Pivoting Vehicle Antenna Mount Bracket for Tight Clearance Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In automotive vehicles, the installation of mast-type antennas is challenging due to tight clearances around the antenna base, often requiring more than the desired 100mm hand insertion clearance, leading to the replacement of mast antennas with other styles which are less economical.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle antenna assembly with a mounting bracket that includes an elongated mast section and a base section, featuring a middle section and a vehicle attachment section with a fulcrum point for pivoting, allowing the antenna to be mounted in tight spaces by supporting the base section above a vehicle attachment plane.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mast type antenna is installed in a desired location, then effective radio wave reception is achieved, but the hand insertion clearance of at least a one hundred millimeter sphere is required which is often not available in tight clearance areas
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bracket is divided into multiple functional sections: an antenna attachment section that interfaces with the antenna base, a middle section that provides structural support, and a vehicle attachment section that interfaces with the vehicle body. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized for its specific function, enabling installation in tight clearances while maintaining reception quality
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle attachment section extends from the middle section in a radial direction with respect to the center longitudinal axis of the mast section, creating a L-shaped configuration. This dimensional change allows the antenna to be mounted in areas with limited linear clearance by utilizing radial space instead, effectively bypassing the one hundred millimeter sphere clearance requirement
2Ease of manufacture
If a mast type antenna is used, then economical antenna solution is provided, but installation in tight clearance areas beneath body panels is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bracket incorporates a fulcrum point that allows pivoting motion during installation. The vehicle attachment section can pivot about the fulcrum point to move the vehicle facing support surface towards the vehicle body, enabling the installer to maneuver the antenna into tight spaces and achieve proper positioning without requiring excessive clearance
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting bracket serves as an intermediary component between the antenna and the vehicle body. It provides a vehicle facing support surface that interfaces with the vehicle, allowing the antenna to be securely mounted in tight clearance areas while maintaining the economical mast type antenna design
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle antenna assembly is provided with an antenna and a mounting bracket. The antenna includes an elongated mast section and a base section. The mounting bracket includes a first end with an antenna attachment section fixed to the base section of the antenna, a middle section extending downwardly from the antenna attachment section, and a second end with a vehicle attachment section extending from the middle section in a radial direction with respect to a center longitudinal axis of the elongated mast section as viewed along the center longitudinal axis of the elongated mast section. The middle section includes a fulcrum point arranged to engage a portion of the vehicle for pivoting the mounting bracket about the fulcrum point to move the vehicle facing support surface towards the vehicle.