GB2102533A - Buffer assemblies - Google Patents
Buffer assemblies Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2102533A GB2102533A GB08121951A GB8121951A GB2102533A GB 2102533 A GB2102533 A GB 2102533A GB 08121951 A GB08121951 A GB 08121951A GB 8121951 A GB8121951 A GB 8121951A GB 2102533 A GB2102533 A GB 2102533A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- buffer
- aerial
- plate
- guide rail
- striker plate
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
- H01Q3/00—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system
- H01Q3/02—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system using mechanical movement of antenna or antenna system as a whole
- H01Q3/04—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system using mechanical movement of antenna or antenna system as a whole for varying one co-ordinate of the orientation
- H01Q3/06—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system using mechanical movement of antenna or antenna system as a whole for varying one co-ordinate of the orientation over a restricted angle
Landscapes
- Aerials With Secondary Devices (AREA)
Abstract
It may often be the case that the allowable range of angular movement of an object, such as a steerable microwave aerial, mounted for rotation about an axis needs to be finite, the end-of- range positions being defined, and mechanically constructed, using end stops (buffer units) which are fixedly secured to one of either the rotating object or its mounting and which interact with a stop abutment member (striker plate) fixedly secured to the other, and yet greater than 360 DEG . The invention seeks to allow such a range to an aerial (or other rotating object) by arranging for the interaction between buffer unit 21 and striker plate 24 to be via a buffer plate 23 slideably mounted upon an arcuate guide rail 22 extending between two buffer units; the striker plate engages not the buffer units but the buffer plate, which slides up to and engages the relevant buffer unit, so extending the movement range by the angle subtended by the two buffer units. The buffer units may contain friction ring-springs, or may be simple physical stops. As shown an aerial attached to framework 12 may be rotated through more than 360 DEG in an anti-clockwise direction before being stopped by the entrained buffer plate 23 engaging the right-hand buffer unit. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Buffer assemblies
This invention relates to buffer assemblies, and concerns in particular mechanical buffer assemblies useful for controlling the angular range of large, relatively massive rotatably moveable objects such as steerable microwave aerials.
It may often be the case that the allowable range of angular movement of an object mounted for rotation about an axis needs to be finite, and that the end-of-range positions are defined, and mechanically constructed, using end stops (buffers) which are fixedly secured to one of either the rotating object or its mounting and which interact with a stop abuttment member equaliy fixedly secured to the other.
As a trivial example, the swing of a door is limited at one end of its range by the door catch/jamb, while at the other end it may be limited by a door stop.
The invention concerns in particular the construction of buffers - or, rather, of buffer assemblies - for use with steerable microwave aerials, especially those of the kind employed in satellite communication systems, and thus relates primarily to assemblies capable of buffering the movement of a large, heavy aerial which must usually be capable of at least 3600 movement in azimuth (in the "horizontal" plane, and about a "vertical" axis), as well as as much as 1800 in elevation (in the "vertical" plane, and about a "horizontal" axis).
For some types of microwave aerial - such as 360" scanning radar aerials, for example - it is necessary to provide the signal feed from the signal generating equipment to the aerial's antenna via one or more slip rings, so allowing the aerial to turn constantly in one direction. Where, however, a continuous turning motion is not required it is simpler and cheaper to provide a direct cable signal feed to the aerial; in a satellite communications system the aerial may need to turn up to and beyond 360" in one continuous scan, but it is unlikely to have to repeat the turn instantly (having to carry on the next turn from where it finished the last and in the same direction), and so may, after one turn, reverse itself back to the start position of the next turn.If a direct cable feed is used, however, it is generally highly desirable also to provide some means of positively preventing the aerial from being rotated continuously in one direction by accident, and so to prevent the cables becoming wound tightly around the rotational axis and perhaps breaking either themselves or some other part of the system.
In the past it has generally been considered satisfactory to buffer an aerial's rotational movement in azimuth by providing one or two (spaced) end stops, or buffers, fixedly secured usually to the aerial mounting (or on the ground itself), together with a stop abuttment member, or striker plate, fixedly secured to the aerial, the striker plate engaging the buffer(s) at either end of the aerial's allowable azimuth range so as to prevent further movement of the aerial in that direction.As will easily be appreciated, the maximum azimuth range an aerial can have using such an arrangement is a little under 360" (allowing for the thickness of the buffer and striking plate); it is presently desirable, however, that the aerial, while still positively buffered at the end of a finite range of azimuth rotation, be able to rotate by more than 360" - and perhaps as much as 540" (which is 360" plus a 1800 overlap).The invention seeks to allow such an azimuth rangeto an aerial (or other rotating object) by arranging for the interaction between buffer unit and striker plate to be via a buffer plate slideably mounted between two buffer units; the striker plate engages not the buffer units but the buffer plate, which slides up to and engages the relevant buffer units, so extending the azimuth range by the angle subtended by the two buffer units.
In one aspect, therefore, this invention provides a buffer assembly for a rotatable body, comprising a buffer plate slideably mounted upon a guide rail extending between two buffer units themselves secured to one of the body and its support, the buffer plate being engageable with a striker plate secured to the other of the body and its support, such that in operation rotation of the body in either direction causes the striker plate to engage the buffer plate, pushing it along the guide rail until it is stopped by the appropriate buffer unit.
