Transfer device for combining and switching microwave signal using a rotary waveguide switching structure

A transfer device for selectively combining and switching a plurality of microwave signals, comprising;

• a housing having a cylindrical cavity open at one end of said housing and having four orthagonally oriented mutually rectangular walls with first, second, third and fourth ports therein respectively, opening into said cavity;
• a cylindrical rotor having a central axis of rotation disposed in said cavity and turnable in succession to a first, second and third and fourth spaced position in said housing;
• said rotor having portions defining at least in part a first passage having first, second and third arms aligned with and terminating at said first, third and fourth ports respectively when said rotor is in said first position, said passage providing means for propagating a first and a second microwave signal respectively applied to said first and second arms and for combining said signals in said third arm to leave said housing via said fourth port;
• said rotor having second and third passages disposed in a first plane therein and defining respectively a first path for said first microwave signal between said first and second ports and a second path for said second microwave signal between said third and fourth ports when said rotor is in said second position, while said housing blocks said arms of said first passage;
• said first path extending between said first and fourth ports to pass microwaves therethrough, and second path extending between said second and third ports to pass microwaves therethrough, when said rotor is in said third position, while said housing blocks said arms of said first passage, said first passage having portions of said first, second and third arms disposed in a second plane parallel to said first plane and spaced axially from said first plane;
• said housing having portions blocking said second and third passages when said rotor is in said first position, to prevent switching of microwave signals in said second and third passages while microwave signals are being combined in said first passage;
• whereby said rotor operates to combine microwave signals in said first passage when said rotor is in said first position, and whereby said rotor operates to switch microwave signals in said first and second paths when said rotor is turned to said second and third positions.