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US-12627025-B2 - Antenna support system

US12627025B2US 12627025 B2US12627025 B2US 12627025B2US-12627025-B2

Abstract

An antenna support system has a mast ( 10 ) comprising a first structural mast member ( 102 ), the first structural mast member ( 102 ) having a structural portion ( 120 ) for bearing at least part of the mast load in use a mounting portion ( 122 ) for attachment of an antenna. The structural portion and the mounting portion are formed as part of a first structural mast member cross-section. A first and second steering unit ( 142 ) is provided for mounting an antenna ( 116 ) for rotational movement relative to the mast in use.

Inventors

  • Dimitris Kolokotronis

Assignees

  • Dimitris Kolokotronis

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20220608
Priority Date
20210608

Claims (19)

  1. 1 . An antenna support system comprising: a mast comprising a first mast member, the first mast member having: a structural portion for bearing at least part of a mast load in use; and, a mounting portion; wherein the structural portion and the mounting portion are formed as part of a unitary first structural mast member cross-section; a first steering unit having a first steering unit steering axis; a second steering unit having a second steering unit steering axis; a first antenna; wherein the first steering unit and the second steering unit are mounted to the mounting portion of the first mast member such that the first steering unit steering axis and the second steering unit steering axis are aligned, and, wherein the first antenna is mounted to the first steering unit and the second steering unit for rotational movement relative to the mast in use.
  2. 2 . An antenna support system according to claim 1 , wherein the first mast member is extruded along a primary axis.
  3. 3 . An antenna support system according to claim 1 , wherein the structural portion is a hollow section.
  4. 4 . An antenna support system according to claim 3 , wherein the hollow section is one of circular and polygonal.
  5. 5 . An antenna support system according to claim 4 , wherein the mounting portion extends radially from the hollow section.
  6. 6 . An antenna support system according to claim 5 , wherein the mounting portion comprises first and second spaced-apart, parallel arms and a mounting flange connected to the arms, distal to the hollow section.
  7. 7 . An antenna support system according to claim 6 , wherein the mounting flange extends outwardly of the arms to form a “T” shape in cross section.
  8. 8 . An antenna support system according to claim 4 , wherein the mounting portion comprises first and second parallel flanges extending from either side of a side of the polygonal cross section.
  9. 9 . An antenna support system according to claim 1 , wherein the structural portion is an angle section.
  10. 10 . An antenna support system according to claim 8 , wherein the mounting portion comprises first and second spaced-apart, parallel arms and a mounting flange connection to the arms, distal to the angle section.
  11. 11 . An antenna support system according to claim 8 , wherein the angle section comprises a first leg and a second leg, and wherein the first structural mast member comprises a first mounting portion extending from the first leg and a second mounting portion extending from the second leg.
  12. 12 . An antenna support system according to claim 1 , wherein the mounting portion comprises a plurality of through-bores for the attachment of the first steering unit and second steering unit.
  13. 13 . An antenna support system according to claim 11 , wherein the mounting portion forms a first flat plate having the plurality of through-bores formed therethrough the plate extending to either side of the structural portion.
  14. 14 . An antenna support system according to claim 1 , wherein the mounting portion is a first mounting portion, and wherein the first mast member comprises a second mounting portion, the first and second mounting portions being unitary with the structural portion.
  15. 15 . An antenna support system according to claim 14 , wherein the first and second mounting portions are equally spaced around a primary axis of the structural portion.
  16. 16 . An antenna support system according to claim 14 , comprising: a third steering unit; and wherein the third steering unit is mounted to the second mounting portion, and wherein the second antenna is mounted to the third steering unit for rotational movement relative to the mast in use.
  17. 17 . An antenna support system according to claim 1 , wherein the cross-section of the first mast member including the structural portion and mounting portion is constant along its length at, and between, the first and second steering units.
  18. 18 . A method of manufacturing a structural mast member for a cellular antenna mast comprising the steps of: providing an extrusion die defining an aperture having: a structural portion for bearing at least part of the mast load in use; and, a mounting portion for attachment of an antenna; extruding a structural mast member using the die; forming openings in the mounting portion; providing a first antenna steering unit having a first steering unit axis; providing a second antenna steering unit having a second steering unit axis; attaching the first antenna steering unit and the second antenna steering unit to the mounting portion such that the first steering unit steering axis and the second steering unit steering axis are aligned; providing an antenna; mounting the antenna to the first steering unit and the second steering unit.
  19. 19 . An antenna support system comprising: a mast comprising a first mast member, the first mast member having: a structural portion for bearing at least part of a mast load in use; and, a first mounting portion; a second mounting portion; wherein the structural portion, the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion are formed as part of a unitary first structural mast member cross-section; a first steering unit; a second steering; a first antenna; a second antenna; wherein the first steering unit is mounted to the first mounting portion, the second steering unit is mounted to the second mounting portion; and, wherein the first antenna is mounted to the first steering unit for rotational movement relative to the mast in use and the second antenna is mounted to the second steering unit for rotational movement relative to the mast in use.

