WO2005069431A1 - Antenna mounting base assembly and system - Google Patents

Antenna mounting base assembly and system Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2005069431A1
WO2005069431A1 PCT/ZA2004/000144 ZA2004000144W WO2005069431A1 WO 2005069431 A1 WO2005069431 A1 WO 2005069431A1 ZA 2004000144 W ZA2004000144 W ZA 2004000144W WO 2005069431 A1 WO2005069431 A1 WO 2005069431A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
antenna
mounting base
base assembly
whip
contact
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/ZA2004/000144
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Graeme Cunningham Davis
Original Assignee
Graeme Cunningham Davis
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Graeme Cunningham Davis filed Critical Graeme Cunningham Davis
Publication of WO2005069431A1 publication Critical patent/WO2005069431A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01QANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/08Means for collapsing antennas or parts thereof
    • H01Q1/085Flexible aerials; Whip aerials with a resilient base
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01QANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/08Means for collapsing antennas or parts thereof
    • H01Q1/088Quick-releasable antenna elements
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01QANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/27Adaptation for use in or on movable bodies
    • H01Q1/32Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles
    • H01Q1/325Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles characterised by the location of the antenna on the vehicle
    • H01Q1/3275Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles characterised by the location of the antenna on the vehicle mounted on a horizontal surface of the vehicle, e.g. on roof, hood, trunk
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01QANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q9/00Electrically-short antennas having dimensions not more than twice the operating wavelength and consisting of conductive active radiating elements
    • H01Q9/04Resonant antennas
    • H01Q9/30Resonant antennas with feed to end of elongated active element, e.g. unipole

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an antenna mounting base assembly that is particularly adapted for mounting an antenna whip to a motor vehicle body and, more particularly, but not exclusively, the body of a military vehicle or other off-road vehicle.
  • the invention also relates to a system utilizing such a mounting base assembly as well as a range of antennas.
  • Antennas that are attached to vehicles of the type indicated above generally comprise a coiled support spring section interposed between a base to be secured to a vehicle body and an antenna whip.
  • the antenna is generally of unitary construction so that, if it needs to be replaced, the entire base, coiled support spring section, and whip section need to be removed and replaced.
  • the difficulty with this procedure is that the bases do not always provide a matching arrangement of bolt holes for fasteners attaching them to the vehicle body and, in such an instance, additional holes must be drilled in the vehicle body in order to accommodate the different configuration of bolt holes of the different bases. This is particularly common in instances in which a different antenna type must be attached to a vehicle to replace an existing antenna type such as in cases in which the different antennas are configured to transmit and receive different frequency ranges.
  • an antenna mounting base assembly comprising a base adapted to be secured to a vehicle body, a coiled spring support section secured at one of its ends to the base and operatively supporting at its other end an antenna, the mounting base assembly being characterised in that it has fixed to said other end of the coiled spring support section contact means adapted to electrically connect an antenna conductor passing into the spring support to a contact on a lower end of an antenna whip, and coupling means for releasably attaching such antenna whip to the coiled spring support section.
  • the coupling means to be an externally screw threaded spigot for receiving a complementarily screw threaded socket provided typically at one end of a coupling sleeve carried coaxially at the adjacent end of an antenna whip; for the contact means to be a central contact, typically a pin or socket, electrically isolated from the coupling and adapted to contact a cooperant contact associated with the "live" of the antenna whip; and for the antenna conductor to be the central insulated conductor of a coaxial cable.
  • a vehicle antenna system in which a plurality of vehicles are each provided with an antenna mounting base assembly as defined above secured to the vehicle body and wherein a selection of different antenna whips is provided each having a contact and coupling means for releasably attaching the whip to the coupling means of such an antenna mounting base assembly.
  • Figure 1 is a perspective illustration of an antenna mounting base assembly according to the invention in exploded relationship relative to an operatively lower end of a cooperant antenna whip;
  • Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the antenna mounting base assembly and lower end of an antenna whip as illustrated in Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 3 illustrates, in elevation, the mounting base assembly illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 in association with a variety of different antenna whips;
  • Figure 4 illustrates schematically a vehicle antenna system utilising antenna mounting base assembly is according to the invention.
  • an antenna mounting base assembly generally indicated by numeral (1) comprises a base (2), typically made of injection moulded plastics material that is electrically insulating.
  • the base is of a generally truncated conical shape with recesses (3) for providing access to fasteners whereby the base can be secured to a motor vehicle body in the usual way.
  • the smaller diameter end of the base has permanently secured coaxially thereto one end of a coiled spring support (4) of generally known construction and having a flange (5) fixed to its operatively lower end with the flange being secured to the base by means of a series of fasteners (6).
  • the operatively upper end of the coiled spring support has fixed to it a coupling (7).
  • the coupling has an externally screw threaded spigot (8) and, electrically insulated therefrom, a central contact pin (9) that is to operatively electrically connect with a cooperant contact (10) in a connecting sleeve (11) fixed to the operatively lower end of an antenna whip (12).
  • the contact pin is electrically connected to the central electrically insulated conductor (13) of a coaxial connector (14).
  • the shield of the coaxial cable is grounded to a terminal support plate (15) through which the fasteners pass on the inside of the body.
  • This plate is electrically connected to the spigot (8) by way of a suitable flexible braided conductor (16).
  • the insulated conductor (13) being generally a solid wire, has a coiled section to provide flexibility commensurate with that of the coiled spring support.
  • the antenna mounting base assembly described above can be permanently fixed to a motor vehicle body and, as required, from time to time, a different or replacement antenna whip can be attached thereto.
  • the antenna whip may take any one of numerous different forms and simply for the sake of illustration, and as illustrated in Figure 3 it could be in the form of a high frequency 5 m sectional whip that is instructed in two sections (17a) and (17b); a 2,4 - 2,5 GHz co-linear whip (18); or a centre-fed dipole having different frequencies of operation such as those indicated by numerals (19) and (20).
  • the entire mounting base assembly is configured to form a 50 ohm coaxial connection to the associated antenna whip.
  • the earthing of the shield ultimately to the vehicle body provides a ground plane for antenna types that require it.
  • the whip of each of the antennas may be changed from time to time according to requirements and the particular service to be performed by the antenna. This is achieved in each case without the necessity of having to change the mounting base and possibly form additional holes in the vehicle bodies.
  • the invention gives rise an entire system as indicated above.
  • an antenna mounted to a base assembly provided by the invention can easily be removed and attached to a cooperant fixed coupling on a fixed structure as and when required, for example during temporary residence at a particular geographic place.

