Tower sector frame antenna mount

Abstract

An improvement for an aluminum lattice sector frame of the type used for supporting wireless communications antennas and designed to be mounted on a communication tower, is provided. Mating extruded components are used to provide fixed connections which restrict relative rotation and translation between connected parts while presenting a round tubular outside cross-sectional profile thereby reducing the effective projected wind load area of the frame. The fixed component connections greatly reduce the overall deflection of the frame under applied combined dead, wind and ice loading.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to mounting system frames used to support wireless communications antennas. Such mounting frames are used to position the communications antennas at an appropriate location to allow the antennas to function. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to mounting system frames used to support wireless communications antennas. Such mounting frames are used to position the communications antennas at an appropriate location to allow the antennas to function. The most common application is to mount the antenna frame to a communications tower. The frame is designed to support the loads applied to the antennas as well as to the frame itself and then transfer the loads into the supporting communications tower. Typical loads that must be considered are dead gravity loads (e.g., self weight, and man loads and ice accumulation), wind, and ice accumulated on the antennas and the frame and dynamic loads such as wind effects. Various...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] The present invention improves existing frames by utilizing light weight aluminum mated extrusion designs which restrict the rotation and translation of individual structural members within the frame. The improved frame is constructed of custom designed tubular sections which form the upper and lower beams of the frame. Tubular column members are used to connect the upper and lower beams establishing the appropriate vertical spacing between the beam members. Additional tubular members are installed at an angle in a fixed angular orientation relative to the upper and lower beams forming truss style webbing, which increases the rigidity of the entire frame. The interior cross-sections of the tubes of the tubular members are designed to mate with extruded inserts in a manner which limits any relative rotation between connected components. Additionally, bolts pass through the tube and the internal mated extrusion establishing a fixed connection that can neither rotate nor translate. Since the connections are made with internal fittings the round external cross-section profiles of the structural shapes are maintained, reducing and thus minimizing the overall effective projected wind load area of the frame.

[0008] When fixed connections between components are used, the application of loads results in the development of tension, compression and bending forces within individual members of the frame. Open structural shapes such as angles and channels are highly susceptible to combined compression and bending. Specifically, local or member buckling can occur. Tubular shapes are considered closed structural shapes, meaning they are not as likely to buckle when subjected to combined compression and bending, making the improved design very stable thus providing another benefit of the present invention.

[0009] The current invention mounts to a communications tower using custom extrusion designs which allow and permit attachment of the frame to attach to either round tubular or structural angle tower members forming the tower. Antennas are attached to the front face of the frame using custom designed pipe clamps. The tubular construction of the mounting face allows the antennas to be easily adjusted and positioned located anywhere along the length of the front face.

Problems solved by technology

When fixed connections between components are used, the application of loads results in the development of tension, compression and bending forces within individual members of the frame.

Open structural shapes such as angles and channels are highly susceptible to combined compression and bending.

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