Simplified flangeless unisex waveguide coupler assembly

Patent · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:868774

Michelangelo, Dimartino ^[1]; Moeller, Charles P ^[2]

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1. La Mesa, CA
2. Del Mar, CA

A unisex coupler assembly is disclosed capable of providing a leak tight coupling for waveguides with axial alignment of the waveguides and rotational capability. The sealing means of the coupler assembly are not exposed to RF energy, and the coupler assembly does not require the provision of external flanges on the waveguides. In a preferred embodiment, O ring seals are not used and the coupler assembly is, therefore, bakeable at a temperature up to about 150.degree. C. The coupler assembly comprises a split collar which clamps around the waveguides and a second collar which fastens to the split collar. The split collar contains an inner annular groove. Each of the waveguides is provided with an external annular groove which receives a retaining ring. The split collar is clamped around one of the waveguides with the inner annular groove of the split collar engaging the retaining ring carried in the external annular groove in the waveguide. The second collar is then slipped over the second waveguide behind the annular groove and retaining ring therein and the second collar is coaxially secured by fastening means to the split collar to draw the respective waveguides together by coaxial force exerted by the second collar against the retaining ring on the second waveguide. A sealing ring is placed against an external sealing surface at a reduced external diameter end formed on one waveguide to sealingly engage a corresponding sealing surface on the other waveguide as the waveguides are urged toward each other.

• Research Organization: General Atomics
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-89ER51114
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5208569
• OSTI ID: 868774
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/333/285/403/439/
150
alignment
annular
annular groove
assembly
assembly comprises
axial
axial alignment
axial force
bakeable
capability
capable
carried
clamped
clamps
coaxial
coaxially
collar
comprises
contains
corresponding
coupler
coupler assembly
coupling
degree
diameter
disclosed
draw
embodiment
energy
engage
engaging
exerted
exposed
external
fastening
fastens
flangeless
flanges
force
force exerted
formed
groove
inner
inner annular
leak
leak tight
means
placed
preferred
preferred embodiment
provided
providing
provision
receives
reduced
require
respective
retaining
rf
rf energy
rotational
sealing
sealing means
sealing surface
sealingly
sealingly engage
seals
secured
simplified
slipped
split
surface
temperature
therein
tight
tight coupling
unisex
urged
waveguide
waveguide coupler
waveguides