US3836979A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lightweight deployable helical antenna
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp
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Filing: 1973-12-14
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Granted: 1974-09-17
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Expires: 1993-12-14
Abstract
Abstract A lightweight deployable helical antenna having a thin, flat electrically conductive radiator strip helically coiled about an axially extensible and contractable supporting structure and pivotally secured at intervals to the structure in a manner such that the antenna is longitudinally contractable to a collapsed configuration and extendible to a deployed configuration. In the preferred embodiment, the antenna supporting structure is a truss frame structure constructed of tubular, resiliently flexible elastic strain energy deployable beams which deform when the frame structure is contracted to store elastic strain energy for extending the antenna to its deployed configuration.
Inventors
- 👤 R Kurland
- 👤 G Fruktow
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 10:28
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/08; H01Q1/084; H01Q11/00; H01Q11/02; H01Q11/08; H01Q11/086
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A deployable helical antenna comprising: a longitudinally extendible and contractable supporting structure; a relatively thin and flat electrically conductive radiator strip coiled helically about said structure with the faces of the strip generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the structure; pivot means securing the ends of said strip to the ends of said structure; additional pivot means securing said strip to said structure at points spaced along the strip; and the pivot axes of said pivot means being transverse to the axis of said structure and the faces of said strip, whereby said antenna is contractable to a collapsed configuration wherein said structure and radiator strip are axially contracted and the antenna is extendible to a deployed configuration wherein said structure and radiator strip are axially extended.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
A deployable helical antenna comprising: a longitudinally extendible and contractable supporting structure; a relatively thin and flat electrically conductive radiator strip coiled helically about said structure with the faces of the strip generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the structure; pivot means securing the ends of said strip to the ends of said structure; additional pivot means securing said strip to said structure at points spaced along the strip; and the pivot axes of said pivot means being transverse to the axis of said structure and the faces of said strip, whereby said antenna is contractable to a collapsed configuration wherein said structure and radiator strip are axially contracted and the antenna is extendible to a deployed configuration wherein said structure and radiator strip are axially extended.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A deployable antenna according to claim 1 wherein: said supporting structure comprises a truss frame structure constructed of resiliently flexible strain energy beams which deform upon contraction of the antenna to its collapsed configuration to store elastic strain energy for extending the antenna to its deployed configuration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A deployable antenna according to claim 2 wherein: said beams comprise resiliently flexible tubular beams with coplanar diametrically opposed flanges, and said beams flatten and fold during contraction of the antenna to its collapsed configuration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
A deployable antenna according to claim 3 wherein: said truss frame structure has a generally triangular cross-section and includes three longitudinal beams extending lengthwise of the structure and cross beams joining the longitudinal beams; and said helically coiled radiator strip is pivotally attached to said longitudinal beams at the points of attachment of the latter beams and cross beams.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A deployable antenna according to claim 4 wherein: said antenna is an axial mode helical antenna and said helically coiled radiator strip has a substantially constant diameter and pitch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A deployable antenna according to claim 4 whereIn: said antenna is a conical log spiral antenna and said helically coiled radiator strip has a diameter and pitch which vary logarithmitically.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A deployable antenna according to claim 1 wherein: said antenna is an axial mode helical antenna and said helically coiled radiator strip has a substantially constant diameter and pitch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A deployable antenna according to claim 1 wherein: said antenna is a conical log spiral antenna and said helically coiled radiator strip has a diameter and pitch which vary logarithmitically.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
89 words
A deployable antenna according to claim 1 including: a ground plane at one end of said antenna including a rectangular frame comprising resiliently flexible strain energy frame members about the perimeter of the frame, a wire mesh screen secured to said frame members and extending across the frame, resiliently flexible strain energy cross beams secured to said perimeter frame members and extending across said screen in crossing relation to one another and joined to one another at their crossing point, and means joining said cross beams to said structure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3699585A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-16 | 1978-03-18 | 1978-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-16 | 1982-03-18 | 1982-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-16 | 1986-03-18 | 1986-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |