US 4,538,154 AGranted

Antenna stow mechanism

AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.

InventorJohn H. Staehlin

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Abstract

Certain present antenna assemblies require that their antenna structure be first rotated to a predetermined azimuth orientation prior to being retracted translationally along an axis to a stowed state so that it may conform to the surface of the antenna supporting structure which it is designed to rest against. An antenna assembly which requires no such prior maneuvering of the antenna structure before retraction thereof is disclosed. Retraction of the antenna structure in accordance with the present invention may occur at any random azimuth orientation of the antenna structure. In one embodiment, at least one cam follower bearing is fixedly coupled to a support housing of the antenna assembly and positioned to engage one of a plurality of integral cam grooves disposed on the surface of a shaft which supports the antenna structure and used to extend and retract the antenna structure with respect to the support housing surface. During the translational retraction movement of the antenna structure, the cam follower bearing guides the drive shaft and associated antenna structure rotationally along the engaged cam groove which terminates at a common angular position of the drive shaft which corresponds to the predetermined azimuth orientation of the antenna structure. In this manner, the antenna structure is rotated in azimuth to the predetermined angular orientation automatically as it is being retracted from its deployed state to its stowed state against the surface of the support housing.

Claims8

Dependent claims

An antenna assembly supported by a stationary housing having a surface, said antenna assembly including an antenna structure translationally movable along a first axis to render said antenna structure extended away from said stationary housing surface in a deployed state and retracted toward said stationary housing surface in a stowed state, when in said deployed state, said antenna structure operative to rotate through an angular azimuth path about said first axis, when in said stowed state, said antenna structure disposed in a predetermined azimuth orientation, said antenna assembly including:

a drive shaft having mechanically coupled to one end thereof said antenna structure and translationally movable along said first axis to permit extension and retraction of said antenna structure with respect to said stationary housing surface, said drive shaft having a plurality of integral cam grooves disposed around the periphery at the other end thereof and extending longitudinally along the surface of said drive shaft to said one end thereof;
and
at least one cam follower bearing fixedly coupled to said stationary housing and disposed in a position to engage randomly one of said cam grooves of said plurality along the periphery at said other end of said drive shaft at the commencement of retraction of said antenna structure and to guide said drive shaft rotationally along the path of said engaged cam groove during said translational retraction movement of said antenna structure, said antenna structure being driven to said predetermined azimuth orientation by said cam guided drive shaft rotation during retraction thereof.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.