US1937964A - Insulator support for tower or mast type antenne - Google Patents

Description

R L. JENNER Dec. 5, 1933.

INSULATOR SUPPORT FOR TOWER OR MAST TYPE ANTENNA! I Fi l ed April 6, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR.

all ATTORNEYS R. L. JENNER INSULATOR SUPPORT FOR TOWER 0R MAST TYPE ANTENNE Filed April 6; 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet -'2 IN VENTOR.

' A TTORNE YS Dec. 5, 1933. JENNER 1,937,964

INSI JLAIOR SUPPORT FOR TOWEROR MAST TYPE ANTENNZE I Filed April 6. 1932. 3 Shee ts Sheet I5 INVENTOR.

F W ig w ATTORNEYS latentecl uec. a, 1:10..)

INSULATOR s SUPPORT Foa rowan on MA T TYPE ANTENNZE Ralph L. Jenner, Le Roy, N. Y., assignor to Lapp Insulator Company, York Application April 6, 1932. Serial No. 603,519

20 Claims.

This invention relates to antennae of the rigid.

tower or mast type. An object of this invention is the provision of means for insulating rigid tower antennae from ground and means for anchoring the same in place on its foundation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a tower type antenna that shall be supported on insulators and anchored in place to prevent its tipping or turning'over, and to so construct and place insulators that they are subject only to shear and compression loads, and to so arrange the anchoring member or members that the insulators embodied therein are subjected only to compression stresses While the tension load is taken by steel or metal parts.

A further object of the invention is the. provision of a tower or mast type antenna in which the guy or guys therefor are located substantially wholly within the sides of the tower.

Other objects of the invention will, in part, be apparent and will, in part, be obvious from the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a diagrammatic view in side elevation of a tower or mast type antenna embodying one form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line II--II of Fig. 1. showing the location of the guy in relation to the sides and corner supports of the antenna;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of an insulator corner support for an antenna such as disclosed in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of a link, including tension members and a compression insulating member, such as is disclosed in the guy shown in the structure of Fig. 1; I

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of a tower or mast antenna, such as shown in Fig. l, and discloses a modified arrangement of guy therefor;

6 is a sectional view taken on line VI-VI of Fig. 5;

Fig. '1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view, as

seen looking in the direction of arrows VII-VI[ of Fig. 5. discloses the location of the guys with relation to the sides of the tower or mast antenna, and the points of attachment thereof to the antenna and the corner foundations thereof;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view partly in side elevation andpartly in section, of the guy insulator shown in Fig. 5, with the guy rods attached thereto; I

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view partly in side elevation and-partly in section, along line IX-JX 1110., a corporation of New of Fig. 10, of a modified form and illustrates tower antenna and anchoring devices;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 9, the corner members of the antenna being shown in section; and

Fig. 11 is a view partly in sectionof a supporting insulator, such as shown at the corners of the tower antenna of Figs.

9 and 10.

Throughout the drawings and the specification, like reference characters indicate like parts.

In the drawings, an antenna 1 of the rigid tower or mast antenna type is shown. The antenna is fabricated from stru gle and channel bars, accordance with stand ctural shapes, such as an--, assembled and erected in ard known practice. An-

tenna: of this type are usually provided with a telescoping tube 2 at the top and'built to a height equaling a substantial fraction of the wave length to be transmitted.

The antenna may be is to say, it may be shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5

sided, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

of'any desired form, that a three-sided tower, as and 7, or it may be four- The configuration of the mast or the number of sides is of more or less minor importance. As diagrammatically shown in Fig. 1, the tower is a built-up structure supported on foundations 3 by means of insulators which carry the entire load of the tower. As

sh'own, the insulators are associated with the leg or corner members 6 of the tower and each is so disposed between-its associated legs and foundationas to avoidthe imposition of eccentri the insulators.

