Transversely clampable linear adjustment mechanism

{
  "publication_number": "US10276914B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Transversely clampable linear adjustment mechanism",
  "abstract": "In certain embodiments, a linear adjustment mechanism includes an adjustment plate, an adjustment nut, and a holding plate. The adjustment plate has an exterior-threaded section that engages with the adjustment nut, a mounting-bolt opening, and a clamping-bolt slot. The holding plate has a horizontal section having a clamping-bolt opening, a vertical section connected to the horizontal section, and an adjustment-nut opening. With (i) the adjustment nut engaged with the adjustment-nut opening and the exterior-threaded section of the adjustment plate and (ii) the clamping bolt inserted within (a) the clamping-bolt slot of the adjustment plate and (b) the clamping-bolt opening of the holding plate, (1) rotation of the adjustment nut on the exterior-threaded section of the adjustment adjusts the linear position of the adjustment plate relative to the holding plate and (2) rotation of the clamping bolt secures the linear position of the adjustment plate relative to the holding plate.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method comprising: threading an adjustment nut onto an exterior-threaded section of an adjustment plate; engaging the adjustment nut with a holding plate; inserting a clamping bolt within a clamping-bolt slot of the adjustment plate and a clamping-bolt opening of the holding plate; adjusting a linear position of the adjustment plate relative to the holding plate by rotating the adjustment nut on the exterior-threaded section of the adjustment plate; and securing the linear position of the adjustment plate relative to the holding plate by rotating the clamping bolt.",
    "2. The method of claim 1, wherein rotating the clamping bolt does not change the linear position of the adjustment plate relative to the holding plate.",
    "3. The method of claim 1, wherein a direction of rotation of the adjustment nut on the exterior-threaded section of the adjustment plate is orthogonal to a direction of insertion of the clamping bolt within the clamping-bolt slot of the adjustment plate and the clamping-bolt opening of the holding plate.",
    "4. The method of claim 1, wherein the clamping-bolt slot of the adjustment plate is dimensioned to be larger than the clamping-bolt opening of the holding plate.",
    "5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: mounting the adjustment plate to an antenna mount.",
    "6. A system comprising: an adjustment plate comprising a mounting section, and an elongated base section having a threaded portion; and a holding plate comprising a first section and a second section that is perpendicular to the first section, wherein the elongated base section and the first section extend in a first direction, wherein the mounting section extends in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first section; wherein the first section of the holding plate comprises a clamping-bolt opening, and wherein the elongated base section comprises a clamping-bolt slot that overlaps the clamping-bolt opening.",
    "7. The system of claim 6, wherein the elongated base section and the mounting section are at different elevations, and wherein the elongated base section is connected to the mounting section by a step section.",
    "8. The system of claim 6, wherein the elongated base section further comprises a non-threaded portion, and wherein the threaded portion is narrower than the non-threaded portion.",
    "9. The system of claim 6, wherein the second section of the holding plate comprises an opening dimensioned to receive at least a portion of a crown of an adjustment nut threaded onto the threaded portion of the elongated base section.",
    "10. The system of claim 6, wherein the first section of the holding plate and the second section of the holding plate have a common opening dimensioned to receive at least a portion of an adjustment nut threaded onto the threaded portion of the elongated base section.",
    "11. The system of claim 10, wherein the adjustment nut comprises a base section adjacent a cylindrical holding neck that is adjacent a concentric cylindrical crown, wherein the concentric cylindrical crown is wider than the cylindrical holding neck, and wherein the common opening of the first and second sections of the holding plate receive the adjustment nut such that the second section of the holding plate engages the cylindrical holding neck of the adjustment nut, and such that the base section of the adjustment nut is located on a first side of the second section of the holding plate while the concentric cylindrical crown is located on a second side of the second section of the holding plate that is opposite the first side.",
    "12. A system comprising: first and second mounting bolts; a clamping bolt different from the first and second mounting bolts; an antenna mount comprising a mounting base having first and second openings that are dimensioned to receive the first and second mounting bolts, respectively; a pivot base having a curved slot that is dimensioned to receive the first mounting bolt, an opening that is dimensioned to receive the second mounting bolt, and an opening that is dimensioned to receive the clamping bolt; an adjustment plate comprising a mounting section having a mounting-bolt opening that is dimensioned to receive the first mounting bolt, wherein the adjustment plate further comprises an elongated base section having a clamping-bolt slot that is dimensioned to receive the clamping bolt; and a holding plate comprising a clamping-bolt opening dimensioned to receive the clamping bolt.",
    "13. The system of claim 12, wherein the elongated base section and the mounting section are at different elevations, and wherein the elongated base section is connected to the mounting section by a step section.",
    "14. The system of claim 12, wherein the elongated base section of the adjustment plate comprises a threaded portion.",
    "15. The system of claim 14, wherein the elongated base section of the adjustment plate comprises a non-threaded portion, and wherein the mounting-bolt opening is located in the non-threaded portion of the adjustment plate.",
    "16. The system of claim 12, further comprising an antenna rigidly attached to the antenna mount."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The current disclosure relates to linear adjustment mechanisms, and more specifically, but not exclusively, to such mechanisms for setting and clamping the azimuth angle of an antenna.\n\nLinear adjustment mechanisms are useful for setting and holding particular distances between two elements. One particular use for a linear adjustment mechanism is in mounting and aligning a directional antenna. Directional microwave antennas used for transmitting microwave signals need to be aligned so that the boresights of two such antennas overlap. In other words, the boresights of the two antennas need to be collinear for more efficient transmission. Since the distance - known as the hop distance - between two microwave transmission antennas is typically many - often dozens or scores of - miles, the alignment of the antennas needs to be precise.\n\nFIGS. 1A-1B show a top view and a perspective view, respectively, of a conventional antenna mount 100 that uses conventional linear adjustment mechanisms. Antenna mount 100 may be mounted on a vertical pole (not shown) located between pivot base 101 and mounting bracket 102. The azimuth angle of an antenna (not shown) mounted on antenna mount 100 corresponds to the azimuth angle of mounting plate 103, whose azimuth angle may be adjusted using the mount's linear adjustment mechanisms. Note that, typically, coarse adjustments of the azimuth angle are performed by rotating antenna mount 100 about the mounting pole. Once the coarse adjustment is complete, antenna mount 100 is securely clamped to the pole between mounting bracket 102 and pivot base 101.",
  "cpc": [
    "H01Q 1/1228",
    "F16B 2/10",
    "F16B 2/12",
    "F16B 33/02",
    "F16B 37/045",
    "F16B 5/0225",
    "F16M 13/022",
    "H01Q 1/125",
    "H01Q 3/08"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "F16B 2/10",
    "F16M 13/02",
    "H01Q 1/12",
    "H01Q 3/08"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Commscope Technologies LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Ian Thomas Renilson",
    "David John Walker",
    "James Michael Jefferson"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2018-10-04",
  "publication_date": "2019-04-30",
  "grant_date": "2019-04-30",
  "priority_date": "2014-09-16",
  "application_number": "US-201816151437-A",
  "family_id": "52394328",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
  "citations": [
    "US6262691B1",
    "US20110031360A1",
    "US20120211624A1",
    "US20130221182A1"
  ]
}