US3897294A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of forming a parabolic antenna
Assignee: Hughes Missile Systems Co
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Filing: 1974-05-06
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Granted: 1975-07-29
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Expires: 1994-05-06
Abstract
Abstract A method for forming a parabolic antenna almost entirely with plastic materials.
Inventors
- 👤 William L Macturk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 13:08
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q15/00; H01Q15/14; H01Q15/141; H01Q15/142; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49016; Y10T29/49018
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A METHOD OF FORMING A PARABOLIC ANTENNA COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: MOLDING A CONCAVE EPOXY PARABOLOID MOLD DISPOSING A PARABOLIC REFLECTOR BLANK OVER THE CONCAVE EPOXY PARABOLOID MOLD PRESSURE FORMING THE PARABOLIC REFLECTOR BLANK INTO THE CONCAVE EPOXY PARABOLIOD MOLD TO FORM A PARABOLIC REFLECTOR, MOLDING AN ANTENNA MOUNTING PLATE, FORMING A PLASTIC COLLAR FOR THE PARABOLIC REFLECTOR, BONDING THE ANTENNA MOUNTING PLATE TO THE PLASTIC COLLAR, ASSEMBLING REFLECTOR TOGETHER WITH THE PLASTIC COLLAR MOUNTING PLATE, AND
Claim 2
Independent Claim
77 words
A METHOD OF FORMING A PARABOLIC ANTENNA COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: MOLDING A CONCAVE EPOXY PARABOLOID MOLD DISPOSING A PARABOLIC REFLECTOR BLANK OVER THE CONCAVE EPOXY PARABOLOID MOLD PRESSURE FORMING THE PARABOLIC REFLECTOR BLANK INTO THE CONCAVE EPOXY PARABOLIOD MOLD TO FORM A PARABOLIC REFLECTOR, MOLDING AN ANTENNA MOUNTING PLATE, FORMING A PLASTIC COLLAR FOR THE PARABOLIC REFLECTOR, BONDING THE ANTENNA MOUNTING PLATE TO THE PLASTIC COLLAR, ASSEMBLING REFLECTOR TOGETHER WITH THE PLASTIC COLLAR MOUNTING PLATE, AND
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 and including the steps of mounting a plastic waveguide feed horn and a plastic hyperbola on the parabolic antenna.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of forming a parabolic antenna comprising the steps of: forming a mold to mold a concave epoxy paraboloid, said mold comprising a hollow cylindrical mold ring disposed between a plate having a convex paraboloid surface and a first flat cover plate; molding a concave epoxy paraboloid in the mold; disposing a parabolic reflector blank between the convex paraboloid surface plate and the concave epoxy paraboloid; pressure forming a parabolic reflector from the parabolic reflector blank disposed between the convex paraboloid plate and the concave epoxy paraboloid; forming a mounting plate injection mold with a second flat cover plate and a mold plate; injection molding an antenna mounting plate in the mounting plate injection mold; vacuum forming a plastic antenna collar around the hollow cylindrical mold ring; bonding the antenna mounting plate to the antenna plastic collar; assembling the parabolic reflectoR and the bonded antenna plastic collar and mounting plate within the cylindrical mold ring between the convex paraboloid plate and the flat cover plate; and inserting a plastic material between the parabolic reflector and the bonded antenna plastic collar and antenna mounting plate.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of forming a parabolic antenna comprising the steps of: forming a mold to mold a concave epoxy paraboloid, said mold comprising a hollow cylindrical mold ring disposed between a plate having a convex paraboloid surface and a first flat cover plate; molding a concave epoxy paraboloid in the mold; disposing a parabolic reflector blank between the convex paraboloid surface plate and the concave epoxy paraboloid; pressure forming a parabolic reflector from the parabolic reflector blank disposed between the convex paraboloid plate and the concave epoxy paraboloid; forming a mounting plate injection mold with a second flat cover plate and a mold plate; injection molding an antenna mounting plate in the mounting plate injection mold; vacuum forming a plastic antenna collar around the hollow cylindrical mold ring; bonding the antenna mounting plate to the antenna plastic collar; assembling the parabolic reflectoR and the bonded antenna plastic collar and mounting plate within the cylindrical mold ring between the convex paraboloid plate and the flat cover plate; and inserting a plastic material between the parabolic reflector and the bonded antenna plastic collar and antenna mounting plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 3 and including the steps of mounting a plastic waveguide feed horn and a plastic hyperbola on the parabolic antenna.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said mold ring, said convex paraboloid plate and said first flat cover plate are formed from aluminum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the convex paraboloid mold surfaces are polished and waxed before the concave epoxy paraboloid is molded.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 6 where said concave epoxy paraboloid is molded from a room temperature curing epoxy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said concave epoxy paraboloid is molded from stycast epoxy.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said stycast concave epoxy paraboloid is cured for 24 hours.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said parabolic reflector blank is held between two holding rings.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said parabolic reflector blank is a thin copper sheet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said parabolic reflector blank is a polyethylene plastic sheet coated on both sides with copper.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said parabolic reflector blank is a polyolefin plastic sheet coated with polished copper on both sides.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said pressure formed parabolic reflector is gold-plated.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said antenna mounting plate is molded of high density ABS plastic.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said antenna plastic collar is vacuum formed of white ABS plastic.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the plastic material used in the last step is polyurethane which is then oven cured at 160*F for 2 hours.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-07-28 | 1979-01-27 | 1979-07-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-28 | 1983-01-27 | 1983-07-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-28 | 1987-01-27 | 1987-07-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |