US1929845A - Radio aerial - Google Patents

Description

RADIO AERIAL Filed Sept. 29, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l /8 //VJUL IT/ON i //VJULfi T/0/V l9 2 J Q 9 l l [U1 i I J INVENTOR. 22 STE-M ll. HE TLEE ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 10, 1933. s. c. HAYNES RADIO AERIAL Filed Sept. 29. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3.

FIG. 4.

BITE-112 ll. BY {1 able structure.

Patented Oct. 10, 1933 RADIO AERIAL Stanley Charles Haynes, Wilmington, Calif., ail-- signor, by mesne assignments, to Lapp Insulator Company, Inc., Le Roy, N. Y., a corporation ol New York Application September 29, 1930 Serial No. 485,197

20 Claims.

The present invention relates to radio and the primary object of the invention is to provide an improved radio aerial or tower.

A further object of the invention is to provide a radio antenna capable of being rigidly mounted upon various types of roofs without the use or unsightly uy wires and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide an'irnproved aerial device in the form of a tower and wherein the entire super structure forms a part of the effective antenna.

A further object of the invention resides in the novel manner of mounting the device to prevent grounding.

Other objects and advantages of the inven tion will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accom= panying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which drawings:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of the improved aerial and showing portions in section for illustrating details of construction.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section on line 2-2 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is an enlarged frentary detail section thru one of the comer uprights.

Figure l is a horizontal section on line 4-4 of Figure l.

Referring to the drawings in detail and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts thruout the several views, the improved aerial or antenna device has been shown in the form of a skeleton like tower adapted for mounting upon a house top or other suit- It is to be understood however, that the device may be constructed in various styles and may be of such miniature size to serve as an inside aerial. By way of example, the aerial when constructed for outside use may have a height of about four feet and a base dimension of about eighteen inches, altho these dimensions may be materially varied to suit the requirements oi the apparatus.

The aerial is of open construction and coinprises the four upwardly converging extensible corner standards or legs 5 which are constructed of a conducting metal, preferably copper. The

standards 5 are of built up construction and each includes a pair of telescopically related in ner and outer tubular sections 6 and *4 respectively which may be formed from copper tubing. The lower end of each inner tubular sec' tion 6 is flared into conical formation to provide a drip skirt 8 at the lower'extremity pfeach section. Threaded thru the lower end portion of each outer tubular section 7 is a thumb screw 9, the inner ends of which are adapted to engage against the inner tubular sections 6 for retaining the inner sections in longitudinally adjusted positions within the outer sections. 80

Each of the corner standards or legs 5 also embodies an angle shaped cover or finishing strip 10 of a length equal to the length of the outer tubular sections 7 and these angle strips 10 may be formed from copper strips of a suitable gage. Connecting the corner standards 5 at suitably spaced points therealong are horizontal braces, cross members, or girts 11 which are preferably formed from copper strips. The corner standards 5 are also connected by diagonal braces 12 which extend in crossed relation between the horizontal braces 11. Referring particularly to Figure 3, the ends of the braces ll and 12 are arranged in overlying relation and are secured together and also to the surfaces of the outer tubular sections 7 by suitable means such, for example, as soldering as shown at 14. This soldering of the braces to the tubular sections is to provide a good electrical connection between all of the elements acting as electrical conductors. The lowermost b0 horizontal brace ll'connects the lower ends of the outer tubular sections 7, and the uppermost horizontal brace is spaced below the top ends of the standards a distance substantially equal to the vertical spacing between the braces 11.

The upper ends of the standards 5 are connected by a metallic cap piece 15 preferably formed with a fiat, square-shaped body portion having a downturned marginal flange 16 providing substantially right angular corners to): receiving the upper ends of the standards. The upper ends or the angle shaped cover strips 10 have a snug fit in the cap piece 15, which may either be formed of copper or nickel, and may or may not be soldered to the cap.

The tower structure is carried by insulating foot pieces or insulator supports 18 that rest 2 upon foundations or pads 19 so as tohave freedom'oi movement thereon to avoid loading 0! foot pieces or support insulators 18 in tension in case the antenna structure tends to sway or tilt. These foot pieces 18 are interposed between the lower ends of the corner standards 5 and the foundations or pads 19. as illustrated, these foot pieces are slidably fitted into the lower open ends m5 of tubular sections 6.

Since the tower structure is mounted on insulators or insulator supports 18 in the er above described, there is but a single'capacitative impedance path to ground at each point 01 support. In the structure illustrated, the points of support are at the corners of the base of the antenna structure.

The foot pieces 18 may be in the form of cylindricalglass rods insertable into the tubular sections 6 into engagement with pins 20 acting as stops. The drip shields 8 aside from preventing grounding of the superstructure also permit ready insertion of the insulating feet into the tubular sections 6. When the device is intended for portable indoor use, the structure may be mounted upon a suitable base 22 and in the example illustrated the base is in the form of a cross with the four insulating foot pieces -18'resting upon the ends of the arms thereof.

