Concealfab Corporation

Steve Rogers

Thomas Bell

Jacob Lovelady

William Pounds

Robert Kola

Evangelos Economou

RF-absorber assemblies for assisting PIM hunting at cellular base station antennas. An RF-absorber panel section includes a non-absorbing spacer layer adjacent to an antenna under evaluation. An RF-absorbing layer is positioned adjacent to the non-absorbing spacer layer. A low-PIM RF-shield layer is positioned adjacent to the RF-absorbing layer, so that the RF-absorbing layer is positioned between the RF-shield layer and the non-absorbing spacer layer. RF-absorber panel assembly kits include RF-absorber panel sections that removably attach to each other and to an assembly cover, which removably attaches over a panel antenna. A cylindrical assembly for a multi-directional antennas includes tapered RF-absorber sections within a cylindrical RF-absorber. An iris allows directional PIM hunting with the cylindrical RF-absorber. A PIM hunting procedure utilizes a full-perimeter RF panel assembly for directional PIM hunting. A directional RF-absorber panel assembly includes front and rear RF-absorber panel assemblies and lateral RF-shield blankets.

RF-absorber PIM hunting systems

Dual pole and plate cable hanger interface

Multi-function pole and plate interface

A low-PIM mounting system using cable ties or pipe clamps to alternatively secure cables and other items to poles having different diameters or flanges having different gauges at base station antenna sites. A first dual-interface mounting block includes a pole adapter, a flange adapter, and a cable hanger receptacle. A second dual-interface mounting block includes a pole adapter, a flange adapter, and a rod receptacle. A third dual-interface mounting block includes a pole adapter, a flange adapter, and a pilot hole receptacle for a self-tapping screw. A multi-function mounting block includes a mounting plate, a pole adapter, a flange adapter, cable hanger receptacles, and a rod receptacle. Each multi-function mounting system is fabricated from a low-PIM polymeric material and configured to alternatively secure cables and other items to poles of different diameters or flanges of different gauges using one or more low-PIM cable ties or pipe clamp.

Low-PIM multi-function mounting system

A low passive intermodulation (PIM) angle adapter fabricated from or coated with a polymeric material supports one or more cable support hangers. The low-PIM angle adapter includes a box frame integrally formed with a slot frame, where the box frame supports one or more cable hangers and the slot frame slides onto a support structure to position the angle adapter on the support structure. The low-PIM angle adapter also includes one or more cable tie slots the receive cable ties that secure the angle adapter to the support structure. Various embodiments include differently shaped box frames designed to support one or more cable hangers, such hex, rectangular, trapezoidal and square box frames. The box frames may include multiple receptacles for receiving multiple cable hangers. Cable blocks and brackets also may be used to connect multiple cable hangers to a single receptacle of the low-PIM angle adapter.

Low-PIM rod receiver angle adapters and cable hanger assemblies

A stand-off clamp cable mounting assembly includes a cable hanger mounting plate attached to extended threaded rods that also secure the clamp to a support structure. Attaching the mounting plate directly to the extended threaded rods of the clamp allows a wide range of cable hanger configurations to be created with a minimal number of parts. For example, alternative embodiments can be created by varying the stand-off distance, the alignment between the cable hanger mounting plate and the clamp, and the length of the cable hanger mounting plate. Additional embodiments can be created by attaching two cable hanger mounting plates to the same extended threaded rods on opposing sides of the clamp. Cable hanger mounting plates can be formed from flat plates as well as a variety of channels, such as channels with 'C', 'Z', &#x201c;U&#x201d;, and &#x201c;comb&#x201d; shaped end profiles.

Stand-off clamp cable mounting system

The present invention meets the needs described above through low-PIM universal antenna equipment mounts and associated assemblies for use at cell sites. The universal mounts are typically deployed in antenna equipment assemblies located in the nearfield reactive region behind the base station antennas. The mounts suppress PIM generation as compared to conventional equipment mounts even though the universal mounts are located well outside the main beam of the base station antenna. An illustrative universal mount includes a pressure bushing with a cap that includes a pair of parallel rails to stabilize the bushing on a metal mast. The rails allow the pressure bushing to transfer the load of the supported equipment to the curved surface of round cylindrical masts irrespective of the pipe diameter within the typical range of mast diameters, such as 2 inches to 6 inches in diameter.

