Foldable Radome Using Snap-Fit Rim Segments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radomes for reflector antennas are either expensive to manufacture or labor-intensive to install and remove, with rigid polymer covers being costly and semi-rigid covers having transport issues, while flexible fabric covers require significant labor for installation and removal.
Innovation Solution
A foldable radome design featuring a fabric face with a supporting peripheral rim formed from injection-molded polymer rim segments that snap fit together, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly, with radial tabs securing the fabric to the rim segments and a compact folding mechanism for transportation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If rigid or semi-rigid dielectric polymer covers are used, then wind load reduction and protection are improved, but manufacturing cost and transport difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The radome is divided into multiple fabric panels that can be separately manufactured and then assembled together using connection elements. This segmentation allows each panel to be produced more efficiently and transported more easily, while the assembled structure provides the required wind load reduction and protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The radome combines fabric material with a tensioning structure comprising connection elements and support members to create a composite system. This composite structure achieves the protective function of rigid radomes while using lighter, more cost-effective materials that are easier to manufacture and transport.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If rigid or semi-rigid dielectric polymer covers are used, then wind load reduction and protection are improved, but transportability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The radome is divided into multiple fabric panels that can be separately manufactured and then assembled together using connection elements. This segmentation allows each panel to be produced more efficiently and transported more easily, while the assembled structure provides the required wind load reduction and protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The radome employs a flexible, tensioned fabric structure that can be dynamically assembled and disassembled. The connection elements allow the panels to be joined together to form the complete radome structure when needed, and separated for compact transport when not in use.
3Ease of manufacture
If flexible fabric covers are used, then transportability and cost are improved, but installation and removal labor intensity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radome is divided into multiple fabric panels that can be separately manufactured and then assembled together using connection elements. This segmentation allows each panel to be produced more efficiently and transported more easily, while the assembled structure provides the required wind load reduction and protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection elements are designed to enable straightforward assembly and disassembly of the fabric panels without requiring specialized tools or extensive labor. The self-contained connection mechanism allows for easy installation and removal while maintaining structural integrity.
Data Source
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AI summary
In one embodiment, a foldable radome sub-assembly for an antenna reflector dish has flexible material connected to a plurality of rigid rim segments. Connection elements (e.g., inserts) are configured to interconnect two adjacent rim segments, such that, with the connection elements applied, the radome sub-assembly is configured as a radome connectable to the antenna reflector dish, and, without the connection elements applied, the radome sub-assembly is foldable between adjacent rim segments. The foldable radome sub-assembly can be folded up for efficient storage and shipping, yet is easy to configure in the field into a rigid radome for attachment to an antenna reflector dish.