Magnetron mounting system

• US 4,701,586 A
• Filed: 05/30/1986
• Issued: 10/20/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amana Refrigeration, Inc. (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Litton Systems Incorporated (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Hagberg, Calvin A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellinen, A. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fuller, Leon K.
• Application Number:
  US06/869,213
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 219/10.55 R, 219/10.55 F, 219/10.55 M, 315/39.51, 403/348, 403/349, 403/350, 403/376, 403/409, 24/590, 24/697, 24/662, 248/222.3, 248/223.2, 248/221.3
• US Class Current: 219/746
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/6402 Aspects relating to the microwave cavity
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/66 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/707 using waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7005 Lugged member, rotary engagement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7075 including discrete retainer

Abstract

An improved system for mounting a magnetron exterior to a microwave oven chamber. A magnetron antenna extends through an orifice in the chamber wall and mounting clips extend from the chamber walls at locations spaced around the orifice. Apertures are provided within the keeper plate of the magnetron to allow the clips to pass therethrough and engage a keeper plate interface on relative rotation of the chamber wall and plate. The clips may be formed as part of the chamber wall.

Claims

1. In a microwave oven of the type wherein a magnetron having an extending antenna is mounted exterior to an oven chamber with said antenna extending through an orifice in a planar wall of said chamber and into said chamber, the megnetron including a generally planar mounting plate having an outer face, an inner face and a hole through which said antenna extends, an improved magnetron mounting system which comprises:

(a) a plurality of clip means each including;

(i) a first leg means extending from said chamber wall at locations spaced around said orifice, and

(ii) a second leg means generally parallel with said chamber wall;

(b) a plurality of aperture means within said magnetron mounting plate, each aperture means being positioned and configured to allow a different one of said second leg means to pass therethrough and engage said plate inner face on relative rotation of said chamber wall and said magnetron mounting plate; and

(c) locking means for locking said second leg means in engagement with said plate inner face.

2. The magnetron mounting system of claim 1 wherein said oven chamber comprises an oven cavity.

3. The magnetron mounting system of claim 1 wherein said oven chamber comprises a waveguide.

4. The magnetron mounting system of claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises dimple means.

5. The magnetron mounting system of claim 1 wherein said orifice is generally circular and includes an outwardly extending lip, said magnetron mounting system further comprising a compressible conductive member surrounding said antenna and engageable by said lip when said second leg means is in engagement with said plate inner face.

6. The magnetron mounting system of claim 1 wherein said clip means are formed from said chamber wall, said plate means being configured adjacent each aperture means to overlie substantially all of that portion of said chamber wall from which the associated clip means is formed following said relative rotation.

7. The magnetron mounting system of claim 6 wherein said orifice is generally circular includes an outwardly extending lip, said magnetron mounting system further comprising a compressible conductive member surrounding said antenna and engageable by said lip when second leg means is in engagement with said plate inner face.

8. In a microwave oven of the type wherein a magnetron having an extending antenna is mounted exterior to an oven chamber with said antenna extending through an orifice in a planar wall of said chamber and into said chamber, the magnetron including a generally planar mounting plate having mounting tabs extending from the magnetron in the plane of the plate, with the plate further having an outer face, an inner face and a hole through which said antenna extends, an improved magnetron mounting system which comprises:

(a) a plurality of clip means each including;

(i) a first leg means extending from said chamber wall at locations spaced around said orifice, and

(ii) a second leg means generally parallel with said chamber wall;

(b) a plurality of pierced depression means within said wall, each pierced depression means being positioned and configured to receive and retain a different one of said mounting tabs therein to closely couple the outer face of said mounting plate to the exterior of said chamber wall upon relative rotation of said chamber wall and plate; and

(c) locking means for locking said second leg means in engagement with said plate inner face.

9. The magnetron mounting system of claim 8 wherein said oven chamber comprises an oven cavity.

10. The magnetron mounting system of claim 8 wherein said oven chamber comprises a waveguide.

11. The magnetron mounting system of claim 8 wherein at least one of said mounting tabs contains an aperture therethrough and at least one of said clip means is positioned to receive and retain said one mounting tab and wherein said one clip means contains dimple means positioned to align and project into the aperture in said one mounting tab.

12. The magnetron mounting system of claim 8 wherein said clip means are formed from said chamber wall, said plate means being configured in the region of said mounting tabs to overlie substantially all of that portion of said chamber wall from which the associated clip means is formed following said relative rotation.

13. The magnetron mounting system of claim 8 wherein said locking means comprises dimple means.

14. In a microwave oven of the type wherein a magnetron having an extending antenna is mounted exterior to an oven chamber with said antenna extending through an orifice in a planar wall of said chamber and into said chamber, the magnetron including a generally planar mounting plate having an outer face, an inner face and a hole through which said antenna extends, an improved magnetron mounting system which comprises:

a plurality of clip means each including a leg means extending substantially perpendicularly from said chamber wall and spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between opposite edges of said magnetron mounting plate and having barb means projecting into the space between said leg means

such that said leg means abut opposite edges of said mounting plate and said barb means engage and retain the inner face of said plate to closely couple the outer face of said plate with the exterior of said chamber wall.

15. The magnetron mounting system of claim 14 wherein said oven chamber comprises an oven cavity.

16. The magnetron mounting system of claim 14 wherein said oven chamber comprises a waveguide.

17. The magnetron mounting system of claim 14 wherein said orifice is generally circular and includes an outwardly extending lip, said magnetron further comprising a compressible conductive member surrounding said antenna and engageable by said lip when said barb means is in engagement with said plate inner face.

18. The magnetron mounting system of claim 14 wherein said clip means are formed from said chamber wall, said plate means being configured adjacent each aperture means to overlie substantially all of that portion of said chamber wall from which the associated clip means is formed upon engagement of said barb means with said plate inner face.