Horizontal angle adjusting device and antenna

Abstract

The invention provides a horizontal angle adjusting device and an antenna, the horizontal angle adjusting device comprises a transmission screw rod, a transmission part, an output gear and a motion conversion module, the periphery of the transmission part is sleeved with an input gear, a screw hole is formed in the transmission part, the transmission screw rod is inserted into the screw hole, and the transmission part is connected with the output gear. The motion conversion module is used for converting linear motion generated by matching of the transmission screw and the screw hole into rotary motion of the transmission part, the input gear is in transmission connection with the output gear, and the output gear is used for driving an antenna to rotate horizontally. When the antenna is subjected to external acting force, the device can effectively prevent the acting force from being transmitted to the motor, so that the motor is protected, and the motor is prevented from being damaged by the external acting force. In addition, the horizontal angle adjusting device can also significantly reduce system errors, thereby improving the adjustment precision of the horizontal angle of the device, and ensuring the precision and reliability of the adjustment of the horizontal angle of the antenna.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of communication technology, and specifically relates to a horizontal angle adjustment device and an antenna equipped with the horizontal angle adjustment device. Background Technology

[0002] In the construction and optimization of wireless communication networks, the electronic azimuth adjustment function of antennas is a key technology. This function controls the horizontal rotation of the antenna to precisely adjust the coverage area of ​​the sector, thereby enabling rapid optimization of the antenna coverage network. It can effectively save the manpower and material costs required for traditional manual adjustment of antenna azimuth angle on the tower, and significantly shorten the network optimization cycle, improving operation and maintenance efficiency. Therefore, it is widely used in the field of modern communications.

[0003] However, current antenna azimuth adjustment devices still suffer from numerous technical defects and shortcomings, hindering further performance improvements. Firstly, the self-locking mechanism of existing azimuth adjustment devices generally relies on the self-locking force of the drive motor itself to achieve antenna self-locking and fixation. In this mode, any impact force (such as wind load, external collision, etc.) experienced by the antenna in operation or at rest will be directly transmitted to the motor body. Since the motor is not specifically designed to withstand impact loads, long-term stress can easily lead to wear of internal gears, coil damage, or bearing misalignment, thereby causing equipment failure, increasing maintenance costs, and shortening service life.

[0004] Secondly, to ensure smooth transmission, the transmission mechanism of the azimuth adjustment device (such as gear sets, worm gears, etc.) requires a certain clearance between its friction pairs during engagement. While this design reduces the risk of jamming, it inevitably introduces transmission errors. Especially in scenarios requiring high-precision azimuth adjustment (such as densely populated urban areas or areas with overlapping sectors), even a small clearance error can cause the actual antenna pointing deviate from the theoretical value, leading to coverage blind spots, signal interference, or capacity degradation, severely impacting network quality. Furthermore, the presence of clearance exacerbates mechanical wear, reducing the long-term reliability of the device.

[0005] Therefore, existing antenna azimuth adjustment technology has significant shortcomings in terms of self-locking mechanism and transmission accuracy. It is urgent to solve the core problems of motor stress damage and transmission error accumulation through innovative design in order to improve the stability, durability and adjustment accuracy of the device, so as to better meet the needs of modern communication networks for efficient and accurate coverage optimization. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The primary objective of this invention is to solve at least one of the above-mentioned problems by providing a horizontal angle adjustment device and an antenna.

[0007] To achieve the various objectives of this invention, the following technical solution is adopted: To meet one of the objectives of this invention, a horizontal angle adjustment device is provided, comprising a transmission screw, a transmission component, an output gear, and a motion conversion module. An input gear is sleeved on the outer periphery of the transmission component, and a screw hole is formed in the transmission component. The transmission screw is inserted into the screw hole. The motion conversion module is used to convert the linear motion generated by the transmission screw and the screw hole into the rotational motion of the transmission component. The input gear is connected to the output gear, and the output gear is used to drive the antenna to rotate horizontally.

[0008] In one embodiment, the motion conversion module includes stop blocks disposed at both ends of the transmission screw and mating blocks disposed at both ends of the screw hole. The two stop blocks correspond to the two mating blocks respectively. When one of the stop blocks is engaged with the corresponding mating block, the linear motion generated by the engagement of the transmission screw and the screw hole is converted into the rotational motion of the transmission component.

[0009] In one embodiment, the motion conversion module further includes a locking ring and a clutch portion. The locking ring includes a ring body and a plurality of locking teeth evenly arranged along the inner circumference of the ring body, with a tooth groove formed between two adjacent locking teeth. The transmission member is sleeved inside the locking ring. The clutch portion and the input gear are arranged sequentially along the axial direction of the transmission member. The clutch portion includes at least two clutch teeth arranged on the outer circumference of the transmission member. When the transmission member moves linearly, the clutch teeth can enter any tooth groove of the locking ring.

[0010] In one embodiment, the horizontal angle adjustment device further includes a housing, and the transmission screw, transmission component, and motion conversion module are installed inside the housing. The motion conversion module further includes an inner groove formed inside the housing and an elastic arm disposed on the outer periphery of the transmission component. A plurality of guide grooves are uniformly provided on the inner wall of the inner groove in the circumferential direction. The guides extend along the axial direction of the transmission component. When the transmission component moves linearly, the elastic arm elastically abuts against any one of the guide grooves and slides linearly. When the transmission component rotates, the elastic arm sequentially passes through the plurality of stop grooves.

