Antenna and antenna fixing method

Abstract

To provide a technology to prevent an antenna from collapsing due to snow accumulation.SOLUTION: An antenna 1 includes an antenna body 10 and an upper support 20. The antenna body 10 includes a rod-shaped boom 11, a radiator 13 attached to the boom 11, a plurality of directors 12 attached to the boom 11 at intervals from each other on a first end side of the boom 11 from the radiator 13, and a reflector 14 attached on a second end side of the boom 11 from the radiator 13. The upper support 20 is fixed to a mast 90 above the boom 11, and supports the boom 11 at one or more points.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a technique for fixing an antenna to a mast.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 below describes a technique for fixing an antenna, in which a waveguide, a radiator, and a reflector attached to a hollow tubular boom are fixed to a mast. Specifically, a support formed in a U shape is used, the support is attached to the boom so as to support the antenna from below, and the support attached to the antenna is fixed to the mast by a mounting bracket.

Prior Art Document

Patent Document

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, there is a problem that due to snow accumulation on the antenna, the support and the mounting bracket for fixing the support to the mast may be deformed, resulting in a collapse in which the antenna falls from its original mounting position.

[0005] One aspect of the present disclosure provides a technique for suppressing the collapse of an antenna due to snow accumulation.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure is an antenna including an antenna body and an upper support. The antenna body includes a rod-shaped boom, a radiator attached to the boom, a plurality of waveguides attached to the boom at intervals from each other on the first end side of the boom from the radiator, and a reflector attached to the second end side from the radiator. The upper support is fixed to the mast above the boom and supports the boom at one point or a plurality of points.

[0007] According to such a configuration, the collapse of the antenna due to snow accumulation can be suppressed. In one aspect of the present disclosure, a lower support body fixed to the mast below the boom and supporting the boom at one or a plurality of points may be further provided.

[0008] According to such a configuration, the resistance to snow accumulation can be further improved. One aspect of the present disclosure is an antenna fixing method for fixing an antenna to a mast. The antenna includes a rod-shaped boom, a radiator attached to the boom, a plurality of waveguides attached to the boom at intervals from the radiator to the first end side of the boom, and a reflector attached to the second end side of the radiator. In the antenna fixing method, a support body for supporting the boom at one or a plurality of points is used, and the support body is fixed to the mast above the boom.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Figure 8

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. [1. First Embodiment] [1-1. Configuration] The antenna 1 shown in FIG. 1 is mounted on, for example, a mast 90 installed on a rooftop or the like, and is used for transmitting and receiving UHF waves of horizontal polarization.

[0011] The antenna 1 includes an antenna body 10, an upper support 20, and a lower support 30. The antenna body 10 includes a boom 11, a plurality of waveguides 12, a radiator 13, and a reflector 14.

[0012] The boom 11 is a hollow tubular member. The boom 11 has a structure in which two partial booms 111 and 112 are integrated using a mounting bracket 41. Note that the boom 11 may be composed of a single member. The boom 11 is formed of, for example, an aluminum alloy or any rigid material that can be plastically deformed. The plurality of waveguides 12, the radiator 13, and the reflector 14 are attached to the boom 11 in a state of being arranged along the axial direction of the boom 11.

[0013] The radiator 13 is attached to a position closer to one end than the center in the axial direction of the boom 11. Hereinafter, the side with a longer distance from the radiator 13 to the end of the boom 11 is referred to as the front, and the opposite side is referred to as the rear. The front end of the boom 11 corresponds to the first end, and the rear end of the boom 11 corresponds to the second end.

[0014] Note that the boom 11 is assumed to be arranged in a horizontal plane, the direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane is the vertical direction, and the direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction in the horizontal plane is the lateral direction. The plurality of waveguides 12 are attached to the boom 11 in front of the radiator 13 at arbitrary intervals from each other.

[0015] The reflector 14 is attached to the end of the boom 11 behind the radiator 13. Each waveguide 12 is a so-called parasitic stack waveguide in which four elements 122 are provided in one holder 121 so that the elements 122 are arranged in an X shape.

[0016] The reflector 14 has two columns 141 erected from the rear end of the boom 11 toward the front upper direction and the front lower direction, and has a structure in which a total of six elements 142, three for each column 141, are attached along the lateral direction with a space therebetween.

