Tuning mechanism for a helix/cylinder antenna

Claim 2

In a drive assembly adapted to function within a helically coiled wire, the arrangement comprising first plate means including a first pair of flat plates arranged to be substantially in parallel and a plurality of roller assemblies, each having a roller and being mounted between said first pair of plates, each said roller assembly including an axle arranged to extend between said first plates proximate the peripheries of the latter, with the associated roller being arranged on said axle, and a roller spacer set arranged on said axles and between said first plates to helically position said rollers between said plates to extend outwardly thereof and engage the helically coiled wire.

Claim 3

The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said roller assemblies are mounted between said first plates to be equally spaced apart from one another.

Claim 4

The arrangement of claim 2 wherein each said spacer set includes a spacer member of predetermined size on either or both sides of the associated roller so as to provide the latter with said predetermined position between said first plates.

Claim 5

The arrangement of claim 3 wherein said spacer member is comprised of one or more unit-sized spacers, the unit size of which is predetermined by the pitch of said helix and the number of roller assemblies employed.

Claim 6

The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said rollers are arranged to be staggered helically in pitch between said first plates by way of said spacer set so as to have said rollers engage a plurality of adjacent helix turns simultaneously.

Claim 7

The arrangement of claiM 5 wherein in the case of said rollers engaging a pair of adjacent helix turns simultaneously, the roller assemblies are arranged to have alternate ones thereof engage the same one of said pair of helix turns.

Claim 8

The arrangement of claim 1 further comprising second plate means including a second pair of flat plates arranged to be substantially parallel, and to have said first plates therebetween and substantially in parallel therewith, said first and second plate means being mounted together to form an integral unit.

Claim 9

The arrangement of claim 7 wherein said roller assemblies are mounted between said first and second pairs of plates in a manner providing a capability of translational displacement substantially parallel to the plane of said first and second plates, and further comprising spring means biasing said roller assemblies outward toward the periphery of said first plate means.

Claim 10

The arrangement of claim 8 wherein said first and second pairs of plates are hexagonally shaped with the vertices thereof substantially aligned, and wherein the axle of each said roller assembly is arranged to engage said first and second pairs of plates proximate respective ones of the aligned plate vertices.

Claim 11

The arrangement of claim 9 wherein said spring means includes a plurality of springs mounted between said first and second plate means, each of said springs being arranged substantially between two adjacent roller assemblies so as to urge said adjacent roller assemblies toward the periphery of said first and second plate means.

Claim 12

The arrangement of claim 10 wherein said spring means include a first plurality of springs arranged between the pair of plates comprised of one each of said first and second pairs of plates and a second plurality of springs arranged between the pair of plates comprised of the other one of said first and second pairs of plates, and wherein a respective one of each of said first and second pluralities of springs is arranged to be between each adjacent pair of roller assemblies to engage same proximate the respective opposite ends thereof to bias the latter outwardly.

Claim 13

The arrangement of claim 11 further including mounting means in the form of a plurality of equally spaced assembly posts extending between said first and second pairs of plates for mounting said first and second plate means into an integral unit, and wherein the individual ones of said pluralities of springs are mounted on said posts.

Claim 14

The arrangement of claim 12 wherein one of said posts is located between each adjacent pair of roller assemblies and equidistant therefrom, and wherein said springs are correspondingly positioned between adjacent roller assemblies.

Claim 15

The arrangement of claim 10 wherein said first and second plates are each provided with a plurality of elongated apertures each extending radially inward from a point proximate a respective one of said hexagon vertices, for permitting the axles of said roller assemblies to extend through said plates and for permitting said roller assemblies a predetermined amount of translational movement in the radial direction relative to the centers of said hexagonal plates.

Claim 16

The arrangement of claim 14 wherein the belongated apertures in said first plates are open-ended to communicate with the periphery of said first plates, so as to enable said roller assemblies to be placed into position with ease.

Claim 17

The arrangement of claim 12 further including conductive spring means in the form of a plurality of conductive springs one mounted on every other assembly post and arranged to engage the respective rollers of every other adjacent pair of roller assemblies, so as to render the electrical potential difference between said rollers and said plates zero.

Claim 18

The arrangement of claim 1 further including a lower shorting brush arrangement coupled to said drive assembly arrangement, the combination forming a lower drive assembly of a shorting tube assembly comprising a tuning element in an antenna having a helical radiating element.

Claim 19

A tuning element comprising an integrally constructed shorting assembly having proximate one end thereof a drive arrangement including a set of drive rollers and first shorting brush configuration, proximate the other end thereof a guide arrangement including a set of guide rollers and a second shorting brush configuration, and an intermediate brush arrangement predeterminably arranged as to said shorting assembly between said drive and guide arrangements, said guide arrangement being adapted to function within and engage a cylindrically shaped surface and comprising plate means including a first pair of flat hexagonally shaped plates arranged to be substantially in parallel with the respective vertices thereof aligned, a plurality of roller assemblies each having a roller and being mounted between said first pair of plates proximate alternate pairs of said respective aligned vertices, each said roller extending partially beyond said first plates for engagement with said cylindrically shaped surface, and a plurality of spacer assemblies each having a spacer mounted between said hexagonally shaped first plates proximate the respective pairs of aligned vertices thereof which are unassociated with said roller assemblies, said spacer assemblies providing spacers of equal dimension defining the substantially parallel separation between said first plates.