[0011] In one embodiment, a compound gear is provided between the input gear and the output gear. The compound gear includes a first gear and a second gear, wherein the second gear is fixed on the first gear, and the first gear and the second gear are coaxially arranged. The first gear meshes with the input gear, and the second gear meshes with the output gear.

[0012] In one embodiment, the horizontal angle adjustment device further includes a housing, the transmission screw, the transmission component and the motion conversion module are installed inside the housing, a first locking block is provided on the gear disk of the first gear, and a second locking block is provided on the inner wall of the housing, wherein the second locking block is disposed on the rotation path of the first locking hole.

[0013] In one embodiment, a plurality of compound gears are provided between the input gear and the output gear, and the plurality of compound gears mesh with the input gear and the output gear respectively.

[0014] In one embodiment, the output gear is a sector gear.

[0015] In one embodiment, the horizontal angle adjustment device further includes a loading module, which includes a fixed shaft disposed at the center of the sector gear and a plurality of fixing members disposed on the gear disk of the sector gear. The fixed shaft and the plurality of fixing members are respectively used to connect to the antenna assembly.

[0016] To one of the purposes of this invention, an antenna is provided, comprising an antenna radome, an antenna assembly, and a horizontal angle adjustment device as described in any of the preceding purposes, wherein the antenna assembly and the horizontal angle adjustment device are mounted inside the antenna radome, wherein the horizontal angle adjustment device is disposed on an end cap of the antenna radome, and the antenna assembly is connected to the output gear.

[0017] Compared with existing technologies, the present invention has many advantages, including but not limited to: When antennas are in operation or stationary, they are inevitably subjected to various impact forces such as wind loads and external collisions. In traditional structures, these impact forces are directly transmitted to the motor along the transmission chain. As the core drive component, the motor is susceptible to damage from prolonged exposure to excessive impact forces. This can lead to accelerated gear wear, shaft deformation, and consequently, decreased motor performance and a shortened lifespan. This not only increases equipment maintenance costs but can also cause the entire antenna system to shut down due to motor failure, severely impacting the system's reliability and stability.

[0018] The horizontal angle adjustment device of this invention, through a motion conversion module, can precisely break the transmission chain after completing the predetermined horizontal angle adjustment operation, placing the transmission chain in an open state. In this way, when the antenna is subjected to impact, because the transmission chain is broken, the impact force cannot be transmitted to the motor. This effectively avoids damage to the motor due to excessive impact, greatly protects the motor's performance, extends its service life, and thus improves the reliability and stability of the entire antenna system in complex environments, ensuring the antenna can operate continuously and stably.

[0019] In traditional antenna horizontal angle adjustment transmission structures, the transmission chain continuously transmits power. However, due to unavoidable gaps between components and friction during transmission, errors gradually accumulate during continuous power transmission. With increased usage time and the number of adjustments, these accumulated errors significantly affect the accuracy of horizontal angle adjustment, leading to antenna pointing deviations. This fails to meet the demands of applications requiring extremely high antenna pointing accuracy, such as satellite communication and radar detection, where even minute pointing deviations can cause a significant decrease in signal reception or transmission quality.

[0020] The horizontal angle adjustment device of this invention fundamentally avoids the accumulation and transmission of errors by interrupting the transmission chain through a motion conversion module. After each horizontal angle adjustment is completed, the transmission chain is in a disconnected state, and the transmission relationship is re-established during the next adjustment. This ensures that the device is not affected by errors in the previous transmission process, thus guaranteeing high precision in horizontal angle adjustment. This allows the antenna to accurately point in the target direction, meeting the requirements of application scenarios with extremely high antenna pointing accuracy, and improving the performance and effectiveness of the antenna system in practical applications. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and readily understood from the following description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 This is an exploded view of an antenna according to a typical embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly of the antenna end cap, the horizontal angle adjustment device, and the antenna assembly in a typical embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the horizontal angle adjustment device according to a typical embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 4 This is a first-view schematic diagram of a horizontal angle adjustment device (upper shell not shown) according to a typical embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 5 This is a second-view schematic diagram of the horizontal angle adjustment device (housing not shown) according to a typical embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 6 This is a first-view schematic diagram of the transmission component of the horizontal angle adjustment device according to a typical embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 7 This is a second-view schematic diagram of the transmission component of the horizontal angle adjustment device according to a typical embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 8This is a schematic diagram of the transmission screw of the horizontal angle adjustment device according to a typical embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the upper shell of the horizontal angle adjustment device according to a typical embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the lower shell of the horizontal angle adjustment device according to a typical embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the locking ring structure of the horizontal angle adjustment device according to a typical embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0032] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0033] Those skilled in the art will understand that, unless specifically stated otherwise, the singular forms “a,” “an,” “the,” and “the” used herein may also include the plural forms. It should be further understood that the term “comprising” as used in this specification means the presence of the stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, nor does it exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. It should be understood that when we say an element is “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element, or there may be intermediate elements. Furthermore, “connected” or “coupled” as used herein can include wireless connections or wireless coupling. The term “and / or” as used herein includes all or any units and all combinations of one or more associated listed items.

