Mount for satellite tracking devices

Abstract

Mounts for satellite tracking antennas or other devices. Mounts according to the invention aim antennas or other devices at various satellites along the geosynchronous satellite arc by creating a mechanical analog of that arc and forcing the axis of the antenna or device to rotate through the analogous arc. This is accomplished by fixing an Earth center analog point and mechanically constraining the axis of the antenna or device to rotate about a site-analog point which is located vertically a predetermined distance from the Earth center analog point. A rotating arm through which the axis of the antenna or device may pass swings the axis through an arc which is in a plane parallel to the Earth's equatorial plane and which has the Earth center analog point at its center and a radius of 6.611 times the predetermined distance between the Earth center analog point and the site-analog point. The arm may be rotated to aim the antenna or device at various satellites along the geosynchronous satellite arc. Such mounts may also be used to aim devices at satellites in non-geosynchronous orbit in the plane of the Earth's equator. In such cases, the axis of the device intersects an arc having a radius corresponding to the radius of the satellite orbit relative to the Earth's radius, which may be more or less than 6.611. A constant speed actuator drives the carrying member to track the satellite.