Claim 20

A tuning element comprising an integrally constructed shorting assembly having proximate one end thereof a drive arrangement including a set of drive rollers and first shorting brush configuration, proximate the other end thereof a guide arrangement including a set of guide rollers and a second shorting brush configuration, and an intermediate brush arrangement predeterminably arranged as to said shorting assembly between said drive and guide arrangements, said guide arrangement being adapted to function within and engage a cylindrically shaped surface and comprising plate means including a first pair of flat hexagonally shaped plates arranged to be substantially in parallel with the respective vertices thereof aligned, a plurality of roller assemblies each having a roller and being mounted between said first pair of plates proximate alternate pairs of said respective aligned vertices, each said roller extending partially beyond said first plates for engagement with said cylindrically shaped surface, and a plurality of spacer assemblies each having a spacer mounted between said hexagonally shaped first plates proximate the respective pairs of aligned vertices thereof which are unassociated with said roller assemblies, said spacer assemblies providing spacers of equal dimension defining the substantially parallel separation between said first plates.

Claim 21

A tuning element comprising an integrally constructed shorting assembly having proximate one end thereof a drive arrangement including a set of drive rollers and a first shorting brush configuration, proximate the other end thereof a guide arrangement including a set of guide rollers and a second shorting brush configuration, and an intermediate brush arrangement predeterminably arranged as to said shorting assembly between said drive and guide arrangements, wherein said intermediate brush arrangement includes a tubular outer structure and a shorting brush element mounted within said tubular structure so as to partially protrude therefrom and to be resiliently displaceable therein, and wherein said guide arrangement is adapted to function within and engage a cylindrically shaped surface and comprising plate means including a first pair of flat hexagonally shaped plates arranged to be substantially in parallel with the respective vertices thereof aligned, a plurality of roller assemblies each having a roller and being mounted between said first pair of plates proximate alternate pairs of said respective aligned vertices, each said roller extending partially beyond said first plates for engagement with said cylindrically shaped surface, and a plurality of spacer assemblies each having a spacer mounted between said hexagonally shaped first plates proximate the respective pairs of aligned vertices thereof which are unassociated with said roller assemblies, said spacer assemblies providing spacers of equal dimension defining the substantially parallel separation between said first plates.

Claim 22

A tuning element comprising an integrally constructed shorting assembly having proximate one end thereof a drive arrangement including a set of drive rollers and a first shorting brush configuration, proximate the other end thereof a guide arrangement including a set of guide rollers and a second shorting brush configuration, and an intermediate brush arrangement predeterminably arranged as to said shorting assembly between said drive and guide arrangements, wherein said intermediate brush arrangement includes a tubular outer structure and a shorting brush element mounted within said tubular structure so as to partially protrude therefrom and to be resiliently displaceable therein, and wherein said guide arrangement is adapted to function within and engage a cylindrically shaped surface and comprising plate means including a first pair of flat hexagonally shaped plates arranged to be substantially in parallel with the respective vertices thereof aligned, a plurality of roller assemblies each having a roller and being mounted between said first pair of plates proximate alternate pairs of said respective aligned vertices, each said roller extending partially beyond said first plates for engagement with said cylindrically shaped surface, and a plurality of spacer assemblies each having a spacer mounted between said hexagonally shaped first plates proximate the respective pairs of aligned vertices thereof which are unassociated with said roller assemblies, said spacer assemblies providing spacers of equal dimension defining the substantially parallel separation between said first plates.

Claim 23

A tuning element comprising an integrally constructed shorting assembly having proximate one end thereof a drive arrangement including a set of drive rollers and a first shorting brush configuration, proximate the other end thereof a guide arrangement including a set of guide rollers and a second shorting brush configuration, and an intermediate brush arrangement predeterminably arranged as to said shorting assembly between said drive and guide arrangements, and wherein said drive assembly is adapted to function within a helically coiled wire and is comprised of first plate means, which include a first pair of flat plates arranged to be substantially in parallel, and a plurality of roller assemblies, each having a roller and being mounted between said first pair of plates each said roller extending partially beyond said first plates for engagement with said helix and being predeterminably positioned so as to have the rollers of said plurality of assemblies helically staggered between said first plates, and wheRein said guide arrangement is adapted to function within and engage a cylindrically shaped surface and comprising plate means including a first pair of flat hexagonally shaped plates arranged to be substantially in parallel with the respective vertices thereof aligned, a plurality of roller assemblies each having a roller and being mounted between said first pair of plates proximate alternate pairs of said respective aligned vertices, each said roller extending partially beyond said first plates for engagement with said cylindrically shaped surface, and a plurality of spacer assemblies each having a spacer mounted between said hexagonally shaped first plates proximate the respective pairs of aligned vertices thereof which are unassociated with said roller assemblies, said spacer assemblies providing spacers of equal dimension defining the substantially parallel separation between said first plates.

