Antenna tower platform assembly

An antenna platform includes: a mounting assembly configured to mount to an antenna tower; a plurality of main floor sections, each of the main floor sections connected to the mounting assembly; a plurality of auxiliary floor sections, the auxiliary floor sections arranged in alternating relationship with the plurality of main floor sections to form an endless platform, each auxiliary floor section mounted to two adjacent main floor sections; a plurality of pole supports mounted to each main floor section; a plurality of horizontal antenna poles mounted to the plurality of pole supports, wherein some of the plurality of horizontal antenna poles are main horizontal antenna poles that are positioned radially outwardly of each main floor section, and wherein others of the plurality of horizontal antenna poles are auxiliary horizontal antenna poles that are positioned radially outwardly of each auxiliary floor section; and a plurality of vertical antenna poles mounted to the horizontal antenna poles.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to platforms, and more particularly to mobile communications site platforms.

BACKGROUND

Various types of towers have been constructed for the purpose of supporting one or more antennas, such as those for broadcasting television and radio signals. Some towers are specifically designed for transmitting and receiving cellular telephone signals and other types of radio frequency (RF) signals. Typically, RF towers are tall, self-supporting structures of one of two types: lattice towers and tubular monopole towers.

RF towers are often designed to allow a person to climb to the top and remain there to install and/or repair RE antennas (e.g., cellular antennas) and other equipment connected to the tower. Platforms are typically mounted near the tops of RF towers (e.g., cellular towers) for supporting workers who may be responsible for installing and/or maintaining RF antennas (e.g., cellular antennas). Such platforms are designed to support the weight of a human and may also be used to support a number of the RF antennas.

Exemplary platforms are described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2011/0279347 to Pass et al., the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety. The platform described in Pass et al. is a so-called “six-sector” platform. Most antenna arrangements include antennas that face away from the tower in three different directions separated by 120 degrees. Recently, in the interest of increasing antenna density, some six-sector arrangements have been deployed, in which antennas are directed in six different directions at 60 degree intervals. Some such arrangements have suffered from “shadowing” between antennas that are adjacent to each other.

Based on the foregoing, it may be desirable to provide tower and platform configurations that facilitate installation and maintenance of increasing numbers of antennas.

SUMMARY

As a first aspect, embodiments of the invention are directed to an antenna platform comprising: a mounting assembly configured to mount to an antenna tower; a plurality of main floor sections, each of the main floor sections connected to the mounting assembly; a plurality of auxiliary floor sections, the auxiliary floor sections arranged in alternating relationship with the plurality of main floor sections to form an endless platform, each auxiliary floor section mounted to two adjacent main floor sections; a plurality of pole supports mounted to each main floor section; a plurality of horizontal antenna poles mounted to the plurality of pole supports, wherein some of the plurality of horizontal antenna poles are main horizontal antenna poles that are positioned radially outwardly of each main floor section, and wherein others of the plurality of horizontal antenna poles are auxiliary horizontal antenna poles that are positioned radially outwardly of each auxiliary floor section; and a plurality of vertical antenna poles mounted to the horizontal antenna poles.

As a second aspect, embodiments of the invention are directed to an antenna platform comprising: a mounting assembly configured to mount to an antenna tower; three main floor sections, each of the main floor sections connected to the mounting assembly; three auxiliary floor sections, the auxiliary floor sections arranged in alternating relationship with the plurality of main floor sections to form an endless platform, each auxiliary floor section mounted to two adjacent main floor sections; a plurality of pole supports mounted to each main floor section; a plurality of horizontal antenna poles mounted to the plurality of pole supports, wherein some of the plurality of horizontal antenna poles are main horizontal antenna poles that are positioned radially outwardly of each main floor section, and wherein others of the plurality of horizontal antenna poles are auxiliary horizontal antenna poles that are positioned radially outwardly of each auxiliary floor section; and a plurality of vertical antenna poles mounted to the horizontal antenna poles. Two of the plurality of pole supports are mounted adjacent each end of each main floor section. One of the pole supports mounted to each end of each main floor section supports a main horizontal antenna pole, and the other of the pole supports mounted to each end of each main floor section supports an auxiliary horizontal antenna pole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. In the figures, the thickness of certain lines, layers, components, elements or features may be exaggerated for clarity.