[0034] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. It should also be understood that terms such as those defined in general dictionaries should be understood to have the same meaning as in the context of the prior art, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless specifically defined as herein.

[0035] This invention provides a horizontal angle adjustment device for precisely adjusting the horizontal angle of an antenna. After adjusting the antenna's horizontal angle, this device effectively blocks the transmission chain between the antenna and the motor. Specifically, when the antenna is subjected to external forces, the device effectively prevents the force from being transmitted to the motor, thus protecting the motor and preventing damage from external forces. Furthermore, this horizontal angle adjustment device significantly reduces system errors, thereby improving its own horizontal angle adjustment accuracy and ensuring the precision and reliability of the antenna's horizontal angle adjustment.

[0036] In a typical embodiment of the present invention, combined with Figures 3 to 5 The horizontal angle adjustment device 100 includes a transmission screw 110, a transmission component 120, an output gear 130, and a motion conversion module.

[0037] Among them, combined Figures 5 to 8 The transmission component 120 has a screw hole 121 inside. One end of the transmission screw 110 is connected to a power source, which in this embodiment is a motor. The other end of the transmission screw 110 is inserted into the screw hole 121 of the transmission component 120, thus the two together constitute a screw mechanism.

[0038] Normally, after the motor starts, it drives the transmission screw 110 to rotate. Since the transmission screw 110 and the screw hole 121 of the transmission component 120 cooperate to form a screw mechanism, based on the transmission principle of the screw mechanism, the rotation of the transmission screw 110 will drive the transmission component 120 to move linearly along the axial direction of the transmission screw 110.

[0039] In this embodiment, the motion conversion module converts the linear motion generated by the interaction between the transmission screw 110 and the transmission component 120 into the rotational motion of the transmission component 120. In other words, the motion conversion module transforms the linear motion originally generated by the interaction between the transmission screw 110 and the transmission component 120 into the rotational motion of the transmission component 120, rather than maintaining a linear motion state.

[0040] Combination Figure 6 and Figure 7 An input gear 122 is sleeved on the outer periphery of the transmission component 120. In this specific embodiment, the input gear 122 is fixedly mounted on the transmission component 120. For example, the input gear 122 and the transmission component 120 are integrally formed, which ensures the stability and reliability of the connection between the two and effectively avoids situations such as relative displacement affecting the transmission accuracy during subsequent operation.

[0041] Combination Figure 4 and Figure 5 The input gear 122 and the output gear 130 form a transmission connection, and the output gear 130 is linked with the antenna assembly 320 of the antenna 300. During operation, combined with... Figure 1 and Figure 2 The output gear 130 drives the antenna assembly 320 to rotate horizontally through its transmission action, thereby achieving the purpose of adjusting the horizontal angle of the antenna 300 to meet the precise pointing requirements of the antenna 300 in different application scenarios.

[0042] Specifically, the motion conversion module includes stop blocks disposed at both ends of the transmission screw 110 and mating blocks disposed at both ends of the screw hole 121. Each of the two stop blocks corresponds to one of the two mating blocks. When one stop block engages with its corresponding mating block, the linear motion generated by the interaction between the transmission screw 110 and the screw hole 121 is effectively converted into the rotational motion of the transmission component 120, thereby achieving a change in motion mode to meet the different transmission requirements of the horizontal angle adjustment device 100 at different operating stages.

[0043] Combination Figure 8 The stop blocks at both ends of the transmission screw 110 are a first stop block 141 and a second stop block 142, respectively. The second stop block 142 is spatially closer to the motor than the first stop block 141. Meanwhile, combined with... Figure 6 and Figure 7 The mating blocks located at both ends of the screw hole 121 of the transmission component 120 are a first mating block 143 and a second mating block 144, respectively. In terms of the mechanical structure correspondence, the first stop block 141 and the first mating block 143 are correspondingly arranged, and the second stop block 142 and the second mating block 144 are correspondingly arranged, thereby ensuring precise docking and function during subsequent motion conversion.

[0044] To facilitate a clear explanation of the technical solution of the present invention, this embodiment uses the following motion scenario as an example: When the transmission screw 110 rotates clockwise, based on the transmission principle of the screw mechanism, the transmission screw 110 will drive the transmission component 120 to move linearly towards the first stop block 141; similarly, when the transmission screw 110 rotates counterclockwise, the transmission screw 110 will drive the transmission component 120 to move linearly towards the second stop block 142. It should be particularly emphasized that the above-described motion scenarios are merely examples provided to facilitate understanding of the technical solution of the present invention and do not constitute any limitation on the scope of protection of the present invention. In practical applications, the technical solution of the present invention can be flexibly adjusted and applied according to specific needs.

[0045] When the motor starts and drives the transmission screw 110 to rotate clockwise, based on the transmission engagement between the screw and the screw hole 121, the transmission screw 110 will drive the transmission component 120 to move linearly towards the first stop block 141. As this linear movement continues, when the first mating block 143 on the transmission component 120 engages with the first stop block 141, the first mating block 143 blocks the further linear movement of the transmission component 120, preventing the transmission component 120 from continuing its linear movement. At this time, since the linear movement of the transmission component 120 is restricted, while the transmission screw 110 continues to rotate under the drive of the motor, according to the mechanical transmission principle, the transmission screw 110 will drive the transmission component 120 to rotate around its own axis. In this embodiment, the rotation direction of the transmission screw 110 is consistent with the rotation direction of the transmission component 120, that is, when the transmission screw 110 rotates clockwise, the transmission component 120 also rotates clockwise accordingly. Furthermore, since the input gear 122 is fixedly mounted on the transmission member 120, the two form a synchronous motion relationship. Therefore, the clockwise rotation of the transmission member 120 will synchronously drive the input gear 122 to rotate clockwise.

