GB719481A - Improvements in and relating to reflectors - Google Patents

Abstract

719,481. Radio reflectors. SUCAL, Ltd., SUCHY, C. T., and McAULEY, D. J. Feb. 25, 1953 [Feb. 25, 1952], No. 4885/52. Class 40 (7) A collapsable carrier reflector suitable for suspension from a balloon comprises, in its erected state, a circular plane reflecting member 10 and two semi-circular plane reflecting members 11 and 12 intersecting each other at right angles and mounted on top of and perpendicular to member 10, two similar semi-circular members 13, 14 being mounted underneath member 10 with their planes intersecting the angles, between the'planes of members 11 and 12. Member 11 is hinged to member 10 along the axis 26, 27 and member 12 is hinged to member 11 along the axis 20, 21, the erected structure being held rigid by a catch. at point 22 engaging member 12 with member 10. In order to collapse members 11 and 12, the catch is released, member 12 is rotated in the direction of arrow 24 until it lies against member 11 and member 11 is then rotated in the direction of arrow 28 until the two members lie against the upper surface of member 10; the underneath members 13 and 14 are interconnected with member 10 in a similar manner. The reflecting surfaces may comprise wire or wire mesh but as illustrated, Figs. 2-6 (not shown), they comprise electrically conductive nylon net as disclosed in Specification 572,071, [Group XXXV]. For members 10, Fig. 1, the reflecting material is attached under tension to a circular frame by means of threads. Members 11 and 12, Figs. 3 and 4 (not shown), each comprise a flexible rib constrained to a semicircular shape by a diametrical bracing wire attached to its ends, the hinging action being provided by pivots at the ends of rib 11 and at the centres of ribs 11 and 12. The two semicircular frames formed by the ribs 11, 12 and their bracing wires 'are covered by two semicircular pieces of material sewn together along the line 20, 21 so that each piece covers half of one frame and half of the other. If stiff reflecting material is employed, no bracing wires are required. The reflector is suspended for rotation about two perpendicular axes by cords 15 and 16 attached to pins, Figs. 2 and 5 (not shown), rotatably mounted in the frame of member 10 at the point where member 14 is pivoted thereto. the cords being spaced by a spreader 17 and attached to a single support point 18.