Claim 24

A tuning element comprising an integrally constructed shorting assembly having proximate one end thereof a drive arrangement including a set of drive rollers and a first shorting brush configuration, proximate the other end thereof a guide arrangement including a set of guide rollers and a second shorting brush configuration, and an intermediate brush arrangement predeterminably arranged as to said shorting assembly between said drive and guide arrangements, and wherein said drive assembly is adapted to function within a helically coiled wire and is comprised of first plate means, which include a first pair of flat plates arranged to be substantially in parallel, and a plurality of roller assemblies, each having a roller and being mounted between said first pair of plates each said roller extending partially beyond said first plates for engagement with said helix and being predeterminably positioned so as to have the rollers of said plurality of assemblies helically staggered between said first plates, and wheRein said guide arrangement is adapted to function within and engage a cylindrically shaped surface and comprising plate means including a first pair of flat hexagonally shaped plates arranged to be substantially in parallel with the respective vertices thereof aligned, a plurality of roller assemblies each having a roller and being mounted between said first pair of plates proximate alternate pairs of said respective aligned vertices, each said roller extending partially beyond said first plates for engagement with said cylindrically shaped surface, and a plurality of spacer assemblies each having a spacer mounted between said hexagonally shaped first plates proximate the respective pairs of aligned vertices thereof which are unassociated with said roller assemblies, said spacer assemblies providing spacers of equal dimension defining the substantially parallel separation between said first plates.

Claim 25

A tuning element comprising an integrally constructed shorting assembly having proximate one end thereof a drive arrangement including a set of drive rollers and a first shorting brush configuration, proximate the other end thereof a guide arrangement including a set of guide rollers and a second shorting brush configuration, and an intermediate brush arrangement predeterminably arranged as to said shorting assembly between said drive and guide arrangements, and wherein said drive assembly is adapted to function within a helically coiled wire and is comprised of first plate means, which include a first pair of flat plates arranged to be substantially in parallel, and a plurality of roller assemblies, each having a roller and being mounted between said first pair of plates, each said roller extending partially beyond said first plates for engagement with said helix and being predeterminably positioned so as to have the rollers of said plurality of assemblies helically staggered between said first plates, and wherein said guide arrangement is adapted to function within and engage a cylindrically shaped surface and comprising plate means including a first pair of flat hexagonally shaped plates arranged to be substantially in parallel with the respective vertices thereof aligned, a plurality of roller assemblies each having a roller and being mounted between said first pair of plates proximate alternate pairs of said respective aligned vertices, each said roller extending partially beyond said first plates for engagement with said cylindrically shaped surface, and a plurality of spacer assemblies each having a spacer mounted between said hexagonally shaped first plates proximate the respective pairs of aligned vertices thereof which are unassociated with said roller assemblies, said spacer assemblies providing spacers of equal dimension defining the substantially parallel separation between said first plates, and wherein said intermediate brush arrangement includes at least one shorting brush configuration mounted radially on a cylindrical middle portion of said shorting assembly, said intermediate shorting bursh configuration having a tubular outer structure and a brush element mounted within said tubular structure so as to partially protrude therefrom and to be resiliently displaceable therein.

Claim 26

A tuning element comprising an integrally constructed shorting assembly having proximate one end thereof a drive arrangement including a set of drive rollers and a first shorting brush configuration, proximate the other end thereof a guide arrangement including a set of guide rollers and a second shorting brush configuration, and an intermediate brush arrangement predeterminably arranged as to said shorting assembly between said drive and guide arrangements, and wherein said drive assembly is adapted to function within a helically coiled wire and is comprised of first plate means, which include a first pair of flat plates arranged to be substantially in parallel, and a plurality of roller assemblies, each having a roller and being mounted between said first pair of plates, each said roller extending partially beyond said first plates for engagement with said helix and being predeterminably positioned so as to have the rollers of said plurality of assemblies helically staggered between said first plates, and wherein said guide arrangement is adapted to function within and engage a cylindrically shaped surface and comprising plate means including a first pair of flat hexagonally shaped plates arranged to be substantially in parallel with the respective vertices thereof aligned, a plurality of roller assemblies each having a roller and being mounted between said first pair of plates proximate alternate pairs of said respective aligned vertices, each said roller extending partially beyond said first plates for engagement with said cylindrically shaped surface, and a plurality of spacer assemblies each having a spacer mounted between said hexagonally shaped first plates proximate the respective pairs of aligned vertices thereof which are unassociated with said roller assemblies, said spacer assemblies providing spacers of equal dimension defining the substantially parallel separation between said first plates, and wherein said intermediate brush arrangement includes at least one shorting brush configuration mounted radially on a cylindrical middle portion of said shorting assembly, said intermediate shorting bursh configuration having a tubular outer structure and a brush element mounted within said tubular structure so as to partially protrude therefrom and to be resiliently displaceable therein.