July 3T,962

Filed Nov. 27, 1957

A. B. swALLcSw ETAL

3,047,860
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TWO-FLY ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY REFLECTING FABRIC

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B. Swa//Ow

INVENTORS.

July 31, 1962

Filed Nov. 27, 1957

A. vB. swALLow l-rrAL

3,047,850
2 Sheets-Sheet 2

TWO-FLY ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY REFLECTING FABRIC

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INVEN 0 S.

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BYL/W ,VH1/LIM
ATTORNEYS.

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Patented July 3l, 1962

2
3 047 860

Two PLY ELEcrirortrAGNErrc ENERGY

_ REFLECTING FABRIC

effective metallic conductors are arranged at right angles to each other.

Another `object of the invention is to provide a reflec
tor vfor electromagnetic waves of a net or mesh material

whose openings remain constant and need only be small enough to adequately reilect the waves of the frequency desired. Filed Nov. 27, 1957, Ser. No. 699,388 3 Claims. (Cl. 343-18) With these and other objects in view, the invention con sists of certain novel features of construction, as will be This invention relates to a reflector for electrical en 10 more fully described and particularly pointed out in the ergy of the space type which is more commonly known appended claims. as electromagnetic energy. In the accompanying drawings: Reilectors of the type used for radio and radar radiation FIGURE l is a plan view of an open mesh with the have heretofore comprised a sheet of metal or metal foil strands arranged longitudinally in one direction the ties

Austin B. Swallow, 32 Algonquin Road, East Providence,

fcelllhandler E. Swallow, Jr., 65 Lyon St., Paw

against which the electromagnetic waves were impinged 15 being omitted for clarity;

and reflected; or a screen formed from intermeshed wires of metal, woven or formed to provide some type of open mesh construction; or a fabric coated or plated with metal. In each case the reflecting surface has had a rela

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of an open mesh with the

strands arranged in a direction at right angles to the showing in FIGURE 2 with the ties omitted for clarity;
FIGURE 3 is a plan View of a fragment and on a larger

tively large weight per unit area and was subject (de 20 scale showing the strands of either FIGURE l or 2 tied pending on the reflecting material used) to varying degrees together. of corrosion and of limited flexibility. In constructing FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the two plies shown in
FIGURES l and 2 as superimposed one on the other; FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the end of a strand frames had to be constructed to suspend or support the 25 of the material which we use in this invention; reflecting surfaces. Rellectors carried `aloft or suspended `FIGURE 6 is a View similar to FIGURE 5 of ya modified

reflectors of large refecting surface of any of the men

tioned reflecting materials, relatively rigid and heavy

from balloons made out of such reflecting surfaces and

frames are limited in size (and thus useful rellecting sur

strand.
FIGURE 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a diller

face) by the weight of the material of the reflecting sur

ent modified form of strand; face and supporting frames. Also such reflectors are 30 FIGURE 8 is an edge view of the two-ply construction awkward to package, transport, and erect. They also of FIGURE 4;
FIGURE 9 is a plan view of a modified woven mesh

restrict the launching sites of balloon-s `from which they might be suspended to those places where the reflectors

can carefully be handled during launching. Suspending

by offering sharp edges Iand corners which might puncture
the balloon. At the same time they inhibit the suspen sion of other objects from the balloon such as instru

fabric;
FIGURE ll is a plan view of one section of the re

FIGURE l0 is an elevation of the rellecting net in tri such reflectors from a balloon also endangers the balloon 35 hedral form;

ilector shown in FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is a sectional view of the balloon with

ments by occupying space below the -balloon and using

up a portion of the weight lifting power of the balloon. 40
One of the objects of this invention is to provide an

the net therein in inflated relation;

FIGURE 13 is an elevational view of the balloon hav

electromagnetic wave reflector which may be simply and

inexpensively formed. ~

Another object of the invention is to provide a rellector which will be of very light weight so that it may be 45 A material known as Mylar or Daeron or some resin easily suspended in the air. which may be heat sealed is suitable. This strand of Another object of the invention is to provide a reflector material is then formed into an open mesh fabric with that will not corrode or change its reflective properties an arrangement so that the effective electrical conductors iu the presence of moisture or other corrosive elements in are at right angles to each other. A fabric so `formed is 50 then shaped into a desired reflecting unit such, for in the atmosphere. Another object of the invention is to provide ya reflector stance, as three planes arranged at right `angles to each that is extremely flexible and will not lose its reflective other in a trihedral form and suspended from the six properties under continual flexing or fluttering. corners. This arrangement may be placed within a bal Another object of the invention is to provide a reilector loon and fastened therein in any fashio-n for extending which can be constructed within a balloon, collapsible 55 the surfaces as desired and the fabric construction accord with the balloon for ease of packaging storage, transporta ingly permits collapsing of the balloon without any fur tion and erection. ther manipulation. Another object of the invention is to provide :a reflector With reference to the drawings and particularly FIG suspended inside a balloon which is self erecting on in URE 5, l0 designates a strand of material which is used 60 in connection with this invention and has a core of llation of the balloon. Another object of the invention is to provide a reflector aluminum ribbon 11 which is laminated with layers l2, of large reflecting surface that can be carried al-oft or 13 of a non-metallic material such as a polyester resin mounted on the ground which is of extremely light weight, known as Mylar which is a polyester film made from inexpensive and capable of storage in a small space. polyethylene terephthalate, the polymer formed by the Another object of the invention is to provide a rellec 65 condensation reaction between ethylene glycol and ter tor which may be easily formed by known netting ma ephthalic acid or Daeron which is a trademark for a syn chinery so that the cost of manufacture is exceedingly thetic polyester fiber made from methyl terephthalate low. and ethylene glycol. Vinyl coating capable of being heat Another object of the invention is to provide a reilector set may be used as a covering. which is formed from metallic strands having an insulat 70 The strand material may in some cases comprise a ing covering that will reilect lall polarizations of electro metal ribbon 1l as in FIGURE 6 with a vinyl coating 12 magnetic energy by providing two plies of net so that the surrounding it on all sides. Again the metal ribbon 11

ing the net therein in collapsed relation. In proceeding with this invention, we utilize a strand of material comprising essentially a ribbon of aluminum foil which is encased within a non-metallic covering.