Description

PRIORITY The present application is related to, and claims the priority benefit of, and is a 35 U.S.C. 371 national stage application of, International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2022/065589, filed Jun. 8, 2022, which is related to, and claims the priority benefit of Great Britian Patent Application No. 2108171.6, filed Jun. 8, 2021. The contents of the aforementioned applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties into this disclosure. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an antenna support system. More specifically, the present invention relates to an antenna support system comprising a structural mast member having mounting formation(s) for the attachment of one or more modern, steerable cellular antennas. BACKGROUND ART By ‘modern’ cellular antennas we mean 5G technology and beyond, MIMO and massive-MIMO, multi-band, multi-beam, multi-directional, active or passive antennas. Since the early days of mobile communication technology back in the 1990's, directional cellular antennas on towers and masts have been installed using the same principle. The antennas have to be placed high up, away from the ground, in order to reduce the RF path-loss effects (or RF signal attenuation). The antennas also need to point in specific directions in the horizontal plane (i.e., at an azimuth angle about a vertical axis-alignment of the antenna directionality with respect to North) and in the vertical plane (i.e., tilt angle about an horizontal axis-alignment of the antenna directionality with respect to the earth's centre of gravity) in order to satisfy certain RF planning criteria for optimum coverage, capacity and quality of wireless communications. To install antennas at a specified height from the ground, mobile communication networks worldwide adopted the engineering and design of very well-known tower and mast types such as lattice and pole systems. The terms “mast” and “tower” are often used interchangeably, and it is to be understood that the term “mast” is used in this application to cover both masts and towers. However, it will be noted that in structural engineering terms, a tower is a self-supporting or cantilevered structure, while a mast is held up by stays or guys. The self-supported lattice is the most widespread form of construction. It provides high strength, low weight and low wind resistance, and is economic in its use of materials. Lattices of triangular cross-section are most common, and square lattices are also widely used. Guyed lattice masts are also often used; the supporting guy lines carry lateral forces such as wind loads, allowing the mast to be very narrow and of modular construction. The entire structure is constructed by creating a series of horizontal ladders, or internal triangular structures, that secure the tower's three, or four base legs. Guyed masts are also constructed out of steel tubes. Last but not least monopole rooftop masts (which may be covered with camouflage and/or a radome) have been installed on top of many buildings. With the advent of urban mobile communications, developers wanted a more efficient way to construct and operate low-height elevation systems for aesthetic reasons. They conceived the idea of the monopole rooftop configuration, a lattice mast with a pole on top used for antenna mounting. These configurations became more fashionable once alternative construction materials began to exhibit greater strength and flexibility without failing. Today these free-standing masts are fabricated from various materials. In order to install the antennas on towers and masts at specified directions with respect to North (azimuth alignment) and the earth's centre of gravity (tilt alignment), the industry adopted the engineering and design of antenna azimuth and tilt mounting brackets. The legacy antenna tilt bracket is a standard antenna accessory, delivered with the specific antenna purchased, and as such we will not further describe the various types of tilt bracket here. The most common type of antenna azimuth bracket in the field comprises a set of collars that are mounted on one side at the antenna tilt bracket and on the other side are fixed on a pole. Azimuth alignment is performed by loosening the collars, aligning the antenna and tightening the collars on the pole. More sophisticated antenna azimuth brackets are described in detail in the applicant's co-pending applications published as WO2019/110697 and WO2021/074335 (incorporated by reference where permissible). Radio coverage of each antenna needs to be decided according to radio planning criteria. On a typical 3-sector site, each directional antenna needs to be capable of 120 degrees azimuth and 20 degrees tilt range (10 degrees up-tilt and 10 degrees down-tilt). Even fully equipped with both azimuth and tilt brackets, an antenna cannot be directly installed on the mast structure and still be capable of full movement in both azimuth and tilt directions. The main reason for that