Mounting configuration for small cell antenna assembly

A mounting flange for a monopole includes a generally annular main panel surrounding a central hole. The main panel includes a plurality of first mounting holes that are substantially circumferentially equidistant from each other and at a first radial distance from a center of the central hole. The main panel also includes a plurality of second mounting holes that are substantially circumferentially equidistant from each other and at a second radial distance from a center of the central hole, the second distance being greater than the first distance.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed generally toward communication antennas, and more particularly to mounting structures for communication antennas.

BACKGROUND

As wireless data service demands have grown, a conventional response has been to increase the number and capacity of conventional cellular Base Stations (Macro-Cells). The antennas used by such Macro-Cells are typically mounted on antenna towers. A conventional antenna tower has three or four legs on which antennas and supporting remote radio units (RRUs) are mounted. However, in some environments structures known as “monopoles” are used as mounting structures. Monopoles are typically employed when fewer antennas/RRUs are to be mounted, and/or when a structure of less height is required.

In addition, Macro-Cell sites are becoming less available, and available spectrum limits how much additional capacity can be derived from a given Macro-Cell. Accordingly, small cell RRU and antenna combinations have been developed to “fill in” underserved or congested areas that would otherwise be within a Macro-Cell site. Deployment of small cells, particularly in urban environments, is expected to continue to grow. Often such small cell configurations (sometimes termed “metrocells”) are mounted on monopoles.

In view of the foregoing, it may be desirable to provide additional monopole arrangements, particularly in mounting.

SUMMARY

As a first aspect, embodiments of the invention are directed to a mounting flange for a monopole. The mounting flange comprises: a generally annular main panel surrounding a central hole. The main panel includes a plurality of first mounting holes that are substantially circumferentially equidistant from each other and at a first radial distance from a center of the central hole. The main panel further includes a plurality of second mounting holes that are substantially circumferentially equidistant from each other and at a second radial distance from a center of the central hole, the second distance being greater than the first distance.

As a second aspect, embodiments of the invention are directed to a monopole assembly for mounting antennas comprising: an elongate monopole having an upper end; and a mounting flange attached to the upper end of the monopole. The mounting flange comprises a generally annular main panel surrounding a central hole that aligns with an internal lumen of the monopole. The main panel includes a plurality of first mounting holes that are substantially circumferentially equidistant from each other and at a first radial distance from a center of the central hole. The main panel further includes a plurality of second mounting holes that are substantially circumferentially equidistant from each other and at a second radial distance from a center of the central hole, the second distance being greater than the first distance.

As a third aspect, embodiments of the invention are directed to a mounting flange for a monopole comprising a generally annular main panel surrounding a central hole. The main panel includes three first mounting holes that are substantially circumferentially equidistant from each other and at a first radial distance of between about 5.5 and 6 inches from a center of the central hole. The main panel further includes six second mounting holes that are substantially circumferentially equidistant from each other and at a second radial distance of between about 6 and 6.5 inches from a center of the central hole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Thicknesses and dimensions of some components may be exaggerated for clarity.

In addition, spatially relative terms, such as “under”, “below”, “lower”, “over”, “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

Referring now to the drawings, a telecommunications monopole designated at100is shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. As can be seen inFIG. 2, the monopole100, which is sized as a “metrocell” having a diameter of between about 8 to 20 inches and a height of between about 20 and 40 feet, is styled as a streetlight; an arm102that mounts a luminaire104(such as an LED streetlight) is also included, but may be absent in other embodiments.

As can be seen inFIG. 3, a mounting flange110is attached (typically via welding) at the top of the monopole100. As can be seen inFIGS. 4 and 5, the mounting flange110is generally annular, with a main panel111surrounding a central hole112that provides an opening into the lumen of the monopole100to permit the routing of cables therethrough. The outer edge114of the main panel111extends radially beyond the perimeter of the monopole100. In some embodiments, the mounting flange110is between about 8 and 9 inches in diameter, with a range of 8.1 to 8.5 inches being suitable for certain embodiments. In some embodiments, the central hole112is between about 3 and 5 inches in diameter, with a range of 3.75 to 4.25 inches being suitable for certain embodiments.

The mounting flange110includes three mounting holes120. The mounting holes120are spaced substantially circumferentially equidistant from each other (i.e., they are located about 120 degrees from each other). In some embodiments, the centers of the mounting holes120are located at a radial distance of about 5.5 to 6 inches from the center of the central hole112, with a distance of 5⅝ inches being suitable for certain embodiments. The mounting holes120are typically between about ⅝ and ⅞ inch in diameter, with ¾ inch mounting holes120being employed in some embodiments.

The mounting flange110also includes six mounting holes124. The mounting holes124are spaced substantially circumferentially equidistant from each other (i.e., they are located about 60 degrees from each other). In some embodiments, the centers of the mounting holes124are located at a radial distance of about 6 to 6.5 inches from the center of the central hole112, with a distance of 6¼ inches being suitable for certain embodiments. The mounting holes124are typically between about 5/16 and 7/16 inch in diameter, with ⅜ inch mounting holes124being employed in some embodiments. Also, in the described embodiment, the mounting holes124are tapped with threads, with a 16 UNC thread being suitable for some embodiments.

As can be seen inFIG. 3, the mounting flange110can be employed to attach an antenna module150to the monopole100. The antenna module150has a mounting plate152with three arcuate slots154, each of which is approximately ⅝ inch in width, is positioned radially about 5.5 to 6 inches from the center of the mounting plate152, and extends for between about 40 and 90 degrees. The mounting plate152also includes three cable access holes156that are located between the slots154.

As can be envisioned fromFIG. 3, the antenna assembly150can be mounted on the mounting flange110via three bolts160and mating nuts162. The bolts160are inserted from above through the slots154in the mounting plate152, then through the mounting holes120in the mounting flange110. The nuts162are threaded onto the bolts160. The antenna assembly150(which typically includes three antenna arrays oriented 120 degrees from each other) can be rotated relative to the mounting flange110to a desired orientation, at which point the nuts162can be tightened onto the bolts160to secure the antenna assembly150in place.

Referring toFIGS. 6 and 7, the mounting flange110can also be employed to attach an antenna module170to the monopole. The antenna module170includes a mounting plate172(best seen inFIG. 7). The mounting plate172includes three arcuate mounting slots174, and also includes four mounting slots176that are positioned radially outward of the mounting slots174. The mounting plate170also includes “kidney-shaped” cable access holes178between each pair of mounting slots174.

As can be seen fromFIGS. 6 and 7, the antenna assembly170can be attached to the mounting flange110by positioning the mounting plate172such that the mounting slots174align with the mounting holes124. Threaded screws177are then inserted through the mounting holes174and into the mounting holes124to secure the antenna assembly170in place.

The foregoing demonstrates that the configuration of the mounting flange110can enable multiple antenna assemblies (such as the antenna assemblies150,170) to be mounted atop a monopole. This flexibility can reduce manufacturing, labor and inventory costs and time for the monopole.

As another option, another mounting flange, designated broadly at210, is shown inFIG. 8. The mounting flange210is similar to the mounting flange110, having mounting holes220,224that are similarly arranged to the mounting holes120,124of the mounting flange110, but the mounting flange210also includes three cable access holes226that are positioned generally between adjacent mounting holes224.