Extendable antenna mast with independent retracting and lifting cables
OwnerErnest J. Gremillioninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vertically extendible and retractable mast for supporting an antenna and coaxial cable connected thereto to receive and/or broadcast information and is particularly adapted for use by seismograph exploration crews for receiving data from portable transmitter units which may be located at substantial distances from the receiver with the mast being adapted for mounting stationarily or on a mobile vehicle. The mast and antenna is a multiple stage antenna with simultaneous movement of the sections of the mast with the coaxial cable being fed at the same rate that the upper end of the antenna mast moves with the specific arrangement of the extension or lifting cables, retracting cables, winch and coaxial cable producing a novel and unique extendible and retractable antenna mast.
Claims6
An extendible and retractable antenna mast comprising a plurality of tubular, telescopic sections including a vertically stationary base tubular section and a plurality of upper tubular sections, a lift cable having one end anchored to the base section adjacent the upper end thereof and extending diametrically of the lower end portion of a first upper tubular section and extending upwardly toward the upper end of the base section in diametrically opposed relation to the point at which the lifting cable is anchored and being connected to a winch means for raising the first upper tubular section in relation to the base section, a retracting cable independent from the lifting cable having one end anchored to the base section adjacent the lower end thereof and extending transversely of the lower end portion of the first upper section and connected to the winch means for retracting the first upper tubular section, said winch means being reversible and winding the lifting cable thereon at the same rate as the retracting cable is unwound therefrom in one direction of rotation and winding the retracting cable at the same rate as unwinding the lifting cable in the other direction of rotation to provide a positive lifting and retracting of the first upper tubular section in relation to the base section, means interconnecting the first upper tubular section to the next adjacent tubular section to simultaneously extend the next adjacent tubular section upwardly when the first upper tubular section is moved vertically upwardly in relation to the base section, and coaxial cable means connected to the first upper tubular section and each additional upper tubular section and connected to a pulley assembly enabling the coaxial cable means to move upwardly and downwardly at the same rate as each upper tubular section, said retracting cable extending downwardly from the winch means and under a pulley located externally of the base section adjacent the lower end thereof with the retracting cable extending inwardly through the base section and diametrically of the lower end portion of the first upper tubular section and then downwardly along the outer surface of the base section and being anchored to the base section adjacent the lower end thereof so that downward force can be exerted on the first upper section when the first upper section has been extended upwardly so that the retracting cable is moved upwardly therewith as it is unwound from the winch means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.