Abstract

An antenna mounting base assembly (1) is provided comprising a base (2) adapted to be secured to a vehicle body, a coiled spring support section (4) secured at one of its ends to the base and operatively supporting at its other end an antenna (12). The mounting base assembly has fixed to such other end of the coiled spring support section contact means (7) adapted to electrically connect an antenna conductor (13) passing into the spring support to a contact (10) on a lower end of an antenna whip. Coupling means (8, 11) are provided, typically in the form of a screw threaded spigot and socket for releasably attaching such antenna whip to the coiled spring support section. The invention also provides a vehicle antenna system in which a plurality of vehicles (21) are each provided with such an antenna mounting base assembly (1) so that an appropriate one of a selection of different antenna whips (17a and 17b, 18, 19, 21) may be coupled to a particular base for serving a particular purpose.

Description

ANTENNA MOUNTING BASE ASSEMBLY AND SYSTEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an antenna mounting base assembly that is particularly adapted for mounting an antenna whip to a motor vehicle body and, more particularly, but not exclusively, the body of a military vehicle or other off-road vehicle. The invention also relates to a system utilizing such a mounting base assembly as well as a range of antennas.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Antennas that are attached to vehicles of the type indicated above generally comprise a coiled support spring section interposed between a base to be secured to a vehicle body and an antenna whip. The antenna is generally of unitary construction so that, if it needs to be replaced, the entire base, coiled support spring section, and whip section need to be removed and replaced.
The difficulty with this procedure is that the bases do not always provide a matching arrangement of bolt holes for fasteners attaching them to the vehicle body and, in such an instance, additional holes must be drilled in the vehicle body in order to accommodate the different configuration of bolt holes of the different bases. This is particularly common in instances in which a different antenna type must be attached to a vehicle to replace an existing antenna type such as in cases in which the different antennas are configured to transmit and receive different frequency ranges. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide an antenna base assembly and system utilizing same whereby this difficulty is obviated, at least to some extent.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided an antenna mounting base assembly comprising a base adapted to be secured to a vehicle body, a coiled spring support section secured at one of its ends to the base and operatively supporting at its other end an antenna, the mounting base assembly being characterised in that it has fixed to said other end of the coiled spring support section contact means adapted to electrically connect an antenna conductor passing into the spring support to a contact on a lower end of an antenna whip, and coupling means for releasably attaching such antenna whip to the coiled spring support section.
Further features of the invention provide for the coupling means to be an externally screw threaded spigot for receiving a complementarily screw threaded socket provided typically at one end of a coupling sleeve carried coaxially at the adjacent end of an antenna whip; for the contact means to be a central contact, typically a pin or socket, electrically isolated from the coupling and adapted to contact a cooperant contact associated with the "live" of the antenna whip; and for the antenna conductor to be the central insulated conductor of a coaxial cable.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided a vehicle antenna system in which a plurality of vehicles are each provided with an antenna mounting base assembly as defined above secured to the vehicle body and wherein a selection of different antenna whips is provided each having a contact and coupling means for releasably attaching the whip to the coupling means of such an antenna mounting base assembly.
In order that the invention may be more fully understood one embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:-
Figure 1 is a perspective illustration of an antenna mounting base assembly according to the invention in exploded relationship relative to an operatively lower end of a cooperant antenna whip;
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the antenna mounting base assembly and lower end of an antenna whip as illustrated in Figure 1 ; Figure 3 illustrates, in elevation, the mounting base assembly illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 in association with a variety of different antenna whips; and,
Figure 4 illustrates schematically a vehicle antenna system utilising antenna mounting base assembly is according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS
In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, an antenna mounting base assembly, generally indicated by numeral (1) comprises a base (2), typically made of injection moulded plastics material that is electrically insulating. The base is of a generally truncated conical shape with recesses (3) for providing access to fasteners whereby the base can be secured to a motor vehicle body in the usual way.
