Lightweight azimuth/elevation mount

An azimuth/elevation mount for supporting and orienting a structure about an azimuth axis and an orthogonal elevation axis, comprising:

• a rotary turret supporting said structure, said turret having an upper part generally in the shape of an inverted pyramid;
• and
• a base, generally in the shape of a pyramid, for supporting said rotary turret and allowing said turret to rotate 360.degree. about its center vertical axis which is coincident with the azimuth axis;
• wherein
• protruding from a bottom surface of the inverted pyramid part of the turret and fixedly attached thereto by means of a first wheel near its top is a vertical generally cylindrical torque tube, said torque tube, as it rotates, being directly embraced and restrained radially at two widely separated regions therealong by two bearings rigidly suspended from upper and lower portions, respectively, of the base, said bearings serving to react overturning loads from the structure through the base;
• and
• a second, horizontal, drive wheel larger than the first wheel is rigidly affixed near the tube bottom for imparting azimuthal motion to the turret and structure;
• wherein
• all portions of the inverted pyramid part of the turret lie above the base.