Variable frequency microwave furnace system

Patent · Fri Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:869358

Bible, Don W ^[1]; Lauf, Robert J ^[2]

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1. Clinton, TN
2. Oak Ridge, TN

A variable frequency microwave furnace system (10) designed to allow modulation of the frequency of the microwaves introduced into a furnace cavity (34) for testing or other selected applications. The variable frequency microwave furnace system (10) includes a microwave signal generator (12) or microwave voltage-controlled oscillator (14) for generating a low-power microwave signal for input to the microwave furnace. A first amplifier (18) may be provided to amplify the magnitude of the signal output from the microwave signal generator (12) or the microwave voltage-controlled oscillator (14). A second amplifier (20) is provided for processing the signal output by the first amplifier (18). The second amplifier (20) outputs the microwave signal input to the furnace cavity (34). In the preferred embodiment, the second amplifier (20) is a traveling-wave tube (TWT). A power supply (22) is provided for operation of the second amplifier (20). A directional coupler (24) is provided for detecting the direction of a signal and further directing the signal depending on the detected direction. A first power meter (30) is provided for measuring the power delivered to the microwave furnace (32). A second power meter (26) detects the magnitude of reflected power. Reflected power is dissipated in the reflected power load (28).

• Research Organization: LOCKHEED MARTIN ENRGY SYST INC
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• Assignee: Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc. (Oak Ridge, TN)
• Patent Number(s): US 5321222
• OSTI ID: 869358
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/219/315/363/
10
12
14
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
allow
allow modulation
amplifier
amplify
applications
cavity
controlled oscillator
coupler
delivered
depending
designed
detected
detecting
detects
directing
direction
directional
directional coupler
dissipated
embodiment
frequency
frequency microwave
furnace
furnace cavity
generating
generator
input
introduced
load
low-power
magnitude
measuring
meter
microwave
microwave furnace
microwave signal
microwaves
microwaves introduced
modulation
operation
oscillator
output
outputs
power
power delivered
power load
power meter
power microwave
power supply
preferred
preferred embodiment
processing
provided
reflected
reflected power
selected
selected applications
signal
signal depending
signal generator
signal input
signal output
supply
testing
traveling-wave
tube
twt
variable
variable frequency
voltage-controlled
wave signal
wave tube