such a passive reflector in order to obtain the best efficiency, and this constitutes a problem whose solutions hitherto proposed prove to be costly and time-consuming. enforce.

A calculated predetermination of the site for the setting may be suitable, while an associated azimuth setting with the compass gives way to trial and error in search of the best performance which are long and immobilize maneuvering personnel.

It has also been proposed to use aids in the form of infrared or laser emeticurs- receivers which are expensive, difficult to install on pylons and whose power supply is an easement all the more important as the distances emitter- receiver are high.

The subject of the present invention is a relatively inexpensive device making it possible to advantageously establish such settings quickly and easily.

Basically, for this purpose, the device according to the invention for adjusting the orientation in azimuth and in elevation of a wave reflector, is characterized in that it comprises a fixing plate on a reference surface of the reflector , a cradle secured to the plate and supporting a pivoting element movable in the adjustment site plane at a readable angle with respect to the cradle, said movable element in elevation supporting an element mounted to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the axis of pivoting in elevation and constituting a movable element in azimuth at a readable angle relative to the movable element in elevation, said movable element in azimuth carrying a telescopic riflescope, and the mobile item in elevation and azimuth carrying a level with bubble allowing to bring the reflector to the site displayed by jamming of the bubble, as well as to establish by adjustment of fixing of the plate on the reflector the verticality of the axis of pivoting in azimuth, in order to bring the e reflector in the desired azimuth by coincidence of aiming at the telescope at a given azimuth angle with the direction of the reflected wave emitter or receiver.

• - la figure 1 est une vue schématioue illustrative de paramètres entrant en ligne de compte dans le réglage d'un réflecteur d'ondes entre une station émettrice et une station réceptrice ;
• - la figure 2 est une vue en élévation, avec coupe partielle suivant II-II de la figure 3, du dispositif selon l'invention;
• - la figure 3 est une autre vue en élévation du dispositif suivant . la flèche III de la figure 2, avec coupe partielle suivant III-III.

A node for making and implementing a device for adjusting the orientation of a wave reflector according to the invention is described below by way of example and with reference to the appended drawing in which:

• - Figure 1 is an illustrative schematic view of parameters taken into account in the setting of a wave reflector between a transmitting station and a receiving station;
• - Figure 2 is an elevational view, with partial section along II-II of Figure 3, of the device according to the invention;
• - Figure 3 is another elevational view of the following device. arrow III of Figure 2, with partial section along III-III.

In the diagram of FIG. 1, a reflective panel intended to serve as a passive relay between two stations S ₁ and S ₂ has been shown at R on a scale considerably enlarged compared to the rest of the figure. We have designated by C a point on the panel R corresponding to the fixing zone on it of the device object of the invention, and we have designated by 0 the projection of C in a horizontal plane which is that of the x coordinates and y of the map of the places, at the altitude in Z supposed to be that of the station S ₂ (S ' ₁ being the intersection this CS ₁ with the same plane) of output as θ ₁ and θ ₂ correspond to the elevation angles under which the reflector is seen from stations S ₁ and S ₂ . This reflector must be adjusted in azimuth perpendicular to the bisector CI of the angle S ₁ CS ₂ and in elevation according to the angle θ ₃ equal to the angle θ ' ₃ under which it would be seen from point I.

les signes donnant le sens de Δα, et θ₁ et θ₂ pouvant être mesurés ou calculés à partir des données topographiques des points C, S₁ et S₂.It should be noted that the projection 01 of the bisector CI on the horizontal plane is not the bisector OI 'of the angle S ₂ OS' ₁ equal to 2 α (measurable on the map or calculable) and does with it a angle Δα. The calculation of the site angle θ ₃ of the reflector and of Δα, the utility of which will be seen below, gives the following results:

the signs giving the meaning of Δα, and θ ₁ and θ ₂ can be measured or calculated from the topographic data of points C, S ₁ and S ₂ .

The orientation adjustment device shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 comprises a plate 1 with a square profile on which two spaced U-shaped flanges 2 and 3 are fixed by screws, matching said square profile and one of the branches of which is crossed by a threaded rod 4 provided with an operating button 5 and a shoe clamp 6 intended to allow the fixing of the plate 1 in a position where it marries the upper edge of the reflector panel R, or even a localized reference surface of the plane thereof.

The flanges 2 and 3 are also each provided in the central branch of the overlapping U of the panel they form, with a screw 7 with pad 8 freely passing through the plate 1 and which is provided with an operating button 9 in view to allow, as will be seen, an adjustment of horizontality of the device in the plane of the reflective panel.

On the upper wing of the plate 1 is fixed by screw a cradle 10 pivotally supporting along the arc of the joint plane 11 (see fig. 2) to which corresponds a virtual pivot axis P, an element 12 movable in the adjustment site plan considering the device attached to the reflector panel. This element 12 can be moved around the virtual axis P by means of a manual control with a button 13 driving a usual mechanism not shown, with tangent screw secured to said button and journalling in the cradle 10 as well as cooperating with an arc of tangent wheel with center P secured to said element 12. The angular position of the latter relative to the cradle 10 can be read by means of a graduation such as 14 formed on one of the parts 10-12 ′, the other carries a reading vernier 14a.