[0046] Similarly, when the motor drives the transmission screw 110 to rotate counterclockwise, the transmission screw 110 will drive the transmission component 120 to move linearly towards the second stop block 142. When the second mating block 144 on the transmission component 120 engages with the second stop block 142, the second mating block 144 blocks the linear movement of the transmission component 120. When the linear movement of the transmission component 120 is restricted and the transmission screw 110 continues to rotate, the transmission screw 110 will drive the transmission component 120 to rotate counterclockwise around its own axis. In this embodiment, the principle that the transmission screw 110 and the transmission component 120 rotate in the same direction is also followed, that is, when the transmission screw 110 rotates counterclockwise, the transmission component 120 also rotates counterclockwise accordingly, thereby driving the input gear 122 sleeved on the transmission component 120 to rotate counterclockwise.

[0047] Furthermore, when the transmission component 120 is in a linear motion state, that is, when the first stop block 141 and the first mating block 143 are not in contact, and the second stop block 142 and the second mating block 144 are also not in contact, the transmission chain from the motor to the antenna assembly 320 in the horizontal angle adjustment device 100 is interrupted. This interruption of the transmission chain has a significant protective effect. Specifically, regardless of whether the antenna assembly 320 is in a running state or a stationary state, when it is subjected to various impact forces, such as wind loads caused by natural environmental factors, or external collisions caused by unexpected situations, these impact forces cannot be directly transmitted to the motor through the original transmission path. This effectively avoids damage to the motor that may be caused by external impact forces, thereby providing reliable protection for the motor, extending the service life of the motor, and improving the stability and reliability of the entire horizontal angle adjustment device 100.

[0048] In a typical embodiment of the present invention, there are two ways in which the input gear 122 and the output gear 130 are connected: first, the input gear 122 and the output gear 130 are directly meshed; second, the input gear 122 and the output gear 130 are connected through a gear or a gear system consisting of two or more gears.

[0049] When the transmission component 120 rotates, causing the input gear 122 to rotate, based on the gear transmission principle, regardless of the transmission connection method, the input gear 122 will transmit the rotational motion to the output gear 130, driving the output gear 130 to rotate. Since the output gear 130 and the antenna assembly 320 are linked, the rotation of the output gear 130 will further drive the connected antenna assembly 320 to rotate horizontally, thereby achieving precise adjustment of the horizontal angle of the antenna assembly 320 to meet the pointing requirements of the antenna 300 in different application scenarios.

[0050] In this embodiment, to facilitate the explanation of the technical solution of the present invention, the case in which a compound gear 150 is provided between the input gear 122 and the output gear 130 is used as an example for illustration. However, it should be noted that this is only an exemplary illustration and should not be construed as any limitation on the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0051] Combination Figure 4 and Figure 5 The compound gear 150 is composed of a first gear 151 and a second gear 152. The first gear 151 and the second gear 152 are coaxial, meaning they share the same axis of rotation. In terms of dimensions, the first gear 151 is larger than the second gear 152. Furthermore, the second gear 152 is fixedly mounted on a first side of the first gear 151 along its axial direction, forming a stable connection structure that ensures no relative displacement occurs during transmission, thereby guaranteeing the stability and accuracy of the transmission.

[0052] In terms of transmission, the first gear 151 meshes with the input gear 122, and the second gear 152 meshes with the output gear 130. Through this double-gear meshing transmission method, the power transmission between the input gear 122 and the output gear 130 is realized.

[0053] In this embodiment, a closed force flow loop is constructed by setting the compound gear 150 between the input gear 122 and the output gear 130. Specifically, the input gear 122 and the output gear 130 are tightened under the gear side effects of the compound gear 150, forming a mutually restrictive relationship. In this closed-loop transmission state, the tooth surfaces of both the input gear 122 and the output gear 130 remain in contact on one side under the action of preload during transmission. This means that regardless of whether the transmission direction is clockwise or counterclockwise, the gear backlash is effectively eliminated or greatly reduced, significantly improving the accuracy of the transmission system, and thus greatly improving the control accuracy and positioning accuracy of the antenna 300 azimuth angle, meeting the application requirements of high-precision antenna 300 pointing adjustment.

[0054] In a typical embodiment of the present invention, the output gear 130 adopts a sector gear structure. The central angle of the sector gear is less than 360°. To facilitate a clear explanation of the technical solution of the present invention, this embodiment uses a central angle of 180° as an example for illustration. However, it should be noted that this is only an exemplary illustration and should not be regarded as any limitation on the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0055] The horizontal angle adjustment device 100 also includes a loading module, combined with Figure 3 and Figure 4 The loading module mainly consists of a fixed shaft 161 and multiple fixing components 162. The fixed shaft 161 is located at the center of the sector gear, and there is no connection between the fixed shaft 161 and the sector gear; they are independent of each other. The multiple fixing components 162 are evenly distributed on the axial side of the sector gear, and are fixedly connected to the sector gear.