The smaller diameter end of the base has permanently secured coaxially thereto one end of a coiled spring support (4) of generally known construction and having a flange (5) fixed to its operatively lower end with the flange being secured to the base by means of a series of fasteners (6). The operatively upper end of the coiled spring support has fixed to it a coupling (7). The coupling has an externally screw threaded spigot (8) and, electrically insulated therefrom, a central contact pin (9) that is to operatively electrically connect with a cooperant contact (10) in a connecting sleeve (11) fixed to the operatively lower end of an antenna whip (12). The contact pin is electrically connected to the central electrically insulated conductor (13) of a coaxial connector (14).
The shield of the coaxial cable is grounded to a terminal support plate (15) through which the fasteners pass on the inside of the body. This plate is electrically connected to the spigot (8) by way of a suitable flexible braided conductor (16). It will be noted from Figure 2 of the drawings that the insulated conductor (13), being generally a solid wire, has a coiled section to provide flexibility commensurate with that of the coiled spring support.
It will be understood that, in use, the antenna mounting base assembly described above can be permanently fixed to a motor vehicle body and, as required, from time to time, a different or replacement antenna whip can be attached thereto.
The antenna whip may take any one of numerous different forms and simply for the sake of illustration, and as illustrated in Figure 3 it could be in the form of a high frequency 5 m sectional whip that is instructed in two sections (17a) and (17b); a 2,4 - 2,5 GHz co-linear whip (18); or a centre-fed dipole having different frequencies of operation such as those indicated by numerals (19) and (20). To this end, the entire mounting base assembly is configured to form a 50 ohm coaxial connection to the associated antenna whip. The earthing of the shield ultimately to the vehicle body provides a ground plane for antenna types that require it.
Accordingly, when a series of mounting bases according to the invention are employed on a series of different vehicles, indicated by numeral (21) in Figure 4, typically military vehicles or a series of other off-road vehicles, the whip of each of the antennas may be changed from time to time according to requirements and the particular service to be performed by the antenna. This is achieved in each case without the necessity of having to change the mounting base and possibly form additional holes in the vehicle bodies. In such an application the invention gives rise an entire system as indicated above.
It should also be noted that an antenna mounted to a base assembly provided by the invention can easily be removed and attached to a cooperant fixed coupling on a fixed structure as and when required, for example during temporary residence at a particular geographic place.
It will be understood that numerous variations may be made to the embodiment of the invention described above without departing from scope hereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:
1. An antenna mounting base assembly (1) comprising a base (2) adapted to be secured to a vehicle body, a coiled spring support section (4) secured at one of its ends to the base and operatively supporting at its other end an antenna (12), the mounting base assembly being characterised in that it has fixed to said other end of the coiled spring support section contact means (7) adapted to electrically connect an antenna conductor (13) passing into the spring support to a contact (10) on a lower end of an antenna whip, and coupling means (8, 11) for releasably attaching such antenna whip to the coiled spring support section.
2. An antenna mounting base assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the coupling means is an externally screw threaded spigot (8) for receiving a complementarily screw threaded socket provided at one end of a coupling sleeve (11) carried coaxially at the adjacent end of an antenna whip.
3. An antenna mounting base assembly as claimed in either one of claims 1 or 2 in which the contact means is a central contact (9), electrically isolated from the coupling and adapted to contact a cooperant contact (10) associated with the "live" of the antenna whip.
4. An antenna mounting base assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the antenna conductor is the central insulated conductor (13) of a coaxial cable (14).
5. A vehicle antenna system in which a plurality of vehicles (21) are each provided with an antenna mounting base assembly (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 secured to the vehicle body and wherein a selection of different antenna whips (17a and 17b, 18, 19, 21) is provided each having a contact and coupling means for releasably attaching the whip selectively to the coupling means of such an antenna mounting base assembly.
PCT/ZA2004/000144 2003-11-20 2004-11-19 Antenna mounting base assembly and system WO2005069431A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ZA200309023 2003-11-20
ZA2003/9023 2003-11-20