Low-PIM universal antenna equipment mount

A low passive intermodulation (PIM) cable hangers system includes several types of universal bases that each include a standard end effector receptacle integrally formed with a mounting adapter designed to interface with a support structure having a particular shape. For example, a first type of universal base includes a pole adapter, and a second type of universal base includes an angle adapter. The standard end effector receptacle is designed to receive a standard fitting integrally formed into a range of end effectors, such as a low-PIM barrel cable block, a low-PIM junction box for receiving snap-in cable hangers, and a low-PIM dual-rod cable hanger allowing different types of universal bases to be mixed and matched interchangeably with different types of end effectors. Cable ties are used to secure the universal bases and end effectors to support structures, such as pole supports and angle supports.

Low-PIM universal cable hanger system

A low-PIM, stackable polymeric cable hanger spacer that includes a polymeric base forming a rim that defines a latch surface for capturing locking metal barbs of interface brackets of a metal snap-in cable hanger. The spacer also includes polymeric legs extending from the polymeric base with polymeric barbs for latching to an adjacent snap-in cable hanger or other support member. The base allows the metal barbs to pass through the base when the metal barbs are deflected or compressed toward each other. and then allows the metal barbs to spring back to engage the latch surface and become captured by the polymeric spacer once the metal barbs clear of the rim. The base may have a round toroidal shape with rounded edges allowing the metal snap-in cable hanger to rotate with respect to the spacer.

Low-PIM stacking cable hanger spacer

Low-PIM angle adapters and cable hanger assemblies

Dual rod angle adapter

A low-PIM cable support rail assembly includes a metal strut extending in a longitudinal direction positioned within a potential PIM reactive zone of a cellular base station antenna. A channel runner assembly slidably engaged with the strut includes a low-PIM a low-PIM spacer and a low-PIM channel runner block that includes a captured rod anchor, such as a nut or bolt head, engaged with a threaded rod. A compression nut engaged with the threaded rod releasably pinches strut rails between the low-PIM channel runner block and the low-PIM spacer to secure the channel runner assembly at a desired position along the strut. The low-PIM channel runner block and low-PIM spacer prevent metal-to-metal contact when the compression nut is tightened to secure the channel runner assembly to the strut. A cable support block or other component may be spaced apart from the strut along the threaded rod.

Low-PIM channel runner assembly and cable support rail system

Low-PIM polymeric cable support brackets are used to support cables feeding antennas and other types of equipment at cellular base stations (cell sites). A variety of polymeric mounting brackets, cable ties, cable support blocks, and stackable hangers are used to eliminate loose fitting metal-to-metal contact points that tend to create PIM. The mounting bracket body may include standoff features allowing the same bracket to securely attach to poles of different diameter, an external hex profile for receiving a wrench, and a fitted receptacle for receiving a bracket end fastener to facilitate installation. Polymeric cable ties fed through cable slots in the mounting bracket may be positioned to prevent the bracket end fastener from falling out of the fitted receptacle. The low-PIM cable support brackets are suitable for use within one carrier wavelength behind and around base station antennas where conventional cable brackets have been identified as problematic PIM interference sources.

Low-PIM cable support brackets

Box head angle adapter

A stackable, low-PIM cable hanger includes a hybrid metal-and-polymeric construction including a metal cable block carrying a polymeric sleeve. The metal cable block forms the cable mounting section, while the polymeric sleeve insulates the metal sides of the cable block and provides non-metallic (low-PIM) snap-in legs for attaching the cable hanger to mounting structures and stacking the cable hangers together. The metal cable block supports the cable more securely than a polymeric mounting section, while the polymeric sleeve avoids loose metal-to-metal connections when the cable hangers are attached to metal mounting structures or stacked together. The metal cable block includes a metal sides that form cable clasps. The sleeve includes polymeric sides that cover the metal sides of the cable block to prevent metal-to-metal contact on the sides of the cable block.

Growing community of inventors

Colorado Springs, CO, United States of America

Steve Rogers