[0056] Combination Figures 1 to 3 The antenna assembly 320 is connected to both the fixed shaft 161 and the sector gear. Specifically, the sector gear is connected to the antenna assembly 320 via multiple fixing members 162. During transmission, with the fixed shaft 161 as the axis of rotation, when the sector gear rotates, it drives the antenna assembly 320 to rotate horizontally around the fixed shaft 161, thereby achieving precise adjustment of the horizontal angle of the antenna 300 to meet the pointing requirements of the antenna 300 in different application scenarios.

[0057] In one embodiment, combined Figure 4 and Figure 5Multiple compound gears 150 are configured between the input gear 122 and the sector gear. Each compound gear 150 meshes with both the input gear 122 and the sector gear. The multiple compound gears 150 are arranged at intervals along the circumference of the sector gear. Through the coordinated operation of these multiple compound gears 150, a multi-path force transmission channel is formed during transmission, effectively dispersing the load during transmission and significantly improving the transmission stability between the input gear 122 and the sector gear. Simultaneously, it further eliminates backlash generated during gear rotation. In traditional gear transmission systems, the presence of backlash leads to a decrease in transmission accuracy, affecting the precise control of the antenna 300 azimuth angle. However, the ingenious arrangement of the multiple compound gears 150 in this embodiment ensures that the gears are always in a tightly meshed state during transmission. Regardless of changes in the transmission direction, it effectively suppresses the generation of backlash, thereby significantly improving the control and positioning accuracy of the antenna 300 azimuth angle and better meeting the application requirements of high-precision antenna 300 pointing adjustment.

[0058] In a typical embodiment of the present invention, combined with Figure 3 The horizontal angle adjustment device 100 also includes a housing 170. The housing 170 consists of an upper housing 171 and a lower housing 172. The upper housing 171 and the lower housing 172 are tightly fastened together by a fastening structure, such as a snap-fit ​​connection or a bolt connection, or other conventional and reliable connection methods, thus forming a complete housing 170, providing a stable installation space and effective protection for the internal components.

[0059] The transmission screw 110, transmission component 120, compound gear 150, and motion conversion module are all housed inside the housing 170. Protected by the housing 170, these components are protected from interference and damage from external environmental factors, ensuring the stability and reliability of the transmission. The output gear 130 is located outside the housing 170. To facilitate the meshing of the output gear 130 with the compound gear 150 inside the housing 170, an opening is specifically provided on the housing 170. The position and size of this opening ensure that the output gear 130 can smoothly pass through the opening and precisely mesh with the compound gear 150 to complete power transmission, while also effectively preventing external impurities from entering the housing 170 and affecting the normal operation of internal components, thus ensuring the efficient and stable operation of the entire horizontal angle adjustment device 100.

[0060] In this embodiment, the first gear 151 is mounted on the lower shell 172 of the housing 170. (Combined) Figure 5A locking block is provided on the side of the first gear 151 facing the lower housing 172. For ease of subsequent description, this locking block is defined as the first locking block 153; at the same time, combined with Figure 10 A locking block is also provided on the inner wall of the lower housing 172 facing the first gear 151. This locking block is defined as the second locking block 173.

[0061] During transmission, when the first gear 151 rotates, it synchronously drives the first locking block 153 to rotate as well. The second locking block 173 is disposed on the rotation path of the first locking block 153, so that when the first locking block 153 rotates to a predetermined position, it will come into contact with the second locking block 173 and be blocked by the second locking block 173, thus preventing it from continuing to rotate.

[0062] The second locking block 173 plays a crucial role in limiting the horizontal rotation angle of the antenna assembly 320. The specific transmission logic is as follows: the first gear 151 drives the output gear 130 to rotate via the connected second gear 152. Regardless of whether the first gear 151 rotates clockwise or counterclockwise, the first locking block 153 on it will inevitably abut against the second locking block 173 located on its rotation path during rotation.

[0063] At this time, the second locking block 173 will block the first locking block 153, restricting its further clockwise or counterclockwise rotation. Since the rotation of the output gear 130 is transmissionally related to the rotation of the first gear 151, this restriction on the rotation angle of the first locking block 153 will correspondingly translate into a restriction on the rotation angle of the output gear 130. The output gear 130 is connected to the antenna assembly 320, thereby restricting the rotation angle of the antenna assembly 320. This provides convenient conditions for subsequent calibration or adjustment of the horizontal angle of the antenna assembly 320, helping to improve the accuracy and stability of the antenna 300's pointing.

[0064] In one embodiment, the control unit acts as a control component, controlling the operation of the motor to drive the transmission system. Specifically, the transmission process is as follows: the motor starts under the command of the control unit, and its rotational power is transmitted sequentially through the transmission screw 110, transmission component 120, and input gear 122 to the output gear 130, ultimately driving the output gear 130 to rotate.

