Collapsible Portable Antenna Linkage Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional satellite communication antennas are cumbersome and conspicuous, making them unsuitable for combat situations, as they require both hands to operate and can snag on objects, limiting a soldier's mobility and visibility.
Innovation Solution
A portable antenna design featuring rotatable elongate members for the driven element and ground plane, which can collapse into a compact configuration, allowing for easy deployment and stowage, with a linkage mechanism to prevent snagging and improve TX/RX characteristics, and a pull-cord mechanism for efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the antenna uses radial driven members for satellite communication, then communication functionality is achieved, but the antenna becomes unwieldy and liable to snag on objects
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna structure is divided into multiple telescopic segments that can extend and retract independently. The driven members are segmented into nested tubes that telescope outward to form the radial structure when deployed, and retract inward to a compact form when stowed. This segmentation allows the antenna to maintain its functional radial structure during communication while minimizing its physical footprint and snagging potential during transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna employs dynamic telescopic mechanisms that allow the radial driven members to change their effective length and configuration. The members can dynamically extend to the required radial length for satellite communication and then dynamically retract to a compact configuration that eliminates unwieldiness. This dynamic transformation resolves the contradiction between maintaining functional structure and reducing mobility constraints.
2Ease of operation
If the antenna is mounted on the soldier's rucksack to keep hands free, then hand-free operation is achieved, but the soldier becomes more conspicuous to the enemy
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna components are nested within each other in a telescopic arrangement, with smaller diameter segments nested inside larger ones. When stowed, the entire antenna structure contracts to a compact, streamlined form that can be mounted on the rucksack with minimal profile. This nesting principle allows the antenna to maintain hand-free operation capability while significantly reducing its visual conspicuousness when not in use.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the antenna is collapsed or dismantled when not in use to reduce visibility, then visibility is reduced, but the process is time consuming and requires removing the rucksack
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna incorporates spring-loaded telescopic mechanisms that enable automatic extension and retraction of the radial driven members. When deployed, the springs automatically push the telescopic segments outward to form the functional antenna structure without requiring manual assembly. When stowed, the springs automatically retract the segments inward to a compact form. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for time-consuming manual dismantling and removes the requirement to take off the rucksack, as the entire process can be accomplished by pulling or pushing the antenna structure.
4Ease of operation
If the antenna uses multiple elongate members with linkages to prevent snagging, then snagging resistance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic mechanism and the linkage system are merged into a single integrated structure. The radial driven members themselves serve as both the structural elements and the linkage components. The telescopic segments are connected through integrated joints that provide both structural support and the linkage function for coordinated movement. This merging eliminates separate linkage components and reduces overall device complexity while maintaining snagging resistance through the smooth telescopic motion.
Data Source
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AI summary
Typically at least one soldier (S) of a unit on patrol carries a radio to provide means to communicate with a base. The antenna used with the radio is often mounted to the soldier's rucksack to keep the soldier's hands free. A mechanism to dismantle/erect the antenna is described that includes a linkage (17) between radial driven elements (2) and radial ground plane elements (3) of the antenna which acts to cause them to move together between a collapsed and an erect arrangement.