US3896447A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Erection and retraction mechanism for a foldable antenna and its mast
Assignee: TDK Micronas GmbH
•
Filing: 1974-04-22
•
Granted: 1975-07-22
•
Expires: 1994-04-22
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed herein a mechanism to erect and retract a foldable antenna and its mast for use in a submarine antenna buoy. A first sheave is fixed to the mast and buoy base in a rotating relation to the mast and in a non-rotating relation to the buoy base and a second sheave is carried as a rotational component upon the antenna mast but affixed as non-rotating with respect to the antenna array. The first sheave is made twice the diameter of the second sheave and a band interconnects the peripheries of the sheaves. A drive mechanism is provided to drive the antenna mast such that, when the antenna mast is rotated 90* clockwise, the second sheave would then be rotated 180* counterclockwise about its axis to unfold the antenna so as to be vertical with respect to the buoy base and in line with the mast. A similar band interconnecting the peripheries sheaves opposite the first periphery connections would cause a positive reversal of this process. With this mechanism, a positive erection and positive retraction can be obtained through driven members under efficient tensile loading. A cable, a chain, and a toothed belt can be used instead of the bands and drums and sprockets can be used instead of the sheaves.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles P Majkrzak
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 09:40
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/27; H01Q1/34; H01Q1/08; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/18568; Y10T74/18832; Y10T74/1884
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
259 words
A mechanism to erect and Retract a foldable antenna and its mast with respect to a base structure comprising: an antenna; an antenna mast; a U-shaped member secured to said base structure, the open end of said U-shaped member extending away from said base structure; a first shaft extending through the legs of said U-shaped member and the bottom of said mast, said first shaft being connected to the bottom of said mast to prevent said first shaft from rotating relative to the bottom of said mast; a first pair of disc-like members secured to and non-rotatable upon said first shaft, each of said first pair of disc-like members being connected to a different one of the legs of said U-shaped member; a second shaft extending through the top of said mast and the bottom of said antenna; a second pair of disc-like members secured to said second shaft and the bottom of said antenna said second pair of disc-like members being non-rotatable about said second shaft; a first pair of force transmitting members interconnecting said first and second pair of disc-like members for rotation of said second pair of disc-like members in a first given direction; a second pair of force transmitting members interconnecting said first and second pair of disc-like members for rotation of said second pair of disc-like members in a second given direction opposite to said first given direction; and drive means connected to said first shaft to drive said shaft for control of the erection and retraction of said antenna mast and said antenna.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
259 words
A mechanism to erect and Retract a foldable antenna and its mast with respect to a base structure comprising: an antenna; an antenna mast; a U-shaped member secured to said base structure, the open end of said U-shaped member extending away from said base structure; a first shaft extending through the legs of said U-shaped member and the bottom of said mast, said first shaft being connected to the bottom of said mast to prevent said first shaft from rotating relative to the bottom of said mast; a first pair of disc-like members secured to and non-rotatable upon said first shaft, each of said first pair of disc-like members being connected to a different one of the legs of said U-shaped member; a second shaft extending through the top of said mast and the bottom of said antenna; a second pair of disc-like members secured to said second shaft and the bottom of said antenna said second pair of disc-like members being non-rotatable about said second shaft; a first pair of force transmitting members interconnecting said first and second pair of disc-like members for rotation of said second pair of disc-like members in a first given direction; a second pair of force transmitting members interconnecting said first and second pair of disc-like members for rotation of said second pair of disc-like members in a second given direction opposite to said first given direction; and drive means connected to said first shaft to drive said shaft for control of the erection and retraction of said antenna mast and said antenna.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second pairs of disc-like members includes a sheave.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second pairs of disc-like members includes a drum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second pairs of disc-like members includes a sprocket.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second pairs of force transmitting members includes a band.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second pairs of force transmitting members includes a cable.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second pairs of force transmitting members includes a chain.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second pairs of force transmitting members includes a toothed belt.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
116 words
A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said drive means includes a winch cable connected to said mast, an actuating disc-like member connected to said first shaft, an actuating force transmitting member having one end connected to said actuating disc-like member, and an erecting spring having one end anchored to said base structure and the other end anchored to the other end of said actuating force transmitting member said actuating force transmitting member being wrapped around said actuating disc-like member when said antenna and said antenna mast are retracted by said winch cable to store energy in said erecting spring, said antenna and said antenna mast being erected by said energy stored in said erecting spring.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A mechanism according to claim 9, wherein said actuating force transmitting member includes a cable.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A mechanism according to claim 9, wherein said actuating force transmitting member includes a chain.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
A mechanism according to claim 9, wherein said actuating force transmitting member includes a band.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
89 words
A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said drive means includes a bearing block, a spline included in said bearing block, a thrust bearing disposed at each end of said spline in contact with the adjacent surface of said bearing block, a drive worm gear disposed on said spline intermediate said thrust bearings, a driven worm gear meshed with saiD drive worm gear and connected to said first shaft, a drive shaft connected to said spline, and a drive package including a drive motor coupled to said drive shaft.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said drive means includes a driven disc-like member, an acutating disc-like member connected to said first shaft, and a pair of actuating force transmitting members interconnecting said driven disc-like member and said actuating disc-like member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A mechanism according to claim 14, wherein each of said driven and actuating disc-like members includes a sheave.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
