# US 8,542,156 B2 · Pedestal for tracking antenna > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,542,156 B2 - Document ID: US8542156B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/638,872 - Filed: 2009-12-15 - Published: 2010-06-17 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-15 - Assignees: Sea Tel, Inc. - Applicants: Trushar D. Patel - Inventors: Trushar D. Patel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8542156B2 ## CPC - H01Q 1/005: {Damping of vibrations; Means for reducing wind-induced forces} - H01Q 1/12: Supports; Mounting means - H01Q 1/18: Means for stabilising antennas on an unstable platform - H01Q 1/34: Adaptation for use in or on ships, submarines, buoys or torpedoes (for subaqueous use H01Q1/04) - H01Q 3/08: for varying two co-ordinates of the orientation - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) ## Abstract A pedestal for tracking antenna includes a horizontal isolation assembly dimensioned and configured to isolate the support plate from horizontal vibration and shock of the base ring, a hub assembly including a support mounted on the horizontal isolation assembly rotatably supporting a rotating frame about a first azimuth axis, a vertical isolation assembly including an upright frame and a cross-level axis support slidably interconnected with a linear bearing assembly, the linear bearing assembly having a profiled rail slidably received within a complementary shaped bearing block, wherein the profiled rail can not twist axially relative to the bearing block, a cross-level frame pivotally mounted on the cross-level axis support about a second cross-level axis, and/or an elevation frame assembly supporting the tracking antenna and pivotally mounted on the cross-level frame about a third elevation axis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pedestal for a tracking antenna for obtaining rotational stabilization of the antenna about three axes, said pedestal comprising: a horizontal isolation assembly dimensioned and configured to isolate a support plate from horizontal vibration and shock of a base ring; a hub assembly including a support mounted on the horizontal isolation assembly rotatably supporting a rotating frame about a first azimuth axis; a vertical isolation assembly including an upright frame and a cross-level axis support slidably interconnected with a linear bearing assembly, the linear bearing assembly having a profiled rail slidably received within a complementary shaped bearing block, wherein the profiled rail can not twist axially relative to the bearing block; a cross-level frame pivotally mounted on the cross-level axis support about a second cross-level axis; and an elevation frame assembly supporting the tracking antenna and pivotally mounted on the cross-level frame about a third elevation axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pedestal of claim 1, wherein the horizontal isolation assembly includes a base and a support plate interconnected by a wire rope assembly dimensioned and configured to isolate the support plate from horizontal vibration and shock of the base; wherein the wire rope assembly includes upper and lower elongated members respectively mounted on the base and support plate, and a wire rope interconnecting the upper and lower elongated members; and wherein one of the upper and lower elongated members is longer than the other of the upper and lower elongated members whereby a fastening aperture of said one elongated member is spaced from and does not face said other elongated member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The pedestal of claim 2, wherein the upper and lower elongated members each include a plurality of transverse through-bores, and wherein the wire rope is threaded through all but a central one of the through-bores. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The pedestal of claim 1, wherein wherein the support of the hub assembly includes a collar fixedly mounted on the support plate of the horizontal isolation assembly. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The pedestal of claim 1, wherein the linear bearing assembly is offset from and substantially parallel to the first axis, and the second and third axis intersect one another substantially along the first axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The pedestal of claim 1, wherein the base of the vertical isolation assembly includes a counterweight diametrically opposed from the linear bearing assembly with respect to the first azimuth axis. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The pedestal of claim 6, wherein the counterweight includes material that has been removed from a support plate of the horizontal isolation assembly. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The pedestal of claim 1, wherein the vertical isolation assembly further includes a support spring and a dampener interconnecting the upright frame and cross-level axis support. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The pedestal of claim 8, wherein the support spring and dampener are arranged in parallel with one another. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The pedestal of claim 8, wherein the dampener is a pneumatic cylinder open to atmosphere. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The pedestal of claim 1, wherein the horizontal isolation assembly further includes a driven gear affixed to the support plate; and the vertical isolation assembly further includes an azimuth-axis drive motor operably connected to the driven gear. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The pedestal of claim 11, wherein the driven gear is a sprocket, and wherein a drive chain located between the vertical isolation assembly and the horizontal isolation assembly operably connects the azimuth-axis drive motor to the sprocket. ### Claim 13 A pedestal for a tracking antenna for obtaining rotational stabilization of the antenna about three axes, said pedestal comprising: a horizontal isolation assembly dimensioned and configured to isolate a support plate from horizontal vibration and shock of a base; a hub assembly including a support mounted on the horizontal isolation assembly rotatably supporting a rotating frame about a first azimuth axis; a vertical isolation assembly including an upright frame and a cross-level axis support slidably interconnected with a linear bearing assembly, the vertical isolation assembly further including a support spring and a dampener interconnecting the upright frame and cross-level axis support to dampen relative movement between the cross-level axis support and the upright frame; a cross-level frame pivotally mounted on the cross-level axis support about a second cross-level axis; and an elevation frame assembly supporting the tracking antenna and pivotally mounted on the cross-level frame about a third elevation axis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The pedestal of claim 13, wherein the horizontal isolation assembly includes a base and a support plate interconnected by a wire rope assembly dimensioned and configured to isolate the support plate from horizontal vibration and shock of the base; wherein the wire rope assembly includes upper and lower elongated members respectively mounted on the base and support plate, and a wire rope interconnecting the upper and lower elongated members; and wherein one of the upper and lower elongated members is longer than the other of the upper and lower elongated members whereby a fastening aperture of said one elongated member is spaced from and does not face said other elongated member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The pedestal of claim 14, wherein the upper and lower elongated members each include a plurality of transverse through-bores, and wherein the wire rope is threaded through all but a central one of the through-bores. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The pedestal of claim 13, wherein wherein the support of the hub assembly includes a collar fixedly mounted on the support plate of the horizontal isolation assembly. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The pedestal of claim 13, wherein the linear bearing assembly is offset from and substantially parallel to the first axis, and the second and third axis intersect one another substantially along the first axis. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The pedestal of claim 13, wherein the base of the vertical isolation assembly includes a counterweight diametrically opposed from the linear bearing assembly with respect to the first azimuth axis. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The pedestal of claim 18, wherein the counterweight includes material that has been removed from a support plate of the horizontal isolation assembly. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The pedestal of claim 18, wherein the dampener is a pneumatic cylinder open to atmosphere. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) The pedestal of claim 13, wherein the linear bearing assembly having a profiled rail supporting the cross-level axis support and being slidably received within a complementary shaped bearing block affixed to the upright frame, wherein the profiled rail can not twist axially relative to the bearing block. ### Claim 22 A pedestal for a tracking antenna for obtaining rotational stabilization of the antenna about three axes, said pedestal comprising: a horizontal isolation assembly dimensioned and configured to isolate a support plate from horizontal vibration and shock of a base, the horizontal isolation assembly including a driven gear affixed to the support plate; a hub assembly including a support mounted on the horizontal isolation assembly rotatably supporting a rotating frame about a first azimuth axis; a vertical isolation assembly including an upright frame and a cross-level axis support slidably interconnected with a linear bearing assembly, the vertical isolation assembly further including an azimuth-axis drive motor operably connected to the driven gear; a cross-level frame pivotally mounted on the cross-level axis support about a second cross-level axis; and an elevation frame assembly supporting the tracking antenna and pivotally mounted on the cross-level frame about a third elevation axis. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The pedestal of claim 22, wherein the driven gear is a sprocket located between the vertical isolation assembly and the horizontal isolation assembly, and wherein and a drive chain operably connects the azimuth-axis drive motor to the sprocket.