A guy system is disclosed for a parabolic reflecting antenna having a reflecting surface and a signal receiver or feedhorn mounted at its focal point. A plurality of stays or guy wires is secured to the feedhorn, each of such guy wires extending through the reflecting surface to an anchor point behind the antenna substantially at or near its vertex. The resultant force acting on the antenna as a result of tension in the guy wires is thereby substantially tangential to the curvature of the reflecting surface.

Guy system for parabolic reflecting antenna

A dish antenna kit has at least one reflector, one feed horn, and an alignment tool The alignment tool has a light source and a base The base has at least one inner cylindrical surface having a diameter slightly exceeding the outer diameter of a rim of the feed horn The alignment tool base positions the light source axis with respect to the feed horn axis A method of aligning the feed horn with respect to the reflector includes: placing the alignment tool on the feed horn; activating the light source; rotating the alignment tool so that a light beam advances in an arcuate path on the surface of the reflector; determining from the arcuate path the offset of the feed horn with respect to a focus point on the reflector surface; and, if the offset is not within the predetermined tolerance, adjusting the feed horn attitude

Dish antenna kit including alignment tool and method of use thereof

An alignment jig (220) aids in the positioning of a horn assembly (180). The alignment jig (220) includes an upper jig arm (222), a right side jig side jig arm (224), a left side jig arm (226), and a reference ring (240). The jig arms are positioned at the top, right side, and left side of an antenna dish assembly (100), and each contain a telescoping jig arm (228, 230, and 232). These telescoping jig arms of the alignment jig dramatically decrease the unexpanded size of the alignment jig, thereby increasing the portability of the alignment jig. The ends of the telescoping jig arms attach to the dish assembly through the use of screw clamps (234, 236, and 238). The reference ring (240) suspending from the intersecting point of the jig arms and is positioned and oriented so that it correspondingly mates with the horn assembly when the horn assembly has been properly positioned and oriented.

Alignment jig assembly

A method for aligning a feed horn in an antenna system (100) is disclosed. The antenna system (100) includes at least one reflector surface and one or more feed horns (141, 142, ...145). The method includes the steps of determining a desired reflection point of the central ray from the feedhorn on the reflector surface, configuring a laser beam source to be mounted on the feed horn to enable a laser beam to travel substantially coincidently along the axis of transmission of the feed horn in a direction towards the reflector surface, and adjusting the azimuth and elevation of the feed horn to align the laser beam with the desired reflection point on the reflector surface. A laser aligning apparatus (200) for practising the above method and an antenna system aligned by means of the laser alignment apparatus (200) and/or method are also disclosed.

Laser alignment apparatus and method

An apparatus and method for locating the vertical axis of symmetry of a sace of horizontal circular cross-section The apparatus has a plumb structure that establishes a vertical line of sight, and a horizontal translating structure that preselectedly locates the plumb in the two horizontal dimensions The plumb has at least three arms whose ends are constrained to lie on a circular perimeter which, because the arms are fixed to the plumb, is horizontally disposed The translating structure and the arms are manipulated so that the end of the arms touch the surface, constraining the line of sight to be colinear with the axis of symmetry A laser can make the axis visible The apparatus and method are useable to locate the focal axis and focus of a parabolic antenna

Apparatus and method for locating the axis of symmetry (center of circular cross section) of three dimensional objects

A compact, easily manipulable measuring device is provided, particularly useful for properly positioning the feed horn of a parabolic reflector antenna, or the like, relative to the satellite reflecting dish of the antenna. When installing or maintaining an antenna, it is important for optimum signal reception to position the feed horn at or near the focal point of the satellite dish. Such feed horns typically present a central axis, which if aligned with the center point of the satellite dish approximately positions the feed horn at the focal point of the satellite dish. The device of the present invention presents a telescopic rod structure coupled to a support head. The support head presents structure for attachment to the feed horn such that the rod structure preferably lies along the feed horn central axis. With the rod structure extended to a position adjacent the satellite dish, it is readily apparent whether the feed horn central axis is aligned with the satellite dish center point or if adjustment of the feed horn is necessary.

Vernon K. Burditt

Papers

Focal finder for parabolic reflector antenna