Cribb, H. E.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

REPLY TO 
A n t i  OF: Gp 
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE AD 
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20546 
November 6, 1970 
TO: usI/Scientific 6~ mchnical xnformation Division 
Attentiom Mise Win 
F ROM t G P / O f f i c e  of Assistagt G@neral Counsel for  
Patent M a t t @ r s  
SUBJECT: Announcement of IMASA-Owned U. S. Patents in STAR 
I n  accordance w i t h  the proceduz:92r; agreed upon by Code GP 
and Code U S I ,  the attached HAS ed U. S.‘ Patent is being 
foxwarded f o r  abstracting and mcement i n  
The following infomatio 8 providedn 
, .  
U. S. Patent 
Government or 
Corporate loyee 2 
Supplementary Corporate 
Source ( i f  applicable : 4Y.k 
Patent Case No.  
NOTE - If th is  patent  covers an invention made by a corporate 
employee of a PJASA Contractor, the following is applicable: 
Y e s  Icf NO 
Pursuant Lo Section 305 
Space A c t ,  the name of 
the first page of the p 
- the Specification, fo 
Enclosure 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19710010018 2020-03-17T02:44:21+00:00Z
April 28, 1970 H. E. CRIB6 3,509,578 
WEATHERPROOF HELIX ANTENNA 
Filed Jane 21, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 
9‘ 
-- -*xl”a INVENTOR. HERBERT E. CRIB8 p Ir 
BY 
April 28, 1970 H. E. CRIBB 3,509,578 
WEATHERPROOF HELIX ANTENNA 
Filed June 21, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 
HERBERT E. CRlBB 
- 
1 2 
fining a space between the inner surface of the tubular 
conductor and the periphery of the central conductor, (8)  3,509,578 
WEATHERPROOF HELIX ANTENNA 
l a foam dielectric carried in the space between the central Herbert E* Cribb, Satellite Beach, Fl% assignor to the 
United states of America as represented by the Ad- 
ministrator of the 
conductor and the tubular conductor permitting the cable 
to be flexible enough to be bent into a helix and rigid 
Aeronautics and @aee 5 enough to hold the shape after bending, a non-metallic Administration 
U.S. C1. 343-873 
Filed June 21, 1967, Ser. No. 649,078 
Int. CI. H0lq 1/36 
sheath carried on the outer surface of the tubular con- 
ductor weatherproofing such from the elements, and (10) 
an electrically conductive member carried adjacent each 
end of the cable for electrically connecting the tubular 
conductor to the central conductor. 
Accordingly, it is an important object of the present in- 
vention to Provide an inexpensive weatherproof helix an- 
tenna which requires a minimum amount Of maintenance. 
Another important object of the present invention is 
to provide an antenna which can be readily assembled 
by 
Still another important object of the present invention 
is to provide a helical antenna in which the helix is formed 
20 from a cable having a central conductor encompassed by 
The invention described herein was made by an em- a tubular conductor with a foam dielectric interposed 
ployee of the United States Government and may be manu- therebetween so that the cable is flexible enough to be bent 
States of America for governmental purposes without the 25 shape* 
payment of any royalties thereon or therefor. A further important object of the present invention is 
This invention relates to an antenna, and partic- to provide a helical antenna which can be transpcrted dis- 
ularly to a weatherproof helix antenna which can be assembled and subsequently readily assembled at a desired 
utilized where corrosion is a major factor, such as at location* 
island and seacoast facilities, or on range tracking ships. 3o Other objects and advantages of this invention will be- 
Heretofore, helical antennas constructed for use in in- apparent from a reading of the following de- 
stallations where corrosion is a major factor, such as on tailed description and appended claims taken in conjunc- 
were very expensive. The antenna helix was formed from FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating a helical 
soft copper tubing using a mandrel to shape such. The 35 antenna constructed in accordance with the present in- 
mandrel had to be custom machined so that the copper vention; 
tubing would stretch out to the proper helix diameter and FIGURE 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view 
pitch for the operating frequency of the antenna. Calcu- taken along line 2-2 of PIGUN3 1; 
lating mandrel dimensions and machining the mandrel on FIGURE 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view 
a lathe took many hours of a machinist's time. Further- illustrating the electrically conductive member carried ad- 
more, the copper tubing had to be weatherproofed by jacent one end of the helix for electrically connecting the 
silver plating and painting it. Such antennas are very ex- tubular conductor to the central conductor; 
pensive plus, they required a considerable amount of FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partially 
maintenance in order to maintain them in the proper op- in section, illustrating the manner in which an electrical 
erating condition. 
