US 12,456,794 B2
High stiffness tripod for man transportable SATCOM antenna
Michael A. Toomey, Marlborough, MA (US); Paul J. Marchetti, Dracut, MA (US); Craig Richardson, Watertown, MA (US); Jonathan J. Flick, Boylston, MA (US); and Derik S. Thomann, Waltham, MA (US)
Assigned to RTX Corporation, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by Raytheon Company, Waltham, MA (US)
Filed on Aug. 29, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/457,828.
Prior Publication US 2025/0079685 A1, Mar. 6, 2025
Int. Cl. H01Q 1/12 (2006.01); H01Q 1/28 (2006.01)
CPC H01Q 1/1235 (2013.01) [H01Q 1/288 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tripod for a transportable SATCOM antenna, the tripod comprising:
a base comprising:
a frame centered on a center axis of the base; and
an annular inner surface extending circumferentially about the center axis of the base;
a first leg connected to the frame of the base by a first hinge;
a second leg connected to the frame of the base by a second hinge;
a third leg connected to the frame of the base by a third hinge;
a first strut extending from the first leg to the second leg;
a second strut extending from the second leg to the third leg; and
a third strut extending from the third leg to the first leg, and
wherein the first strut, the second strut, and the third strut each comprise:
a first strut segment;
a second strut segment;
a hinge connecting the first strut segment and the second strut segment;
a groove formed in the first strut segment and extending at least partially around the first strut segment;
a first detent formed in a bottom of the groove;
a second detent formed in the bottom of the groove and circumferentially spaced from the first detent relative a central axis of the first strut segment;
a locking collar on the first strut segment and extending over the hinge, wherein the locking collar comprises:
a body extending from a first end to a second end;
a bore extending from the first end to the second end through the body, wherein the first strut segment extends through the bore;
at least one guide pin extending radially inward into the bore and into the groove;
a spring-loaded plunger pin extending radially inward into the bore, into the groove, and into the first detent or the second detent; and
a cutout formed in the body, wherein the cutout extends from the second end toward the first end and extends over the hinge.