GB2530878A - Satellite Antenna Adjustment Mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

A satellite antenna mounting apparatus with two spaced parts 20, 22 for adjustment connected through apertures by a shaft 24 which is at least partially threaded, with rotation of the shaft causing the second part 22 to move along a slot and cause relative pivoting of two portions 4, 6 about an axis offset to the adjustment parts. The second part 22 is located with both portions 4, 6 and may protrude through the slot which may be linear and located in the portion 4 in which the first part 20 is located. The parts 20, 22 may comprise a body and a housing with ribs, grooves and recesses to locate the parts and a helical coil in part 22 to allow for rotation. The shaft may have an exterior biasing spring (26, figure 3a) with stops and allow for azimuthal adjustment between portions 4, 6. The position of the satellite dish may be adjustable using the bracket in both horizontal and elevated directions. The satellite aerial bracket reduces movement or backlash when fine tuning alignment.

Description

Satellite Antenna Adjustment Mechanism The invention relates to an adjustment mechanism of the type which can be used to adjust the position of an item in relation to a mounting and, in particular, although not necessarily exclusively, with regard to a satellite antenna dish in relation to the mounting of the same so as to allow the azimuth position of the antenna dish to be adjusted.

Whcn a saellite anlcnna dish is required to he mounted at a location for use, there is typically provided a mounting means which is attached to a support, such as a pole, which is free standing, or attached to a wall of a bUdding. The mounting means typically comprise location means for the pole and, at the opposing end thereof, adjustment means. The adjustment means typically compse a first portion which is mounted to the rear of the antenna dish, and a second portion which is provided on the mounting means and said fist and second portions are provided to be relatively moveable in order to allow the azimuth position, which is typically adjusted around a vertical axis, to be performed. The need for the adjustment is to ensure that the antenna dish is in the correct position for the receipt of the digital data signals which are received from a satellite broadcaster and that the dish is as aecuratcly positioned as possible with respect to die one or more satellites from and/to which the data signals are received and/or transmitted. This is in order to minimise the errors which may occur in the data signals and, as a result, to minimise errors which are caused to the end service generated from the data, which is typically the provision of video and/ or audio for radio or television programming. The data signals which are received are typically transferred by reflection from the antenna dish to one or more low noise blocks tN B's) which are mounted on an arm extending to the front of the antenna dish and from which the data signals arc then Lransferrcd, typically via a cable which may be optical, coaxial or another form, for distribution to one or more broadcast data receivers within one or more prenises and via which the television or radio programming can be generated by the subsequent processing of the received data signals.

The adjustment means of the mounting means may also comprise means for adjusting the elevation of the antenna dish which is typically achieved by relative adjustment about a horizontal axis.

At the time of installation, the installer will be able to adjust the position of the antenna dish with iespect to the mounting means so that they can move the antenna. dish parts to the position which they believe is best suited in order to receive the data. signals. However, it is then required to fine tune the adjustment in order to ensure that the most accurate position can he achieved.

There are sevet-al known adjustment mechanisms which are already used, with varying degrees of success. One common prob'em is that the adjustment means, while they can be used to move the portions to the most accurate position, when the same are released, backlash occurs which means that the adjustment position which has been set, changes and so the most accurate position is no longer achieved. When one considers that, typically, this adjustment is being performed by the installer when positioned on a ladder at a height fi-om the floor, it will be appreciated that, firstly, ihc lack of being able to achieve the most acdurate position is frustrating and, secondly, is potentially hazardous due to the increased time requircd for the installer to be positioned oil the ladder, in potentially inclement weather conditions.

The aim of the present. invention is therefore to provide an adjustment means which allows relative ease of operation whilst, at the same time, allowing fine tuning adjustment to he achieved and also allowing the adjustment which is achieved to be retained.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided A satellite antenna mounting apparatus including first and second portions, said first and second portions relatively moveable about an axis which is off.

set to the location of adjustment means, said adjustment means including a first part which is located with one of the portions in a fixed position and a second part, spaced from the first part, which is provided in location with both portions, said first a.td second parts connected by an at least partially threaded shaft which passes through apertures in We first and second parts and which is in a threaded connection with the second part and is retained in its position with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft with regard to the first part wherein rotation of die said shaft causes movement of the sccond part along a slot which, in conjunction with the offset, position of the said axis, causes relative pivotal adjustment of the first and second portions, Typically, no threaded location is required between the second part of the adjustment means and either of the first or second portions but a protruding portion located on the second part, which may, in one embodiment, be a nut and/or washer serve as a means to locate the second part with one portion and as guide means for the second part along the said slot.

