Power combiners and dividers including cylindrical conductors and capable of receiving and retaining a gas

A power divider/combiner comprising:

• a stepped main conductor defining an axis;
• a ground conductor radially exterior of the stepped main conductor;
• an input connector having a center conductor, adapted to be coupled to a signal source, electrically coupled to the main conductor and having an axis aligned with the main conductor axis, and having a second conductor electrically coupled to the ground conductor, the power divider/combiner having a first end defined by the input connector and having a second end;
• a conductive cylinder including an inner cylindrical surface radially exterior of and spaced apart from the main conductor, including an outer cylindrical surface, and having a cylinder axis coincident with the main conductor axis;
• a second ground conductor radially exterior of the outer cylindrical surface of the conductive cylinder, a gap being defined between the second ground conductor and the outer surface of the conductive cylinder;
• a plurality of output connectors, proximate the second end, having respective axes that are perpendicular to the main conductor axis, the output connectors having center conductors electrically coupled to the conductive cylinder and having respective second conductors electrically coupled to the second ground conductor;
• an inner flange that is electrically and thermally conducting, between the first and second ends, radially exterior of the main conductor, the output connectors having center conductors electrically coupled to the conductive cylinder;
• and
• a threaded bore extending from exterior of the divider/combiner into the second ground conductor, a passage from the threaded bore to the gap defined between the second ground conductor and the outer surface of the conductive cylinder, and a threaded plug selectively received in and plugging the threaded bore.

A method of manufacturing a power divider/combiner, the method comprising:

• providing a stepped main conductor defining an axis;
• providing a coax input connector having a center conductor, adapted to be coupled to a signal source and having an axis aligned with the main conductor axis, the coax input connector being electrically coupled to the input connector to the main conductor;
• providing a hollow cylindrical conductor radially exterior of and spaced apart from the main conductor, having a cylinder axis aligned with the main conductor axis, having an outer cylindrical surface;
• providing a plurality of coax output connectors having respective axes that are perpendicular to the main conductor axis, the output connectors being radially spaced apart relative to each other, the output connectors having center conductors electrically coupled to the cylinder conductor;
• and
• providing a chamber capable of receiving and retaining a gas inside the divider/combiner when the divider/combiner is in use.