JP2662381B2 - Weather and moisture resistant structure - Google Patents

Abstract

An electromagnetically-transparent structure, which is weather-, moisture-, and gas-resistant, for enclosing and protecting a radio antenna including a layer of laminate, comprising adhered layers of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane (2), thermoplastic polymer (3), a second layer of PTFE membrane (2), and a backing fabric (4) comprising woven fibres of PTFE.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to coating and protecting a radio antenna, such as a radar antenna, from weather and moisture while keeping it electromagnetically transparent.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Large scale radio antennas, such as radar equipment and radio telescopes, often require some type of coating, preferably airtight, to protect from the weather, ie sun, wind and moisture. The structure is called a radome. One type of radome is an inflatable radome. In this case, an airtight balloon covers the antenna. The balloon is inflated by a blower and the structure is positioned at a distance from the antenna so that the antenna can move or rotate freely. The usual form of such a coating is a geodesic dome or metal space frame radome, which consists of many metallic (and other structural material), triangular and other geometrically shaped segments, These segments are covered with a suitable radio frequency transmission membrane and are connected to one another to form a generally spherical dome surrounding a rotating or moving radar antenna inside the radome. Although a positive pressure is not required within the metal space frame radome, positive pressures are sometimes useful, for example, to remove snow from outside the dome or to facilitate control of the environment within the dome. Other types of equipment have a solid segment coated door on the wireless antenna that opens to allow the antenna to function through the aperture. On each side of this aperture, a semi-circular track is mounted, on which each edge of a large, almost electromagnetically transparent sheet of protective film for covering the antenna in use is aligned. ing. Other forms of antenna may be suitably coated with such a membrane mounted therearound or retained thereon in various ways to protect against the effects of moisture and weather. Although effective to varying degrees, such as previously known polytetrafluoroethylene fiberglass laminates,
Films of various shapes and compositions do not eliminate all of the problems associated with the use of coatings for this type of radio antenna protection.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention, therefore, provides a structure that allows a radio antenna, such as a radar antenna, to be coated and protected against weather and moisture while being electromagnetically transparent. The purpose is to do.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a weather, moisture and gas resistant structure for surrounding and protecting a wireless antenna, including layers of laminate, having excellent electromagnetic transmission and physical properties. A polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane, a thermoplastic polymer and PTFE
A structure is provided that includes an adhesive layer of a fiber backing fabric. Preferred membranes and fibers are comprised of porous PTFE, more preferably US Pat. No. 3,953,566.
4096227, 4187390, 4110392, 4
Porous expanded stretch P prepared as described in U.S. Patent Nos. 025679, 3962153 and 4482516.
It is composed of TFE (EPTFE).

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a laminate 1 according to the invention in cross section showing various layers. PTF for outer layer
E, preferably porous PTFE, most preferably EPT
FE or PTFE in the manner described in the aforementioned US patent.
Expanded expanded PTF produced by stretching
It is made of E film material. EPTFE has excellent dielectric constant and dielectric loss tangent characteristics, and assists electromagnetic transmission. The outer layer 2 is bonded by a thermoplastic polymer layer 3 to a second layer 2 of EPTFE, which has previously been bonded to a fiber backing layer 4 comprising a PTFE fabric. Again, the preferred PTF
E is EPTFE.

Although layer 3 of the thermoplastic polymer is preferably a fluorinated ethylene propylene copolymer (FEP), if the PTFE adhesive properties, radar wavelength transparency, and gas resistance properties are suitable for use in making a particular laminate. Alternatively, other fluorinated thermoplastic polymers can be used. Other non-fluorinated thermoplastic polymers can also be used for layer 3, provided that sufficient adhesion, electromagnetic transmission properties, and gas resistance have sufficient function and effectiveness. Suitable thermoplastic polymers include perfluoroalkoxytetrafluoroethylene polymers, ethylene tetrafluorofluoroethylene copolymers, copolymers of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, copolymers of hexafluoropropylene and tetrafluoroethylene, Including polyethylene and polypropylene. Layer 4 is made of PTF
E, preferably porous PTFE, most preferably EPT
It is a woven backing fabric for lamination that is FE.
Layer 4 imparts strength properties to the laminate and other layers of this material can be added if needed to increase the laminate strength.