C compression strains on In Fig. 3 I have shown a-detail arrangement of insulatorswhich may be employed in connection with each leg 6 of the tower. As there illustrated, the insulator is an assembly of two truncated cone- shaped members 4 and 5 formed of refractory material, such as porcelain, and

so arranged that their other.

apexes are adjacent each The base of the conical member 4 is surrounded by a metallic member 11, which is bolted or otherwise secured to a shoe 12, which is in turn suitably secured to the structural members which constitute.

a leg or corner member 6 of the tower. A similar structure is employed between the conical member 5 and the foundation 3 and as illustrated, consists of a flanged ring 10 which is bolted to the foundatlonB and provides a recess base of the member 5 for the reception of the In order to ensure the proper alignment of the members 4 and 5, each is provided with a separate metal cap-7. or 8-.-

andthese caps are cen tered by means of a dowel or lug 9 formed on one and projecting into a recess orv aperture formed on the other. With this arrangement it is impossible to impart tension strains to either of the members 4 or 5, since the caps 7 and 8 are loosely held in position and lateral displacement is prevented by means of the dowel 9.

In order to prevent the tower from tipping over when subjected to lateral forces such as wind pressure, a hold down device or guy 13 is provided between the tower structure and an anchoring device such as the foundation anchor 15 disclosed in Fig. l of the drawings. In that embodiment of the invention, the guy member is'se'cured to the tower structure at a point 14, which lies in the major axis of the tower and consequently the legs 6 and the insulator supports therefor are symmetrically arranged around the point of attachment between the guy and the structure. The guy also extends along the 'axial line of the tower and therefore the anchoring means 15 is located centrally between the triangularly arranged foundations 3.

Each link of guy 13 comprises a compression member 16 and tension members 17 and 18 so arranged that, when the guy is under tension, the tension members act to place the compression member in compression.

The compression member comprises a truncated hollow cone 19 of ceramic material, such as porcelain having a thrust cap 20 of forged or cast metal mounted on the apex, there being a yieldable substance 20 between adjacent surfaces, as shown.

Tension member 17 comprises a thrust plate 21, having a fiange'22 which embraces the base of cone 19, the plate forming an abutment for the cone, a plurality of rods 23 adjustably secured to the plate, and a clevis 24 having a flange portion to which the rods are adjustably secured.

Tension member 18 is shown as an eye-bolt extending through the cone and having a nut 25 at its upper end which bears on the thrust cap 20. The eye of the bolt is adapted to be secured to the clevis of an adjacent link by means of a clevis pin 26.

By coupling a series of such links together as described above, a guy of any suitable length may be formed. A guy so constructed, therefore consists of a series of alternately disposed tension and compression members, and serves a two-fold purpose; (1) it affords the strength necessary to resist tipping or overturning of the tower or mast; and (2) it insulates the tower from ground at the point where the guy is anchored therein.

The uppermost insulator of the series is connected to the tower at a point in its vertical axis and the lowermost member or link is connected by means of a turnbuckle 27 to a rod 28 anchored in the foundation 15. The turnbuckle is adjusted until the tower is held firmly in position on its foundations. If the tower tends to sway, the guy is placed under further tension and resists tipping of the tower about any one of the corners thereof.

Since guy 13 is coaxial with the vertical axis of the tower, it is disposed wholly within the sides thereof. Hence, the space required for a mast or tower antenna of this type is reduced to a minimum.

An alternate type of guy is shown in Figs. 5, 7, and 8. This comprises an insulator 28 of truncated cone shape supported by the tower at a lized between each tends upwardly through an po nt in its vertical axis. The cone is mounted in a flanged retaining and thrust member 30 having lugs 31 thereon disposed at right angles to the respective sides of the tower (see Fig. 7).

The retaining member is provided with a removable base or clamping member 32 which is provided with lugs 33 located in the same relative position as the lugs 31 on the retaining member. The inner ends of one series of horizontal ties or tension members 34 of the tower are disposed between the ings of the retaining member and the base or clamp portion and are bolted in place as shown.

The base or clamping member is provided with bosses 35 located between the lugs 33 and to these bosses upwardly inclined compression or tension members (not shown) may be secured in order to tie the converging ends of members 34 to the corner members 6 of the tower for the purpose of resisting the downward thrust of the guy imposed on the inner ends oi members 34..

The apex of the insulator 28 carries a cast or forged metal cap 36 having a lug that projects through an aperture formed in a thrust member 37 of cup shape disposed'over the cap. The thrust member is so arranged that there may be freedom of movement between it and the cap.

Guy rods 39 are attached to member 37 and anchored in the corner foundations oi the tower. The guy rods may be disposed 120 apart so as to resist swaying or tipping of the tower in any direction. To facilitate the attachment of the guy rods to the member 37, a clevis 40 is provided for each rod and is designed to receive the edge of member 37. A clevis pin 41 passing through the wall of member 37 and the clevis secures each guy rod in place.

guy rods have turnbuckle v The lower ends of the connections 42 with eye-bolts 43 (only one of which is shown) embedded in foundations 3. By adjusting the turnbuckles, the loading at the corners of the mast may be equalized and ad-- justed to hold the mast firmly in place.

With this form of construction, the insulator supports at the corners of the mast have freedom of movement and they are always subjected to compression and shear loads, but are never subjected to tension loads. The guy rod insulator is also always in compression and never in tension. Also the guys are disposed substantially wholly Within the sides of the tower and out of the way.

In Figs. 9 and 10 a modified tower construction and insulator support is shown. In this form, four foundations are provided since the tower is a four-sided structure and requires a support at the four corners thereof. In base insulator 44 for each corner or foot is uticorner of the tower and its foundation. cated ceramic or porcelain cone, the base of which is mounted in a retaining member 45 which is bolted to the foundation. The upper end of the cone carries a bearing member or cap 47 which is provided with a dowel or lug 48 that exaperture formed in a corner plate 49 of the tower. The tower thus has freedom of movement on the insulator caps 4'7 so that in case the tower sways, the insulator supporting members will not be subjected to tension loads. If desired. some yieldable material or compound 50 may be interposed between the insulator, the cap and the retaining member to form a cushion therebetween. A rain shield 51 may be attached to the cap ii desired or necessary.

This insulator comprises a trun this form only one In order to anchor the tower on its foundations, struts 52 are secured to the corners of the tower. These struts slope inwardly and upwardly towards the vertical central axis of the tower and tied together by an insulator supporting and retaining member 53 to which they are secured. The retaining member carries a truncated cone 54 of porcelainor ceramic material, which has freedom of movement in the retaining member. The upper end of the cone carries a cap 58 through which a guy or anchor rod 56 extends. This rod is threaded at its upper end to receive a nut 57 and has its lower end anchored ina foundation 59. By tightening nut 57 the desired initial loading may be imposed on the corner insulator supports 44 so that the mast ortower will be rigidly and firmly held in place on its foundation against any tendency to tip or sway.

The guy rod insulator 54 and the corner supporting insulators 44 being subjected only to compression loads, the] maximum strength of the ceramic materials, of which they are made, is utilized.

While the guys herein disclosed have been shown as being attached to the tower at a point in the central or vertical axis thereof, it is to be understood that the guys may be attached to the sides of the antenna and anchored in the ground. In such case the guys may be attached to the tower sides at points a, b, and 0 '(see Fig. 'l) located any desired or efiective distance above the corner foundations.

In the various forms of antenna structure embodying the invention, it will be observed that the insulator supports on which the corner standards or legs of the antenna structure rest provide single capacitative impedance paths to ground. The impedance paths of Fig. 1, each comprise a single line of articulated insulators, whereas in Fig.9.

these paths are constituted by single insulators under each corner standard or leg.

While various modifications and changes may be made in the invention herein shown and described without departing from either the spirit or the scope thereof, it is to be understood that only such limitations shall be placed on the invention as are imposed by the prior art and the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a radio wave transmitting antenna of the of the mast or tower type having a height equal to a substantial fraction of the wave length to be transmitted, and foundatlons, of insulators of truncated cone shape mounted with their bases on the foundations under the corners of the antenna to support the antenna thereon, the tower being so supported by thev insulators as to have freedom of movement thereon, and means connected to the tower near its lower end and acting along the vertical axis thereof to anchor the tower and resist tipping thereof about the corner supports.

2. The combination with a radio wave transmitting antenna of the tower or mast type fab rieated from structural shapes to a height equaling a substantial fraction of a wave length to be transmitted, foundation supports under the corners thereof, and insulator supports interposed between the tower corners and the foundations, there being a loose connection between the insulators under each corner to provide free movement of the tower at the corners to avoid the loading of said insulators in tension, of insulated guys attached to the tower and ground and located substantially wholly within the sides .of the tower and acting along the vertical axis of the tower to resist tipping thereof, said guys being made up of alternate tension and compression members, the compression members being of insulating material.

3. The combination with an antenna of the tower ormast type fabricated from structural shapes, having foundation supports under the corners thereof and insulator supports interposed between the tower corners and the foundations, there being a loose connection between the insulators under each corner to provide free movement-of the tower at the corners to avoid the loading of said insulators in tension, of a truncated cone insulator secured to the tower at a point in the vertical axis thereof, a metal cap on the apex of said cone insulator, and tension guy members secured to said cap and the foundations, said guys being located substantially wholly within the sides of the tower.

4. The combination with an antenna of the tower or mast type built up of structural members in the form of a right polyhedral pyramid having insulator supports interposed between the corners of the tower and the foundation to take the full load of the tower, of a supporting frame secured to the tower corners, said frame sloping inwardly and upwardly and converging at the vertical axis of the tower, a truncated cone insulator secured to the top of the frame with its vertical axis in line with the vertical axis of the tower, and a guy rod having one end anchored in a foundation at the base of the vertical axis and its other end extending through the insulator 110' and anchored in place at the apex of the same so that the rod is loaded in tension and the. insulator in compression.- 7

5. The combination with an antenna of th tower or mast type fabricated from structural shapes, having foundation supports under. the corners thereof and insulator supports interposed between the tower corners and the foundations, there being a loose connection betweenthe insulators under each corner to provide such freedoor of movement of the tower at the corners as to avoid the loading of said insulators in tension, of a truncated cone insulator secured to the tower at a point substantially in the vertical axis thereof, a metal cap on the apex' of. said cone insulator, and tension guy members coupled to said cap and to ground, said guys being located substantially wholly within the sides of the tower.

6. In an antenna of the self-supporting vertical mast type, a relatively slender vertical tower having a plurality of diverging legs, insulator supports under each leg of the tower, there being a connection between the supports and the tower such that there may be relative movement between them so as to avoid loading the supports in tension, a plurality of tension members anchored to the ground and converging upwardly within the tower towards the vertical axis thereof, and means including at least one insulator in com pression for coupling the converging ends of the tension members to the tower, said tension members and coupling means forming an anchor adapted to resist tipping of the tower about said insulator supports.

7. An antenna of the self-supporting vertical 5 mast type, comprising a relatively slender tower having a plurality of diverging legs, a supporting insulator under each leg, structural members connected to legs of the tower and converging upwardly, anchor means connected to said mem- 150 bersand exerting hold-down forces and means insulating the tower from ground through'the impedance paths formed by said anchor means.

8. A broadcasting antenna structure adapted to function effectually as a single vertical conductor comprising a vertical tower or mast of a height equal to a substantial fraction of the wave length to be transmitted and built up of structural members and mounted on symmetrically arranged insulators, and hold-down devices insulated from the tower and rigidly coupled to sides of the tower between pairs of the supporting insulators, said devices exerting substantially wholly vertically acting hold-down forces that resist tipping of the structure.

9. A mast type antenna comprising a builtup frame structure including standards and cross members, an insulating support for each standard, an insulator supported coaxially of the structure adjacent the base thereof, and a single hold-down device anchored to ground and coupled to said coaxial insulator so as to place the same in compression.

10. A mast type antenna comprising a builtup frame structure including standards and cross members, insulating supports for standards of the structure, an insulator supported coaxially of the structure adjacent the base thereof, and a plurality of guy members anchored to the ground and coupled to said coaxial insulator so as to place the same in compression.

11. A radio wave transmitting antenna of the vertical mast type comprising a relatively tall slender tower adapted to function effectually as a single vertical conductor and which is of a height equal to a substantial fraction of the wave length to be transmitted, said tower being fabricated from metallic members and having downwardly diverging legs, an insulator support for each leg, rigid struts connected to such legs near the bottom of the tower, a tension member connected to said struts, means connected to said tension member for anchoring said tower to ground, and means for insulating said tension member from said struts.