[0017] The upper support 20 has a shape in which both ends of a hollow tubular member are bent in the same direction, and includes a horizontal arm portion 21 formed linearly and two support portions 22 projecting in a direction orthogonal to the horizontal arm portion 21 at both ends of the horizontal arm portion 21.

[0018] The upper support 20 is attached to the boom 11 via a mounting bracket 42 such that the horizontal arm portion 21 is arranged in parallel with the boom 11 above the boom 11 and the tips of the two support portions 22 are in contact with the upper surface of the boom 11. That is, the upper support 20 has a structure that supports the boom 11 at two points. Hereinafter, the support portion 22 located on the front side is also referred to as the front support portion 22F, and the support portion 22 located on the rear side is also referred to as the rear support portion 22B.

[0019] The horizontal arm portion 21 is attached to the mast 90 via a mounting bracket 43. The lower support 30 includes a horizontal arm portion 31 and two support portions 32, similar to the upper support 20.

[0020] The lower support 30 is attached to the boom 11 via a mounting bracket 42 such that the horizontal arm portion 31 is arranged in parallel with the boom 11 below the boom 11 and the tips of the two support portions 32 are in contact with the lower surface of the boom 11. That is, the lower support 30 has a structure that supports the boom 11 at two points. Hereinafter, the support portion 32 located on the front side is also referred to as the front support portion 32F, and the support portion 32 located on the rear side is also referred to as the rear support portion 32B.

[0021] The lower support 30 is attached to the boom 11 such that the center of the boom 11 in the axial direction (i.e., the front-rear direction) and the center of the lower support 30 attached to the boom 11 in the front-rear direction are substantially at the same position. That is, the lower support 30 is attached to the boom 11 such that the length from the front support portion 32F to the front end portion of the boom 11 and the length from the rear support portion 32B to the rear end portion of the boom 11 are substantially the same.

[0022] Here, a portion of the boom 11 that is exposed between the plurality of waveguides 12, radiators 13, and reflectors 14 attached to the boom 11 is referred to as a slot. The two support portions 32 of the lower support 30 are respectively attached to any one of the slots.

[0023] The upper support 20 is attached to the boom 11 such that the combined center of gravity of the antenna body 10 and the lower support 30 is located between the two support portions 22. Also, the two support portions 22 of the upper support 20 are attached to different slots, that is, different positions on the boom 11, from the two support portions 32 of the lower support 30. However, when it is possible to attach the two mounting brackets 42 to the same slot, the support portion 22 of the upper support 20 and the support portion 32 of the lower support 30 may be attached to the same slot.

[0024] Hereinafter, the width between the front support portion 22F and the rear support portion 22B of the upper support 20 is defined as the upper support width WU, and the width between the front support portion 32F and the rear support portion 32B of the lower support 30 is defined as the lower support width WL.

[0025] In this embodiment, the lower support width WL is about 1 / 3 to 2 / 5 of the total length of the boom 11, and the upper support width WU is about half of the lower support width WL. Also, the rear support portion 22B of the upper support 20 is located rearward of the rear support portion 32B of the lower support 30. The front support portion 22F of the upper support 20 is attached so as to be located between the front support portion 32F and the rear support portion 32B of the lower support 30.

[0026] An antenna body 10 to which an upper support 20 and a lower support 30 are attached, that is, antenna 1, has a horizontal arm portion 21 of the upper support 20 and a horizontal arm portion 31 of the lower support 30 attached to a boom 11 via mounting brackets 43, respectively. At this time, antenna 1 is attached to a mast 90 at a position closer to the rear side than the center of boom 11 so that the mast 90 is located at or near the center of gravity of antenna 1.

[0027] As the mounting bracket 42 used for fixing the boom 11 and the upper support 20 or the lower support 30, for example, a metal plate bent in a U shape is used. The boom 11 is held by the bent side ends of the mounting bracket 42, and the tip portions of the support portions 22, 32 are sandwiched from both lateral sides at the open end side of the mounting bracket 42, and the tip portion of the mounting bracket 42 is screwed. Thereby, the tips of the support portions 22, 23 and the boom 11 are fixed without processing the boom 11.

[0028] The structure of the mounting bracket 42 is not limited to this, and any structure used when erecting another columnar member on the cylindrical surface of a columnar member can be used. In particular, the mounting bracket 42 used for fixing the boom 11 and the lower support 30 may have a structure in which it is directly screwed to the boom 11 so as not to rotate with respect to the held boom 11.

[0029] The mounting bracket 43 used for fixing the upper support 20 or the lower support 30 and the mast 90 includes a base plate and a clamping plate. The base plate is attached to the horizontal arm portions 21, 31 and has two bolts erected with a width wider than the diameter of the mast 90. The base plate is attached to the horizontal arm portions 21, 31 so that the mast 90 is positioned between the two bolts. The clamping plate has two holes through which the two bolts pass. The clamping plate inserts the bolts erected from the base plate into each of the two holes, sandwiches the mast 90 together with the base plate, and fixes it by tightening the nuts attached to the bolts.

[0030] The structure of the mounting fitting 43 is not limited to this, and any structure used for fixing in a state where two columnar members are crossed can be used. [1-3. Effects] According to the first embodiment described in detail above, the following effects can be obtained.

[0031] (1a) In the antenna 1, the antenna 1 is fixed to the mast 90 above the boom 11 by using the upper support 20 provided above the antenna body 10. Therefore, compared with the conventional device that supports the antenna body 10 and fixes it to the mast 90 only with the lower support 30, the collapse of the antenna 1 due to the weight of snow accumulation can be suppressed.

[0032] (1b) In the antenna 1, even for an existing conventional device, a countermeasure against collapse can be realized only by attaching the upper support 20 to the antenna body 10 and the mast 90.

[0033] [1-4. Modification Example] In the above embodiment, as the upper support 20, one having an upper support width WU of about half of the lower support width WL is used. However, for example, as in the antenna 1a shown in FIG. 2, an upper support 20a with a shorter upper support width WU may be used. In this case, the rear support portion 22B of the upper support 20a may be attached to the boom 11 in front of the rear support portion 32B of the lower support 30. Further, the upper support width WU of the upper support 20a may be set to a size at which the two support portions 22 are fixed at the slots on both sides of the slot where the mast 90 is located. In this way, by using the upper support 20a with a small size, the influence of the upper support 20 on the antenna characteristics can be suppressed.

[0034] Also, like the antenna 1b shown in FIG. 3, a lower support 30b with a longer lower support width WL than that of the antenna 1 (for example, about 4 / 5 of the total length of the boom 11) may be used. In this case, further, one or a plurality of reinforcing pieces 33 may be provided between the boom 11 and the horizontal arm portion 31 of the lower support 30a. The reinforcing pieces 33 are attached to both the boom 11 and the horizontal arm portion 31 via mounting brackets 44 and 45. In this case, the necessary number of reinforcing pieces 33 are attached at intervals that can provide the strength required to prevent the boom 11 from bending due to snow accumulation.

[0035] In the above-described embodiment, the upper support 20 and the lower support 30 have a structure in which both ends of a hollow tubular member are bent, but the structures of the upper support 20 and the lower support 30 are not limited to this.

[0036] For example, like the antenna 1c shown in FIG. 4, the upper support 20c and the lower support 30c may each be constituted by a plurality of rod-shaped members 24 and 34. The two rod-shaped members 24 constituting the upper support 20c are each pivotally supported at one end on the upper part of the boom 11 with respect to the mast 90 so as to be rotatable, and the other ends are pivotally supported on the boom 11 in front of and behind the mast 90, respectively. That is, the upper support 20c is attached so as to form an inverted V shape above the boom 11.

[0037] The two rod-shaped members 34 constituting the lower support 30c are each pivotally supported at one end on the lower part of the boom 11 with respect to the mast 90 so as to be rotatable, and the other ends are pivotally supported on the boom 11 in front of and behind the mast 90, respectively. That is, the lower support 30c is attached so as to form a V shape below the boom 11.

[0038] In this case, the upper support 20c and the lower support 30c with a simpler structure can provide the strength to withstand snow accumulation. In the above-described embodiment, the upper support width WU is set shorter than the lower support width WL, but it is not limited to this. For example, the upper support width WU and the lower support width WL may be set to the same length. Further, for example, like the antenna 1d shown in FIG. 5, the upper support width WU by the upper support 20d may be set longer than the lower support width WL by the lower support 30d.

[0039] In this case, instead of the lower support 30d, a configuration similar to the modification examples of the above-described upper supports 20a and 20c may be applied, or instead of the upper support 20d, a configuration similar to the modification examples of the above-described lower supports 30b and 30c may be applied. For example, like the antenna 1e shown in FIG. 6, a reinforcing piece 23 similar to the above-described reinforcing piece 33 may be arranged between the upper support 20d and the boom 11.

[0040] [2. Second Embodiment] [2-1. Differences from the First Embodiment] Since the basic configuration of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, the differences will be described below. Note that the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment indicate the same configuration, and refer to the previous description.

[0041] The antenna 1 of the first embodiment described above includes both an upper support 20 and a lower support 30. In contrast, as shown in FIG. 7, the antenna 1f of the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the lower support 30 is omitted, and only the upper support 20 supports the antenna body 10 and is fixed to the mast 90.

[0042] In this case, for the mounting bracket 42 that attaches the upper support 20 to the boom 11 and the mounting bracket 43 that attaches the upper support 20 to the mast 90, a load is suppressed from being applied in a direction other than the direction in which the weight of the antenna body 10 is added (i.e., downward direction) due to snow accumulation.

[0043] [2-2. Effects] According to the second embodiment described in detail above, the effect (1a) of the first embodiment described above is achieved, and further, the following effects are achieved.

[0044] (2a) According to the antenna 1f, collapse due to snow accumulation can be suppressed with a simpler configuration. [2-3. Modification Example] In the antenna 1f of the second embodiment, instead of the upper support 20, an upper support 20a with a shorter upper support width WU shown in FIG. 3 or an upper support 20d with a longer upper support width WU shown in FIG. 5 may be used.

[0045] Similar to the antenna 1c shown in FIG. 4, in the antenna 1f, instead of the upper support 20, an upper support 20c having a shape in which two rod-shaped members 24 are connected in an inverted V shape may be used.

[0046] Similar to the antenna 1e shown in FIG. 6, in the antenna 1f, a reinforcing piece 23 may be arranged between the upper support 20 and the boom 11. [3. Reference Embodiment] In the antenna 1 of the first embodiment, both the upper support 20 and the lower support 30 are provided. However, as in the antenna 1g shown in FIG. 8, the upper support 20 may be omitted, and instead, the boom 11 of the antenna body 10 may be fixed to the mast 90 via a mounting fitting 46. The mounting fitting 46 corresponds to the boom fixing portion. Also, instead of the mounting fitting 46, both the boom 11 and the mast 90 may be fixed by a bolt or the like passing through them.

[0047] According to such a configuration, for an existing conventional device composed of the antenna body 10 and the lower support 30, collapse due to snow accumulation can be suppressed by a simple method of fixing the portion where the boom 11 and the mast 90 intersect.

[0048] [4. Other Embodiments] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the foregoing embodiments and can be implemented with various modifications.

[0049] (4a) In the first and second embodiments, the boom 11 and the mast 90 are not directly fixed, but the boom 11 and the mast 90 may be directly fixed as in the reference embodiment.

[0050] (4b) In the antenna 1b shown in FIG. 3 and the antenna 1e shown in FIG. 6, reinforcing pieces 23 and 33 are inserted between the longer supports 20d and 30b of the upper supports 20a, 20d and the lower supports 30b, 30d and the boom 11. It is not limited to this, and the reinforcing pieces 23 and 33 may be inserted between any of the upper supports 20, 20a, 20c, 20d and the lower supports 30, 30a to 30d and the boom 11.

[0051] (4c) In the above-described embodiments, the upper supports 20, 20a, 20d and the lower supports 30, 30b, 30d include two support portions 22 and 32 formed integrally with the horizontal arm portions 21 and 31. The number of the support portions 22 and 32 formed integrally with the horizontal arm portions 21 and 31 is not limited to two, and may be one or three or more. Furthermore, the upper supports 20, 20a, 20d and the lower supports 30, 30b, 30d may be configured by omitting the support portions 22 and 32 and including the horizontal arm portions 21 and 31 and a plurality of detachable reinforcing pieces 23 and 33.

[0052] (4d) In the antenna 1c shown in FIG. 4, the fixed positions on the mast 90 side of the two rod-shaped members 24 and 34 constituting the upper support 20c and the lower support 30c are set at the same height so as to be V-shaped or inverted V-shaped, but they may be set at different heights. Also, the number of the rod-shaped members 24 and 34 may be one or three or more.

[0053] (4e)A plurality of functions of one component in the above embodiment may be realized by a plurality of components, or one function of one component may be realized by a plurality of components. Further, a plurality of functions of a plurality of components may be realized by one component, or one function realized by a plurality of components may be realized by one component. Further, a part of the configuration of the above embodiment may be omitted. Further, at least a part of the configuration of the above embodiment may be added to or replaced with the configuration of another above embodiment.