It is desired that a reliable, rugged, inexpensive and FIGURE 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view 
weatherproof antenna be utilized, which is capable of illustrating the electrically conductive member carried 
withstanding corrosive weather conditions, and can be adjacent the outer end of the helix for electrically con- 
constructed by relatively inexperienced personnel. More- necting the tubular conductor to the central conductor. 
over, it is desired to provide an antenna which can be Referring now in more detail to the drawings wherein 
easily assembled so that such can be transported to a de- like reference numerals designate identical or correspond- 
sired location unassembled. This is particularly important ing parts throughout the several views, and with special 
for use on range tracking ships which are strategically lo- attention to FIGURE 1, reference numeral 10, generally 
cated at different locations for monitoring a space flight. designates a helical antenna in a horizontal position. The 
In accordance with the present invention, it has been 55 antenna includes an elongated metal supporting shaft 
found that the foregoing difficulties encountered in helical 11. A base member 12 constructed of any suitable mate- 
antennas may be overcome by providing a novel helix for rial, such as Steel, is carried adjacent one end of the 
the antennas. An antenna constructed in accordance with SuPPorting shaft 11, and extends radially outwardly from 
the present invention includes the following basic parts: the supporting shaft. The base Plate 12 and the SUP- 
(1)  an elongated supporting shaft, (2) a pluralitr of cir- Porting shaft 11 are, in turn, secured to a supporting 
cumferentially and longitudinally spaced standoff insula- block 13 which is suitably mounted on a stand generally 
tors extending radially from the supporting shaft, (3)  the designated at 14. A counterbalanced weight 15 is mount- 
length of the standoff insulators determining the diameter ed on one end of a horizontal shaft 16 which has its 
d the helix and the orientation of the standoff insulators free-end wxred  by any suitable means to the supporting 
determining the pitch angle for the helix, ( 4 )  a base mem- 65 block 13. A Plurality Of Circumferentially and longitudi- 
ber carried adjacent one end of the supporting shaft, ( 5 )  nally spaced standoff insulators 17 extend radially from 
a flexible cable having one end secured to the base mem- the supporting shaft 11. The length of the standoff insula- 
ber and being secured to the standoffs defining a helix, tors determines the diameter of the helix and the orienta- 
( 6 )  the cable having a unitary elongated central conductor tion of the standoff insulators determine the pitch angle 
extending Iongitudinally therethrough, (7) an elongated 70 of such. The standoff insulators may be constructed of 
unitary tubular conductor of a greater diameter than the any suitable non-conductive material and secured to the 
central conductor encompassing the central conductor de- supporting shaft by any suitable means, such as screwing 
3 Claims 
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE 
A helical antenna constructed of a flexible weatherproof 
cable which is flexible enough to be bent into the shape of 
a helix about standoff insulators, yet substantially rigid 15 
enough to retain such shape after SO bending. The weather- 
proof helical antenna is movably mounted on a stand for 
appropriate orientation in any direction. 
inexperienced Personnel. 
facmred and used by or for the Government of the United into the Proper shape and rigid enough to maintain the 
island and seacoast facilities, or on range tracking ships, tion with the accompanying wherein: 
46 conductor passes through the base member; and 
3,509,578 
3 
them into threaded holes carried on the shaft. A flexible 
cable 18 has one end secured to the base member 12. 
