FRP Antenna Frame Assemblies for Passive Intermodulation Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional telecommunications structures using metal components and mechanical connections suffer from unwanted passive intermodulation (PIM) due to vibration transfer and metal usage near antennas, which affects technical performance and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
The use of fiber-reinforced polymer vertical members with passive intermodulation reducing members, such as clevises, clamp members, and polymeric sleeves, which secure the fiber-reinforced polymer vertical members to horizontal members without applying a clamp load, thereby reducing PIM.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional metal components and mechanical connections are used in telecommunications structures, then structural strength and ease of manufacture are improved, but passive intermodulation increases due to vibration transfer and metal usage near antennas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts metal components from the antenna support structure, replacing steel pipes and mechanical connections with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) materials. This removal of metal elements eliminates the primary sources of passive intermodulation while maintaining structural integrity through composite materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials to replace traditional metal components. The FRP vertical members and horizontal members provide the necessary structural strength without the harmful electromagnetic properties of metal, thereby reducing passive intermodulation while maintaining mechanical performance.
2Ease of manufacture
If metal components are used in telecommunications structures, then ease of manufacture and structural support are improved, but passive intermodulation increases affecting technical performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes metal components from the antenna support structure, replacing them with FRP materials that can be manufactured using composite fabrication processes. This extraction eliminates passive intermodulation sources while maintaining manufacturability through established composite material techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses fiber-reinforced polymer composite materials to replace metal components, providing an alternative manufacturing approach that eliminates passive intermodulation while maintaining structural performance and ease of manufacture through composite material processing.
3Ease of operation
If mechanical connections are used to secure pipes together, then structural support and ease of operation are improved, but vibration transfer increases creating unwanted passive intermodulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts traditional mechanical connections (U-bolts, pipe clamps) from the antenna support structure and replaces them with FRP-to-FRP joining methods. This elimination of metal-to-metal mechanical connections removes the vibration transfer pathway that causes passive intermodulation while maintaining ease of assembly through composite material joining techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs fiber-reinforced polymer materials for both the structural members and their connections, creating FRP-to-FRP joints that eliminate vibration transfer between metal components. The composite material properties provide adequate structural support while preventing the mechanical vibration coupling that generates passive intermodulation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively mitigates PIM by reducing metal usage and vibration transfer, improving technical performance while lowering installation costs and maintaining structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
The passive intermodulation reducing member secures the fiber-reinforced polymer vertical members to the horizontal members without applying a clamp load thereby reducing passive intermodulation
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes a telecommunications structure. The telecommunications structure includes an antenna frame including a plurality of horizontal members and a plurality of vertical members mounted on the horizontal members, wherein one or more of the vertical members are formed of a fiber-reinforced polymer and at least one piece of telecommunications equipment mounted on one of the fiber-reinforced polymer vertical members. Assemblies including passive intermodulation reducing mechanical connections are also described herein.