[0054] (4f)In addition to the antenna described above, the present disclosure can also be realized in various forms such as a system having the antenna as a component and an antenna fixing method. [5. Technical idea disclosed in this specification] [Item 1] An antenna body including a rod-shaped boom, a radiator attached to the boom, a plurality of waveguides attached to the boom at intervals from the radiator toward the first end side of the boom, and a reflector attached to the second end side of the radiator; An upper support fixed to a mast above the boom and supporting the boom at one or more points; An antenna comprising.

[0055] [Item 2] The antenna according to Item 1, A lower support fixed to the mast below the boom and supporting the boom at one or more points An antenna further comprising.

[0056] [Item 3] The antenna according to Item 2, Both the upper support and the lower support support the boom at a plurality of points, The upper support width, which is the length between both ends where the upper support supports the boom, and the lower support width, which is the length between both ends where the lower support supports the boom, are set to different lengths An antenna.

[0057] [Item 4] The antenna according to Item 3, wherein the upper support width is set shorter than the lower support width antenna.

[0058] [Item 5] The antenna according to Item 3, wherein the upper support width is set longer than the lower support width antenna.

[0059] [Item 6] The antenna according to any one of Items 2 to 5, wherein at least one of the upper support and the lower support is fixed to the mast so as to be parallel to the boom, and has a horizontal arm portion, a plurality of support portions that project from the horizontal arm portion toward the boom and support the mast at their tips, and includes antenna.

[0060] [Item 7] The antenna according to Item 6, wherein at least a part of the plurality of support portions is integrally formed with the horizontal arm portion antenna.

[0061] [Item 8] The antenna according to Item 6 or Item 7, wherein at least a part of the plurality of support portions is formed separately from the horizontal arm portion and is configured to be attached to both the horizontal arm portion and the boom antenna.

[0062] [Item 9] The antenna according to any one of Items 2 to 5, wherein at least one of the upper support and the lower support includes one or more struts having one end fixed to the mast and supporting the boom at the other end Antenna.

[0063] [Item 10] An antenna body comprising a rod-shaped boom, a radiator attached to the boom, a plurality of waveguides attached to the boom at intervals from the radiator toward the first end side of the boom, and a reflector attached to the second end side from the radiator, A lower support fixed to a mast below the boom and supporting the boom at one or a plurality of points, A boom fixing portion for fixing the boom to the mast at a portion where the boom and the mast are in contact with each other, An antenna comprising the above.

[0064] [Item 11] An antenna fixing method for fixing an antenna comprising a rod-shaped boom, a radiator attached to the boom, a plurality of waveguides attached to the boom at intervals from the radiator toward the first end side of the boom, and a reflector attached to the second end side from the radiator to a mast, Using a support for supporting the boom at one or a plurality of points and fixing the support to the mast above the boom Antenna fixing method.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0065] 1, 1a~1g... Antenna, 10... Antenna body, 11... Boom, 12... Waveguide, 13... Radiator, 14... Reflector, 20, 20a, 20c, 20d... Upper support, 21, 31... Horizontal arm portion, 22, 32... Support portion, 23, 33... Reinforcing piece, 24, 34... Rod-shaped member, 30, 30a~30d... Lower support, 41~46... Mounting fitting, 90... Mast, 111, 112... Partial boom, 121... Holder, 122, 142... Element, 141... Support column.

Claims

1. An antenna body comprising a rod-shaped boom, a radiator attached to the boom, a plurality of waveguides attached to the boom at intervals on the first end side of the boom from the radiator, and a reflector attached on the second end side from the radiator; an upper support fixed to the mast above the boom and supporting the boom at one or more points; An antenna comprising the above.

2. The antenna according to Claim 1, further comprising: a lower support fixed to the mast below the boom and supporting the boom at one or more points. An antenna further comprising the above.

3. An antenna fixing method for fixing an antenna comprising a rod-shaped boom, a radiator attached to the boom, a plurality of waveguides attached to the boom at intervals on the first end side of the boom from the radiator, and a reflector attached on the second end side from the radiator, to a mast, the method comprising: using a support for supporting the boom at one or more points, and fixing the support to the mast above the boom. An antenna fixing method.

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