WO1999052174A1

WO1999052174A1 - Transport protection device

Info

Publication number: WO1999052174A1
Application number: PCT/SE1999/000562
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jonas Mossberg; Ove Jansson; Andreas Friedrich; P.-O. Bäckman; Tommy Gartzell
Original assignee: Wahlberg & Selin Ab
Priority date: 1998-04-06
Filing date: 1999-04-06
Publication date: 1999-10-14
Also published as: SE511862C2; SE9801203D0; DE69923772T2; ES2237101T3; AU3857599A; DE69923772D1; EP1078417A1; SE9801203L; EP1078417B1

Abstract

A device for transport protection (1) of a unit for satellite communication, including a protective structure (2), with a transport position and a stand position of the communication unit is distinguished by the protective structure (2) comprising two main portions (3, 4), which in the transport position are assembled with the insides against each other to essentially a box shape, and which in the stand position are connected fixed along each other for forming an enlarged support region. At least one portion (5', 5'') of at least the one main portion (4) is displaceable sideways so as to form a stabilising support portion for acting on a support surface.

Description

TRANSPORT PROTECTION DEVICE

This invention concerns a transport protection device according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a device is previously known from US-A-4 771 293. Hereby a satellite communication assembly comprises a box having a base surface which forms the support structure for the active antenna. Means are arranged for providing adjustment of the antenna and the reflector with respect to the body portion. By folding the antenna with the reflector downwards against the body portion, the system may be stored adjacent to the body portion and lids belonging to the box are brought to enclose the system during transport.

Mobile satellite communication systems should meet demands of being transportable and easily erected. Further they must provide very good direction stability for the antenna lobe in an active position. The directional stability demand is nowadays very strict for equipment belonging to the area of the invention, and at present, when effected by wind at a wind force of 15 m/s, the antenna lobe is allowed to deviate maximally 0.4°. This makes it clear that the support needed for a satellite communication system of this kind necessarily has to provide considerable stability.

In order for the device according to said US patent to adequately fulfil its task, the body portion and thereby the storage box as a whole needs to have considerable dimensions. This would, however, bring along drawbacks with respect to handling and transportability of the device. It is therefore an aim of this invention to provide a device according to the above wherein said drawbacks are avoided.

This aim is obtained in the said device through the features of the characterizing portion of claim 1.

By, thus, the two parts of the support structure in the stand position being fixed along each other or one after the other and, further, a portion of at least the one main portion, and thereby the protective structure itself being outwardly displaceable for forming a support portion, the possibility is ensured to obtain a considerable support surface as well as an easy handled, and easily transportable protective structure. The dimensions of the protective structure as such may be minimized in the transport position for obtaining very good transportability, which in practical use is very important in the open field when accessibility to the most varying environments is necessary and wherein vehicle transport can not always be counted upon. Because of the possibility of designing the container slim, such that it is optimized for its containing function in the transport position, its weight may also be held low.

The feature of claim 2 ensures possibility of fast and convenient transfer to the stand position. The feature in claim 3 is preferred, since it brings about symmetrical stable support of the structure at the same time as a preferred double use of the parts included is obtained, which is accentuated through the feature of claim 4, wherein further support action from the free ends of the support portions is made possible with great reliability and in an easy manner. The feature of claim 5 ensures possibility of tree-point support, which enhances stability also when erected on an uneven surface.

It is preferred that the support structure is manufactured as a cage construction and in particularly that the cage construction is comprised of a body of pipes. This accentuates the advantages of low weight and makes it possibility to make a strong structure. Besides, it gives the possibility of achieving simple fixing between the main portions also in case the parts have been subjected to a certain deformation, since with this construction fastenings are easily made on meeting pipe elements. Such a fixation is functioning also if there has been a certain displacement between the pipe elements . Fixing may be made with fastening elements of a per see known kind acting on the pipe elements.

The cage construction thus gives possibility of stability and rigidity in the transport position as well as in the stand position, but it is not excluded that the structure is built as a panel construction, for example of pressed sheet metal details, for example comprising stiffening ridges in different directions. Also such a construction may be made sufficiently rigid for most applications of the invention.

The feature of claim 13 result on the one hand in accentuated easily handling of the system, on the other hand of increased stability of the structure in the stand position. The feature of claim 14 results in that the structure may be transported as an ordinary hand trolley of a sack trolley type on the two wheels, whereby handles for the operator are arranged at that end of the structure being opposite to the wheels. Further advantages are obtained through the further features and are explained in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment and with reference to the annexed drawings, wherein,

Fig. 1 shows, in a perspective view, a device for transport protection according to the invention with the protective structure in a transport position,

Fig. 2 shows, in a perspective view, the structure in a stand position with a satellite communication unit in an active position,

Figs. 3a, b, c and d show diagrammatically the procedure of manual transport and erection of the structure into the stand position in a diagrammatic sequence,

Fig. 4 shows the device of Fig. 1 without contents,

Fig. 5 shows a preferred construction of the means for fixing the folded-out main portions, and

Fig. 6 shows a preferred construction of the means for fixing the support portions.

In Fig. 1 reference 1 concerns a device for transport protection including a cage-shaped pipe construction 2, which comprises a first main portion 3, which is pivotally attached to a second main portion 4 at L. The pivot joint L may be arranged differently, but is for example arranged as a piano hinge. 5' indicates a first support portion (a second support portion is indicated at 5") . The support portion 5' is connected to the remaining part of the second main portion 4 over a pivot shaft 6, being arranged at an angle, and is thus outwardly pivotable essentially in the direction of the arrow Pi. A wheel 7 of one pair is shown on the Figure (the other one is covered) , with the aid of which the device with its contents may be drawn mainly as a sack trolley, whereby the operator grips the handle portion 9 (see also Fig. 3a) . There is also a second pair of wheels, whereby 8 indicates one of two wheels, being foldable downwards, with the aid of which the whole arrangement may be rolled on a (an even) surface with the aid of all wheels 8 and 7, for example by a pulling line 20, which is attached to the cage construction.

Essentially inside the cover of the first main portion 3, which, as is shown in the Figure, comprises essentially a basket shape, there is a container 10, which in this case is produced from a rigid textile material, and which is arranged to store for transport purposes in a buffering manner i.a. antenna reflector segments. Preferably the container 10 is constructed as a rigid, relatively form-stable sack, which may be opened with a zipper, when the first main portion 3 has been folded upwards with respect to the second main portion 4. A support panel is indicated with 32. 11 indicates storage boxes for various accessories of the communication unit. At the outermost central part of the first main portion 3 opposite to the pivot joint L, the cage is constructed with a centrally protruding portion 12, which in the stand position, which will be shown in more detail below, will comprise one of three support points for the structure.

A device according to the invention with the protective structure in the stand position is shown in Fig.2. Hereby the main portions 3 and 4 are fixed rigidly attached to each other through on the one hand the crossing elongated pivot joint L and on the other hand means at 16 for fixing meetings stays on the respective main portion to each other (will be described below) . Further, the support portion 5' and 5" are folded outwards over their respective pivot joints 6 and are fixed for obtaining two widely separated support points in the respective lower outer free end of the support portions 5' , 5". The means for fixing the support portions are also described below. At the opposite end of the structure, the central protruding portion 12 comprises the third support point of the device. Through its construction, in the shown position the main portions are essentially open upwards and in case of the main portion 3 being like a basket, wherein is inserted as ballast a container 14 containing electronic equipment such as antenna power supply. This container 14 will thereby comprise very effective ballast with typically a weight of up to 40 kilograms, ensuring stability for the device. 17 concerns a support panel included in the second main portion, which panel in the stand position being pivotable at L2 so that its free end rests against the ground. The support panel 17 carries storage boxes 11 for accessories of the satellite communication system, resulting in further ballast. 13 indicates a paraboloid, which comprises a reflector for the satellite antenna said paraboloid in a per see known manner being fastened while allowing adjustment along different pivoting shafts over different stays, one of which being shown at 15.

Fig. 3a shows diagrammatically the position of a device according to the invention when using the wheels (7 in Fig. 1) in order to transport it essentially as a sack trolley. In

Fig. 3b, the device is shown lying on the ground, wherein in this position the main portions 3, 4 are unlocked with respect to each other at 21 so that an upwards pivoting movement of the main portion 3 in the direction of arrow P2 may be carried out. Thereafter the device is in the position shown in Fig. 3c, whereby the main portions 3 and 4 are locked at 22 for fastening to each other. Thereafter the device is lifted at the right part, as seen on the Figure, so that the support portions 5' , 5" may be pivoted outwardly, in the Figure 3d, 5' in the direction upwardly from the paper, around the pivot shaft 6 and be fixed, whereby a downward displacement is obtained of the free end of the said support portion 5' , which ensures safe support abutment of the free end portion of the support portion 5' . Three-point support is ensured through the support portions 5', 5" (not shown here) and portion 12. Locking of the support portion in the transport position is ensured with the aid of suitable not shown means. In the position in Fig. 3e, the wheel 8 is moved downwards, which results in that the device may roll on a relatively even surface on the wheels 7 and 8, where preferably the wheels 8 are swivelling. The holder for the wheels 8 is preferably constructed to also lock the support panel 17 in the transport position.