[0007] PTFE or EPTFE woven fabrics can be obtained from commercially available PTFE or thermoplastic polymer dispersions.
About 3 to 10% by weight of the dispersed PTFE is coated to be applied and EP under hot pitch roll conditions under pressure.
Laminated on TFE film. Another EPTFE film is adhered to the FEP film under heat and pressure. The FEP side of this second laminate is then hot pressed to the EPTF of the first laminate.
It is laminated on the E side to form a four-layer laminate as shown in cross section in FIG. Other pairs of layers 2 and 3 may be similarly laminated to the EPTFE surface of the laminate, if desired, to alter the electromagnetic transmission properties or gas resistance. The electromagnetic transmission characteristics and frequency conditions can also be adjusted by slightly changing the fluorinated thermoplastic resin available for the layer 3. The laminate may be sufficiently reinforced by a layer of thermoplastic resin to be useful in pressurized structures where the gas pressure in the dome or shelter moves the rotating or moving parts of the antenna contained therein away from the coating. High gas resistance.

FIG. 2 shows a large-scale metal space frame radome for covering and surrounding the radio antenna 5. The dome segment 6 is made by coating a geometrically shaped frame, usually made of metal or other rigid structural material, such as metal or plastic tubing or molded bars, with a laminate of the present invention.

The segments 6 are then assembled into a radome as shown. Other methods for producing such a frame, which do not include geometric segments, can also be used, and the dome may be laminated to the laminate 1 of the present invention.
Other methods for coating with can also be used. FIG.
Shows another type of housing or shelter for the radio antenna 9 in which the entire housing rotates, the roof shutter 7 and the door 8 open the way for the antenna 9 and the large-scale shelter sheet 11 of the composite membrane of the invention is Raised along track 10, this sheet is attached to track 10 at each end to protect the antenna during use. Cover 6 of each segment of the sheet 11 of FIG. 3 and the geodesic dome of FIG.
Are each one aspect of the present invention. Clearly, other forms of antenna shelters or covers are readily conceivable to those skilled in the art of wireless antennas, radomes and observation apertures in real buildings, and the invention is not limited as long as the laminates of the invention are used. It is feasible.

[0010]

The laminate is inert to various elements including sunlight, ozone, temperature changes, wind, rain and snow,
Unaffected, inert, hydrophobic and gas-resistant. They are very thin, strong, have color reflection and electromagnetic transmission, low dielectric constant and low dielectric loss. When used in radomes, these laminates lower maintenance costs,
It provides a low cost structure surround, allows for more accurate measurements, provides longer observation times, and does not require painting or other maintenance as is the case with other materials and attaches to the surface of the radome. Has low adhesion to snow and ice, which may occur, and excellent release properties. These laminates will be useful in protective clothing for protection against chemicals or corrosive media or atmospheres, as flange covers in chemical manufacturing plants, and for building structures.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a cross section of a preferred laminate of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cutaway view of a space frame dome that covers and protects a rotating wireless antenna.

FIG. 3 shows the radio telescope housing with the shutter and door open, and the composite membrane covering sheet being pulled up over the antenna.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Laminate 2 ... Outer layer 3 ... Thermoplastic polymer layer 4 ... Fabric backing layer 5 ... Wireless antenna 6 ... Segment 7 ... Roof shutter 8 ... Door 9 ... Wireless antenna 10 ... Track 11 ... Cover sheet

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-56-110304 (JP, A) JP-A-59-214304 (JP, A) JP-A-63-316904 (JP, A) 82813 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Showa 59-25808 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Showa 62-86714 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Showa 58-141603 (JP, U)

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A weather and moisture resistant structure comprising: (a) a porous polytetrafluoroethylene membrane; (b) a thermoplastic polymer; (c) a second layer of a porous polytetrafluoroethylene membrane; And (d) a backing fabric comprising a woven fabric of polytetrafluoroethylene, and a structure comprising an adhesive layer. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the first and second layers of polytetrafluoroethylene membrane and the backing fabric are porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.
The structure according to claim 1. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic polymer is a fluorinated ethylene-
Propylene copolymer, perfluoroalkoxytetrafluoroethylene, ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, copolymer of hexafluoropropylene and tetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, or polypropylene The structure according to claim 2, wherein the structure is provided.