The corner standards 5 are also connected by suitable stay bolts 23 which are made of brass and serve as strengthening means for the copper brace strips 11 and 12.

Secured to and depending from the axial center of the cap piece 15 is a metallic eye bolt 24 into the eye at the lower end of which is hooked the upper end of a combined tensioning and anchoring rod 25 which is preferably formed of copper and of such length as to have its lower end extend nearly to the lowermost horizontal brace 11. Attached in any suitable manner to the lower end of the tensioning rod 25 is a strain insulator 26 to the eye at the lower end of which is attached one end of a turnbuckle 27. The strain insulator may be made of any suitable insulating material and with a receiving antenna I contemplate employing hard rubber as the insulating material. The lower end of the turnbuckle 27 is may be attached.

attached to an anchoring member 28 which in the example shown is in the form of a U bolt secured to the axial portion of the base 22. Thus it will be seen that tightening of the turnbuckle 2'! will draw the standards 5 into firm contact with the supporting base 22.

The tensioning and anchoring rod 25, the strain insulator 26, the turnbuckle 27 and the anchoring member 28 thus constitute a hold down device or hold down means for the antenna tower or structure.

The antenna structure therefore embodies a multi-sided vertical mast or tower provided with insulator supports or feet which are located under the corners or standards of the tower. This tower is held in vertical position by means of a hold down or anchor means, that is insulated to prevent grounding of the tower, and which forms with the corners or legs of the tower a substantially vertically acting couple that resists overturning of the tower.

Provided at the lower end of the tensioning rod 25 is a copper drip shield 30 of conical shape which extends about the insulator 26 for preventing water from grounding the lower end of the tensioning rod. Carried by the rod 25, in slightly spaced relation above the drip shield 30 is a binding post 32 to which a lead-in wire as shown at 33 The tower structure is further strengthened by means of a pair of brace wires 34 having their medial portions trained in right angular relation thru apertures in the shank portion of the eye bolt 24 and having their ends attached as by binding screws 35 to the central portions of the lowermost horizontal braces 11.

The angle shaped cover strips 10 may be secured as by soldering at 36 (Figure 3) to the ends of the horizontal braces 11 and these strips aside from forming additional collector surfaces, serve to present a finished appearance to the corner standards by covering the soldered connections of the brace strips 11 and 12 to the outer tubular sections 7.

The device may be erected in a vertical position upon various types of roofs such as gable and flat roofs thru the mere adjustment of the telescopic sections 6 and '7 to suit the angles or pitches of the particular type of roof upon which it is desired to mount the aerial. When mounted upon a roof, the base 22 is of course not required and the single anchoring member 28 is rigidly secured to the roof structure.

From the foregoing it will readily be apparent that an improved aerial device has been disclosed which is extremely neat in appearance and may be readily and easily mounted without the requiring of unsightly guy wires and the like for bracing purposes. It will also be apparent that a structure as disclosed will permit rigid mounting of the device by means of a single anchoring member. It will also be observed that the entire superstructure serves as a conductor for the radio waves.

Changes in detail may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A radio aerial comprising a frame structure embodying corner standards, brace members connecting the corner standards, an insulating foot for each standard, a tensioning rod connected at its upper end to the upper ends of the corner standards and extending axially of the standards, tensioning means insulatively connected to the lower end of the rod, and an anchoring member connected to the tensioning means for attachment to a supporting structure axially of the frame.

2. A radio aerial comprising a metallic frame including corner standards each embodying telescopic inner and outer sections and a corner finishing strip, adjustment retention means for the sections, brace strips connecting the outer sections and having their ends concealed by the finishing strips, a foot for each standard, a rod having connection at its upper end to the standards and depending axially between the standards, and means for insulatively connecting the lower end of the rod to a mounting structure axially of the standards.

3. In a radio aerial of the class described, corner standards each embodying telescopic inner and outer sections, a flared .drip shield at the lower end of each inner section, an insulating leg secured in the lower end of each inner section, adjustment retention means for the telescopic sections, brace strips connecting the outer sections of each standard, a cover strip for the ends of the brace strips, a cap connecting the upper ends of the standards, a tensioning rod depending axially fromthe cap, and adjustable anchoring means connecting the lower end of the tensioning rod axially of the standards.

4. In a radio aerial of the class described, an open frame structure embodying corner standards, a cap piece connecting the upper ends of the standards, brace means for the standards including horizontal brace strips connecting the lower ends of the standards, an eye bolt depending axially from the cap piece, a tensioning rod connected to the eye bolt, a binding post on the tensioning rod, anchoring means insulatively connected with the lower end of the rod for securing the lower end of the rod axially of the frame, and

brace wires connected between the eye bolt and each of said horizontal brace strips and arranged in right angular relation.

5. The combination with a mast or tower type antenna and foundations at the comers of the base thereof, of insulators interposed between the tower and the foundations adapted to take the load thereof, said insulators providing freedom of movement of the tower at the corners, and means to anchor said tower to resist tipping thereof, said means being insulated from ground and acting along the vertical axis of the tower.