The main body of the cable is secured to the standoffs 
17 in any suitable manner to define a helix. It is noted 
that the end of the cable is insulated from the base mem- 
ber 12. One suitable means of securing the cable to the 
ends of the standoffs incorporates a pin 18a having a cir- 
cular member adjacent one end through which the cable 
is threaded and a shank adjacent the other end, which is 
driven into the end of the wooden standoffs. Any suitable 
connecting means could be utilized. In securing or wind- 
ing the cable on the standoffs 17 one end of such is 
coupled to the connector, generally designated at 19, and 
such is bent by hand so that it is wound onto the ends of 
the standoffs. 15 
The cable 18 has a unitary elongated central copper 
conductor 20 extending longitudinally therethrough. An 
elongated corrugated tubular copper conductor 21 .of 
greater diameter than the central conductor 20 encom- 
passes the central conductor defining a space therebe- 20 
tween. A foam dielectric 22, such as foamed polyethylene, 
is carried in the space between the inner surface of the 
tubular conductor 21 and the central conductor 20 per- 
mitting the cable to be flexible enough to be bent into a 
helix and rigid enough to hold such shape after bending. 25 
A thermoplastic coating or sheath 23 is carried on the 
outer surface of the tubular conductor 21 waterproofing 
such from the elements. One suitable cable which has 
been used to form the helix is manufactured by Andrew 
Corporation of Los Angeles, Calif., and has a Model 30 
No. FHJ4-50A. 
An elongated electrically conductive shorting member 
24 is carried adjacent the inner end of the cable 18 for 
electrically connecting the tubular conductor 21 to the 
central conductor 20. The shorting member 24 has a 35 
drilled axial bore 24a which receives the end portion 
of the central conductor 20. A lateral bore 246 is also 
drilled in the shorting member 24 and communicates with 
the axial bore 24a so that solder can be poured therein. 
The solder secures the end portion of the central con- 40 
ductor within the drilled axial bore 24a. The copper tubu- 
lar member 21 also extends over a portion of the shorting 
member 24 and is soldered thereto by bead 25. In pre- 
paring the cable 18 so that the shorting member 24 can 
be mounted thereon, first the tubular member 21 and 45 
the foam dielectric 22 are stripped off to expose the end 
portion of the central conductor 20. Then a sufficient 
amount of the foam dielectric 22 is removed permitting 
a portion of the shorting member to be inserted within 
the tubular copper member 21. It is noted that the ex- 50 
posed end of the central conductor 20 is inserted within 
the axial bore 24a. Solder 25 is then poured within the 
lateral bore 24b and flows through the axial bore 24a 
securing the end portion of the central conductor 20 with- 
in the drilled bore 24a upon cooling. When the shorting 55 
member is soldered between the tubular conductor 21 
and the central conductor 20 such provides a good elec- 
trical connection therebetween. Weatherproof adhesive 
tape 25a is wound around the end of the cable 18 and 
the shorting member 24 for securing such together. The 6o 
shorting member has a flat reduced end 26 with a hole 
27 extending therethrough so that such can be bolted to 
the connector 19 carried within the base plate 12. The 
connector has a central conductive portion 27a which is 
secured to the shorting member by means of a reduced 65 
threaded shank 28 which extends through the hole 27 in 
the shorting member. A nut 29 secures the shorting mem- 
ber 24 onto the shank 28. The conductive portion 27a 
extends through a main body portion 30 which is secured 
within the base plate 12 by any suitable means, and is r0 
insulated therefrom by insulating material such as rubber 
31. Any suitable connecting element could be utilized. 
The shorting member 24d which is illustrated in FIG- 
URE 5 is provided for shorting the free-end of the helical 
cable and is identical with the construction of that of the 75 
4 
shorting member 24 with the exception that 110 connect- 
ing portion is carried adjacent the end. The cable 18 is 
stripped in the above-mentioned manner, and the longi- 
tudinal axial bore 24a slips over the central conductor 
20 and solder is poured in the end of the axial bore 24a 
securing the cable to the shorting element 24d. The tubu- 
lar 21 is then soldered to the shorting element 24d by 
means of a bead 25. Weatherproof adhesive tape 25a 
is then wound around the end of the cable and the short- 
ing member 24a. 