3,047,860
3
(see FIG. 7) may be twisted with a reinforcing synthetic
yarn 11 such as nylon and then the twisted structure coated with a resin 13' to protect the metal. A net machine for making sh net may then be used to form this strand material into a fabric form consisting of a

to be reflected. Accordingly, the mesh net may -be formed with various size openings, depending upon the intended
use to which it is to be put, the reflective properties, so far as the openings are concerned, being a direct func tion of the wave lengths of the electrical energy which is to be reflected.

plurality of longitudinally extending strands 14, 15, 16, 17

and 18 which are zigzagged by the machine as at location 25 with the zigzags of one strand knotted with the zig zags of the other strand at their points of meeting 26.

Some reflective shapes have been found to be better than others to accommodate all directional transmissions;
and in FIGURE 10, we have shown the net reflector as
10 formed in a trihedral shape which is provided by form

In the showing of FIGURE 1, strands are illustrated in a plane parallel to the plane of the paper as extending vertically of the paper while in FIGURE 2 we have illus trated the same with the strands at right angles to the showing in FIGURE 1 or horizontal with reference to the paper. In this case, the similar reference numerals are

(See FIG. 3.)

ing three planes of reflective surfaces at right angles to each other and giving eight dierent pockets when sus
pended from a corner, which will cause very good reflec tion regardless of the direction in which the waves are transmitted. This very soft flexible net so formed may

further be suspended from its six corners 30, 31, 32, 33,

34 and 35 in a balloon 36 so that it may collapse with the balloon or when the balloon is inilated, it will be Radar waves may be polarized, and it is found that if stretched out to the form shown in FIGURE 10 and 12. the strands of our reflector happen to extend in the same direction as the polarization, they will give good reflec 20 Thus, the balloon may be in the collapsed form as shown

applied except that they are given a prime designation.

tion, but if they happen to lbe at right angles to the polarization of the electrical energy waves, they will not
give good rellection. This comes about since no contact

in FIGURE 13 when not in use, and easily transported

from one location to another. We claim:

i1. A reflector for electromagnetic energy within a band is made at the points of meeting 26 due to the insulated character of the strand comprising the insulated cover 25 of frequencies comprising two plies of open mesh net the strands of which comprise a metallic core with a ing 12, 13 about it. In order to overcome this lack of non-metallic covering encasing the core with each of the conductivity, we superimpose one ply such as shown in strands in one ply extending generally in one direction FIGURE 1 upon the other such as shown in FIGURE 2 without electrical conductive connection to adjacent and secure these in such relation in any suitable way such strands and each of the strands in the other ply extend such as by heat setting them together so that the longi ing generally at right angles to said direction without tudinal extent of the strands will be at right angles to electrical conductive connection to adjacent strands. each other. Thus, we may provide for good reilective 2. A reflector as in claim 1 wherein the openings in the characteristics regardless of the polarization of the waves mesh net are smaller than the shortest wave length within to be reflected, be they horizontal or vertical. the band of frequencies of the energy to be rellected. In some cases the mesh fabric used may be formed by 3. A reflector as in claim 1 wherein the strands in one weaving, as shown in FIGURE 9, a metallic core strand ply lie in a zig-zag path in one direction and the strands having a vinyl which may be heat set to cause the inter in the other ply lie in a zig-zag path in the other direc meshing strands to become fixed to each other. Thus, tion, each ply of said strands being knotted at intervals we provide warp strands 40 and filling strands 41 ex

tending at right angles thereto. This formation will pro 40 with similarly extending strands. vide the electrical conductivity in right angular directions References Cited in the ille of this patent as is desired without superimposing one fabric on an UNITED STATES PATENTS other. The points of crossing may be secured by heat and pressure to weld the points of crossing together. 2,031,720 Lee et al ______________ __ Feb. 25, 1936 45
The reflective properties of a net of this character also
bear some relation to the waves which are to be reflected.

So long as the wavelength of the radiation is longer than the sides of the openings in the net, they will be reflected.
terial provide a net with very small openings, in fact, 50 sufficiently small so that they will be smaller than the
shortest wave lengths which are now used, even in micro

2,419,549 2,436,578

Griesinger et al ________ __ Apr. 29, 1947 Korn et al. ___________ __Feb. 24, 1948

2,463,517 2,533,439

Chromak _____________ __ Mar. 8, 1949 Elder _______________ __ Dec. 12, 1950

We may, however, with the use of this very soft like ma

2,576,255
2,812,570 2,888,675

Hudspeth et al _________ __ Nov. 27, 1951

Petersilie et al ________ __ Nov. 12, 1957 Pratt et al. ___________ __ May 26, 1959

wave frequencies. It is thought, however, that it would

be best to have the openings of a diameter no greater 55 than one sixth of the wave length of the wave which is
505,877 758,090

FOREIGN PATENTS
Great Britain ________ __ May 18, 1939 Great Britain _________ __ Sept. 26, 1956