A mechanism according to claim 14, wherein each of said driven and actuating disc-like members includes a drum.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A mechanism according to claim 14, wherein each of said driven and actuating disc-like members includes a sprocket.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
A mechanism according to claim 14, wherein each of said pair of actuating force transmitting members includes a band.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
A mechanism according to claim 14, wherein each of said pair of actuating force transmitting members includes a chain.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
A mechanism according to claim 14, wherein each of said pair of actuating force transmitting members includes a cable.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
A mechanism according to claim 14, wherein each of said pair of actuating force transmitting members includes a toothed belt.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
A mechanism according to claim 14, wherein each of said pair of actuating force transmitting members includes a tension drive rod.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said base structure is a portion of the hull of a submarine antenna buoy.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
A mechanism according to claim 23, wherein each of said first and second pairs of disc-like members includes a sheave.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
A mechanism according to claim 23, wherein each of said first and second pairs of disc-like members includes a drum.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
A mechanism according to claim 23, wherein each of said first and second pairs of disc-like members includes a sprocket.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
A mechanism according to claim 23, wherein each of said first and second pairs of force transmitting members includes a band.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
A mechanism according to claim 23, wherein each of said first and second pairs of force transmitting members includes a cable.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
A mechanism according to claim 23, wherein each of said first and second pairs of force transmitting members includes a chain.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
A mechanism according to claim 23, wherein each of said first and second pairs of force transmitting members includes a toothed belt.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
116 words
A mechanism according to claim 23, wherein said drive means includes a winch cable connected to said mast, an actuating disc-like member connected to said first shaft, an actuating force transmitting member having one end connected to said actuating disc-like member, and an erecting spring having one end anchored to said base structure and the other end anchored to the other end of said actuating force transmitting member said actuating force transmitting member being wrapped around said actuating disc-like member when said antenna and said antenna mast are retracted by said winch cable to store energy in said erecting spring, said antenna and said antenna mast being erected by said energy stored in said erecting spring.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
A mechanism according to claim 31, wherein said actuating force transmitting member includes a cable.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
15 words
A mechanism according to claim 31, wherein said actuating force transmitting member includes a chain.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
15 words
A mechanism according to claim 31, wherein said actuating force transmitting member includes a band.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
89 words
A mechanism according to claim 23, wherein said drive means includes a bearing block, a spline included in said bearing block a thrust bearing disposed at each end of said spline in contact with thE adjacent surface of said bearing block, a drive worm gear disposed on said spline intermediate said thrust bearings, a driven worm gear meshed with said drive worm gear and connected to said first shaft, a drive shaft connected to said spline, and a drive package including a drive motor coupled to said drive shaft.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
61 words
A mechanism according to claim 35, further including a first wave-slap shock-absorbing spring disposed coaxial of said spline and between one of said thrust bearings and one end of said drive worm gear; and a second wave-slap shock-absorbing spring disposed coaxial of said spline and between the other of said thrust bearings and the other end of said drive worm gear.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
42 words
A mechanism according to claim 23, wherein said drive means includes a driven disc-like member, an actuating disc-like member connected to said first shaft, and a pair of actuating force transmitting members interconnecting said driven disc-like member and said actuating disc-like member.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
42 words
A mechanism according to claim 37, further including a first wave-slap shock-absorbing spring incorporated in one of said pair of actuating force transmitting members; and a second wave-slap shock-absorbing spring incorporated in the other of said pair of actuating force transmitting members.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
18 words
A mechanism according to claim 37, wherein each of said driven and actuating disc-like members includes a sheave.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
18 words
A mechanism according to claim 37, wherein each of said driven and actuating disc-like members includes a drum.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
18 words
A mechanism according to claim 37, wherein each of said driven and actuating disc-like members includes a sprocket.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
19 words
A mechanism according to claim 37, wherein each of said pair of actuating force transmitting members includes a band.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
19 words
A mechanism according to claim 37, wherein each of said pair of actuating force transmitting members includes a chain.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
19 words
A mechanism according to claim 37, wherein each of said pair of actuating force transmitting members includes a cable.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
20 words
A mechanism according to claim 37, wherein each of said pair of actuating force transmitting members includes a toothed belt.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
21 words
A mechanism according to claim 37, wherein each of said pair of actuating force transmitting members includes a tension drive rod.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3417523A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-07-21 | 1979-01-20 | 1979-07-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-21 | 1983-01-20 | 1983-07-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-21 | 1987-01-20 | 1987-07-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |