Abstract: A microwave antenna assembly is disclosed. The antenna assembly includes a feedline having an inner conductor, an outer conductor and an inner insulator disposed therebetween and a radiating portion including a dipole antenna coupled to the feedline and a trocar coupled to the dipole antenna at a distal end thereof. The antenna assembly also includes a slidable outer jacket disposed about the radiating portion and the feedline. The slidable outer jacket being configured to slide about at least one of the radiating portion and the feedline from a closed configuration, in which the slidable outer jacket is mated with the trocar and a retracted configuration, in which the slidable outer jacket is retracted in a proximally exposing at least a portion the radiating portion.

Abstract: An antenna linear extension and retraction apparatus and method of use for a submersible device is provided. The apparatus includes a body having a cavity formed at an external surface. A bladder containing a core material is arranged within the cavity. The core material contracts and expands the bladder depending upon a pressure that surrounds the bladder. An antenna is operatively connected with the bladder and moves between a retracted position and a deployed position as the bladder contracts and expands.

Abstract: A receiver receives an electromagnetic signal via an antenna mounted on an antenna mast. A signal evaluator determines or measures a signal quality level associated with the received electromagnetic signal. The signal quality compares the determined signal quality level to a threshold minimum signal quality level. A current elevational position of the antenna mast is detected or tracked. The antenna mast is raised to a greater height than the current elevational position if the compared signal quality level is less than the threshold minimum signal quality level and if the current elevational position is less than a maximum height of the antenna mast.

Abstract: A water-deployable whip antenna is extendable from a shortened configuration to a lengthened configuration. The body of the antenna is made up of a plurality of hollow frusto-conical segments which are slidably nested inside each other when the antenna is in its shortened configuration. To telescope the segments and thereby place the antenna in its lengthened operational configuration, a compressible container is housed within the segments. When the container is filled with pressurizing gas, the container expands to telescope the segments relative to each other. Additionally, a weighted ballast and electronic control circuitry are attached to one end of the antenna. In order to float the antenna in a vertical orientation, an air-filled stability bag is disposed around the antenna near the antenna's weighted end.

Abstract: A telescopic mast system has a base tube, a plurality of axially movable coaxial inner tubes nestable successively within each other and within the base tube, and a winch supported at the lower end of the base tube with a pair of preferably wire ropes driven thereby for extending and retracting the inner tubes. The base and inner tubes have collars at their respective ends, the collars of adjacent tubes engaging each other to limit extension thereof and to provide additional structural support during application of bending loads on the mast system. The ropes are connected to pulleys mounted near or within tube collars so that the ropes and pulleys are totally enclosed within the mast system. As the winch is rotated in one direction, the ropes axially move the inner tubes from a nested or stowed position within the base tube to a fully vertically extended operational position.

Abstract: The mast has a housing arranged to be mounted on the roof of a vehicle such as an emergency vehicle at the usual location of a vehicle light bar, whether or not a light bar is associated with the mast housing. A seal unit is located at the lower end of each telescoping mast section engaging the next outer mast section. The seal unit leaves the lower end of all mast sections unobstructed so that a tubular passage is formed from end to end of the mast. A retractable power supply cable is located in the passage of supply power to the electrical appliance mounted on the top of the mast. There are electrical plug connectors at each end of the mast for releasable connection with the electrical fixture at the top and with the vehicle power supply at the bottom of the mast. The mast is mounted on an offset pivot which simplifies the pneumatic-actuating system which tilts and telescopes the mast, and also enables the mast to tilt by gravity from telescoped retracted vertical to stored horizontal position.

Abstract: An antenna mast is constructed from telescoped tubes which are extended for deployment by hydraulic or pneumatic pressure, the tubes when extended, are latched to each other internally, permitting depressurization. A set of unlatch cones becomes sequentially effective to unlatch the latches, beginning from the top to stepwise telescope the tubes into each other. Spring biased latches are mounted on an insert in the bottom of tubes; the unlatch cones, except the highest ones, extend from the bottom of the inserts.

Abstract: The present antenna mast is constructed to telescope in response to pneumatic pressure. For this purpose a bottom tubular section has a pressure inlet and each further tubular section has a lower end fitting as a piston into the next lower section. Each piston has a passage for a gas under pressure into the next higher section. The upper end of the uppermost section is closed. The antenna is retracted by venting the bottom tubular section.

Abstract: A vehicle emergency control system which remotely signals the unauthorized operation of a suitably-equipped vehicle, and which conditions the vehicle by remote control to be involuntarily retarded or stopped by an action of the unauthorized operator. Vehicles are equipped with a transmitter which broadcasts an emergency condition message in response to an unauthorized or emergency situation. The emergency message identifies the vehicle, and may also identify the nature of the emergency condition. The emergency message is received at a central location, from which a coded command signal can be transmitted to a receiver in the vehicle to disable the operation of the particular vehicle from which the emergency message emanated. The command signal conditions the brake accelerator, or some other vehicle control to be retained in a retarded position when that control is next operated.