Collapsible antenna assembly

Claim 2

A collapsible antenna assembly comprising: a central mast; a first radiating cage structure mounted on said central mast, said radiating cage structure having an open and closed position; a second radiating cage structure mounted at the other end of said central mast, said second radiating cage structure having an open and closed position; said first and second radiating cage structures each including a plurality of radial arms pivotally connected to said central mast to permit folding of said radial arms from the open position to the closed position at the center of said central mast; a plurality of wire radiating elements, one each of said wire elements being connected at one end to the other end of said radial arms and the other end of said wire elements being electrically connected to a center feed point; feed terminals connecting the center feed point with a power source; spring means acting against said pivotally connected radial arms to urge said arms outwardly from the closed position to the open position; and means for closing each of said radiating cage structures from the open position to the closed position.

Claim 3

An antenna as set forth in claim 1 further comprising: a fixed collar secured to said central mast against which one end of said spring means acts; a movable collar mounted about said central mast and against which the other end of said spring means acts; and a plurality of linking arms, each linking arm being pivotally connected at one end to a radial arm and at the other end to said movable collar.

Claim 4

An antenna as set forth in claim 1 in which said means for closing each of said radiating structures comprises: a collar having a rolled edge being secured to said central mast, said collar having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough; a sliding collar mounted about said central mast between said rolled edge collar and said pivotally mounted radial arms, said sliding collar having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough, each of said radiating wire elements passing respectively through said sliding collar aperture and said rolled edge collar aperture and terminating at said sliding collar; and means for urging said sliding collar away from said rolled edge collar wherein each of said wire elements is doubled on itself to collapse said radial arms to a closed position.

Claim 5

An antenna as set forth in claim 3 in which said means for urging said sliding collar away from said rolled edge collar comprises: a lanyard connected with each of said sliding collars; a source of motive power attached to an extension of said central mast; a takeup spool connected to said source of motive power, said lanyard being attachable to said takeup spool; said source of motive power having a first operating condition in which said takeup spool is locked against rotation; said source of motive power having a second operating condition in which said takeup spOol is freely rotatable wherein said radial arms may be pivoted outwardly to the open position; said source of motive power having a third operating condition wherein said takeup spool is rotationally driven to wind up said lanyard wherein said radial arms are collapsed to the closed position; and means for respectively changing said source of motive power from said first operating condition to said second operating condition and from said second operating condition to said third operating condition.

Claim 6

An antenna as set forth in claim 4 in which each of said radiating cage structures further comprises: a fixed collar secured to said mast; a spring mounted about said central mast between said fixed collar and said radial arms; a movable collar mounted about said central mast between said spring and said radial arms wherein said spring acts against said collars; and a plurality of linking arms, each linking arm being pivotally connected at one end to said movable collar and at the other end to a radial arm, said spring being compressed when said radial arms are in the collapsed position and wherein said spring urges said radial arms outwardly when said source of motive power is in the second operating condition.

Claim 7

The antenna as set forth in claim 5 in which said central mast comprises a plurality of detachable sections.

Claim 8

In a collapsible antenna assembly, the combination of: a central mast; a radiating cage structure mounted on said central mast having an open and closed position, said radiating cage structure including a plurality of radial arms pivotally mounted to said central mast and a plurality of radiating wire elements connecting the outer ends of said radial arms with a feed point; spring means for moving said radial arms outwardly to the open position; a collar having a plurality of apertures securedly mounted to said central mast; a sliding collar having a plurality of apertures mounted about said central mast between said first collar and said radial arms, said radiating wire elements respectively passing through said sliding collar apertures and fixed collar apertures and terminating at said sliding collar; a source of motive power attached to an extension of said central mast; a lanyard connecting said source of motive power with said sliding collar for urging said sliding collar away from said fixed collar when said source of power is actuated wherein such movement of said sliding collar causes each radiating wire elements to double on itself whereby said radial arms are pivotally moved inward to a closed position; and means connecting said fixed collar with a source of transmission power wherein said fixed collar is the feed point.

Claim 9

In a collapsible antenna assembly, the combination of: a central mast; a radiating cage structure mounted on said central mast having an open and closed position, said radiating cage structure including a plurality of radial arms pivotally mounted to said central mast and a plurality of radiating wire elements connecting the outer ends of said radial arms with a feed point; spring means for moving said radial arms outwardly to the open position; a collar having a plurality of apertures securedly mounted to said central mast; a sliding collar having a plurality of apertures mounted about said central mast between said first collar and said radial arms, said radiating wire elements respectively passing through said sliding collar apertures and fixed collar apertures and terminating at said sliding collar; a source of motive power attached to an extension of said central mast; a lanyard connecting said source of motive power with said sliding collar for urging said sliding collar away from said fixed collar when said source of power is actuated wherein such movement of said sliding collar causes each radiating wire elements to double on itself whereby said radial arms are pivotally moved inward to a closed position; and means connecting said fixed collar with a source of transmission power wherein said fixed collar is the feed point.

Claim 10

The combination as set forth in claim 7 further comprising: a second radiating cage structure identical with said first radiating structure, said second radiating cage structure being mounted in inverted position on said central mast relative to said first radiating cage structure; and insulating means separating said first and second radiating cage structures.