6. The combination with a mast or tower type antenna and foundations at the corners of the 1 base thereof, of insulators interposed between the mast type, a relatively slender vertical tower having a plurality of diverging legs, insulator supports under each leg of the tower, there being a connection between the supports and the tower such that there may be relative movement between them so as to avoid loading the supports in tension, a tension member disposed wholly within and carried by the tower, and means coupled to said tension memberand ground for anchoring the tower to resist tipping thereof about its insulator supports, there being means to insulate the -3E5 tower from ground through a path including said tension member and coupling means.

8. An antenna of the self-supporting vertical mast type comprising a tower structure having legs formed as an integral part of such structure,

an insulator support for each such leg, a central hold down device secured to said structure adjacent the top thereof and extending downwardly within said structure, anchoring means for said hold down device, and an insulator between said hold down device and said anchoring means.

, 9. A mast type antenna, comprising a built-up frame structure consisting of upwardly converging standards and cross braces, all electrically connected, an adjustable leg associated with each such standard, an insulator support for each such leg, a single hold down device for such structure secured thereto intermediate said standards, an anchoring means for said hold down device and a strain insulator between said anchoring means and said hold down device.

10. A mast type antenna comprising a frame structure including a plurality of standards and cross braces mechanically and electrically connected together, an insulating foot for each standsuch standard, an insulator support for each such' foot, means for adjusting the height of said structure above said insulator supports a hold down device located intermediate standards of such structure and secured to said structure, an

anchoring means for said hold down device and a strain insulator between said anchoring means and said hold down device.

12. A mast type antenna, comprising a built-up frame structure including vertically extending, upwardly converging standards and cross bracing, all mechanically and electrically connected together, a foot associated with each such standard, an insulator support for each such foot, an anchoring means located intermediate said insulator supports, an adjustable hold down device secured to said anchoring means and said frame structure, an insulator constituting a part of said hold down device and means for adjusting the height of said antenna above said insulator supports.

13. The combination with a mast or tower type antenna adapted to alone function as a vertical conductor and foundations at the corners of the base thereof, of load supporting insulators interposed between the tower and foundations and adapted to provide freedom of movement of the tower at its corners and means secured to a portion of the antenna included between the corners thereof and insulated from ground and forming a substantially wholly ver- 1 tically acting couple with said comers to resist overturning of the tower.

14. A mast type antenna, comprising a metallic frame structure embodying comer standards and cross members connected electrically and mechanically to function effectually as a vertical conductor, separate insulating means su porting each of said standards and each standard with its insulating means forming a single capacitative impedance path to ground, substantially 11.

wholly vertically acting hold down means secured to a portion of the frame structure included between standards thereof, anchoring means for said hold down means, and a strain insulator forming a part of said hold down means.

15. An antenna structure comprising a vertical relatively slender multi-sided mast built up of metallic comer standards and cross members all electrically and mechanically connected together and adapted to function effectually as a vertical conductor, foundations for the structure, symmetrically spaced insulators interposed between corner standards and said foundations and adapted to carry the load of the structure and provide relative freedom of movement of the mast 1 at its corners, means symmetrically disposed with respect to sides of .the mast and secured to a portion of the mast included between corner standards thereof for exerting substantially wholly vertical hold down forces on the mwt to prevent overturning thereof, and means for insulating the mast from ground through the path provided by said hold downmeans.

16. An antenna of the self-supporting vertical ill mast type designed to function efiectually as a lbw vertical conductor, comprising a metallic frame structure having comer standards and connecting cross members, foundations under the corner standards, insulating means interposed between the corner standards and foundations and 14d adapted to take the load of the tower and provide freedom of movement of the tower at its corners, substantially wholly vertically acting hold down means secured to a portion of the mast formed by cross members connecting the 1 corner standards of the tower to anchor said tower to resist tipping and a strain insulator for insulating said hold down means from ground.

17. The combination with a mast or tower type antenna and foundations at. the corners of the ically and electrically connected standards and,

cross members, an insulating support for each such standard, each standard with its insulating support forming but a single capacitative impedance path to ground, a single axially positioned anchoring device forsaid frame structure, a hold down device secured to said anchoring device and to said frame structure, and an insulator forming a part of said hold down device.

19. A mast type antenna, comprising a builtup frame structure including standards and cross braces, all electrically andmechanically connected together, an insulating support for each standard, each standard with its insulating support forming but a single capacitative impedance path to ground, a single hold down device secured to said structure near the top thereof and located intermediate said standards, anchoring means for said hold down device and an insulator included in said hold down device between said frame structure and said anchoring means.

20. The combination with a mast or tower type antenna and foundations at the corners of the base thereof, of insulators interposed between the tower and the foundations, adapted to take the tower load and provide freedom of movement of the tower at the corners, and means insulated from ground and located wholly within the tower for resisting tipping thereof.

STANLEY CHARLES HAYNES.

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