Reflector antenna feed RF seal
View Patent ↗A reflector antenna feed RF seal between an antenna base, a feed hub and a vertex plate. The RF seal formed via a generally annular gasket of compressible material adapted to seat around an outer diameter of the feed hub. The gasket having an outer diameter greater than a diameter of a joint between the feed hub and the antenna base and less than an outer diameter of the vertex plate. The gasket compressed within a cavity formed between the antenna base, the feed hub and the vertex plate as the feed hub is seated within the antenna base.
1. A reflector antenna feed RF seal between an antenna base, a feed hub and a vertex plate, comprising:
a gasket of compressible material adapted to seat around an outer diameter of the feed hub;
the gasket having an outer diameter greater than a diameter of a joint between the feed hub and the antenna base and less than an outer diameter of the vertex plate;
the gasket compressed within a cavity formed between the antenna base, the feed hub and the vertex plate as the feed hub is seated within the antenna base.
2. The RF seal of claim 1 , wherein the gasket is a compressible conductive material.
3. The RF seal of claim 1 , wherein the gasket is a compressible RF absorbing material.
4. The RF seal of claim 1 , wherein the gasket is a compressible material coated with an RF absorbing material.
5. The RF seal of claim 1 , wherein the gasket is a compressible material coated with a conductive material.
6. The RF seal of claim 1 , wherein the gasket is a urethane foam with a gradient lossy coating.
7. The RF seal of claim 1 , wherein a junction between a main reflector and the antenna base, within the cavity, has a diameter less than the outer diameter of the gasket, whereby the gasket covers the junction.
8. The RF seal of claim 1 , wherein the gasket compresses primarily in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of a feed coupled to the feed hub.
9. The RF seal of claim 1 , wherein the gasket is annular.
10. A method for assembling a reflector antenna feed RF seal between an antenna base, a feed hub and a vertex plate, comprising the steps of:
placing a generally annular gasket of compressible material around an outer diameter of the feed hub;
inserting the feed hub into the antenna base, thereby compressing the gasket within a cavity between the antenna base, the feed hub and the vertex plate as the feed hub is inserted within the antenna base;
the gasket covering a joint between the feed hub and the antenna base.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the gasket also covers a junction between a main reflector and the antenna base, within the cavity.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the gasket is dimensioned to compress within the cavity, without extending beyond an outer diameter of the vertex plate.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the gasket is urethane foam with a gradient lossy coating.
14. A reflector antenna feed RF seal between an antenna base, a feed hub and a vertex plate, comprising:
a generally annular gasket of urethane foam with a gradient lossy coating adapted to seat around an outer diameter of the feed hub;
the gasket having an outer diameter greater than a diameter of a joint between the feed hub and the antenna base and less than an outer diameter of the vertex plate;
the gasket compressed within a cavity between the antenna base, the feed hub and the vertex plate as the feed hub is seated within the antenna base;
wherein a junction between a main reflector and the antenna base, within the cavity, has a diameter less than the outer diameter of the gasket, whereby the gasket covers the joint and the junction.
15. A reflector antenna, comprising:
a feed hub joined to an antenna base along a joint;
a vertex plate coupled to the feed hub;
a gasket of compressible material adapted to seat around an outer diameter of the feed hub;
the gasket having an outer diameter greater than a diameter of the joint and less than an outer diameter of the vertex plate;
the gasket compressed within a cavity formed between the antenna base, the feed hub and the vertex plate as the feed hub is joined with the antenna base.
16. The RF seal of claim 1 , wherein the gasket is a compressible RF absorbing material.
17. The RF seal of claim 1 , wherein the gasket is a urethane foam with a gradient lossy coating.
18. The RF seal of claim 1 , wherein a junction between a main reflector and the antenna base, within the cavity, has a diameter less than the outer diameter of the gasket, whereby the gasket covers the junction.
19. The RF seal of claim 1 , wherein the gasket compresses primarily in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of a feed coupled to the feed hub.
20. The RF seal of claim 1 , wherein the gasket is annular.