Waveguide expansion joint
AssigneeHarris Corporation
InventorLock R. Young
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A waveguide expansion joint for connecting two circular waveguides operating in the TE.sub.01 mode while allowing for waveguide expansion and contraction due to temperature variations. The expansion joint includes first and second rings on the outside surface at one end thereof. When the expansion joint is inserted into a waveguide the rings are proximate to the inside diameter of the waveguide for absorbing undesired propagating modes, for pressurization of the expansion joint, and for coaxially aligning the waveguide and the expansion joint.
Claims39
A waveguide expansion joint adapted for joining a first circular waveguide with a second circular waveguide for propagating electromagnetic energy in the microwave range in a preselected mode, said waveguide expansion joint comprising:
- a circular waveguide section, at the first end having an outside diameter approximately equal to the inside diameter of the first circular waveguide, the first end of said circular waveguide section being adapted for coaxial engagement with the first circular waveguide;
- the second end of said circular waveguide section having an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of the second circular waveguide for slideable engagement therewith so as to form a coaxial gap between the inside surface of the second circular waveguide and the outside surface of said circular waveguide section, wherein the second circular waveguide is free to move relative to said circular waveguide section;
- absorber means for absorbing energy propagating in a mode other than the preselected mode and for preventing the emission of electromagnetic radiation from the gap into free space;
- and
- alignment means providing coaxial alignment of said circular waveguide section and the first circular waveguide.
A waveguide expansion joint adapted for joining a first circular waveguide with a second circular waveguide for propagating electromagnetic energy in the microwave range in a preselected mode, said waveguide expansion joint comprising:
- a circular waveguide section, at the first end having an inside diameter approximately equal to the outside diameter of the first circular waveguide, the first end of said circular waveguide section being adapted for coaxial engagement with the first circular waveguide;
- the second end of said circular waveguide section having an inside diameter greater than the outside diameter of the second circular waveguide for slideable engagement therewith so as to form a coaxial gap between the outside surface of the second circular waveguide and the inside surface of said circular waveguide section, wherein the second circular waveguide is free to move relative to said circular waveguide section;
- absorber means for absorbing energy propagating in a mode other than the preselected mode and for preventing the emission of electromagnetic radiation from the gap into free space;
- and
- alignment means for providing coaxial alignment of said circular waveguide section and the second circular waveguide.
A waveguide coupling joint adapted for coupling a first circular waveguide with a second circular waveguide for propagating electromagnetic energy in the microwave range in a preselected mode, said waveguide coupling joint comprising:
- a circular waveguide section having an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of the first and the second circular waveguides, the first and the second ends of said circular waveguide section being adapted for slideably coaxial engagement with the first and the second circular waveguides, respectively so as to form a coaxial gap between the inside surface of the first circular waveguide and the outside surface of said circular waveguide section at the first end thereof, and so as to form a coaxial gap between the inside surface of the second circular waveguide and the outside surface of said said circular waveguide section at the second end thereof, wherein the first and the second circular waveguides are free to move relative to said circular waveguide section;
- absorber means for absorbing energy propogating in a mode other than the preselected mode and for preventing the emission of electromagneic radiation from the gaps into free space;
- and
- alignment means for providing coaxial alignment of said circular waveguide section and the first and the second circular waveguides
A waveguide connection comprising:
- a pair of tubular-shaped circular waveguides mounted adjacent each other, for transmission of microwave energy therebetween, with the longitudinal axis of the waveguides aligned but with the waveguides physically spaced apart longitudinally;
- a tubular shaped circular waveguide connector, said connector having its longitudinal dimension greater than said spacing and the connector diameter dimensions relative to diameters of said two waveguides being such that said connector when placed between said two waveguides forms a slidable coaxial connection with said two waveguides and forms a coaxial gap between at least one of said two waveguides and the connector, wherein said connector functions as an expansion joint while providing for the efficient transfer of microwave energy between said pair of waveguides through said connector;
- absorber means for preventing the emission of electromagnetic radiation from said gap into free space;
- and
- alignment means providing coaxial alignment of said connector and said at least one waveguide with which said connector forms said gap.
A waveguide connector adapted for joining a first circular waveguide with a second circular waveguide for propagating electromagnetic energy in the microwave range in a preselected mode, wherein the axes of the first and the second circular waveguides are aligned but with the first and the second circular waveguides physically spaced apart longitudinally, said connector comprising a tubular shaped circular waveguide member, said member having its longitudinal dimension greater than said spacing and the member diameter dimensions relative to diameters of the first and the second waveguides being such that said member when placed between the first and the second waveguides forms a slideable coaxial connection therewith, and forms a coaxial gap between at least one of the first and the second waveguides and said member, wherein said connector functions as an expansion joint providing for the efficient transfer of microwave energy between the first and the second waveguides through said connector;
- absorber means for preventing the emission of electromagnetic radiation from said gap into free space;
- and
- alignment means providing coaxial alignment of said connector and said one of said first and said second waveguides with which said connector forms said gap.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.