The buffer assembly of the invention may alternatively be defined as follows:
A buffer assembly, for limiting the angular movement of a first body rotatably mounted upon a second body, which assembly comprises:
two buffer units both of which are adapted to be fixedly secured to one of the two bodies such that they are in a plane normal to that of the rotational axis of the first body and in spaced relation one to the other equidistant from the rotational axis;
a circularly arcuate guide rail fixed to and extending between the two buffer units in the plane normal to that of the rotational axis of the first body;
a buffer plate mounted on the guide rail for movement therealong and for stopping engagement with either buffer unit; and
a striker plate adapted to be fixedly secured to the other of the two bodies so that it is in register with the arcuate guide rail, the striker plate being of such dimensions and/or shape that it will engage with the buffer plate but will not engage with either of the two buffer units.
The invention primarily concerns the use of buffer assemblies to limit the angular movement range of aerials, specifically steerable microwave dish aerials, and for convenience will be further described herein mainly with reference to such a use. It should be noted, however, that the features specified may well be suitable for employment in connection with buffer assemblies having different uses.
Buffer units perse are of course quite common in aerial buffer assemblies, and the units employed in the assembly of the invention may in general be any of those used, or suggested for use, with aerials.
Typical such buffer units are made from a combination of those "friction spring" devices sold under the name RINGFEDER; an example of such a device is the type 1317 (though each buffer unit could be a simple physical stop against which the buffer plate
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.
Claims (9)
1. A buffer assembly for a rotatable body, comprising a buffer plate slideably mounted upon a guide rail extending between two buffer units themselves secured to one of the body and its support, the buffer plate being engageable with a striker plate secured to the other of the body and its support, such that in operation rotation of the body in either direction causes the striker plate to engage the buffer plate, pushing it along the guide rail until it is stopped by the appropriate buffer unit.
2. A buffer assembly as claimed in claim 1, which assembly is for limiting the angular movement of a first body rotatably mounted upon a second body, with comprises:
two buffer units both of which are adapted to be fixedly secured to one of the two bodies such that they are in a plane normal to that of the rotational axis of the first body and in spaced relation one to the other equidistant from the rotational axis;
a circularly arcuate guide rail fixed to and extending between the two buffer units in the plane normal to that of the rotational axis of the first body;
a buffer plate mounted on the guide rail for movement therealong and for stopping engagement with either buffer unit; and
a striker plate adapted to be fixedly secured to the other of the two bodies so that it is in register with the arcuate guide rail, the striker plate being of such dimensions and/or shape that it will engage with the buffer plate but will not engage with either of the two buffer units.
3. A buffer assembly as claimed in either of the preceding claims and for limiting the angular movement range of a steerable microwave dish aerial, wherein the buffer units are secured to the ground upon which the aerial stands, the striker plate being secured to the rotatable part of the aerial.
4. A buffer assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein each buffer unit is a spring-loaded device, capable of absorbing some of the mechanical shock as it is engaged.
5. A buffer assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the guide rail is a simple arcuate bar, of constant circular cross-section, "concentric" with the body's rotational axis.
6. A buffer assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the buffer plate is generally circular, with a central aperture by which it is mounted - as a loose sliding fit - upon the guide rail.
7. A buffer assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the striker plate is so formed that it has an aperture therein which is itself so dimensioned/shaped in the plane normal to the guide rail as to be "smaller" than the buffer plate profile but "bigger" than the buffer units profile.
A buffer assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims and substantially as described hereinbefore.
9. A rotatably-mounted object, especially a steerable microwave dish aerial, whenever employing a buffer assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB08121951A GB2102533B (en) | 1981-07-16 | 1981-07-16 | Buffer assemblies |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB08121951A GB2102533B (en) | 1981-07-16 | 1981-07-16 | Buffer assemblies |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB2102533A true GB2102533A (en) | 1983-02-02 |
GB2102533B GB2102533B (en) | 1984-09-26 |
Family
ID=10523289
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB08121951A Expired GB2102533B (en) | 1981-07-16 | 1981-07-16 | Buffer assemblies |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
GB (1) | GB2102533B (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2307024A (en) * | 1995-11-06 | 1997-05-14 | Yamamura Churchill Limited | Support for vibrating apparatus |
WO2007021217A1 (en) * | 2005-08-11 | 2007-02-22 | Federal State Unitary Enterprise 'state Moscow Plant 'salute' | Shipborne radar |
CN110236317A (en) * | 2019-05-20 | 2019-09-17 | 广东泰明金属制品有限公司 | A kind of furniture slide rail buffer structure |
CN116080871A (en) * | 2023-04-11 | 2023-05-09 | 自然资源部第一海洋研究所 | Deep sea AUV soft landing buffer device and method |
-
1981
- 1981-07-16 GB GB08121951A patent/GB2102533B/en not_active Expired
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2307024A (en) * | 1995-11-06 | 1997-05-14 | Yamamura Churchill Limited | Support for vibrating apparatus |
GB2307024B (en) * | 1995-11-06 | 2000-03-01 | Yamamura Churchill Limited | A method of mounting a loudspeaker |
WO2007021217A1 (en) * | 2005-08-11 | 2007-02-22 | Federal State Unitary Enterprise 'state Moscow Plant 'salute' | Shipborne radar |
CN110236317A (en) * | 2019-05-20 | 2019-09-17 | 广东泰明金属制品有限公司 | A kind of furniture slide rail buffer structure |
CN110236317B (en) * | 2019-05-20 | 2024-04-16 | 广东泰明金属制品有限公司 | Furniture slide rail buffer structure |
CN116080871A (en) * | 2023-04-11 | 2023-05-09 | 自然资源部第一海洋研究所 | Deep sea AUV soft landing buffer device and method |
CN116080871B (en) * | 2023-04-11 | 2023-07-18 | 自然资源部第一海洋研究所 | Deep sea AUV soft landing buffer device and method |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB2102533B (en) | 1984-09-26 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Free format text: 5114, PAGE 602 |