IP Library Granted Patent US 12,463,333
Granted Patent B2
US 12,463,333 · App. 17/983,221 · Granted Nov 4, 2025

Radome assembly coupling with antenna assembly

Inventors: Charbel J. Elian (Torrance, CA); David Milroy (Kirkland, WA); Benjamin Eric Alburtus (Redondo Beach, CA); Jackson Shaffner (El Segundo, CA); Edison S. Conner, Jr. (Torrance, CA); Tad A. Kilbury (Long Beach, CA)
Assignee: Space Exploration Technologies Corp.
H01Q1/422H01Q1/02H01Q1/24H01Q1/523H01Q9/0414H01Q21/065H01Q1/125H01Q3/08H01Q9/0457
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,463,333
App. No.
17/983,221
Granted
Nov 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one example of the present disclosure, a radome body assembly for use with an antenna assembly is described. The radome body assembly may comprise a radome body portion having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the second surface is opposite the first surface, and wherein the radome body portion defines a portion of a housing for an antenna assembly. The radome body assembly may further comprise a plurality of elongated members each coupled to the second surface of the radome body portion and each having a proximal end at or near the radome body portion and a distal end distal from the radome body portion, wherein the plurality of elongated members is configured to extend through a plurality of corresponding thru-holes defined in the antenna assembly.

Claims (22)

1 . A radome body assembly for use with an antenna assembly, the radome body assembly comprising:

a radome body portion having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the second surface is opposite the first surface, and wherein the radome body portion defines a portion of a housing for an antenna assembly; and

a plurality of elongated members each coupled to the second surface of the radome body portion and each having a proximal end at or near the radome body portion and a distal end distal from the radome body portion, wherein the antenna assembly includes a plurality of layers each having a plurality of ports, wherein the plurality of ports of each of the plurality of layers align to define a plurality of thru-holes in the antenna assembly, and wherein the plurality of elongated members is configured to extend through the plurality of corresponding thru-holes defined in the antenna assembly.

2 . The radome body assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one elongated member of the plurality of elongated members is configured to interface with the antenna assembly to resist separation of the radome body portion from the antenna assembly.

3 . The radome body assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one elongated member of the plurality of elongated members includes a shoulder.

4 . The radome body assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of elongated members is further configured to conduct thermal energy from the antenna assembly to the radome body portion.

5 . The radome body assembly of claim 1 , wherein the antenna assembly includes one or more components configured to generate thermal energy and/or configured to couple to electronic components configured to generate thermal energy, such that the plurality of elongated members conduct the thermal energy generated from the antenna assembly to the radome body portion.

6 . The radome body assembly of claim 1 , wherein the radome body portion and the plurality of elongated members are integrally formed or separately formed.

7 . The radome body assembly of claim 1 , wherein the distal ends of the plurality of elongated members are coupled to the antenna assembly.

8 . The radome body assembly of claim 1 , wherein the distal ends of the plurality of elongated members are each deformable such that deformation of the distal end while the at least one elongated member is extended through a corresponding thru-hole of the antenna assembly defines a shoulder that resists separation of the radome body portion from the antenna assembly.

9 . The radome body assembly of claim 1 , wherein the distal ends of the plurality of elongated members are coupled to a lower enclosure, wherein the lower enclosure defines a portion of the housing for the antenna assembly.

10 . The radome body assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a radome spacer portion extending from the second surface of the radome body portion, the radome spacer portion defining a plurality of cells that are formed from a plurality of cell walls.

11 . The radome body assembly of claim 10 , wherein at least two cell walls of the plurality of cell walls defining each cell of the plurality of cells are spaced apart from each other.

12 . The radome body assembly of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of elongated members extend further from the radome body portion than the plurality of cell walls.

13 . The radome body assembly of claim 10 , wherein the radome spacer portion, the radome body portion, and the plurality of elongated members are integrally formed.

14 . A radome body assembly for use with an antenna assembly, the radome body assembly comprising:

a radome body portion having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the second surface is opposite the first surface, and wherein the radome body portion defines a portion of a housing for an antenna assembly; and

a plurality of elongated members each coupled to the second surface of the radome body portion and each having a proximal end at or near the radome body portion and a distal end distal from the radome body portion, wherein the plurality of elongated members is configured to extend through a plurality of corresponding thru-holes defined in the antenna assembly, and wherein the plurality of elongated members is further configured to conduct thermal energy from the antenna assembly to the radome body portion.

15 . A radome body assembly for use with an antenna assembly, the radome body assembly comprising:

a radome body portion having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the second surface is opposite the first surface, and wherein the radome body portion defines a portion of a housing for an antenna assembly;

a radome spacer portion extending from the second surface of the radome body portion, the radome spacer portion defining a plurality of cells that are formed from a plurality of cell walls; and

a plurality of elongated members each coupled to the second surface of the radome body portion and each having a proximal end at or near the radome body portion and a distal end distal from the radome body portion, wherein the plurality of elongated members is configured to extend through a plurality of corresponding thru-holes defined in the antenna assembly.

Assignments (2)
CERTIFICATE OF CONVERSION (STATE OF DELAWARE TO STATE OF TEXAS; NEW FILE NO.: 805421124; FILED: 02-14-2024) Recorded Mar 7, 2025
From: SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
To: SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
Reel/Frame 070445/0375 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 10, 2023
From: ELIAN, CHARBEL J.; MILROY, DAVID; ALBURTUS, BENJAMIN ERIC; SHAFFNER, JACKSON; CONNER JR., EDISON S.; KILBURY, TAD A.
To: SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
Reel/Frame 063589/0404 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63277467 · Nov 9, 2021
Related Publication 20230142893A1 · May 11, 2023
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