Multi ret actuator having a relay configuration with positioning and driving motors
AssigneeCommScope Technologies LLC
InventorSteven Lee Schmutzler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An actuator assembly for adjusting attributes of an antenna array. The actuator assembly provides a multi-RET actuator including a plurality of linear actuators, each including an actuator spur gear, a carriage assembly with an actuator drive motor mounted on a car and a nut attached to the car. A positioning motor is coupled to a lead screw and the nut is threaded onto the lead screw. The car travels on a guide so that the positioning motor and lead screw may be operated to bring the carriage assembly into engagement with a desired one of the linear actuators.
Claims17
A multi-RET actuator, comprising:
- a plurality of linear actuators, each including an actuator spur gear, an actuator lead screw, and an actuator car;
- a carriage assembly, including an actuator drive motor mounted on a car, and a nut;
- a positioning motor coupled to a positioning lead screw, the nut threaded onto the lead screw;
- and
- at least one guide on which the car can travel;
- wherein the positioning motor and positioning lead screw are operable to drive the carriage assembly into engagement with the actuator spur gear of a desired linear actuator of the plurality of linear actuators, and
- wherein each actuator car further comprises a respective one throw rod termination accepting a throw rod coupled to a phase shifter in a phased array antenna feed network.
A multi-RET actuator, comprising:
- a plurality of linear actuators, wherein each linear actuator comprises an actuator spur gear, an actuator lead screw, and an actuator car, and wherein the actuator spur gear is coupled to the actuator lead screw and the actuator car travels along the actuator lead screw when the actuator lead screw is rotated in response to rotation of the actuator spur gear;
- a positioning motor coupled to a positioning lead screw, wherein the positioning motor to rotates the positioning lead screw;
- and
- an actuator drive motor mounted on a car and coupled to a motor spur gear, wherein the car moves along the positioning lead screw when the positioning lead screw is rotated by the positioning motor,
- wherein the positioning motor and the positioning lead screw position the motor spur gear into engagement with the actuator spur gear of a selected one of the linear actuators, and
- wherein each actuator car further comprises a respective one throw rod termination accepting a throw rod coupled to a phase shifter in a phased array antenna feed network.
A multi-RET actuator, comprising:
- a plurality of linear actuators stacked in two layers, wherein each linear actuator comprises an actuator spur gear, an actuator lead screw, and an actuator car, wherein the actuator spur gear is mounted on a first end of the actuator lead screw and the actuator car engages and travels along the actuator lead screw when the actuator lead screw is rotated by the actuator spur gear;
- a positioning motor coupled to a positioning lead screw;
- and
- an actuator drive motor mounted on a car and coupled to a motor spur gear, the car comprising a nut engaging the positioning lead screw and further comprising at least one tube gliding on at least one guide on which the car can travel;
- wherein the positioning motor and the positioning lead screw position the motor spur gear into engagement with the actuator spur gear of a desired linear actuator of the plurality of linear actuators,
- wherein the actuator drive motor and the motor spur gear travel between the two layers to selectively engage the actuator spur gears, and
- wherein each actuator car further comprises a respective throw rod termination accepting a throw rod coupled to a phase shifter in a phased array antenna feed network.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.