Typically, the second part includes an outer housing within which is received a body which is rotatable with respect to the housing so as to take into account the pivotal InovernenL of the portions when adjusted and thereby allow the linear slot to he used.

In one embodiment, in the second part, a sleeve is provided in which the body is received and in which a helicoil is provided to exert a fixing action on the component.

typically, the first part, includes a housing which receives a body, and said body includes first Tocation means 1.0 locate the body with the housing with respect to a first axis and second location mcans to hcatc the body in a fixed position along the longitudinal axis of the first part and which is perpendicular to the Lu-st axis, with respect. t.o a Iwo part sleeve. Typically, the sleeve includes a rib which engages with a groove formed on the shaft of the bolt so as to prevent movement of the first part along the shaft as the shaft is turned and thereby ensures that it is the second part that is moved to cause adjustment.

In one embodiment a biasing means, such as a spring, is provided along the length of the portion of the threaded shaft intermediate the first and second lmrl. in one cmbodimcnt die ends of the spring abut against stops provided adjacent to the first and second parts respectively. The spring typically acts to prevent or minimise the back lash which occurs once the adjustmcni: has been made.

In a further aspect of the invention, thcrc is pro'ided satellite antenna apparatus incot-porating the adjustment means as herein described.

Typically, the adjustment means is provided as an integral parE of the apparatus prior to installation of the apparatus so that, at the time of installation, the installer operates the adjustment means in order to adjust the position of the antenna dish portion with respect to the mounting assembly portion and thereby allow adjustment of the antenna dish with respect to the mounting therefore and thereby ensure accurate positioning of the same.

Typically, further adjustment means are also provided as part of the assembly, in order to allow the elevation position of the antenna dish portion to be adjusted with respcci Lo the mounting assembly portion.

Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein; Figures la and b illustrate a satel1ite antenna apparatus assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Figures 2a -c illustrate adjustment means in accordance with the invention in one embodiment Figures 3a -c illustrate the adjusiment means of Figures 2a-c in further detail, and Figures 4a -e further ifiustrate the adjustment means in accordance with the invention.

Referring firstly to Figure la an.d b there is illustrated a satellite antenna.

apparatus assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

The assembly comprises an antenna dish 2 which is provided with a rear mounting portion 4 and a mounting assembly 6 which is attached to the tear mounting portion 4. Depending from the front surface of the antenna dish is an arm 8 and, at the distal end of the same, there is provided a feed horn leading to a waveguide 12 and an LNB 14. From that, there will be provided one 01 more cables (not shown which allows the received data from the LNB (.0 pass to chstribution means and in turn to one or more broadcast data teceivers for the data to be processed and video and/or audio and other services generated therefrom.

In accordar ice with the invention, it is necessary to adjust the position of the antenna dish 2 and tear mounting portion 1 therefore, with respect to the mounting assembly 6. Typically, the mounting assembly is located on a pole, shown in broken lines in Figure 1 a by reference numeral 1 4, or other support means, and the pole will, in turn, he mounted so as to be in a fixed position, typically by attachmcht to a surface such as a wall of a building.

The adustrnent is required in order to allow the front of the antenna dish 2 to be in a position so as to most accurately receive the data signals which are transmitted thereto from one or more satellites. the adjustment which is required in this case is an azimuth adjustment, which is typically about a substantially vertical axis and/or an elevation adjustment, which is typically about a substantially horizontal axis. In this case, the elevation adjustment is achieved using the bracket 18 and movement of the huh 20 along the slot 22 provided in t& bracket. This is a relatively convertional adjustment method and is therefore not discussed in any further detail herein.

With regard to the adjustment of the azimuth position, then reference is made to Figures 2a -c which illustrate the mounting assembly and rear mounting portions, 6, 4 respectfully, in more detail. The adjustment means for the azimuth position, are indicated by the general numeral 18 and are provided with a first part 20 which is located with respect to the rear mounting portion 4 only and a second part 22 which is located with the rear mounting portion 4 and the mounting assembly portion 6. The first and second parts are interconnected by a threaded shaft, typically a bolt 24, as is illusti-ated in more detail in Figurcs 3a -c and Figures 4a -e. The bolt is provided with a biasing means 26 which as shown, for example in Figure 3a, passes along the exterior of the shaft intermediate first and second stops 28, which are positioned adjacent to the List and second parts 20 and 22 respectively. IThe bolt 24 has a head 28 which can be rotated to allow relative adjustment of the position of the List and second parts in respect of the distance "IX" between the same as indicated in Figure 4a.

