Granted Patent B2

US 12,374,772 · App. 17/983,960 · Granted Jul 29, 2025

Inventors: Tad A. Kilbury (Long Beach, CA); Jackson Shaffner (El Segundo, CA); David Milroy (Kirkland, WA)

Assignee: Space Exploration Technologies Corp.

H01Q1/1242F16B7/0413F16M11/28H01Q1/422H01Q3/08H01Q3/34

Abstract

Claims (27)

1. A housing for an antenna assembly, the housing comprising:

a lower enclosure configured to be coupled to an upper structure to define an internal region; and

an internal cover configured to be coupled to the lower enclosure to create a first chamber and a second chamber within the internal region, the internal cover including a fluid channel extending from the second chamber to the first chamber, wherein the fluid channel defines an elongated body extending from the internal cover and having an inlet at a first end of the body and an outlet at a second end of the body, and wherein the first chamber is fluidly coupled to the ambient environment.

2. The housing of claim 1 , wherein the lower enclosure defines a leg opening configured to receive a leg of a mounting system of the housing, and wherein the leg opening is located within the first chamber.

3. The housing of claim 2 , further comprising an actuator configured to be located in the first chamber and to be coupled to the leg, and further configured to actuate in order to adjust an orientation of the housing relative to the leg.

4. The housing of claim 3 , further comprising a dust cover configured to be positioned over the leg opening and to be coupled to the leg, and further configured to reduce the likelihood of ingress of debris into the first chamber.

5. The housing of claim 1 , wherein the internal cover is sealed to the lower enclosure.

6. The housing of claim 1 , wherein the second chamber is configured to house at least one antenna element.

7. The housing of claim 6 , wherein the fluid channel is configured to resist liquid fluid flow from the first chamber to the second chamber in all orientations of the housing.

8. The housing of claim 7 , wherein the lower enclosure defines drain holes extending from an environment of the lower enclosure into the first chamber.

9. The housing of claim 8 , wherein, when the housing is in an inverted position, a distal end of the elongated finger defines an outlet that is located at a height above the drain holes such that liquid fluid entering the first chamber exits the first chamber via the drain holes rather than flowing through the elongated finger into the second chamber.

10. The housing of claim 7 , wherein the fluid channel allows for air circulation between the first chamber and the second chamber.

11. The housing of claim 1 , further comprising at least one grommet defining a pathway between the first chamber and the second chamber for at least one cable to pass between the first chamber and the second chamber.

12. The housing of claim 1 , wherein the housing is configured to house a phased array antenna.

13. A housing for an antenna assembly, the housing comprising:

an upper structure;

a lower enclosure configured to be coupled to the upper structure to define an internal region;

an internal cover configured to be coupled to the lower enclosure to create a first chamber and a second chamber within the internal region; and

a fluid channel extending from the second chamber to the first chamber, wherein the fluid channel defines an elongated finger having an inlet disposed within the second chamber and at a first end of elongated finger, and an outlet disposed within the first chamber and at a second end of the elongated finger.

14. The housing of claim 13 , wherein the lower enclosure defines a leg opening configured to receive a leg of a mounting system of the housing, and wherein the leg opening is located within the first chamber.

15. The housing of claim 14 , further comprising an actuator configured to be located in the first chamber and to be coupled to the leg, and further configured to actuate in order to adjust an orientation of the housing relative to the leg.

16. The housing of claim 13 , wherein the second chamber is configured to house at least one antenna element, wherein the fluid channel is configured to resist liquid fluid flow from the first chamber to the second chamber in all orientations of the housing.

17. The housing of claim 16 , wherein the elongated finger extends away from the upper structure.

18. The housing of claim 16 , wherein the lower enclosure defines drain holes extending from an environment of the lower enclosure into the first chamber, and wherein, when the housing is in an inverted position, the outlet is located at a height above the drain holes such that fluid entering the first chamber exits the first chamber via the drain holes rather than flowing through the elongated finger into the second chamber.

19. An internal cover for use with an antenna assembly, the internal cover comprising:

a perimeter portion configured to be coupled to a lower enclosure to divide an internal region into a first chamber and a second chamber; and

a fluid channel extending from the second chamber to the first chamber and configured to resist liquid fluid flow from the first chamber to the second chamber in all orientations of the housing, the fluid channel including an elongated finger defined by the internal cover and extending away from the upper structure.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (82)