Steerable monopole antenna system having a plurality of reflectors, said reflectors comprising a series of tubular vacuum switches

Claim 1

A STEERABLE ANTENNA SYSTEM COMPRISING A VERTICAL MONOPOLE ANTENNA, A CONCENTRIC LINE CONNECTED FOR ENERGIZING SAID ANTENNA, A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY SPACED POLES SURROUNDING SAID ANTENNA, TUBULAR REFLECTORS CARRIED BY SAID POLES, SAID REFLECTORS HAVING A SERIES OF TUBULAR VACUUM SWITCHES CONNECTED AT REGULAR INTERVALS THEREIN AND STRUCTURALLY FORMING PORTIONS OF SAID REFLECTORS, SAID VACUUM SWITCHES HAVING PNEUMATIC BY-PASSES FOR PASSING AIR THEREAROUND, PIPES CONNECTED RESPECTIVELY TO SAID REFLECTORS, A SOURCE OF COMPRESSED AIR, SOLENOID-OPERATED VALVES CONNECTED TO SAID SOURCE, FOR SELECTIVELY CONNECTING THE SAME TO SAID PIPES, AND CONTROL MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY ENERGIZING SAID SOLENOID-OPERATED VALVES TO EFFECT THE OPERATION THEREOF TO SUPPLY COMPRESSED AIR THROUGH SAID CONNECTED PIPES TO THE DESIRED REFLECTORS, SAID COMPRESSED AIR IN PASSING THROUGH SAID REFLECTORS AND THROUGH SAID VACUUM SWITCH BYPASSES SERVING TO ACTUATE SAID VACUUM SWITCHES IN SUCCESSION TO RENDER SAID REFLECTORS EFFECTIVE TO DIRECT RADIANT ENERGY FROM SAID MONOPOLE ANTENNA IN A DESIRED DIRECTION.