Antenna mounting arrangement

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to an antenna mounting arrangement, and more particularly, to an an tenna mounting arrangement provided for fixing an antenna such as a base antenna to a fix ture device.

BACKGROUND

Mobile radio antennas (e.g. base station antennas) for mobile telephony or data communica tion are commonly fixed to fixture devices provided on rooftop sites, towers or walls. The in stallation is an effortful work process for human installers. Nowadays, an installation process is aggravated since the effective weights of antennas are rising due to an integration of radio units in Active Antenna Units. The weight of current antennas has reached 60 kg and more.

On the other hand, occupational health and safety regulations and laws demand less working loads for human workforce. Maximum working loads of about 25 kilogram for an individual worker are required.

Therefore, antenna installations require several workers to handle heavy antennas which is an important cost factor for carriers. Additional costs result from expensive work equipment such as cranes or lifting platforms. However, this equipment cannot be used at every antenna site due to accessibility and size limitations.

When antennas are to be installed, firstly, an antenna mounting bracket is installed at a fixed structure such as a pole or a wall. Then, the antenna is lifted and an antenna handle is at tached, fixed and secured to a mounting kit.

Fig. 1 shows an antenna mounting bracket 100 and an antenna handle 110. The antenna mounting bracket 100 is fixed to a fixture device 20. The antenna handle 110 is a portion of an antenna (not shown) which is to be fixed to the fixture device 20 by means of the antenna mounting bracket 100.

Since antennas are frequently installed on rooftop sites with poles or on towers, the final in stallation location typically cannot easily be reached by installers. Therefore, ropes are used to hoist the antennas up to a certain height until they can be attached to the antenna mount ing bracket by the installer. For this purpose, hoisting eyes or single pulleys are integrated into the antenna mounting bracket or provided as additional accessory. This equipment, in partic ular the pulley, reduces friction and prevents wear. However, the installation personnel un derneath an antenna being hoisted can be injured when the rope rips or the rope escapes from the pulley.

SUMMARY

It is therefore an object of the present invention to remedy the above-mentioned disad vantage and to provide an antenna fixing system which enables a safer mounting of antennas. The object is achieved by the features of the independent claim. Further developments of the invention are apparent from the dependent claims, the description and the figures.

In a first aspect of the invention, an antenna mounting arrangement comprises: an antenna mounting bracket for fixing an antenna to a fixture device and a pulley being configured to re direct a rope for hoisting the antenna, the pulley being supported by a support structure se- lectively attachable to the antenna mounting bracket at a first or a second attachment point of the antenna mounting bracket.

By having the ability to attach the pulley at a first or a second attachment point of the an tenna mounting bracket, a suitable attachment point can be selected such that an installer pulling at the rope redirected by the pulley can stand in an area which is not endangered to be hit by an antenna dropping down.

In an implementation of the antenna mounting arrangement of the first aspect, at least one of the attachment points is placed outside a vertical symmetry plane of the antenna mounting bracket. The symmetry plane of the antenna mounting bracket is typically a vertical plane including a centre of a mounting equipment of the antenna mounting bracket in a state fixed to the fix ture device. The symmetry plane is additionally defined by a longitudinal axis of a pole as a fixture device or by an orthogonal direction with respect to a wall as the fixture device. Placed outside the vertical plane means that the attachment points are located such that the pulley is typically located on the left or on the right of the symmetry plane when viewed in direction of the antenna mounting bracket aligned with the fixture device.

By such an arrangement of the pulley due to the location of the attachment point, it is possi ble that a portion of the hoisted antenna to be mounted to the mounting equipment of the antenna mounting bracket is aligned to the mounting equipment while the installer can stand in the area not being endangered by the dropping down antenna.

In a further implementation of the antenna mounting arrangement of the first aspect, the support structure is attached to the antenna mounting bracket in a pivotable manner with re spect to the antenna mounting bracket.

Due to the pivotable attachment of the pulley to the antenna mounting bracket, the installer can change his stand for pulling at the rope within the area not being endangered by the dropping down antenna.

In a further implementation of the antenna mounting arrangement of the first aspect, the an tenna mounting arrangement comprises a locking device for locking the support structure at the first or second attachment point, the locking device comprising a locking element at the support structure and a further locking element at each attachment point.

The locking devices at the support structure of the pulley and at the attachment points of the antenna mounting bracket ensure a secure connection of the support structure and the an tenna mounting bracket such that the pulley cannot be separated from the antenna mounting bracket.

