Antenna feed-tube-to-amplifier coupling
View Patent ↗A first set of screws secures a Cassegrain-configuration microwave antenna's primary reflector to its low-noise block down-converter without additionally securing that reflector or the low-noise block down-converter to the antenna's feed tube, which a second set of screws separately secures to the low-noise block down-converter.
1. A microwave antenna that includes:
A) a base;
B) a primary reflector that forms a central opening, is pivotably mounted on the base, and is so shaped as to define a reflector axis such that the primary reflector directs microwaves received from parallel to the axis to a focal region located on the reflector axis in front of the primary reflector;
C) a sub-reflector so shaped and positioned in the focal region as to reflect microwaves that the primary reflector has directed to the focal region;
D) a low-noise block down-converter of which at least most is disposed behind the primary reflector;
E) a feed tube that forms a feed-tube mouth and is so shaped and positioned as to direct through the central opening and into the low-noise block converter microwaves reflected by the sub-reflector after having been directed to the focal region by the primary reflector;
F) a set of at least one first fastener that secures the primary reflector to the low-noise block down-converter or the feed tube without securing the primary reflector to the other of the low-noise block down-converter and the feed tube; and
G) a set of at least one second fastener, separate from every said first fastener, that secures the feed tube to the low-noise block converter;
wherein each said first fastener secures the primary reflector to the low-noise block down-converter without securing the primary reflector to the feed tube.
2. A microwave antenna as defined in claim 1 wherein:
A) the microwave antenna further includes a gyroscope bracket and a gyroscope mounted thereon;
B) the first fasteners so urge the primary reflector and low-noise block down-converter toward each other as to secure the gyroscope bracket between the primary reflector and low-noise block down-converter.
3. A microwave antenna as defined in claim 1 wherein the feed tube includes a feed-tube flange that forms feed-tube fastener holes through which the second fasteners extend.
4. A microwave antenna as defined in claim 3 wherein the feed-tube flange forms tabs through which the second fasteners extend.
5. A microwave antenna as defined in claim 4 wherein each said second fastener is a screw that threadedly engages the feed tube or the low-noise block down-converter.
6. A microwave antenna as defined in claim 4 wherein:
A) the tabs are separated by notches;
B) the primary reflector forms fastener holes aligned with the notches; and
C) the first fasteners extend through the fastener holes thus aligned.
7. A microwave antenna as defined in claim 6 wherein each said first fastener is a screw that threadedly engages the feed tube or the low-noise block down-converter.
8. A microwave antenna that includes:
A) a base;
B) a primary reflector that forms a central opening, is pivotably mounted on the base, and is so shaped as to define a reflector axis such that the primary reflector directs microwaves received from parallel to the axis to a focal region located on the reflector axis in front of the primary reflector;
C) a sub-reflector so shaped and positioned in the focal region as to reflect microwaves that the primary reflector has directed to the focal region;
D) a low-noise block down-converter of which at least most is disposed behind the primary reflector;
E) a feed tube that forms a feed-tube mouth and is so shaped and positioned as to direct through the central opening and into the low-noise block converter microwaves reflected by the sub-reflector after having been directed to the focal region by the primary reflector;
F) a set of at least one first fastener that secures the primary reflector to the low-noise block down-converter or the feed tube without securing the primary reflector to the other of the low-noise block down-converter and the feed tube; and
G) a set of at least one second fastener, separate from every said first fastener, that secures the feed tube to the low-noise block converter;
wherein the feed tube and low-noise block down-converter form respective rims that the second fasteners urge into abutment with each other, and
wherein each said first fastener secures the primary reflector to the low-noise block down-converter without securing the primary reflector to the feed tube.
9. A microwave antenna as defined in claim 8 wherein:
A) the microwave antenna further includes a gyroscope bracket and a gyroscope mounted thereon;
B) the first fasteners so urge the primary reflector and low-noise block down-converter toward each other as to secure the gyroscope bracket between the primary reflector and low-noise block down-converter.
10. A microwave antenna as defined in claim 8 wherein the feed tube includes a feed-tube flange that forms feed-tube fastener holes through which the second fasteners extend.
11. A microwave antenna as defined in claim 10 wherein the feed-tube flange forms tabs through which the second fasteners extend.
12. A microwave antenna as defined in claim 11 wherein each said second fastener is a screw that threadedly engages the feed tube or the low-noise block down-converter.
13. A microwave antenna as defined in claim 11 wherein:
A) the tabs are separated by notches;
B) the primary reflector forms fastener holes aligned with the notches; and
C) the first fasteners extend through the fastener holes thus aligned.
14. A microwave antenna as defined in claim 13 wherein each said first fastener is a screw that threadedly engages the feed tube or the low-noise block down-converter.