Reducing drag caused by wind loads on communication tower appurtenances

Abstract

Apparatus and methods that reduce drag resulting from wind loads on antenna appetencies exposed to winds. An aerodynamically shaped outer housing made of a material that does not impede transmission or reception of radio frequency energy is assembled and attached to a support post of an communication tower appurtenance that is attached to a communication tower such that the housing does not physically contact the appurtenance. The aerodynamically shaped outer housing changes the surface geometry of the appurtenance from flat to round. Also, an aerodynamically shaped shroud may be assembled and attached to a flat-sided member that interconnects multiple appurtenances so that the surface geometry of the flat-sided member is changed from flat to round. Based upon the ANSI/TIA-222-G specification for such antenna appurtenances, a reduction in drag caused by wind loading is on the order of about 45 percent.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.