12. A radio wave transmitting antenna of the vertical mast type adapted to functioneilectually as a single vertical conductor and being of a height which is a substantial fraction of the wave length to be transmitted, said antenna comprising a rigid multi-sided structure constructed of electrically and mechanically connected corner standards and cross members, insulator supports under each of said standards and forming with each standard single capacitative impedance path to ground, a plurality of symmetrically spaced substantially wholly vertically acting hold-down means secured to cross members, and means for insulating the structure from ground through the paths provided by said holddown means.

13. A radio wave transmitting antenna of the vertical mast type adapted to function effectually as a single vertical conductor and of a height which is a substantial fraction of the wave length to be transmitted, said antenna comprising a rigid multi-sided structure constructed of mechanically and electrically connected corner standards and cross members, support insulators under standards of such structure, and substantially wholly vertically acting hold-down means secured to and insulated from portions of the structure included between and secured tocorner standards near the lower ends thereof to resist over-turning of the structure. i

'14. A radiowave transmitting antenna of the vertical mast type adapted to function effectually as a". single vertical conductor and ofa height which is a substantial fraction of the wave length to be transmitted, said antenna comprising a rigid multi-sided structure constructed of mechanically and electrically connected corner standards and cross members, single lines of sym metrically arranged and articulated insulators under standards of such structure, and symmetrically arranged substantially wholly Vertically actinginsulated hold-down members secured to cross members in sides of the tower structure for resisting overturning of the structure.

15. An antenna ofthe self-supporting vertical mast type and of a height equaling a substantial fraction of the wave length to be transmitted, that comprises a relatively slender tower having a plurality of diverging legs, an insulator support under each-leg, rigid struts, near the lower end of th'e'tower, disposed between and connected to the tower legs, and insulated anchor means connected to such struts for exerting substantially wholly vertical hold-down forces for resisting overturning of the tower.

l6. An antennastructure of the vertical mast type constructed to function effectually .as a vertical conductor and being a substantial fraction of a wave length in height," said structure comprising a relatively slender tower fabricated from metallic members and having downwardly diverging legs, a supporting insulator for each-leg, 'rigid'struts included between and secured to legs=of the tower relatively near the bottom thereof, and an insulatedtension member connected to said struts and anchored in the ground for exerting hold-down forces that resist overturning of the structure.

17. A radiof'wave transmitting antenna of the vertical mast type capable of functioning effectually as a single vertical conductor, said antenna being'of'a height which isa substantial fraction of the wave length to be transmitted and comprising a rigid multi-sided structure including mechanically and electrically connected corner standards and cross members, insulator supports under standards of said structure and forming with such standards single capacitative impedance paths'to ground, and aplurality of symmetrically spaced insulated tension members secured to symmetrically spaced portions of the structure included between corner standards for exerting substantially wholly vertically acting hold-down forces that resist overturning of the sti'ucture' 18. A radio wave transmitting antenna of the vertical mast type adapted to function effectually as a single vertical conductor and having a height which is a substantial fraction of the wave length to be transmitted and which comprises a rigid multi-si-ded structure including mechanically and electrically connected corner standards and cross members, single lines of symmetrically arranged .and articulated insulators under corner standards, and insulated hold-down means secured to a portion of the structure near the lower end thereof and included between corner standards for exerting hold-down forces that resist overturning of the structure. a i l i 19. A radio wave transmitting antenna of the vertical mast type having a'height equaling a substantial fraction of the wave length to be transmitted and which comprises a rigid multi-sided structure adapted to function effectually as a singlet vertical conductor,- said structure being 1,270 I ,avu.

constructed of mechanically and electrically conwhich comprises a relatively slender tower havnected corner standards and cross members, sining a plurality of diverging legs, an insulator supgle linesof articulated insulators under standport under each leg, rigid struts near the lower ards of such structure, and symmetrically posiend of the tower disposed between and connected tioned insulated hold-down members secured to to such legs, and insulated anchor means concross members in sides of the structure for renected near the bottom of the tower to such struts sistin'g overturning of the same. for exerting hold-down forces that resist over- 20. An antenna of the self-supporting vertical turning of the mast.

mast type and of a height equaling a substantial RALPH L. JENNER.

' 10 fraction of the wavelength to be transmitted,- v I 3 I v v 40 I I t Y I I I I 60 I its

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