Through the invention, there is provided a device for transport protection having very good transportability at the same time as stability and rigidity is achieved in the transport position, through the great support area with three points, also with possibility of resisting hard winds with minimal effect on the antenna. The device may, however, be modified within the scope of the following claims. The main portions may also be made as closed panel structures of materials such as pressed metal sheet material. In order to ensure further enhanced stability of the device further ballast may easily be put in the main portions, which are formed as boxes or baskets, and through the described construction, ground anchors, which are driven into the ground, may easily be connected to the structure in different positions.

From Fig. 4 the cage construction is seen clearer since in this case it lacks contents. Here the antenna support is shown at 23. Further, the extension is shown of the support panel 17, which also may comprise a sliding surface in case the device is transported drawn as a wide ski over snow covered surfaces. In the front portion (at the right in the Figure) the panel is provided with an upward bend, as a ski, in order to enhance movability.

Fig. 5 shows means for fixing the main portions, in particular the stays SI, S2 (see Fig. 4), which belong to a respective one of the main portions 3 and 4, whereby one means is indicated at position 16 in Fig. 2. With respect to these stays SI, S2, the fastening elements are arranged such that when they meet, at folding out to the position in Fig. 3c, the screw in the element 25 may be brought to co-operate with the screw hole 27' in the element 26. Tightening is achieved with the aid of the knob 24. In the resting position, the screw is spring biased in the direction to the right in the Figure into protective position inside the element 25. For allowing the screw 27 to easily find the hole 27', it is received with very great play in the hole in the element 25.

Fig. 6 shows a means for fixing the support portions, wherein the element 25 may be constructed according to the above. On the support portion 5' , in region of the pivot shaft 6, there is attached a fixing plate 29, which in the transport position is positioned according to the full lines in Fig. 6, and which in the stand position is positioned according to the inter- rupted lines in Fig. 6. In the latter position, the screw may be drawn into a hole (indicated with 30) in the plate 29. In order to avoid squeeze injuries, a cover 31 is arranged surrounding the movement path of the plate 29.

Claims

10C L A I M S

1. Device for transport protection (1) of a unit for satellite communication, including a protective structure (2) , which in a transport position is arranged to contain the communication unit and which in a stand position, in an active position of the communication unit, is arranged to comprise a stand therefor, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the protective structure (2) comprises two main portions (3,4), which each comprises an inside and an outside, and which in the transport position are assembled with the insides against each other to form essentially a box shape, and which in the stand position are connected fixed along each other for forming an enlarged support region, whereby at least one portion (5', 5") of at least the one main portion (4) is outwardly displaceable sideways so as to form a stabilising support portion for acting on a support surface.

2. Device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the two main portions (3,4) are pivoted (at L) with respect to each other.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that one of the main portions (4) comprises two outwardly pivotable portions (5' ,5"), which in the transport position forms two opposite, essentially parallel parts of the support structure.

4. Device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that each support portion

(5', 5") is connected to the respective main portion (4) over a pivot joint (6) with inclined pivot shaft with respect to the length direction of the main portion such that the free end of 11

the support portion is given a displacement downwards when pivoting it outwards .

5. Device according to claim 3 or 3 and 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that in the stand position the support portions (5' ,5") are at an end of the structure on each side of the corresponding main portion and that the other main portion comprises a centrally protruding portion (12) at the other end of the structure so that a three-point support against an essentially even surface is achieved in use in the stand position.

6. Device according to any of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the protective structure (2) essentially is comprised of a cage construction.

7. Device according to claim 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the cage construction is comprised of a body of pipes.

8. Device according to any of the claims 1 - 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the protective structure (2) is essentially a panel construction.

9. Device according to claim 8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that panels included in the panel construction are comprised of metal plate (s) .

10. Device according to any of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the main portions (3,4) comprise portion (16), which are oriented perpendicular to their length direction, which are arranged to be fixed against each other in the stand position. 12

11. Device according to any of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the one of the main portions includes a holder means (23) in the active position of the communication unit to adjustably hold an antenna with preferably collapsible reflector (13), which in the transport position is arranged to be surrounded by the structure (2) .

12. Device according to claim 11, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that there is at least one fastening element for an adjustment stay (15) for the antenna with reflector (13) at a distance from the holder means (23) .

13. Device according to any of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that it comprises a closed container (14) intended for electronic equipment, which is intended to comprise ballast together with its contents in the stand position.

14. Device according to any of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the structure comprises wheels (7) allowing it to be rolled manually.

15. Satellite communication equipment, including a device according to any of the claims 1 - 14.