US2620442A - Dipole antenna - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 2, 1952 v. w. TREBULES DIPOLE ANTENNA 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Aug. 20. 1949 INVENTOR. V/ 7'0? 144 FPE'BULES a Arra :ys

Patented Dec. 2, 1952 DIPOLE ANTENNA Victor W. Trebules, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to ihe Gabriel Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a. corporaticn of Ohio Application August 20, 1949, Serial No. 111,460

4: Claims.

The present invention relates to folded dipole antennas, and particularly, to folded dipole antennas which may be attached directly to a part of a building, such as a window sill, cornice or other convenient surface.

It is the practice to support folded dipole antennas on vertical masts attached to the center portion of the conductors of the antenna. In many instances, the installations of the masts are difiicult and expensive and in some cases, folded dipole antennas cannot be used due to the lack of facilities for the erection of a mast.

A principal object of the present invention is the provision of a folded dipole antenna which may be secured to a wall, window sill, cornice, or the like, of a building thereby eliminating the necessity of installing a mast and, in many instances, enabling the installation of a folded dipole antenna where a mast could not be erected.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a folded dipole antenna which may be supported on a window sill, cornice or the like, and including two conductor members which have relative pivotal movement whereby optimum effectiveness of the antenna may be obtained by adjusting the angular position of one conductor member relative to the other.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a folded dipole antenna which may be pivotally attached at one end to a convenient wall or other suitable support surface and swung about its pivotal axis to orient the antenna for optimum reception.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a folded dipole antenna comprising two spaced parallel conductors and having a bracket attachable to a wall, or the like, for supporting the conductors at one end and which bracket forms part of the dipole circuit.

The invention resides in certain constructions and combinations and arrangements of parts and further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following description of preferred embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a dipole antenna attached to a vertical support;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the antenna shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig.1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section, showing ends of antenna conductor 2 sections attached to the lower portion of a support bracket;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the opposite ends of the antenna conductors attached to the upper portion of the support bracket;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of another folded dipole antenna attached at one end to a wall; and

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the antenna shown in Fig. 6.

The present invention contemplates a folded dipole antenna comprising two parallel conductors which are pivotally supported by a bracket which may be attached to a Window sill or cornice or the like. In the preferred form of the invention, two conductor members are provided, each comprising two elongated parallel conductor sections electrically connected at one end and having the other ends pivotally supported by bracket means. The pivoted ends of one conductor member are located adjacent to the respective pivoted ends of the other conductor member and two adjacent pivoted section ends are electrically insulated from one another. The conductor members are supported to swing in substantially parallel planes and the angular position therebetween may be adjusted to obtain optimum efficiency of the antenna, or the conductor members may be swung to an out of the way position when the antenna is not in use.

In another form of the invention, the antenna comprises two substantially parallel conductors which are pivotally supported at one end to bracket means for swinging the conductors in substantially parallel planes. Preferably, the bracket means forms an electrical connection between the pivoted ends of the conductors and the opposite ends are electrically connected by suitable means. One conductor is interrupted at the central portion and transmission lines are adapted to be connected with the conductor at opposite sides of the interrupted portion. In this form of the invention the antenna conductors are not swung relative to one another when oriented for optimum reception but the conductors are in line throughout the entire swinging range of the antenna.

Referring to Figs. 1 through 5, a preferred form of the new and improved antenna is shown which comprises two U-shape tubular conductor members [0, II which are pivotally supported at their open ends by a bracket 13. The conductor members I0, I l are preferably formed of suitable aluminum tubing folded to form conductor sections I4, I5, I6, II, the sections I4, I being connected by curved section I9, and the sections I6, I! being connected by curved section 20. The conductor members are identical and each forms half of a dipole.

The bracket I3 is formed of a U-shape member having upper and lower legs 23, 24 projecting from a yoke portion 22. The free end-sof the conductor sections I4, I6 of the conductor members I0, I I are pivotally attached to th leg 23, of the bracket I3 by a bolt 26 which extends through aligned openings formed through the conductor sections and bracket leg, and a wing nut 21 is provided for clamping the conductor sections to the bracket leg. Preferably, suitable plugs 29, 30 are disposed snugly within the ends of the conductor sections I4, |6to prevent crushing of the sections. In the embodiment shown, the conductor sections are disposed on opposite sides of the bracket leg 23 and washers 3|, 32 are interposed between the bracket leg and the respective conductor sections. The conductor sections I4, I 6 areattached tothe bracket I3 sothat the-lengths of the conductors from the pivot bolt 26 arev equal. By this arrangement, the electrical connection between the conductor sections I4, I6 at the adjacent ends thereof established by the bracket and bolt. 26 is of no consequence as this is the neutral point of the dipole.

The conductor sections I5, II. of members I0, II are slightly shorter than the sections I4, I6 and the free end portions are; enlarged, as may be' seen in Fig. 4. Insulator tubes 33, 34 are tightly fitted into the enlarged. portions of the conductor sections and, preferably, the outer ends thereof terminate substantially in the plane of the ends of, the upper sections of the conductor members It, II The insulating tubes 33, 34 are pivotally attached. to oppositesides of the lower leg 24- of the bracket I3 by a bolt 36, which bolt extends-through aligned openings formed through the tubular insulating members and the bracket leg; The axis ofthe bolt 36 coincides with the axis of bolt 26 so that the conductor sections swing about a oommoncenter. The insulators are adapted to be clamped to the bracket leg by a wingv nut 3I threaded: on bolt 36, and preferably, caps 38, 39 are interposed between the bolt head and wing; nut for reinforcing the tubular insulators. The insulators provide electrical insulation between the adjacent ends of conductor sections I5, II, and' leads 40; 4| of a transmission cable Tare connected with the ends, of the respective conductor sections I5, I! by terminal bolts 42, 43 which extend through openings formed through the conductor sections and the insulators. The terminal bolts not only secure the transmission wiresto the antenna but also secure the insulators in the conductor sections.

The bracket I 3 may be attachedto any suitable supporting surface, suchas a window sill, which is insulated from ground andin the embodiment of the-invention shown, the bracket is attached to an insulating block 44' by screws 45 and the block 44; is suitably anchored to a supporting surface S.

By the arrangement described, the conductor members I6, I I may be swungrelative to one another by loosening thewing nuts 21, 31' and may be fixed in any desired angular relationship by tightening the wing nuts.

Assuming by way of example that the antenna is used-on a television set, the conductor members III, II are setin directions which produce the optimum reception. The angular relationship of the conductor members at which optimum reception is obtained may vary, depending on the direction of the broadcasting station or other factors, and it can be readily adjusted by the user as the situations require. The antenna is particularly adaptable for attachment to a window sill which is a convenient location for access to the antenna, and the antenna members may be swung to an out of the way position when not in'use. It is to beunderstood, however, that the use or the location of the antenna is not limited to the examples mentioned.

Another form of the invention is shown in Figs. 6 and 7 wherein a dipole antenna is shown attached to; a suitable vertical support, such as a window sill W: The antenna comprises two conductorsifl, 5| which are parallel and coextensive except that, according to usual practice, the lower conductoris interrupted at the central portion with the ends of the interrupted portion attached to an insulator spool 52 As may be seen in the drawing, the conductor 50, and approximately one-half: of theconductor 5| comprises a single metallic tube, such as an aluminum tube, having a reverse 'bend therein at 54-, which bend forms an electricalconnection between one end of the conductors. The remainder of the conductor 5| comprises. a straight section of a tube 56 which is similar to'. the tube, described. The adjacent endsof the conductor tubes forming conductor 5| are separated electrically by the spool 52 which is formed. of a suitable insulating material and has end-,portionsilwhich project into the ends of the tubes and are, secured therein by bolts and nuts 58-, 59'which. extend through openings bored through the, tube walls-and spool end portions.

The ends of the conductors50, 5| opposite the bent section 54 are pivotally attached to theopposite legs: 6|], 6|, respectively, of a U shaped bracket 62 by bolts 63, 64 which extend through openings the legs of the bracket and the end portions of the tubesforming the conductors 50; 5|. The bolts: 63:, 64v have wing nuts 66, 6'! threadedthereom and compresion springs 66, 69 are mounted on the boltsbetween the tube conductors 56; 5| and the wing nuts 66, 6?, respectively, for resiliently urging the conductors into engagement with. the legs of the bracket.

Preferably-,theupper leg 60 of the bracket 62 has a plurality; of serrations or grooves I0 which extend radially with respect to the axis of the pivot bolts 63, 64; and which provide detents for resisting swinging of the tubular conductors about their pivots so that the conductors 50, 5| tend to remain in any position to which they are moved bythe operator. The wing nuts may be tightened tofirmly secure the antenna in place, if necessary. If desired, grooves similar to grooves I0 could also be provided on the underside of the bottom leg 6| of the bracket for supplementing the effect of the grooves I6.

The bracket 62 is formed of a suitable metal for establishing, an electrical circuit between the two conductors 50 and 5|, and the form of the bracket andithe, point of contact thereof with the conductors are such that it provides'an electrical conductor corresponding tothe section 54 at the opposite end of theconductors 50, 5 I.

To insulate the'antenna, fromits support, the bracket 62 is attached to an insulating block- II' as by screws I2, and the block II is in turn secured to the sill W by suitable screws or bolts I4.

Transmissionlead lines I6, H are electrically connected to' the conductor 5I- adjacent to the insulator spool 52 by the bolts and nuts 58, 59 which secure the spool to the conductors.

The antenna may be additionally supported by a guy wire 18 which is connected at one end to the center, neutral point of conductor 50 and at the other end to an eye screw 19 secured in the sill W at a convenient point above the bracket 62. The eye of the eye bolt 19 is substantially. in alignment with the axis of the pivot of the conductors so that the guy wire supports the antenna throughout its swinging movement.- The guy wire relieves the pivots for the conductors of twisting stresses, and since it is connected at the neutral point of the antenna it does not affect the function of the antenna.

tached to a wall, the antenna may be swung:

against the wall when not in use and, in any event, when used, it may be set in a direction for most efficient operation of the equipment of which it is a part. In the second embodiment of the invention in addition to eliminating the necessity for the usual mast and the base sup ports and the installations thereof, the bracket, in serving as a part of the antenna circuit, further simplifies the construction and installation of the antenna.

While preferred forms of the invention have been described in considerable detail, it will be apparent that the invention is not limited to the constructions shown and it is my intention to" cover hereby all adaptations, modifications and changes therein which come within the practice 01 those skilled in the art to which the invention relates and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A folded dipole antenna comprising two ductors, a rigid conductor section aligned with.

said other conductor and extending alongside In some cases, however, the guy wire may not be neces-f said one conductor and in parallel spaced rela tionship therewith, an insulating member mechanically connecting the end of said other conductor and one end of said conductor section,

and means pivotally supporting said antenna comprising a yoke shape conductor member having said end of said one conductor and the other end of said conductor section attached thereto in spaced relationship and supporting the last mentioned conductor and conductor section for swinging movement about an'axis normal thereto.

2. A folded dipole antenna comprising, two rigid conductors interconnected at one end by a yoke andextending in spaced parallel relationship, one of said conductors extending appreciably beyond the end of the other of said conductors, a rigid conductor section aligned with said other conductor and extending alongside said one conductor and in parallel spaced relationship therewith, an insulating member mechanically connecting the end of said other com ductor and one end of said conductor section, a U shape bracket of conducting material, means pivotally connecting said end of said one conductor to one leg of said bracket, and means pivotally connecting an end of said conductor section to the other leg of said bracket.

3. A folded dipole antenna comprising; a rigid conductor member having a reverse bend therein providing two spaced parallel arms interconnected by a yoke portion, one of said arms having the end thereof extending appreciably beyond the end of the other of said arms, a straight rigid conductor member aligned with the other of said arms and extending alongside said one arm in parallel spaced relationship, an insulating member mechanically connecting the end of said other arm and one end of said straight conductor member, and means to pivotally support said antenna comprising a yoke shape conductor member having said end of said one arm and the other end of said straight conductor member attached thereto in spaced relationship and supporting saidone arm and last mentioned conductor member for swinging movement about an axis normal thereto.

4. A folded dipole antenna comprising, a rigid conductor member having a reverse bend therein providing two spaced parallel arms interconnected by a yoke portion, one of said arms having the end thereof extending appreciably beyond the end of the other of said arms, a straight rigid conductor member aligned with the other of said arms and extending alongside said one arm in parallel spaced relationship, an insulating member mechanically connecting the end of said other arm and one end of said straight conductor member, means pivotally connecting said end of said one conductor arm to one leg of said bracket, and means pivotally connecting the other end of said straight conductor member to the other leg of said bracket.

VICTOR. W. TREBULES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,239,253 Buck Sept/"'4, 1917 2,258,406 Carter Oct. 7, 941 2,483,504 Gutschow et a1. Oct. 4, 1949 2,494,665 Marshall Jan. 17, 1950 2,521,798 Leonard Sept. 12, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 634,869 France Mar. 1, 1928 OTHER. REFERENCES Eadie And Television Retailing, Feb. 1949, p.

Camco Television Circular, Camburn Inc., Mar. 1949, pp. 5 and 8.

Oak Ridge Antennas Circular, Your Best Move," Mar. 1949, p. 4.

Radio Electronics, Mar. 1949, p. 60, Fig. 1.

Images