Finer divisions of this graduation can alternatively be provided on the fixed bearing of the above tangent screw, opposite the adjacent edge of the button 13 provided with a reading index.

On the element 12 is mounted rotating about an axis perpendicular to the pivot axis in elevation P and represented geometrically by the axis V, an element 15 constituting movable element in azimuth. This element 15 can be moved around the virtual axis V by means of a manual control with a button 16 driving a usual mechanism, not shown, with a tangent screw secured to said button and rotating in the element 12 as well as cooperating with a wheel. tangent of axis V integral with the element 15. The angular position of the latter relative to the element 12 is readable using a peripheral scale such as 17 provided on one of the parts 12-15, of which the other wears a reading vernier 17a. On item 15 is. fixed by screw a yoke 18 between the rising branches of which is articulated support, by the axes 19 and 20 of which it is integral, a collar 21 for tightening a telescopic sight 22, movable in site between the branches of the yoke 18 and maneuvered using a button 23 integral with said axis 20.

In the center of the flat base of the yoke 18 is fixed by screw a spirit level 24 of precision.

With such a device, the adjustment of a reflective panel can thus be carried out as follows:

The plate 1 is brought into position on the upper edge of the panel, the flatness of which it follows by its falling wing and, before being immobilized by clamping on the panel of the pads 6, the horizontality of the device in the plane of the panel is ensured by turning the movable element 15 by an angle straight with respect to its position in FIGS. 2 and 3, so as to bring the bubble level 24 in parallel with the upper edge of the panel, so that by wedging the bubble between its marks using the screws 7 with skid 'Support 8 establishes the desired horizontality, the element 15 can be brought for this operation approximately vertically. The plate can then be immobilized using the pads 6.

The fixing of the device being thus made on the reflective panel, we first proceed to the adjustment of the reflective panel in elevation, by bringing the movable element 15 in the state shown in the drawing of perpendicularity of direction of the spirit level 24 relative to in the plane of the panel, which can here correspond to a coincidence of zero of the azimuth graduation 17 with the corresponding vernier 17a. By then displaying with precision the site θ ₃ previously calculated, using the manual button control 13 and the site graduation 14 with reading vernier 14a, it is easily understood that by moving the reflective panel R into site in acting on its support means so as to wedge the bubble of level 24 between its marks, we will have given the panel the precise site angle displayed on the site scale.

We will then proceed to the azimuth adjustment, noting in this respect that the previous operations controlled at the spirit level 24 had the effect of ensuring the verticality of the axis V of the element 15 movable in azimuth, so that one can then measure by azimuthal aiming using the telescope 22 movable in elevation real 2α made by the azimuths CS ₁ and CS ₂ of the antennas of the two stations S ₁ , S ₂ , also determinable on the map of the places with sufficient precision to allow the calculation of the correction angle Δα mentioned above.

From the value of α resulting from sightings made on the antennas of stations S ₁ and S ₂ , to which it is necessary to add or subtract the angle Δα depending on whether one will proceed by setting sight on l antenna of the station S ₁ or S ₂ , and by displaying the angle α ± Δα using the manual button control 16 and do the graduation in azimuth 17 of the element 15, it is easily understood that then simply move the reflective panel R by acting on its support means so as to allow the optical sighting axis of the telescope 22 to be brought to the antenna of the station S ₁ or S ₂ chosen, so that the panel reflector is effectively oriented in the desired azimuth which is that of line 01 of FIG. 1.

Reiterations can be provided in elevation and azimuth to refine the adjustment that the device according to the invention makes it possible to obtain much more simply and quickly than with the methods hitherto known.

The field of use of such an optical device is sufficiently extended for current apylications in herizian connections, it should be noted, by way of indication, that with a magnification telescope 20 for example one can easily make sights up to 30 km, which can be brought to 60 km by implanting a mirror with flakes on the antenna of the considered station (s).

Of course, many variants can be imagined while remaining within the scope of the invention.

Claims (2)

1. Device for adjusting the orientation in azimuth and in elevation of a wave reflector, in particular for radio links, characterized in that it comprises a fixing plate on a reference surface of the reflector, an integral cradle of the plate and supporting a pivoting element movable in the adjustment site plane at a readable angle relative to the cradle, said movable element in elevation supporting an element mounted to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the pivot axis in elevation, and constituting a movable element in azimuth at a readable angle relative to the movable element in elevation, said movable element in azimuth carrying a telescopic sight sight, and the mobile assembly in elevation and azimuth carrying a spirit level allowing to bring the reflector to the site displayed by jamming the bubble, as well as to establish, by adjusting the fixing of the plate on the reflector, the verticality of the pivot axis in azimuth, in order to bring the reflector eur in the desired azimuth by coincidence of sighting at the telescope under a given azimuth angle with the direction of the emitter of waves or the receiver of reflected waves. 2. Device for adjusting the orientation in azimuth and in elevation of a wave reflector according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate is integral with two fixing flanges placed astride an upper edge of said surface of the reflector and each comprising an adjustment screw bearing on said edge in order to establish the horizontality of the device in the reference plane of the reflector.

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