Antenna Mount Adapter for NATO Compatibility on Armored Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Military vehicles with non-NATO antenna mount configurations cannot accommodate NATO-standard antennas without modification, and existing mounts are not robust enough to withstand the forces experienced by armored vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A rugged antenna mount adapter with an upper and lower member, featuring flanges and screw threads, allows secure attachment to non-NATO vehicles without modifying the exterior, providing a water-tight seal and accommodating various armor thicknesses, enabling the use of NATO-standard antennas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an existing antenna mount is used on a non-NATO armored vehicle, then the vehicle can maintain its original mounting configuration, but it cannot accommodate NATO-standard antennas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an adapter assembly as an intermediary device that bridges the incompatibility between non-NATO vehicle mounting openings and NATO-standard antennas. The adapter includes a first portion that attaches to the vehicle's existing opening and a second portion that provides NATO-standard mounting threads, thereby enabling compatibility without modifying the vehicle's original configuration or requiring complex structural changes
2Strength
If a standard antenna mount is used on armored vehicles, then installation is simple, but it cannot withstand the substantial forces experienced by armored vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter assembly is divided into distinct segments: a first portion for attaching to the vehicle mounting opening and a second portion for receiving the NATO antenna. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function - the first portion can be designed to distribute and withstand substantial forces from the armored vehicle environment, while the second portion maintains NATO standard compatibility, thereby achieving both strength and functional requirements without excessive overall complexity
3Adaptability or versatility
If the armor thickness varies on different vehicles, then vehicles can have different protection levels, but a single antenna mount design cannot fit all vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter assembly incorporates dynamic adjustment capabilities that allow it to adapt to varying armor thicknesses. The mounting mechanism can be adjusted or reconfigured to accommodate different distances between the exterior and interior surfaces of the armor plate, enabling the same adapter design to fit vehicles with different protection levels without requiring complex customizations for each thickness variation
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns a rugged antenna mount adapter (100) for mounting an antenna (112) used by NATO vehicles to an existing antenna mount opening (113) of a non-NATO type armored vehicle, regardless of the thickness of the armor (110) on the vehicle. The antenna mount adapter has an upper member (116) and a lower member (118). The upper member (116) has two flanges (120, 122) separated by a hollow cylindrical body (116) having internal threads (134). The top flange (120) is adapted to receive a NATO style antenna and the bottom flange (122) is adapted to be attached to the outside surface and aligned with the antenna mount opening (113) of a non-NATO type armored vehicle. The lower member (118) is a hollow cylindrical body having a flange (140) at one end and a screw thread (136) which extends along the outside surface of the cylinder at the other end. The screw thread end of the lower member is designed to screw into the upper member from the interior of the vehicle until the flange on the lower member abuts the inside wall of the vehicle.