Antenna Positioning Mechanism With Non-Linear Key Track
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Solution Overview
Problem
Antenna positioning mechanisms often result in unwanted deflection and vibration, leading to loss of beam pointing accuracy due to their design, which does not adequately support long antennas with varying peripheries during rotational movement.
Innovation Solution
A guide and track assembly system where a track member with a non-linear key is coupled to a guide member, allowing the antenna to rotate freely about its longitudinal axis, with an actuating mechanism for precise movement, and featuring elastomeric components to reduce friction and accommodate non-constant curvature, thereby minimizing deflection and vibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a gimbal mechanism is used to permit rotation of the antenna, then rotational freedom is achieved, but unwanted deflection and vibration occur leading to loss of beam pointing accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna support system is divided into multiple segments: a guide member fixed to the support, a track member coupled to the antenna, and an intercoupling mechanism between them. This segmentation allows the antenna to rotate freely while distributing support points along the antenna length, reducing deflection and vibration that would occur with a single-point support system.
Solution Approach 2:
The track member acts as an intermediary element between the guide member and the antenna. It provides a controlled interface that permits rotational movement while maintaining precise positioning, thereby enabling rotational freedom without sacrificing beam pointing accuracy.
2Device complexity
If the track member rotates about a fixed axis, then the mechanism is simpler, but it cannot accommodate antennas with varying or non-constant periphery
Solution Approach 1:
The rotational axis of the track member is made dynamic rather than fixed. As the track member rotates along the guide member, the rotational axis moves to accommodate the varying periphery of the antenna. This dynamic adjustment allows the mechanism to work with antennas of different shapes and sizes without requiring complex reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of rotational axis position dynamically during operation. By allowing the rotational axis to move as the track member rotates, the system adapts to the varying geometry of the antenna periphery while maintaining a relatively simple overall mechanism structure.
3Reliability
If multiple support points are provided along the antenna, then deflection and vibration are reduced, but the mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple support functions are merged into a single integrated track member that runs along the antenna. Rather than having separate support mechanisms at different locations, the track member provides continuous support along the antenna length, reducing deflection and vibration while avoiding the complexity of multiple independent support systems.
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna pointing mechanism for pointing an antenna includes a guide and track assembly. The guide and track assembly has a guide member fixable to a support, such as a flying vehicle, and a track member coupled to the guide member and fixable to the antenna. The track member is movable along the guide member for rotating the antenna relative to the support. The track member has a key that extends about a periphery of the antenna along a path having a portion that is non-linear. The key is received by a slot of the guide member. At each location of the track member relative to the guide member, the track member rotates about a rotational axis that is spaced from a coupling location of the track member with the guide member.