[0065] During the rotation of the output gear 130, when the output gear 130 drives the first locking block 153, which is mounted on the first gear 151 of the compound gear 150, to rotate until it abuts against the corresponding second locking block 173, the first locking block 153 is blocked by the second locking block 173 and cannot continue to rotate. Because of the close transmission connection between the various transmission components, the cessation of rotation of the first locking block 153 prevents the motor from driving the transmission screw 110 to continue rotating, and the motor immediately enters a stall state. The control unit has a motor status detection function, which determines whether the motor has entered a stall state by detecting changes in the motor current in real time. When an abnormal increase in motor current or other current changes consistent with stall characteristics are detected, the control unit determines that the motor has entered a stall state. Based on this determination, the control unit further confirms that the horizontal angle adjustment device 100 has completed calibration.

[0066] In one embodiment, among a plurality of compound gears 150, a first locking block 153 is provided on the first gear 151 of one of the compound gears 150, and a corresponding second locking block 173 is configured for the first locking block 153. For the remaining compound gears 150, no first locking block 153 or second locking block 173 is configured. If locking blocks are provided on all of the compound gears 150, during transmission, the locking blocks on different compound gears 150 may interfere with or collide with each other due to differences in rotation angle, rotation timing, and other factors. This not only affects the smoothness and accuracy of transmission but may also damage the locking blocks and related transmission components. In this embodiment, a locking block is provided only on one compound gear 150, effectively avoiding the problem of mutual interference between multiple sets of locking blocks and ensuring the stable operation and accurate calibration of the horizontal angle adjustment device 100.

[0067] In a typical embodiment of the present invention, combined with Figure 6 , Figure 7 and Figure 9 The motion conversion module also includes an inner groove 174 formed inside the housing 170 and an elastic arm 123 disposed on the outer periphery of the transmission member 120.

[0068] Specifically, combined Figure 9 The inner groove 174 is formed inside the upper shell 171 of the housing 170. The inner groove 174 is recessed along the axial direction of the transmission screw 110, moving away from the lower shell 172. Multiple guide grooves 175 are provided on the wall of the inner groove 174. These guide grooves 175 are evenly distributed circumferentially along the inner groove 174, and each guide groove 175 extends axially along the transmission screw 110 until it reaches the bottom of the inner groove 174.

[0069] The elastic arm 123 is disposed in the circumferential direction of the transmission member 120. The elastic arm 123 and the input gear 122 are arranged sequentially along the axial direction of the transmission screw 110, and they do not interfere with each other during movement, ensuring the independence and stability of their respective functions. In this embodiment, in order to simplify the structure and improve the overall performance of the components, the elastic arm 123 and the transmission member 120 are manufactured by integral molding.

[0070] Furthermore, combined Figure 6 and Figure 7 A groove 124 is formed circumferentially on the transmission member 120, and the groove 124 is recessed radially toward the axis of the transmission member 120. One end of the elastic arm 123 is fixed to the groove wall of the groove 124, while the other end is suspended above the groove 124, so that the elastic arm 123 has a certain elastic deformation space. An elastic protrusion 1231 is formed on the distal end of the elastic arm 123, and the elastic protrusion 1231 has a certain elasticity and deformation capability.

[0071] In actual operation, the elastic protrusion 1231 of the elastic arm 123 can enter any of the guide grooves 175, or the elastic arm 123 can cooperate with the multiple guide grooves 175. This cooperation can play an auxiliary role when the transmission screw 110 and the transmission component 120 are in linear or rotational motion. Specifically, when the transmission screw 110 rotates or moves linearly, the elastic protrusion 1231 of the elastic arm 123 slides in the guide groove 175 or interacts with the guide groove 175, which can effectively limit the movement trajectory of the transmission component 120, reduce deviation and shaking during the movement, improve the smoothness and accuracy of the movement, and thus ensure the reliable operation of the entire motion conversion module and the horizontal angle adjustment device 100.

[0072] Specifically, during the transmission engagement between the transmission screw 110 and the transmission component 120, there are two different motion modes, and in both modes, the elastic protrusion 1231 of the elastic arm 123 and the guide groove 175 play key auxiliary roles.

[0073] When the transmission screw 110 engages with the screw hole 121 on the transmission component 120 and drives the transmission component 120 to perform linear motion, the elastic protrusion 1231 of the elastic arm 123 will embed into any one of the multiple guide grooves 175. At this time, as the transmission screw 110 continues to rotate, the transmission component 120 moves in a linear direction under the threaded transmission action of the screw hole 121 and the transmission screw 110, while simultaneously driving the elastic protrusion 1231 to slide smoothly along the axial direction of the embedded guide groove 175. This effectively constrains the movement trajectory of the transmission component 120, preventing it from experiencing instability such as shaking or deviation during linear motion, thereby significantly improving the accuracy of the linear motion of the transmission component 120 and ensuring the stability and reliability of the entire transmission system.

[0074] When the transmission screw 110 cooperates with the transmission component 120, driving the transmission component 120 to rotate relative to the transmission screw 110, the transmission component 120 will cause the elastic protrusion 1231 of the elastic arm 123 to sequentially slide along the circumference of the inner groove 174 across the plurality of guide grooves 175. From the perspective of motion, under the strict constraint and guidance of the plurality of guide grooves 175, the transmission component 120 drives the elastic protrusion 1231 to move in an orderly manner along the circumference of the inner groove 174. This jumping process is not meaningless movement, but can effectively eliminate the system stress generated by the friction between components, assembly errors and other factors during the movement of the horizontal angle adjustment device 100. The elimination of system stress helps to reduce the deformation and wear of components, further optimize the performance of the transmission system, and thus improve the transmission accuracy of the horizontal angle adjustment device 100, enabling it to more accurately realize the horizontal angle adjustment function of the antenna 300.

[0075] In a typical embodiment of the present invention, the motion conversion module further includes a locking ring 145 and a clutch portion, which work together to optimize transmission performance. Figure 11 The locking ring 145 includes a ring body 1451 and a plurality of locking teeth 1452 disposed on the inner circumference of the ring body 1451. These locking teeth 1452 are evenly distributed along the inner circumference of the ring body 1451, and a tooth groove 1453 is formed between adjacent locking teeth 1452. In this embodiment, combined with... Figure 9 A support platform 176 is also formed within the inner groove 174 of the upper shell 171. This support platform 176 extends circumferentially along the inner groove 174, ultimately forming a ring-shaped support platform 176. Positionally, the support platform 176 is closer to the opening of the inner groove 174 than the guide groove 175, providing reasonable space and a suitable positioning basis for the subsequent installation of the locking ring 145. The locking ring 145 is securely mounted on the support platform 176, ensuring that it will not shift or wobble during operation.

[0076] Combination Figure 6 and Figure 7 The clutch portion includes a clutch tooth 125, which is disposed on the outer periphery of the transmission component 120. From the circumferential layout of the transmission component 120, the clutch tooth 125 and the countersunk groove 124 are arranged sequentially to avoid interference between the input gear 122 and other components during movement, ensuring smooth transmission. The clutch tooth 125 can enter any of the tooth grooves 1453 of the locking ring 145. When the clutch tooth 125 and the tooth groove 1453 engage, during the linear motion driven by the transmission screw 110, the engagement of the clutch tooth 125 and the tooth groove 1453 restricts the direction of movement of the transmission component 120, reducing deviations and wobbling during movement. This allows the transmission component 120 to move smoothly along a predetermined straight trajectory, effectively improving the accuracy and stability of the linear motion between the transmission screw 110 and the transmission component 120.

[0077] Specifically, when the transmission screw 110 engages with the screw hole 121 on the transmission component 120 to drive the transmission component 120 in linear motion, the clutch teeth 125 on the outer periphery of the transmission component 120 will engage in one of the tooth grooves 1453 of the locking ring 145. At this time, a tight mechanical constraint is formed between the clutch teeth 125 and the tooth groove 1453. This constraint can effectively limit the rotational degree of freedom of the transmission component 120, so that the transmission component 120 can only move linearly along the axial direction of the transmission screw 110. Under this engagement method, the transmission component 120 is strictly guided and constrained during linear motion, avoiding instability such as vibration and offset caused by gaps and friction between components, thereby significantly improving transmission accuracy and ensuring the smoothness and accuracy of linear motion.

[0078] When the transmission screw 110 engages with the transmission component 120, driving the transmission component 120 to rotate relative to the transmission screw 110, the clutch tooth 125 will smoothly disengage from its current tooth groove 1453. Once the clutch tooth 125 is freed from the constraint of the tooth groove 1453, the transmission component 120 is no longer restricted by the direction of rotation, thus enabling it to freely perform rotational motion and flexibly switch between different motion modes.

[0079] Furthermore, after the horizontal angle adjustment of the antenna 300 is completed, the transmission screw 110 is rotated in the opposite direction, causing the originally abutting stop block and mating block to separate. Simultaneously, the clutch tooth 125 re-enters any of the slots 1453 in the locking ring 145. At this time, the slot 1453 effectively limits the clutch tooth 125, achieving a self-locking function for the antenna assembly 320. This mechanical self-locking method eliminates the need for a motor to maintain the fixed position of the antenna assembly 320, thus preventing the antenna assembly 320 from transmitting force to the motor when subjected to external forces (such as wind or vibration). This effectively protects the motor, extends its service life, and improves the reliability and stability of the entire system.

[0080] The present invention also provides an antenna 300, combined with Figure 1 and Figure 2 The antenna 300 includes an antenna radome 310, an antenna assembly 320, and a horizontal angle adjustment device 100 as described in detail above. The antenna assembly 320 and the horizontal angle adjustment device 100 are both installed in the internal space of the antenna radome 310 to ensure the compactness and stability of the overall structure.

[0081] Specifically, the horizontal angle adjustment device 100 is mounted on the end cap 311 of the antenna 300. The antenna assembly 320 is connected to the loading module in the horizontal angle adjustment device 100, forming a close transmission relationship. During the operation of the horizontal angle adjustment device 100, the output gear 130 is driven to rotate. The rotational motion of the output gear 130 is directly transmitted to the loading module mounted on it, thereby causing the loading module to rotate synchronously. Since the antenna assembly 320 is connected to the loading module, the rotation of the loading module will further drive the antenna assembly 320 to rotate accordingly, ultimately achieving precise adjustment of the horizontal angle of the antenna 300 and meeting the precise control requirements for the pointing of the antenna 300 in different application scenarios.