Also, as used herein, the terms “horizontal” and “vertical” are intended to encompass structures that may vary from precise horizontal or vertical orientations by a small amount (e.g., 5-10 degrees).

It will also be understood that, as used herein, the terms “example,” “exemplary,” and derivatives thereof are intended to refer to non-limiting examples and/or variants embodiments discussed herein, and are not intended to indicate preference for one or more embodiments discussed herein compared to one or more other embodiments.

Referring now to the drawings, an antenna tower platform, designated broadly at10, is shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. The platform10is typically mounted to a monopole such as that designated at12inFIG. 2. The platform10includes a floor14, a mounting assembly16, a hand rail18, horizontal antenna frame poles19, and vertical antenna poles20on which antennas (one of which is shown inFIG. 2and designated at11) may be mounted. These components are discussed in greater detail below,

Referring now toFIG. 3, the mounting assembly16is illustrated therein. The mounting assembly16includes three upper brackets22and three lower brackets26. The three upper brackets22are joined with threaded rods24to form a “circular” upper subassembly; similarly, the three lower brackets26are joined with threaded rods28to form a “circular” lower subassembly. The upper and lower subassemblies are configured to clamp securely on the monopole12. A support tube30is pivotally attached to each lower bracket26and extends radially outward therefrom. A clamp32is attached to the end of each support tube30. A standoff tube34is fixed to and extends radially outward from each upper bracket22.

The floor14includes both three main floor sections40and three auxiliary floor sections90arranged in alternating fashion to form an endless floor14. Attachment of the main floor sections40to the mounting assembly16is illustrated inFIG. 4. Each main floor section40includes a grating42with downwardly-depending inner and outer rails47,48mounted to opposite sides thereof. Side rails43are mounted to the remaining sides of the grating42. A mounting tube44is mounted to the underside of the grating42. Two angle brackets49are mounted to each inner rail47. Each main;floor section40is mounted to a respective standoff tube34by inserting the standoff tube34into the mounting tube44. A bolt46is employed to secure the standoff tube34to the mounting tube44. The corresponding support tube30is pivoted so that the clamp32is positioned to secure the support tube30to the mounting tube44beneath the grating42and to the grating42itself. The telescoping nature of the standoff tube34and mounting tube44enables the main floor section40to be mounted at different radial positions relative to the monopole12(e.g., to enable its use with monopoles of different diameters).

Referring now toFIG. 5, each main floor section40includes hardware that assists in the mounting of the horizontal antenna poles19mentioned above. More specifically, four different types, of supports are mounted to each main floor section40; namely, each main floor section40has one central pole support50, two end pole supports60, two outer corner pole supports70, and two inner corner pole supports80. Each of these is described in greater detail below.

As shown inFIG. 6, each central pole support50includes two flanges52that are mounted to the outer rail48via bolts53. A center panel54is spaced radially outwardly from the flanges52via two arms55. In some embodiments, the center panel54is spaced between about 1 and 3 inches from the outer rail48. A U-bolt56is vertically mounted to the center panel54through holes57.

Referring now toFIG. 7, an exemplary end pole support60shown therein includes a flange62that is mounted to an end portion of the outer rail48via bolts63. A mounting panel64is spaced radially-outwardly from the flange62via an arm65. A U-bolt66is vertically mounted to the mounting panel64through holes67.

Referring still toFIG. 7, an exemplary outer corner pole support70shown therein includes a flange72that is mounted to the end of the outer rail48via bolts73. As can be seen inFIG. 7, the flange72is located between the outer rail48and the mounting panel64of the end pole support60. A mounting panel74merges with and extends at approximately a 120 degree from a side end of the flange72. A U-bolt76is mounted vertically to the mounting panel74through holes77.