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2005069431A1 true WO2005069431A1 (en) 2005-07-28

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/ZA2004/000144 WO2005069431A1 (en) 2003-11-20 2004-11-19 Antenna mounting base assembly and system

Country Status (1)

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102945998A (en) * 2012-11-27 2013-02-27 中国人民解放军国防科学技术大学 Gathering and releasing device of whip antenna
DE202012011334U1 (en) * 2012-11-27 2013-12-16 Thales Deutschland Gmbh Adapter for arranging at least one antenna on a motor vehicle

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2546026A (en) * 1947-04-15 1951-03-20 Gen Electric Flexible antenna mounting
FR2429503A1 (en) * 1978-06-19 1980-01-18 Lerc Labo Etu Rech Chimiques Antenna adjustable mounting for e.g. military vehicles - varies gas pressure within mounting via sprung ball valve
US4364051A (en) * 1979-10-11 1982-12-14 Nippon Electric Co., Ltd. Mobile antenna mounting assembly with resilient locking means
US4914450A (en) * 1985-01-31 1990-04-03 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy High frequency whip antenna
WO1999013530A1 (en) * 1997-09-08 1999-03-18 Andrew Corporation Dual band, panel mount antenna

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2546026A (en) * 1947-04-15 1951-03-20 Gen Electric Flexible antenna mounting
FR2429503A1 (en) * 1978-06-19 1980-01-18 Lerc Labo Etu Rech Chimiques Antenna adjustable mounting for e.g. military vehicles - varies gas pressure within mounting via sprung ball valve
US4364051A (en) * 1979-10-11 1982-12-14 Nippon Electric Co., Ltd. Mobile antenna mounting assembly with resilient locking means
US4914450A (en) * 1985-01-31 1990-04-03 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy High frequency whip antenna
WO1999013530A1 (en) * 1997-09-08 1999-03-18 Andrew Corporation Dual band, panel mount antenna

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102945998A (en) * 2012-11-27 2013-02-27 中国人民解放军国防科学技术大学 Gathering and releasing device of whip antenna
DE202012011334U1 (en) * 2012-11-27 2013-12-16 Thales Deutschland Gmbh Adapter for arranging at least one antenna on a motor vehicle

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