In a further implementation of the antenna mounting arrangement of the first aspect, the locking element at the support structure comprises a spring loaded pin and the further lock ing elements respectively comprise a recess for receiving the spring loaded pin. A locking device comprising the spring loaded pin and the recess for receiving the pin is sim ple to manufacture and automatically locks the support structure at the attachment point without an active locking motion for the pin so that the locking is ensured.

In a further implementation of the antenna mounting arrangement of the first aspect, the pulley is pivotable around a pulley pivot axis when attached to the attachment points, the pulley pivot axis being orthogonal to a rotational axis of the pulley.

The rotational axis of the pulley is an axis defined by an axis of a shaft supporting the pulley in a rotatable manner at the support structure so that the pulley can rotate when the rope rolls over the pulley.

Since the pulley is pivotable around the pulley pivot axis, the installer can arbitrarily change his stand for pulling at the rope within the area not being endangered by the dropping down antenna on one side of the symmetry plane without causing a risk that the rope escapes from the pulley due to an inappropriate alignment of the rope and the pulley.

In a further implementation of the antenna mounting arrangement of the first aspect, a first portion of the support structure is fixed to the antenna mounting bracket at a fixation point in a swivelling manner around a swivel axis such that a second portion of the support structure can be attached at the first or second attachment point.

By supporting the support structure in such a manner, the pulley can be moved into different predefined working positons without separating the support structure from the antenna mounting bracket.

In a further implementation of the antenna mounting arrangement of the first aspect, the swivel axis is horizontally arranged in the state of the antenna mounting bracket being fixed to the fixture device.

When the swivel axis is arranged horizontally, due to the gravity, the second portion of the support structure is securely attached to the antenna mounting bracket even without a spe cific locking device.

In a further implementation of the antenna mounting arrangement of the first aspect, the support structure is provided with a curved pulley shaft such that the pulley is configured to pivot around the pulley pivot axis when moving along the curved pulley shaft. By the curved pulley shaft for enabling the pulley to pivot around the pulley pivot axis, provid ing an additional hinge and, therefore, additional components for enabling a pivoting motion of the pulley around the pulley pivot axis are not necessary.

In a further implementation of the antenna mounting arrangement of the first aspect, the swivel axis is vertically arranged in a state of the antenna mounting bracket being fixed to the fixture device.

When the swivel axis is vertically arranged, the second portion of the support structure can also be attached to more attachment points than merely to the first and second attachment point, wherein the pulley rotational axis always remains in a horizontal direction. In a second aspect of the invention, a method for hoisting an antenna with the use of an an tenna mounting arrangement according to the first aspect is provided. The method includes the steps: attaching the antenna mounting bracket to the fixture device, placing the rope on the pulley and hoisting the antenna by pulling at the rope at another stand than underneath the hoisted antenna. By executing this method, the antenna can be hoisted while the installer is in a safe area not being endangered to be hit by an antenna dropping down.

In an implementation of the method of the second aspect, the method includes the step: at taching the support structure of the pulley to the antenna mounting bracket at a selected at tachment point. By attaching the support structure of the pulley at the selected attachment point, a safe area for the installer can be selected depending on conditions of surroundings, e.g. floor uneven ness.

In a further implementation of the method according to the second aspect, the method in cludes the step: placing the pulley at the antenna mounting bracket by swivelling the support structure such that the second portion of the support structure is attached at an attachment point.

When the pulley is placed by swivelling the support structure, the support structure does not have to be separated from the antenna mounting bracket and, therefore, there is no risk that the pulley drops down and injures an installer on the floor when selecting the working posi tion of the pulley.

In a further implementation of the method according to the second aspect, the method in cludes the step: locking the support structure at the antenna mounting bracket.

By locking the support structure at the antenna mounting bracket, the support structure is se cured at the antenna mounting bracket so that no unintended forces can be exerted to the support structure when the second portion of the support structure has left the attachment point and the antenna is hoisted.

In a further implementation of the method according to the second aspect, the method in cludes the step: pivoting the pulley around a pulley pivot axis vertically arranged in a state of the antenna mounting bracket being fixed to the fixture device by altering the stand.