As previously mentioned, the supporting block is 
mounted on a suitable stand 14 so that the antenna can 
be rotated and pivoted vertically. The supporting block 
93 is carried on a horizontal plate 32 which is, in turn, 
mounted in a pivotable manner (not shown) on the 
top of shaft 33 so that the antenna can be pivoted in a 
vertical direction. A side plate 34 extends downwardly 
from the horizontal plate 32 and has an arcuate shaped 
slot 35 therein through which a locking nut 36 extends. 
The locking nut 36 engages the shaft 33 so that when 
such is drawn downward it locks the side 34 in a fixed 
position. The shaft 33 is allowed to rotate in sleeves 37 
carried adjacent the bottom of the supporting frame. Legs 
38 extend outwardly from the sleeves for supporting such. 
A locking screw member 39 is carried on the upper sleeve 
37 so that when such is rotated in one direction it locks 
the shaft 33 in a fixed position so that it cannot rotate. 
Since the helix of the antenna is made from a cor- 
rosion proof dielectric helix-type transmission line that 
has been shorted out at each end, very little maintenance 
is necessary for such. The foam dielectric transmission 
line is flexible enough so that it can be bent or oriented 
around the standoff insulators 17 by a relatively inex- 
perienced person to form the desired helix. Since the helix 
can be formed with relative ease, the antenna can be 
transported in a disassembled manner and assembled at 
Ihe desired location. 
While a preferred embodiment of the invention has 
been described using spedfic terms, such description is 
for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood 
that changes and variations may be made without depart- 
ing from the spirit or scope of the following claims. 
What is claimed is: 
1. A weatherproof helical antenna comprising: 
(A) an elongated supporting shaft; 
(B) a plurality of circumferentially and longitudinally 
spaced standoff insulators extending radially from 
said supporting shaft; 
(C) said standoffs being of a predetermined length 
for defining the diameter of said helical antenna; 
(D) a base member carried adjacent one end of said 
supporting shaft; 
(E) a flexible cable having one end secured to said 
base member and being secured to said standoffs de- 
fining a helix; 
(F) said cable having a unitary elongated central con- 
ductor extending longitudinally therethrough; 
(G) a unitary elongated tubular conductor of a greater 
diameter than said central conductor encompassing 
said central conductor defining a space between the 
inner surface of said tubular conductor and the 
periphery of said central conductor; 
(H) a foam dielectric carried in satid space between 
said central conductor and said tubular conductor 
permitting said cable to be flexible enough to be bent 
into a helix and rigid enough to hold such shape after 
bending; 
(I) a non-metallic sheath carried on the outer surface 
of said tubular conductor waterproofing such from 
the elements; and 
(J) an electrically conductive member carried adja- 
cent each end of said cable for electrically connect- 
ing said tubular conductor to said central conductor. 
B 
3,509,578 
6 
References Cited 
3,031,668 4/1962 Bryson _-___________ 343-790 
OTHER REFERENCES 
5 
2. The helical antenna as set forth in claim 1 further 
(A) a stand for supporting said antenna Prmitting 
3. The helical antenna as set forth in claim 1 wherein: 6 
(A) said electrically conductive member has an axial 
bore for receiving said central conductor; and 
(B)  solder securing said central conductor to the walls 
of said bore providing electrical connection there- 
between. 343-882, 895 
comprising: UNITED STATES PATENTS 
such to rotate and pivot vertically. 
Electronics, Apr. 29, 1960, pp. 99, 100, 101. 
ELI LIEBERMAN, Primary Examiner 
U.S. C1. X.R. 


Weatherproof helix antenna Patent

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

NASA Technical Reports Server