Abstract: In one embodiment, a cable reel axle shaft is configured with a mounting member and an encased rotary coupling. In particular, a first end of the axle shaft at the mounting member comprises a stationary radio frequency (RF) connection (e.g., a stator), and another end of the axle shaft comprises a rotating RF connection (e.g., a rotor). The rotor-stator break may then be located within the axle shaft, illustratively within the member. In this manner, a rotary coupling is extended and integrated into the center of the structural axle shaft for the cable reel, such that an RF connection may be maintained throughout adjustment of an accompanying variable-length RF antenna while efficiently handling the changes in required RF cable length. This provides numerous benefits over individual components, such as decreased size and weight, increased RF performance, greater survivability, and ease of operation (e.g., to spool and unspool an RF cable).

Abstract: In one embodiment, a cable reel axle shaft is configured with a mounting member and an encased rotary coupling. In particular, a first end of the axle shaft at the mounting member comprises a stationary radio frequency (RF) connection (e.g., a stator), and another end of the axle shaft comprises a rotating RF connection (e.g., a rotor). The rotor-stator break may then be located within the axle shaft, illustratively within the member. In this manner, a rotary coupling is extended and integrated into the center of the structural axle shaft for the cable reel, such that an RF connection may be maintained throughout adjustment of an accompanying variable-length RF antenna while efficiently handling the changes in required RF cable length. This provides numerous benefits over individual components, such as decreased size and weight, increased RF performance, greater survivability, and ease of operation (e.g., to spool and unspool an RF cable).

Abstract: A variable-length lightning strike down-conductor is provided that allows for optimized ground path length, where excess down-conductor (grounding) cable is tightly coiled (e.g., as a mono-spiral coil) on a cable reel. Specifically, a primary down-conductor cable from an adjustable-length air terminal is clamped between the air terminal and the cable reel at any intermediate length, and the clamp is shunted to the ground plane (e.g., earth ground) through a second low-impedance down-conductor cable, as opposed to the high-impedance coiled down-conductor cable, thus increasing down-conductor effectiveness by reducing the impedance seen by a lightning strike to reach the ground plane.

Abstract: A variable-length lightning strike down-conductor is provided that allows for optimized ground path length, where excess down-conductor (grounding) cable is tightly coiled (e.g., as a mono-spiral coil) on a cable reel. Specifically, a primary down-conductor cable from an adjustable-length air terminal is clamped between the air terminal and the cable reel at any intermediate length, and the clamp is shunted to the ground plane (e.g., earth ground) through a second low-impedance down-conductor cable, as opposed to the high-impedance coiled down-conductor cable, thus increasing down-conductor effectiveness by reducing the impedance seen by a lightning strike to reach the ground plane.