US 5,861,858 A · Antenna feed and support system

Abstract

An antenna system is presented having a feed for feeding an antenna and apparatus for supporting the feed. The system includes a vertically oriented, electrically conductive hollow mast which carries first and second groups of vertically spaced bays of radiating elements. Each bay includes an arrangement of N radiating elements extending outward from the mast. N vertically oriented electrically conductive, hollow feed support members are spaced away from the mast. Each support member carries an elongated feed conductor extending vertically within the support member. The support members extend vertically upward coextensively with that of the mast to approximately midway between said first and second groups of bays. N hollow electrically conductive, coupling arms are provided and each arm extends between the mast and one of the N support members. Each arm carries first and second conductors each connected at one end to a feed conductor. The first conductor extends upwardly within the mast to feed the first group. The second conductor extends downwardly within the mast to feed the second group.

Claims21

Dependent claims

An antenna system having a feed for feeding an antenna and apparatus for supporting said feed, comprising:

a vertically oriented, electrically conductive hollow mast;
first and second groups of vertically spaced bays of radiating elements carried by said mast, each bay including an arrangement of N radiating elements extending outward from said mast;
N vertically oriented electrically conductive, hollow feed support members spaced away from said mast, each said support member carrying an elongated feed conductor extending vertically within said support member, said support members extending vertically upward coextensively with that of said mast to approximately midway between said first and second groups of bays;
and
N hollow electrically conductive, coupling arms each extending between said mast and one of said N support members and carrying first and second conductors each connected at one end to a said feed conductor and said first conductor extending upwardly within said mast to feed said first group and said second conductor extending downwardly within said mast to feed said second group.

2 more elements

An antenna structure comprising:

a first elongated antenna bay including a plurality of antennas, each of the antennas being separated longitudinally by mounting on a centrally located elongated support element, each of said plurality of antennas including an equal number of a plurality of radiating elements extending circumferentially from the centrally located support element and separated by equal angular arcs, and wherein the support elements include a plurality of signal feed elements wherein the support elements and signal feed elements form a plurality of coaxial feed lines, one line for each of the angular arcs of the plurality of radiating elements,
a second elongated antenna bay including a plurality of antennas, each of the antennas being separated longitudinally by mounting on a centrally located elongated support element, each of said plurality of antennas including an equal number of a plurality of radiating elements extending circumferentially from the support element and separated by equal angular arcs, and wherein the support element includes a plurality of signal feed elements wherein the support elements and signal feed elements form a plurality of coaxial feed lines, one line for each of the angular arcs of the plurality of radiating elements,
a plurality of support member feed lines corresponding to the number of coaxial feed lines in the first and second antenna bays extending longitudinally through the second bay for providing a support structure for the first and second antenna bays, the support members being formed of a hollow shaft supporting member and an inner conductor, wherein the support members form a plurality of coaxial feed lines,
means adapted for mounting the first antenna bay longitudinally onto the second antenna bay wherein the second bay is adapted to vertically support the first antenna bay, and
coupling means adjacent the mounting means, for coupling separate ones of the plurality support member feed lines to the coaxial feed lines in the first and second antenna bays.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Antenna feed and support system

Life of this patent

Antenna feed and support system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21