[0082] In one embodiment, the antenna assembly 320 includes a reflector and a radiating array disposed on the reflector. One end of the reflector is connected to the loading module, forming a stable connection structure. During actual adjustment, the reflector is rotated by the horizontal angle adjustment device 100. The rotation of the reflector directly changes the horizontal angle of the antenna assembly 320, thereby achieving flexible adjustment of the horizontal angle of the antenna 300 and ensuring that the antenna 300 can receive or transmit signals in the optimal direction.

[0083] In another embodiment, the antenna assembly consists of a circuit board and a radiating circuit printed on the circuit board. One end of the circuit board is connected to the loading module, establishing an effective transmission connection. When the horizontal angle adjustment device 100 is activated and drives the circuit board to rotate, the direction of the radiating circuit on the circuit board will also change accordingly, thereby realizing the function of adjusting the horizontal angle of the antenna.

[0084] In summary, the horizontal angle adjustment device of the present invention, through a motion conversion module, can effectively interrupt the transmission chain. After completing the predetermined horizontal angle adjustment operation, the motion conversion module can precisely break the transmission chain, placing it in an open state. On the one hand, when the antenna is in any state, whether running or stationary, and subjected to various impact forces such as wind loads or external collisions, because the transmission chain has been broken, these impact forces cannot be transmitted to the motor via the transmission chain. This effectively avoids damage to the motor due to excessive impact, greatly protecting the motor's performance and service life, and improving the reliability and stability of the entire antenna system.

[0085] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and an explanation of the technical principles employed. Those skilled in the art should understand that the scope of the invention is not limited to the specific combination of the above-described technical features, but also includes other technical solutions formed by arbitrary combinations of the above-described technical features or their equivalents without departing from the inventive concept. For example, technical solutions formed by substituting the above-described features with (but not limited to) technical features with similar functions as those in the present invention.

[0086] Although the subject matter has been described using language specific to structural features and / or methodological logic, it should be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or actions described above. Rather, the specific features and actions described above are merely illustrative examples of implementing the claims.

Claims

1. A horizontal angle adjustment device, characterized in that, The device includes a transmission screw, a transmission component, an output gear, and a motion conversion module. An input gear is fitted on the outer periphery of the transmission component, and a screw hole is formed in the transmission component. The transmission screw is inserted into the screw hole. The motion conversion module is used to convert the linear motion generated by the transmission screw and the screw hole into the rotational motion of the transmission component. The input gear is connected to the output gear, and the output gear is used to drive the antenna to rotate horizontally.

2. The horizontal angle adjustment device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The motion conversion module includes stop blocks disposed at both ends of the transmission screw and mating blocks disposed at both ends of the screw hole. The two stop blocks correspond to the two mating blocks respectively. When one of the stop blocks is engaged with the corresponding mating block, the linear motion generated by the engagement of the transmission screw and the screw hole is converted into the rotational motion of the transmission component.

3. The horizontal angle adjustment device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The motion conversion module further includes a locking ring and a clutch. The locking ring includes a ring body and a plurality of locking teeth evenly arranged along the inner circumference of the ring body, with a tooth groove formed between two adjacent locking teeth. The transmission component is sleeved inside the locking ring. The clutch and the input gear are arranged sequentially along the axial direction of the transmission component. The clutch includes at least two clutch teeth arranged on the outer circumference of the transmission component. When the transmission component moves linearly, the clutch teeth can enter any tooth groove of the locking ring.

4. The horizontal angle adjustment device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The horizontal angle adjustment device also includes a housing, and the transmission screw, transmission component, and motion conversion module are installed inside the housing. The motion conversion module also includes an inner groove formed inside the housing and an elastic arm disposed on the outer periphery of the transmission component. A plurality of guide grooves are evenly provided on the inner wall of the inner groove in the circumferential direction. The guides extend along the axial direction of the transmission component. When the transmission component moves linearly, the elastic arm elastically abuts against any one of the guide grooves and slides linearly. When the transmission component rotates, the elastic arm sequentially passes through the plurality of stop grooves.

5. The horizontal angle adjustment device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, A compound gear is provided between the input gear and the output gear. The compound gear includes a first gear and a second gear, wherein the second gear is fixed on the first gear, and the first gear and the second gear are coaxially arranged. The first gear meshes with the input gear, and the second gear meshes with the output gear.

6. The horizontal angle adjustment device as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The horizontal angle adjustment device also includes a housing, in which the transmission screw, transmission component and motion conversion module are installed. A first locking block is provided on the gear disk of the first gear, and a second locking block is provided on the inner wall of the housing. The second locking block is located on the rotation path of the first locking hole.

7. The horizontal angle adjustment device as described in claim 5, characterized in that, Multiple compound gears are provided between the input gear and the output gear, and the multiple compound gears mesh with the input gear and the output gear respectively.

8. The horizontal angle adjustment device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The output gear is a sector gear.

9. The horizontal angle adjustment device as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The horizontal angle adjustment device further includes a loading module, which includes a fixed shaft located at the center of the sector gear and a plurality of fixing components located on the gear plate of the sector gear. The fixed shaft and the plurality of fixing components are respectively used to connect to the antenna assembly.

10. An antenna, characterized in that, The device includes an antenna radome, an antenna assembly, and a horizontal angle adjustment device as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the antenna assembly and the horizontal angle adjustment device are installed inside the antenna radome, wherein the horizontal angle adjustment device is disposed on the end cap of the antenna radome, and the antenna assembly is connected to the output gear.

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