When the pulley is pivoted around the pulley pivot axis simply by altering the stand of the in staller, there is no risk that the rope escapes from the pulley due to an inappropriate align ment of the rope and the pulley when the installer alters the stand during hoisting.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following portion of the present disclosure, the invention will be explained in more de tail with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows an antenna mounting bracket and an antenna handle;

Fig. 2 and 3 show a principle plan view of an antenna mounting arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention fixed to a fixture device;

Figs. 4 to 6 show an embodiment of the antenna mounting arrangement with the pulley in different positions in principle perspective illustrations;

Figs. 7 to 9 show an embodiment of the antenna mounting arrangement with the pulley in different positions in principle perspective illustrations; Fig. 10 shows a support structure of the antenna mounting arrangement of Figs. 4 to 6 provided with guiding faces;

Fig. 11 shows a support structure of the antenna mounting arrangement of Figs. 7 to 9 provided with a yoke-shaped closed contour. Identical reference signs are used for identical or at least functionally equivalent features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 respectively show a principle plan view of an antenna mounting arrangement

1 according to an embodiment fixed to a fixture device 20 such as a pole 20. The antenna mounting arrangement 1 comprises an antenna mounting bracket 2 for fixing an antenna (not shown) to the fixture device 20 and a pulley 3 being configured to redirect a rope (not shown) for hoisting the antenna. The pulley 3 is supported by a support structure 4 selectively attach able to the antenna mounting bracket 2 at a first attachment point 5 or a second attachment point 5' of the antenna mounting bracket 2. The pulley 3 is supported at the support structure by a pulley shaft so that the pulley 3 can rotate when a rope rolls over the pulley 3. An axis of the pulley shaft defines a rotational axis 13 of the pulley.

In an alternative embodiment, several pulleys 3 can be provided which are fixedly attached to the antenna mounting bracket 2.

Furthermore, in Fig. 2, a symmetry plane 6 of the antenna mounting bracket 2 is shown. The symmetry plane 6 of the antenna mounting bracket 2 is typically a vertical plane including a centre of a mounting equipment formed by two arms 7 of the antenna mounting bracket 2 in a state fixed to the fixture device 3 and being additionally defined by a longitudinal axis 8 of a pole as the fixture device 20 or, alternatively, by an orthogonal direction with respect to a wall as the fixture device. The attachment points 5, 5' are placed outside the vertical sym- metry plane 6 of the antenna mounting bracket 2. Placed outside the vertical plane 6 means that the attachment points 5, 5' are located such that the pulley 3 is located on the left or on the right of the symmetry plane 6 when viewed in direction of the antenna mounting bracket

2 aligned with the fixture device 20. Fig. 2 shows the pulley 3 on the right and Fig. 3 shows the pulley 3 on the left. Angle 17 illustrates a safe zone for rope pulling as an area not being endangered to be hit by an antenna dropping down.

Fig. 4 to Fig. 6 respectively show the antenna mounting arrangement 1 with the pulley 3 in dif ferent positions in principle perspective illustrations as an embodiment. For reasons of clarity, the features in Fig. 4 to Fig. 6 are merely denoted in one of the figures although they are also illustrated in both of the remaining figures.

The support structure 4 is attached to the antenna mounting bracket 2 in a pivotable manner with respect to the antenna mounting bracket 2 and the support structure 4 comprises a first portion 4' which is fixed to the antenna mounting bracket 2 at a fixation point 9 in a swivelling manner around a swivel axis 10 such that a second portion 4" of the support structure 4 can be attached at the first or second attachment point 5, 5'. In this embodiment, the swivel axis 10 is vertically arranged in the state of the antenna mounting bracket 2 fixed to the fixture de vice 20. In an alternative embodiment, additional attachment points are possible.

Fig. 4 shows a state in which the pulley 3 is placed on the right of the antenna mounting bracket 2 and the support structure 4 is attached to the attachment point 5' outside the verti cal symmetry plane, shown in Fig. 2 or 3, of the antenna mounting bracket 2 on the right. Fig.

5 shows a state of transition from the state shown in Fig. 4 to the state shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 6 shows a state in which the pulley 3 is placed on the left of the antenna mounting bracket 2 and the support structure 4 is attached to the attachment point 5 outside the vertical sym metry plane, shown in Fig. 2 or 3, of the antenna mounting bracket on the left.

In an alternative embodiment, no support structure 4 supporting the pulley in a swivelling manner is provided. The support structure can be formed such that it e.g. comprises a pin which is inserted in a hole or recess at the attachment point 5, 5' without any swivel mecha nism.

The pulley 3 is pivotable around a pulley pivot axis 14 when attached to the attachment points 5, 5', wherein the pulley pivot axis 14 is orthogonal to the rotational axis 13, shown in Fig. 2 or 3, of the pulley 3. For this purpose, the support structure 4 is provided with a rota tional bearing for the pulley 3.

