US2609502A - Antenna construction - Google Patents

Description

P 2, 1952 D. P. WORDEN 2,609,502

' ANTENNA CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 15, 1949 if I Patented Sept. 2, 1952 ANTENNA CONSTRUCTION Donald P. Worden, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to General Motors'Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a

corporation of Delaware Application February 15, 1949, Serial No. 76,614

3 Claims.

This invention relates to radio antenna means I and more particularly to radio antennae adapted to be used on vehicles and of the telescopic or collapsible type.

Telescopic antenna means for automobile use has become quite universal due to the need for length during receiving of signals but a, retraction to the approximate size of car outline when entering an enclosure such as a garage.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved form of collapsible antenna for radio reception on vehicles.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an improved electrical contactor construction for antennae of the telescopic type.

With the above and other objects in view which will become apparent as the specification proceeds, my invention will be best understood by reference to the following specification and claims and the illustrations in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a multi-section telescopic antenna embodying my invention; and,

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are each an enlarged sectional view taken respectively on the lines 22, 3-3 and 4--4 of Fig. 1.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. l a portionof a car 2 which may be the cowl or fender or any other part on which it is desired to mount the antenna. Through any insulating member 4 the lower section 6 of an antenna assembly is rigidly secured to the car part 2 by any conventional means. This lower section 6 is formed of a hollow tube of proper diameter to accommodate the other and smaller telescopic sections within it when they are in the retracted or collapsed position. The member or section 6 is of the same diameter throughout its entire length except for a section 8 adjacent to but spaced from its upper end where it is necked down for a short distance to a smaller diameter and the upper end I is flanged inwardly at [2 to maintain packing material M in the upper end which may be felt or some similar material.

The next smaller section l6 has an outside diameter equal to the inside diameter of the reduced portion 8 of the tube 6 and this portion therefore acts as a bearing or gland for support. It is of the same configuration as the section 6 except that the lower end has an expanded rib is thereon which prevents this section from being withdrawn from the lower one. This section I6 likewise has the reduced portion 20 and the upper end section 22 with packing material 24. As many sections may, of course, be provided. as are necessary to give the, desired final length of antenna.

The last or uppermost section 26 is a hollow rod provided with a ball cap 28 to seal the upper end and having a portion adjacent its lower end expanded to form a ring 30 to prevent its withdrawal from the next lower and larger section.

Provision must be made for good electrical connection between the separate sections of the antenna and this is provided by wire brush assemblies 32 carried in the lower ends of each of the smaller tubes and bearing against the inside surfaces of the next larger section into which it telescopes. These wire brush assemblies are formed of a plug 34 which is driven into the end of the smaller section and which has driven into one end thereof a rod 36. To this rod are secured a plurality of conducting wires 38 in radial relation and having considerable longitudinal rigidity to form in effect a brush, said radially extending wires being rigidly secured to the central rod support by an axially extending wire 40 wound around groups of the radially extending brush wires. A flat head 42 on the rod 36 prevents the group from slipping ofi the outer end. The securing wire 40 may be soldered or otherwise fastened in place and its inner end staked into the plug 34. The size of the plug 34 and the diameter of the brushes formed by wires 38 will be different for each connection, of course. The ends of the wires will scrape over the whole inner surface of the adjoining section and maintain good contact therewith in any position and current may easily flow from one section to another. They also serve as a spacing support for the inner section end.

The packing material l4 or 24 will help to seal the joint between sections and prevent moisture and dirt from getting into the interior of the device. The reduced sections 8 and 20 as well as providing an abutment for the packing at the ends of the sections also provide finger holds by which to grasp the sections to pull them out or force them back in as in general the outer surface of the tubes is smooth and diiiicult to hold.

I claim:

1. An extensible radio antenna comprising an outer metal sleeve having mounting means at one end, packing means at the other end and an intermediate portion of reduced cross section, an inner metal sleeve slidably mounted within the outer sleeve and having a. portion fitting snugly within the reduced intermediate portion or the outer sleeve and within said packing means, means for preventing longitudinal separation of said members, and a plurality of stifi metal brush members mechanically and electrically connected to the inner end of said inner sleeve and diametrally disposed within said outer sleeve and "bearing against the inner surface of said outer sleeve substantially completely therearound, to provide and maintain effective electrical contact between said sleeves.

2. An extensible radio antenna comprising an outer metal sleeve having mounting means at one end, and an intermediate portion of "reduced cross section, an inner metal sleeve slidably mounted within the outer sleeve and having a portion fiitting snugly within the reducedfintermediate portion of the outer sleeve, means for 3. An extensible radio antenna comprising an outer metal sleeve having mounting means at one end, and a portion of reduced cross section, an inner metal sleeve slidably mounted within the outer sleeve and having a portion fitting snugly within the reduced portion of the outer sleeve, means for preventing longitudinal separation of said members, and a plurality of stiff metal brush members mechanically and electrically connected to the inner end of said inner sleeve and diametrally disposed within said outer sleeve and preventing longitudinal separation of said memhearing against the inner surface of said outer sleeve substantially completely therearound, to

vprovide and maintain effective electrical conltactbetween said sleeves.

DONALD P. WORDEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: a a a 7' UNITED STATES .PATEN'I'S

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