The second part 22 is located in a fixed position with respect to the mounting assembly 6, typically via an aperture 32 and then received in a slot 34 in the rear triounting portion 4 of the antenna so as to be slidingly moycable along the same and allow adjustment of the position of the portion 4 and hence the antenna dish with respect to the mounting asscrnbly 6 via the pivot axis 56 which pivolally connects the first and sccond portions 4, 6 and which is offset from the position of the adjustment means, as shown.

As the position of We axis for the pivotal movement is off set with respect to the position of the adjustment means, so the body portion 38 which is located in the housing of the second part, is provided to be rotatable with respect thereto which therefore allows the second part 22 to move in a linear direction along slot 34 and the body portion 38 can rotate with respect to the same to take into account the rotational component of movement. A sleeve 40 is also provided and this receives the body portion 38 therein and also a helical coil 32 which receives the threaded shaft of the bolt 24..

At the opposing end, the first part of the adjustment means 20 includes a housing which receives a body part 44 and first and second sleeve parts 46, 48. In this case the body part 44 is provided with a first rib 50 which is received in recess means 52 in the first and second sleeve parts 46, 18. This acts to prevent movement of the body part in the direction of the arrow 54 as shown in Figure 3a. The first and second sleeve parts 46, 48 are also provided with a rib 56 which acts to engage with a groove 58 in the shaft of the bolt 24 and this acts to prevent relative movement between the first part and the bolt 24 in a direction 60 as shown in Figure 3a.

This therefore means that the arrangement of the first part acts to ensure that the same is provided in a fixed location and adjustment of the bolt 24 by rotation of the bolt head 62 causes movement of the second part along the slot 34 and hence adjustment of the respective portions of the satellite dish antenna 4 and the mounting assembly portion 6 to be achieved. The provision of the biasing means 26 acts to prevent any back lash once the adjustment has been made and therefore the installer can be certain that the adjustmcn[. which they make on site, is maintained thereafter, a

Claims (14)

1. Claims l.A satellite antenna mounting apparatus including first and second portions, said first and second portions relatively moveable about an axis which is off-set to the location of adjustment means, said adjustment means including a first part which is located with one of the portions in a fixed posiLioti and a second part, spaccd from the first part, which is provided in location with both portions, said first and second parts connected by an at least partially threaded shaft which passes through apertures in die first and second parts and which is in a threaded connection with the second part and is retained in its position with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft with regard to the first part wherein rotation of the said shaft causes movement of the second part along a slot which, in conjunction with the offset position of the said axis, causes relative pivotal adjustment of the first and second portions.
2. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the slot is substantially linear and is fotmed in the portion with which the first part of the adjustment means is located.
3. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second part of the adjustment means is provided in a fixed location with the second portion.
4. 4 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a protruding portion located on the second parL locates die second part with one portion.
5. S Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said protruding portion acts as guide means for the second part along the said slot.
6. 6 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second part includes a housing within which is received a body which is rotatable with respect to the housing so as to take into account the pivotal movement of the portions whcn adjusted.
7. 7 Apparatus according to cJali.n I wheiein in the second part a sleeve i.s provided in which the body is received and in which a heicoil is provided to exert a fixing action on die component.
8. 8 Apparatus according to claim I wherein die first part includes a housing which receives a body, and said body includes first location means to locate the body with the housing with respeci to a first axis and second location means to locate the body in a fixed position along the longitudinal axis of the first part with respect to a two part sleeve.
9. 9 Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the longitudinal axis of the first part is substantially perpendicui.ar to tile first axis.
10. 1 0 Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the sleeve includes a rib which engages with a groove formed on the shaft so as to prevent movement of the first part along die shafr as the shaft is turned and thereby cause the second part to move to cause adjustment.
11. 11. Apparatus according to claim I wherein a biasing means is provided along the length of the portion of the shaft intermediate the first and second parts.
12. 12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the opposing ends of the biasing means abut against stops provided adjacent to the firsi and second parts respectively.
13. 13. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the adjustment means is provided to allow the azimuth position of an antenna dish connected to one of the said portions to be adjusted with respect to the other said portion.
14. 14. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein further adjustment means are provided to allow the elevation position of the antenna dish connected to one of the saul portions to be adjusted with respect to the other said portion.A satellite antenna apparatus in which the position of the antenna is adjustRhle using the apparatus as described in claims 1-14