Fig. 7 to Fig. 9 show a principle perspective view of the antenna mounting arrangement 1 with the pulley 3 in different positions as an embodiment. For reasons of clarity, the features in Fig. 7 to Fig. 9 are merely denoted in one of the figures although they are also illustrated in both of the remaining figures.

Also in this embodiment, the support structure 4 is attached to the antenna mounting bracket 2 in a pivotable manner with respect to the antenna mounting bracket 2. The support struc ture 4 comprises the first portion 4' which is fixed to the antenna mounting bracket 2 at a fix ation point 9 in a swivelling manner around a swivel axis 10 such that a second portion 4" of the support structure 4 can be attached at the first or second attachment point 5, 5'. In this embodiment, the swivel axis 10 is horizontally arranged in the state of the antenna mounting bracket 2 fixed to the fixture device 20.

Fig. 7 shows a state in which the pulley 3 is placed on the right of the antenna mounting bracket 2 and the support structure 4 is attached to the attachment point 5' outside the verti cal symmetry plane, shown in Fig. 2 or 3, of the antenna mounting bracket 2 on the right. Fig.

8 shows a state of transition from the state shown in Fig. 7 to the state shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 9 shows a state in which the pulley 3 is placed on the left of the antenna mounting bracket 2 and the support structure 4 is attached to the attachment point 5 outside the vertical sym metry plane, shown in Fig. 2 or 3, of the antenna mounting bracket on the left.

The pulley 3 is pivotable around the pulley pivot axis 14 when attached to the attachment points 5, 5', wherein the pulley pivot axis 14 is orthogonal to the rotational axis 13, shown in Fig. 2 or 3, of the pulley 3. For this purpose, the support structure 4 is provided with a curved pulley shaft 15 such that the pulley 3 is configured to pivot around the pulley pivot axis 14 when moving along the curved pulley shaft.

The antenna mounting arrangement 1 comprises a locking device for locking the support structure 4 at the first or second attachment point 5, 5'. The locking device comprises a lock ing element 11 at the support structure 4 and a further locking element 12 at each attach ment point 5, 5'. The locking element 11 at the support structure 4 comprises a spring loaded pin and the further locking elements 12 respectively comprise a recess for receiving the spring loaded pin.

Fig. 10 shows the support structure 4 of the antenna mounting arrangement 1 of Figs. 4 to 6 provided with guiding faces 16. The guiding faces 16 extend perpendicular to the rotational axis 13 of the pulley 3 adjacent to end faces of the pulley 3 in the direction of the rotational axis 13. The guiding faces 16 are configured to prevent escape of the rope from the pulley 3.

Furthermore, Fig. 10 shows the support structure 4 and the locking element 11 provided with the spring loaded pin at the support structure 4.

Fig. 11 shows the support structure 4 of the antenna mounting arrangement 1 of Figs. 7 to 9 provided with a yoke-shaped closed contour. In this embodiment, the guiding faces 16 ex tending perpendicular with respect to the pulley shaft 15 are joined to form the yoke-shaped closed contour.

Furthermore, Fig. 11 shows the curved pulley shaft 15 for providing the rotation around the pulley pivot axis 14 when moving along the curved pulley shaft 15.

In alternative embodiments, the guiding faces 16 of the embodiment shown in Fig. 9 can also be joined to form a yoke-shaped closed contour and the guiding faces 16 of the embodiment shown in Fig. 10 can be formed as separate guiding faces 16.

In use, the antenna mounting bracket 2 is attached to the fixture device 20. Then the rope is placed on the pulley 3 and the antenna is hoisted by pulling at the rope. For pulling at the rope, the installer stands beside the hoisted antenna which means that he stands at another place than underneath the hoisted antenna.

If not already done, the support structure 4 of the pulley 3 is attached to the antenna mount ing bracket 2 at the selected attachment point 5, 5'. In the case of the illustrated embodi ments, the pulley 3 is placed at the antenna mounting bracket 2 by swiveling the support structure 4 such that the second portion 4" of the support structure is attached at the attach ment point 5, 5'.

When the antenna mounting arrangement is provided with locking elements, the support structure 4 is locked at the antenna mounting bracket 2.

The installer can pivot the pulley around the pulley pivot axis 14 by altering the stand.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the fore going description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exem plary and not restrictive. The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. From reading the present disclosure, other modifications will be apparent to a person skilled in the art. Such modifications may involve other features, which are already known in the art and may be used instead of or in addition to features already described herein. The invention has been described in conjunction with various embodiments herein. However, other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclo sure and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality.