US3142063A - Balloon mounted antenna with reeling and storage container - Google Patents

Description

y 1964 w. M. GOETZMA'NN, JR 3,142,063

BALLOON MOUNTED ANTENNA wrm REELING AND STORAGE CONTAINER Filed March 28, 1961 r 7 a 3 Shdet's-Sheef 1.

INVENTOR.

y 1964 w. M. GOETZMANN, JR 3,142,063

BALLOON MOUNTED ANTENNA mm REELING AND STORAGE CONTAINER Fil ed March 28. 1961' v s Sheets-Sheet 2 Will/am M. GoefzmanqJz.

IN VENTOR.

July 21, 1964 w. M. GOETZMANN, JR

BALLOON MOUNTED ANTENNA wna assume AND STORAGE CONTAINER Filed March '40. .1961

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 n H |l in! INVENTOR. BY an Ann-sq:

William M. Gaefzmann, Jr.

III II ll 1 o o k I United States Patent 3,142,063 BALLOON MGUNTED ANTENNA WITH REELING AND STORAGE CONTAINER William M. Goetzmann, Jr., 2502 9th St., Lake Charles, La. Filed Mar. 28, 1961, Ser. No. 98,827 8 Claims. (Cl. 343706) This invention relates to a mobile radio antenna assembly adapted to be mounted on a moving vehicle for the purpose of improving the propagation of or reception of electromagnetic wave energy.

The present invention is concerned with the use of radio transmitters and/or receivers mounted in moving vehicles as commonly used for the radio dispatch of instructions to commercial vehicles such as petroleum trucks, construction company trucks, as well as vehicles used by the armed forces. In moving through'certain areas, such vehicles encounter difliculty in transmitting or receiving radio signals because of obstructions which tend to disturb signal transmission or reception. The use of ultrahigh frequency radio waves which to a greater extent tend to assume straight line paths is particularly effected by such obstructions. The present invention therefore, improves transmission and reception of radio waves by avoiding the aforementioned problem by selectively positioning the radio equipment antenna at a sulficient height above the moving vehicle so as to better receive or transmit the radio signals.

Another object of this invention is to provide a radio antenna assembly which by virtue of simplicity of manufacture, installation and operation is particularly useful for commercial and military vehicles in connection with two-way radio equipment.

A further object of this invention is to provide a mobile antenna assembly for radio transmitter or receiver equipment on moving vehicles which may be extended for use and conveniently withdrawn within a storing enclosure.

In accordance with the foregoing objects, the present invention is housed within an enclosure which stores all of the components of the antenna assembly when not in use. The enclosure therefore rotatably mounts a cable winding drum on which an antenna conductor is wound. Also, stored within the enclosure is a plastic type inflatable balloon which is connected to one end of the an tenna conductor in such a manner that when it is inflated for use, fouling of the conductor is prevented. A suitable antenna is also mounted on top of the balloon when inflated so as to carry the antenna to a suitable height after the balloon has been inflated and the antenna conductor extended from the winding drum under the control of a crank. The other end of the antenna conductor extends through an axial end of the winding drum and the storage enclosure for plug-in to the radio equipment with which the antenna is associated. The antenna carrier balloon may conveniently be inflated when desired by means of a helium gas filled cartridge which may be inserted into a container connected to a lower end of the balloon. The container accordingl includes a one-way inlet valve at its upper end within the balloon having a porous partition member disposed therebelow for mounting a puncture needle. When the helium filled cartridge is inserted within the container, it may be forced upwardly thereinto by means of an end closure cap so as to puncture the upper end of the cartridge to thereby release the helium gas therefrom which enters the balloon for inflation thereof through the porous partition member and the one-way valve. The elevation of the balloon with the antenna cemented to the top thereof may then be controlled by unwinding of the winding drum to which the antenna conductor is connected. An extremely useful, convenient and effective antenna assembly is thereby realized.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is an illustration of a truck-type vehicle mounting the antenna assembly of the present invention which is shown in use.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged partial view of the antenna assembly.

FIGURE 3 is a partial sectional view showing the mounting of the antenna on top of the carrier balloon.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the base of the antenna atop the carrier balloon.

FIGURE 5 is a partial sectional view of the lower end of the carrier balloon with the inflating mechanism attached thereto.

FIGURE 6 is a partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 66 in FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the antenna assembly in stored condition.

FIGURE 8 is a partial side elevational view illustrating an alternate method for inflating the antenna carrier balloon.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be observed from FIGURE 1 that the antenna assembly which is generally referred to by reference numeral 10 is mounted at the rear of a vehicle 12 which contains the radio equipment with which the antenna assembly is associated; As will be observed further in FIGURE 1 the vehicle is moving along a road 14 and obstructions such as the tree 16 may be disposed within the vicinity which would ordinarily disrupt or have a deleterious effect on the transmission of or reception of radio signals by the radio equipment within the vehicle 12. The antenna assembly 10 accordingly as illustrated is in its extended condition in which the antenna 18 thereof is disposed above the tree 16 by being mounted atop a carrier balloon 20 of the antenna assembly 10.

Referring now to FIGURE 2 in particular it will be observed that the carrier balloon 20 which is illustrated in its inflated condition may be made of any suitable plastic material and is inflated preferably by helium gas. The antenna 18 is therefore cemented to the top of the balloon 20 as more clearly seen from FIGURES 3 and 4 and hence includes a base 22 for such purpose, which base 22 includes any suitable means for rigidly carrying the antenna 18 projecting thereabove such as the screw member 24 seated within a recess 26 within the base 22 to which the antenna device 18 may be threadedly'connected. The antenna conductor 28' which is connected to the antenna device 18 and extends thereto from the vehicle 12 as seen in FIGURE 1 includes a portion 30 which is cemented to the side of the balloon 20 when in inflated condition to prevent fouling of the conductor. A suitable conductive connector fitting 32 is therefore provided between the upper end of the conductor portion 30 and the lower end of the antenna device 18 as more clearly seen in FIGURE 4. The lower portion 30 is also cemented to the side of an inflation mechanism generally referred to by reference numeral 34 to be described in further detail hereafter.

The antenna conductor 28 is therefore connected at its other end to the vehicle by means of a winding drum generally referred to by reference numeral 36 which is rotatably mounted within a storage enclosure generally referred to by reference numeral 38. Referring therefore to FIGURES 6 and 7 in particular, it will be observed that the enclosure 38 is made of any suitable boxlike construction which includes a hinge connected top lid 40. The winding drum assembly 36 is rotatably mounted between the lateral sides 42 and 44 of the enclosure 38. Space is provided on one side of the winding drum assembly 36 for storing the balloon 20 in its folded condition as illustrated in FIGURE 7. The storage enclosure 38 may also carry the helium gas filled cartridges to be used as will hereafter be explained. A crank mechanism 46 is connected to the winding drum assembly 36 and is disposed on the side 44 of the enclosure 33 for the purpose of manually rotating the winding drum assembly 36 so as to release therefrom or withdraw thereon the antenna conductor 28. The winding drum assembly 36 therefore includes a spool portion 48 as more clearly seen in FIGURE 6 and a pair of end flange members 50 to which stub shaft 52 may be connected for the purpose of journalling the Winding drum assembly between the side walls 42 and 44 of the enclosure 38. The inner end of the conductor 28 extends through one of the end flanges 50 of the winding drum as sembly and may be connected to a retractible plug cord 54 mounted by fitting 56 in the side wall 42 of the enclosure 38 so that the plug 58 at the end thereof may be operatively connected to the radio equipment with which the antenna assembly is associated.

In order to raise the antenna device 18 to its elevated position as illustrated for example in FIGURE 1, it will be appreciated that the balloon 20 must be inflated. Accordingly, the inflation mechanism 34 as more clearly illustrated in FIGURE is connected to the lower neck end of the balloon 20. The inflation mechanism includes a container 60 of tubular form which is connected by suitable wire fastener devices 62 to the lower end of the balloon 20 in sealed relation thereto. The upper end of the container 60 has mounted thereon a one-way flap valve 64 providing one-way communication between the inside of the balloon 20 and the helium gas to be admitted thereinto. The container 69 accordingly has an aperture 66 formed at the upper end thereof. Disposed below the aperture 66 is a porus partition member 68 through which the helium gas may enter into the aperture 66 and past the one-way flap valve 64. The partition member 68 is provided for the purpose of mounting a puncture needle 70. It will therefore be apparent that a helium filled cartridge member 72 may be placed within the container 60 with the upper end 74 in alignment with the puncture needle 70 so that when the end cap closure member 76 threadedly engaged with the lower end of the container 60, is axially moved upwardly upon rotation thereof with respect to the container 60, the helium filled cartridge 72 will be punctured by the needle 70. The gas from the punctured cartridge 72 will therefore flow upwardly through the porous member 63 and through the one-Way flap valve 64 for filling and inflating the balloon 20. A flexible annular gasket member 78 is therefore disposed between the partition member 68 and the upper end of the cartridge member 72 for conducting the helium gas into the balloon 20. An alternative method for inflating the balloon 20 is shown in FIG- URE 8 in which a re-useable helium tank 80 having an outlet valve 82 and a needle valve 84 connected to a flexible conduit member 86, may directly supply helium gas to the balloon.

As will be seen from FIGURE 1, when the carrier balloon 20 is in an elevated position, a nylon cord 88 which is connected to the lower end of the balloon 20, may anchor the balloon 20 With respect to the vehicle 12 at a point spaced from the winding drum so as to prevent drift of the carrier balloon. It will therefore be apparent from the foregoing description, that the present antenna assembly is extremely useful in connection with two-way radio equipment for moving vehicles and for both commercial and military vehicles.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A mobile radio antenna assembly for a vehicle having a radio, comprising, storage enclosure means, Winding means rotatably mounted within the storage means, conductor means operatively connected to the winding means for extension and withdrawal of the conductor means with respect to the storage means, said radio being connected to the conductor means, inflatable carrier means operatively connected to the conductor means and foldable for reception within said storage means, and antenna means connected to the conductor means and carried by the inflatable carrier means projecting thereabove when in an inflated condition, said antenna means including a non-conductive base cemented to the inflatable carrier means and a projecting rod connected thereto, said conductor means being electrically connected to the rod adjacent to the base.

2. The combination of claim 1, including inflation means connected to the inflatable carrier means at a neck end thereof, said antenna means being cemented to the carrier means diametrically opposite said neck end, and said conductor means being cemented to an outer surface of the carrier means between said inflation means and antenna means for non-fouling connection to the antenna means.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said winding means comprises a winding drum rotatably mounted within the storage means, crank means connected to the winding drum for extension or retraction of the conductor means tangentially from the winding drum, and retractible plug means connected to one end of the conductor means on the winding drum and extending through one axial side of the winding drum and storage means for connection to said radio.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said inflation means comprises container means having a closed end and an open end, one-way inlet valve means mounted in said closed end of the container means within the inflation carrier means, porous partition means disposed below said valve means, puncture means mounted by the partition means, gas filled cartridge means disposed within the container means for abuttment with the puncture means, container closure means operative to seal said open end of the container means and cause puncture of the cartridge means by the puncture means, and gasket means disposed between the cartridge means and porous partition means for conducting gas from the punctured cartridge means through the porous partition means and one-way valve means for inflating the carrier means.

5. The combination of claim 4, including drift cord means connected to the container closure means for anchoring the carrier means when elevated, at a point on the vehicle spaced from the winding means to prevent drift of the carrier means.

6. The combination of claim 1, wherein said winding means comprises a winding drum rotatably mounted within the storage means, crank means connected to the winding drum for extension or retraction of the conductor means tangentially from the winding drum, and retractible plug means connected to one end of the conductor means on the winding drum and extending through one axial side of the Winding drum and storage means for connection to said radio.

7. The combination of claim 1, including container means having an open end and a closed end connected to the carrier means, one-Way inlet valve means mounted in said closed end of the container means within the inflation carrier means, porous partition means disposed adjacent said valve means, puncture means mounted by said partition means, gas filled cartridge means disposed within the container means in abutment with the puncture means, container closure means operative to seal said open end of the container means and cause puncture of the cartridge means by the puncture means, gasket means disposed between the cartridge means and the porous partition means for conducting gas from the punctured cartridge means through the porous partition means and one-Way valve means for inflating the carrier means, said conductor means being secured to the container means and to an external surface of the carrier means in inflated condition for non-fouling connection to the antenna means secured to the carrier means diametrically opposite the container means.

8. The combination of claim 7, including drift cord means connected to the container closure means for anchoring the carrier means when elevated, at a point on the vehicle spaced from the winding means to prevent drift of the carrier means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 651,361 Kitsee June 12, 1900 1,296,687 Nichols Mar. 11, 1919 1,650,461 Nilson Nov. 22, 1927 2,203,760 Wilckens June 11, 1940 2,433,344 Crosby Dec. 30, 1947 2,619,303 Martin Nov. 25, 1952 2,646,019 Chetlan July 21, 1953 2,758,203 Harris Aug. 7, 1956 2,842,090 Samwald July 8, 1958

Claims (1)

1. A MOBILE RADIO ANTENNA ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE HAVING A RADIO, COMPRISING, STORAGE ENCLOSURE MEANS, WINDING MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTED WITHIN THE STORAGE MEANS, CONDUCTOR MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE WINDING MEANS FOR EXTENSION AND WITHDRAWAL OF THE CONDUCTOR MEANS WITH RESPECT TO THE STORAGE MEANS, SAID RADIO BEING CONNECTED TO THE CONDUCTOR MEANS, INFLATABLE CARRIER MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE CONDUCTOR MEANS AND FOLDABLE FOR RECEPTION WITHIN SAID STORAGE MEANS, AND ANTENNA MEANS CONNECTED TO THE CONDUCTOR MEANS AND CARRIED BY THE INFLATABLE CARRIER MEANS PROJECTING THEREABOVE WHEN IN AN INFLATED CONDITION, SAID ANTENNA MEANS INCLUDING A NON-CONDUCTIVE BASE CEMENTED TO THE INFLATABLE CARRIER MEANS AND A PROJECTING ROD CONNECTED THERETO, SAID CONDUCTOR MEANS BEING ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO THE ROD ADJACENT TO THE BASE.

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