Nozzle cap multi-band antenna assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11469494-B2
Application number	US-201916354939-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2019
Priority date	Feb 12, 2016
Publication date	Oct 11, 2022
Grant date	Oct 11, 2022

Abstract

A nozzle cap assembly includes a nozzle cap including a base, the base defining a top end and a bottom end; and a nut positioned opposite from the bottom end; an enclosure positioned between the top end of the base and the nut, the enclosure defining a cavity within the enclosure; at least one antenna positioned within the cavity.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A nozzle cap assembly comprising:
a nozzle cap comprising:
a base;
a curved sidewall extending from the base to a bottom end of the nozzle cap, the curved sidewall defining internal threading between the base and the bottom end; and
a nut positioned opposite from the bottom end, the base positioned between the nut and the curved sidewall;

an enclosure positioned between the base and the nut, the enclosure defining a cavity within the enclosure, an outer surface of the enclosure aligning with an outer surface of the curved sidewall; and
at least one antenna positioned within the cavity.

2. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure comprises a cover and a mounting plate, and wherein the cover and the mounting plate at least partially define the cavity.

3. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 2 , wherein the mounting plate defines a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface faces the cover, and wherein the bottom surface is in facing engagement with the base.

4. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a power supply positioned within the cavity.

5. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 4 , wherein the power supply is secured to a mounting plate of the enclosure.

6. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one antenna is positioned adjacent to a curved side wall of the enclosure.

7. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 6 , wherein the enclosure defines an inner surface, wherein the inner surface at least partially defines the cavity, and wherein the at least one antenna is attached to the inner surface.

8. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one antenna comprises a plurality of antennas positioned within the cavity, and wherein the plurality of antennas are distributed circumferentially around a curved side wall of the enclosure.

9. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor positioned within the cavity.

10. A nozzle cap assembly comprising:
a base;
a curved sidewall extending from the base to a first end of the nozzle cap assembly, the curved sidewall defining internal threading between the base and the first end;
an enclosure mounted to the base with the base positioned between the enclosure and the curved sidewall, a cavity defined within the enclosure, at least one antenna positioned within the cavity, an outer surface of the enclosure aligning with an outer surface of the curved sidewall; and
a nut disposed as a second end of the nozzle cap assembly opposite from the first end, the enclosure positioned between the base and the nut.

11. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 10 , wherein the enclosure comprises a cover and a plate, and wherein the cavity is defined between the cover and the plate.

12. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 10 , further comprising a sensor, a power source, and a printed circuit board (“PCB”) disposed within the cavity, the sensor, the power source, the PCB, and the at least one antenna connected together in electrical communication.

13. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 10 , wherein the at least one antenna comprises a plurality of antennas, and wherein the plurality of antennas are circumferentially distributed within the cavity.

14. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 13 , wherein a first antenna of the plurality of antennas is configured to operate within a first frequency band, and wherein a second antenna of the plurality of antennas is configured to operate within a second frequency band.

15. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 14 , wherein:
the first antenna is a cellular antenna;
the first frequency band is 600 MHz to 6 GHz;
the second antenna is a wireless local area antenna; and
the second frequency band is 1.5 GHz to 5.0 GHz.

16. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 10 , wherein the enclosure defines a bore positioned adjacent to a top side of the base.

17. A nozzle cap assembly comprising:
a nozzle cap body defining a top end and a bottom end, an axis extending from the top end to the bottom end, the nozzle cap body defining a curved side wall extending from the top end toward the bottom end, the curved side wall defining an inner surface and an outer surface;
an antenna cover covering at least a portion of the curved side wall, the portion of the curved side wall positioned radially inward from the antenna cover with respect to the axis, the antenna cover defining an inner cover surface and an outer cover surface, the inner cover surface and the outer surface of the curved side wall at least partially defining a cavity; and
an antenna assembly positioned within the cavity, the antenna assembly secured to the inner cover surface.

18. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 17 , further comprising a spacer radially positioned between the outer surface of the curved side wall and the inner cover surface of the antenna cover.

19. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 18 , wherein the spacer is positioned at least partially between the antenna assembly and the curved side wall.

20. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 1 , wherein an entirety of the enclosure is positioned between the base and the nut.

21. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 10 , wherein an entirety of the enclosure is positioned between the base and the nut.

22. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the enclosure is cylindrical.

Assignees

• Mueller Int Llc

Inventors

• Ortiz Jorge Isaac
• Dunn David James Carlos
• Li Yanlong
• Faunce Jesse Alvin

Classifications

• H01Q21/30

  Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system · CPC title

• H01Q1/38 Primary

  formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support {(patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface  H01Q15/142)} · CPC title

• H01Q1/44

  using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna {, e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspect}(H01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01Q21/205

  providing an omnidirectional coverage (turnstile aerials H01Q21/26) · CPC title

• H01Q21/28

  Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems {(multiple beam H01Q25/00)} · CPC title