Microwave apparatus
AssigneeMichigan State University
InventorJes Asmussen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus 10 with gears (22a, 22b, 22c, 25) for adjusting the position of a plate (13) in a cavity (12) and a rack (51) and gear (53) for moving a probe (15) into and out of the cavity is described. The apparatus includes knobs (34, 55) for controlling the movement of the plate and probe. Micrometers (37, 52) measure the precise position of the plate and probe in the cavity. The apparatus allows very precise tuning for selection of a mode of radiofrequency wave in the cavity and fine tuning within the mode.
Claims19
In a radiofrequency wave generating apparatus including a metallic radiofrequency wave cavity which is excited in one or more of its modes of resonance in the cavity around a central axis of the cavity including moveable plate means in the cavity mounted perpendicular to the central axis in the cavity and moveable along the central axis, moveable probe means connected to and extending inside the cavity for coupling the radiofrequency wave to the cavity and control means for moving the probe means and plate means in order to select and control the mode of the radiofrequency wave in the cavity the improvement in the control means for positioning the probe means and the plate means in the cavity which comprises:
- (a) support means mounted on the apparatus adjacent an opening in the cavity and extending away from the apparatus so as to define a path into and out of the opening;
- (b) sliding means moveably mounting the probe means and mounted on the support means so as to linearly move the probe means along the path into and out of the opening in the cavity along a longitudinal axis of the probe means;
- (c) first micrometer means mounted between the support means and the sliding means so as to measure the position of the probe means in the cavity;
- (d) guiding means moveably mounting the plate means in the cavity of the apparatus and providing for precise positioning of the plate means along the central axis;
- (e) second micrometer means mounted between the apparatus and the plate means so as to measure the position of the plate means in the cavity;
- and
- (f) motive means for moving the sliding means and guiding means to control the position of the probe means and plate means in the cavity and providing precise movement of the probe means and plate means in the cavity as determined by the first and second micrometer means.
In a radiofrequency wave generating apparatus including a metallic radiofrequency wave cavity which is excited in one or more of its modes of resonance in the cavity around a central axis of the cavity including moveable plate means in the cavity mounted perpendicular to the central axis in the cavity and moveable along the central axis, moveable probe means connected to and extending inside the cavity for coupling the radiofrequency wave to the cavity and control means for moving the probe means and plate means in order to select and control the mode of the radiofrequency wave in the cavity the improvement in the control means for positioning of the probe means and the plate means in the cavity which comprises:
- (a) probe means having a longitudinal axis;
- (b) spaced apart locating members mounted along and around the longitudinal axis of the probe means;
- (c) a tube mounted on the locating members along the longitudinal axis so that the probe means extends from one end of the tube;
- (d) a receiver defining an opening into the cavity wherein the tube is slideably mounted in the opening with probe means extending at the one end of the tube into the cavity;
- (e) rack means mounted on the tube parallel to the longitudinal axis of the probe means;
- (f) electrical connector means mounted on the tube at an end opposite the one end including a projection away from the longitudinal axis of the probe means;
- (g) at least one post mounted on the apparatus so as to support the tube for linear movement of the tube and probe means together into and out of the apparatus;
- (h) a holder mounted on the post with an opening slideably supporting the tube between the posts and positioning the tube in the opening in the receiver;
- (i) a first dial micrometer mounted on the holder having a moveable stem connected to the dial which engages the projection on the connector means to measure the position of the probe in the cavity as a result of a change of position of the stem;
- (j) rotatable first gear means supported on the holder which engages the rack means to move the tube and probe means into and out of the cavity;
- (k) a second dial micrometer mounted on the apparatus with a moveable stem connected to the dial engaging the plate means to measure the position of the plate means along the central axis in the cavity as a result of a change of position of the stem;
- (l) at least one threaded rod mounted on the plate means parallel to the central axis extending from the cavity of the apparatus;
- (m) rotatable second gear means mounted on the threaded rod outside of the cavity for adjusting the position of the plate means in the cavity;
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- (n) motive means for moving the first and second gear means to provide precise movement of the probe means and plate means in the cavity as determined by the first and second dial micrometers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.