Mount
A mount for mounting an object, such as non-exclusively a radar sensor, on a surface, such as one of a vehicle, the mount comprising: a carrier; a fixed length strut which has a fixed length from a mounting point arranged to engage the surface and a pivot point about which it is mounted pivotally on the carrier; and two variable length struts, which each have a variable length from a mounting point arranged to engage the surface and a pivot point about which it is mounted pivotally on the carrier.
1. A mount for mounting an object on a surface, the mount comprising:
a carrier;
a fixed length strut which has a fixed length from a mounting point arranged to engage a surface and a pivot point about which the fixed length strut is mounted pivotally on the carrier; and
two variable length struts, which each have a variable length from a mounting point arranged to engage the surface and a pivot point about which the variable lengths struts are mounted pivotally on the carrier;
in which the variable length struts each comprise a threaded member; and
in which each pivot point of the variable length struts comprises a body which is at least part spherical with a threaded bore therethrough, the threaded member engaging the threaded bore.
2. The mount of claim 1 , comprising a base arranged to be fixed to the surface.
3. The mount of claim 2 , in which the mounting point of each of the variable and fixed length struts is on the base.
4. The mount of claim 2 , in which the mounting point of each of the variable length struts allows the variable length strut to rotate relative to the base, but restricts or prevents movement of the variable length strut axially along the variable length and pivotal movement of the variable length strut about the mounting point.
5. The mount of claim 1 in which each body is mounted in the carrier in a complementary bearing.
6. The mount of claim 5 in which each bearing is at least part spherical.
7. The mount of claim 1 , in which each variable length comprises drive engagement means by means of which the variable length strut can be rotated.
8. The mount of claim 2 , in which the fixed length strut is fixed relative to the base.
9. The mount of claim 1 , in which the pivot point of the fixed length strut comprises a ball and socket joint.
10. The mount of claim 1 , in which the mounting point of the fixed length strut will be between the mounting points of the variable length strut parallel to a direction joining the mounting points of the variable length strut.
11. The mount of claim 10 , in which the carrier has a lateral extent along a direction joining the mounting points of the variable length strut, the mounting point of the fixed length strut being in a central 25%, 10% or 5% of the lateral extent.
12. A mounted radar sensor, comprising a radar sensor and the mount in accordance with claim 1 , in which the radar sensor is mounted on the carrier.
13. A vehicle having the mounted radar sensor of claim 12 mounted thereon.
14. A method of adjusting an orientation of the mounted radar sensor of claim 13 , the method comprising varying the length of the variable length struts such that a desired orientation is achieved.