Referring now toFIG. 8, an exemplary inner corner pole support80shown therein includes a flange82that is mounted to the inner rail47via bolts83. A mounting panel84merges with and extends at approximately a 120 degree angle from a side edge of the flange82. A U-bolt86is mounted vertically to the mounting panel84through holes87.

Referring now toFIGS. 1, 2 and 10, the auxiliary floor sections90are illustrated therein. As seen, inFIGS. 1 and 2, the auxiliary floor sections90include gratings91that are arranged between adjacent main floor sections40. The side edges of each auxiliary floor section90abut the inner rails47of the adjacent, main floor sections40and overlie the angle brackets49mounted thereon. As shown inFIG. 10, the gratings91of the auxiliary floor sections90are mounted to the angle brackets49via bolts92.

As can be seen inFIG. 1, horizontal antenna frame poles19can be mounted radially outward of each of the main and auxiliary floor sections40,90. A main horizontal antenna pole19ais mounted to each main floor section40with the U-bolts56of the central pole support50and the U-bolts66of the end pole supports60. Also, an auxiliary horizontal antenna pole19bis mounted radially outward of each auxiliary floor section90via the U-bolts76,86of the outer and inner corner pole supports70,80of the main floor sections40on either side of that auxiliary floor section90. As can be seen inFIG. 2, in some embodiments the auxiliary horizontal antenna poles19bare longer than the main horizontal antenna poles19a.The vertical antenna poles20can then be mounted to the horizontal antenna poles19a,19bwith conventional U-bolt brackets97.

Referring now toFIGS. 1, 2 and 9, the handrail18comprises six handrail poles94. The handrail poles94are horizontally disposed and are attached at their ends with U-bolts98mounted on angled brackets96. The handrail18is then mounted to the upper portions of the vertical antenna poles20via U-bolt brackets99. Antennas can be mounted to the vertical antenna poles20, as the horizontal antenna poles19, the handrail poles94, and the vertical antenna poles20form a rigid frame suitable for antenna mounting.

Notably, the antenna platform10has the capability for antennas to be mounted on six different sides (i.e., it is a “six-sector” antenna platform as discussed above). Because the horizontal antenna poles19are mounted some distance from the main and auxiliary floor sections40,90(in some embodiments, the horizontal poles19are mounted between about 1 and 3 inches from the outer edges of the main and auxiliary floor sections40,90, the positions of the vertical antenna poles20can adjusted horizontally continuously along the length of the horizontal antenna poles19. This capability provides the installer with flexibility for the mounting of antennas on the vertical antenna poles20at any horizontal position.

To provide a sense of scale, the antenna platform10is typically between about 12 and 16 feet across, with the main horizontal antenna poles19abeing between about 7 and 9 feet in length and the auxiliary horizontal antenna poles19bbeing between about 5 and 7 feet in length.

Those of skill in this art will appreciate that, in alternative embodiments, the antenna platform10may take different configurations. For example, the mounting assembly16may feature brackets or other components different from the upper and lower brackets22,26shown herein. The antenna platform10may also be mounted to a tower structure other than the monopole12shown herein.

Also, although the antenna platform10as shown includes three main floor sections40and three auxiliary floor sections90, more or fewer floor sections may be employed; for example, either or both of the main and auxiliary floor sections40,90may be subdivided into multiple parts. In addition, the main and/or auxiliary floor sections40,90may have surfaces other than gratings, such as solid panels, perforated panels, or the like.

Further, more or fewer of each of the central, end, outer corner, and inner corner pole supports50,60,70,80may be included. As an example, the central pole support50may be omitted in some embodiments. The horizontal and vertical poles19,20may be of different lengths. Other variations will be apparent to those of skill in this art.