Radome Attachment Device Using Adhesive Bonding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for fixing a rigid radome on a parabolic antenna are costly, complex, and degrade radio performance due to the high number of metal bolts and perforations required, especially for non-thermoformable materials like sandwich-type materials, which also face challenges in withstanding high wind forces and easy assembly/disassembly.
Innovation Solution
The use of plastic half-flanges with reliefs and protuberances that penetrate into the radome material for secure attachment without drilling, combined with a metallic rim for enhanced strength and reduced parts, allowing for a low-cost, efficient assembly method that maintains radio performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If multiple metal bolts are used to fix the radome on the reflector, then the mechanical strength and resistance to wind forces is improved, but the radio performance degrades due to roughness and metal interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical fastening system (metal bolts) with an adhesive bonding system. The adhesive layer provides the necessary mechanical strength to resist wind forces up to 250 km/h while eliminating metal contact with the radome surface, thus preserving radio performance by removing roughness and electromagnetic interference from metal fasteners
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the bonding mechanism from mechanical (bolts creating physical contact and roughness) to chemical (adhesive creating a smooth bonding layer). This parameter change in the fastening method eliminates the harmful surface roughness that degrades radio performance while maintaining or improving mechanical strength through the adhesive's bonding properties
2Reliability
If a rigid radome is used instead of a flexible radome, then the resistance to external climatic environment is improved, but the fixing system becomes more complex requiring multiple bolts and perforations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical fastening system requiring multiple bolts and perforations with a simple adhesive bonding system. This substitution maintains the structural integrity needed for rigid radomes while dramatically simplifying the fixing process to a single adhesive application step, reducing both installation complexity and potential failure points
3Ease of manufacture
If thermoforming process is used to create a folded edge on the radome, then the attachment to the skirt is facilitated, but the manufacturing cost increases and the method is not applicable to sandwich-type materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermoforming process (which requires high temperature equipment and is material-specific) with an adhesive bonding approach. This substitution eliminates the need for complex thermal processing equipment and enables universal application across different radome materials including sandwich-type structures, while achieving the same goal of facilitating secure attachment to the skirt
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material processing approach from thermal (requiring high temperature and material-specific properties) to chemical (using adhesive bonding that works with various materials). This parameter change expands material compatibility to include sandwich-type structures while simplifying the manufacturing process by eliminating specialized thermoforming equipment requirements
4Strength
If additional flanges and multiple screws are added to fix the radome, then the mechanical strength is improved, but the production cost and manufacturing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate fastening operations (drilling holes, inserting bolts, tightening nuts) into a single adhesive application operation. This consolidation eliminates the need for additional flanges and multiple screws, reducing the number of manufacturing steps while maintaining the necessary mechanical strength through the adhesive's bonding capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the complex fastening components (flanges, screws, bolts, nuts) from the assembly, retaining only the essential function of mechanical bonding through adhesive. This extraction eliminates unnecessary parts and simplifies the manufacturing process, improving productivity while maintaining structural integrity
Data Source
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AI summary
The assembly device for fixing an element with a flat rim to a support comprises: - an upper half-flange having a first face and a second face adapted to cooperate with a face of the flat rim, the second face having ridges adapted to penetrate the material constituting the flat rim, - a lower half-flange having a first face having a first face and a second face adapted to cooperate with an opposite face of the flat rim, the second face having ridges adapted to penetrate the material constituting the flat rim, and a second face adapted to cooperate with the support, - a U-shaped rim having a first arm cooperating with the first face of the upper half-flange and the second arm cooperating with the first face of the first face of the lower half-flange so as to secure the upper half-flange with the lower half-flange.