Antenna reflector interchange mechanism

An interchange mechanism for deploying at least one reflector for reconfiguration of an antenna, said interchange mechanism comprising:

• a rotary actuator having a fixed section for mounting on a structure of the antenna, and a mobile section rotating relative to the fixed section about a rotation axis;
• at least one carrier for supporting the at least one reflector, the at least one carrier freely rotatably mounting on the fixed section for rotation about the rotation axis between a first angular position and a second angular position;
• and
• an arm mounted on the mobile section and carrying a carrier engaging mechanism successively and releasably engaging the at least one carrier and displacing the at least one carrier from the first angular position to the second angular position when the arm and the mobile section rotate in a first direction;
• wherein the fixed structure includes a carrier positioning mechanism selectively and releasably engaging the at least one carrier when at the second angular position for securing the at least one carrier at the second angular position.

An interchange mechanism for deploying at least one reflector for reconfiguration of an antenna, said interchange mechanism comprising:

• a rotary actuator having a fixed section for mounting on a structure of the antenna, and a mobile section rotating relative to the fixed section about a rotation axis;
• at least one carrier for supporting the at least one reflector, the at least one carrier freely rotatably mounting on the fixed section for rotation about the rotation axis between a first angular position and a second angular position;
• and
• an arm mounted on the mobile section and carrying a carrier engaging mechanism successively and releasably engaging the at least one carrier and displacing the at least one carrier from the first angular position to the second angular position when the arm and the mobile section rotate in a first direction;
• wherein the carrier engaging mechanism selectively and releasably further engages the at least one carrier and displacing the at least one carrier from the second angular position to the first angular position when the arm and the mobile section rotates into a second direction opposite to the first direction.