Simplified flangeless unisex waveguide coupler assembly

• US 5,208,569 A
• Filed: 06/03/1992
• Issued: 05/04/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Department of Energy
• Original Assignee: United States Department of Energy
• Inventors: Michelangelo, Dimartino, Moeller, Charles P.
• Primary Examiner(s): GENSLER, PAUL L
• Application Number:
  US07/893,154
• Time in Patent Office: 335 Days
• Field of Search: 333/254-257, 403/164, 403/165, 403/301, 403/302, 403/310, 403/312, 439/210, 285/321, 285/373, 285/415, 285/414, 285/419
• US Class Current: 333/257
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/065 the axis of rotation being parallel to the transmission path, e.g. stepped twist
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32983 Rod in socket
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/5713 Axially cleft coupler

Abstract

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° 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.

Claims

1. A unisex coupler assembly for coupling together first and second waveguides of matching external cross-section which comprises:

a) a split collar comprising two half collars, said split collar, when assembled, defining an interior bore matching the external cross-section of said first and second waveguides, and having an annular groove in said interior bore adjacent a near end of said split collar;

b) an external annular groove in each of said first and second waveguides spaced the same distance from an end of said respective waveguides;

c) a retaining ring in said annular groove in each of said first and second waveguides, said retaining ring in said first waveguide being receivable in said annular groove in said split collar when- said first waveguide is inserted into said split collar to protrude from said near end thereof;

d) means for fastening said split collar together around at least said first waveguide with said retaining ring on said first waveguide in said annular groove in said split collar;

e) a second collar having an interior cross-section matching the external cross-section of said waveguides and carried on said second waveguide at a point spaced from said end of said second waveguide, with said annular groove and retaining ring on said second waveguide spaced between said second collar and said end; and

f) means for fastening said second collar to said split ring collar and to urge said second collar against said retaining ring on said second waveguide when said end of said second waveguide is inserted into a far end of said split collar to thereby axially urge said second waveguide into sealing engagement with said first waveguide in said split collar.

2. The coupler assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said waveguides is further provided with an external sealing surface on said end thereof facing the other waveguide in said coupler assembly and a seal ring is mounted against said sealing surface to thereby seal said waveguides together.

3. The coupler assembly of claim 2 wherein said seal ring has a cross-section width slighter larger than twice the distance from said sealing surface to the end of said waveguide so that said respective sealing surfaces of said first and second waveguides will engage opposite sides of-said seal ring to provide said seal therebetween when said second collar is fastened to said split collar.

4. The coupler assembly of claim 3 wherein said seal ring is an O-ring.

5. The coupler assembly of claim 3 wherein said seal ring is a metal seal ring whereby said coupler assembly is capable of being subsequently baked at an elevated temperature.

6. The coupler assembly of claim 3 wherein the outer cross-section of said seal ring is smaller than the outer cross-section of said waveguides and said inner bore of said split collar whereby said seal ring will not interfere with rotation of said waveguides in said inner bore of said coupler assembly.

7. The coupler assembly of claim 6 wherein the distance from the end of each of said wave guides to said retaining ring is greater than half the distance from said annular groove in said split collar to said far end of said split collar, whereby when said first waveguide is placed in said split collar, to protrude from said near end, with said retaining ring on said first waveguide in said annular groove in said split collar, said retaining ring on said second waveguide will protrude from said far end of said split collar, when said second waveguide is inserted into said split collar to abut said first waveguide.

8. The coupler assembly of claim 3 wherein said first and second waveguides, said split collar, and said second collar are constructed of the same metal to provide thermal compatibility therebetween.

9. The coupler assembly of claim 3 wherein the outer cross-section of said first and second waveguides is circular and the inner bore of said split collar is also circular in cross-section and of matching diameter to the outer diameter of said circular waveguides.

10. A unisex coupler assembly for coupling together two waveguides of identical cylindrical external cross-sections which comprises:

a) first and second waveguides, each having a first end thereon of reduced external diameter;

b) an external annular groove in each of said waveguides spaced a distance "a" from said first end of said waveguide;

c) a split collar comprising two half collars, said split collar, when assembled, defining a central circular bore having a diameter matching the external diameters of said cylindrical waveguides and having an annular groove in said interior bore adjacent a near end of said split collar and spaced a distance less than twice said distance "a" from a far end of said central bore in said split collar;

d) a retaining ring in said annular groove in each of said waveguides, said retaining ring having a width slightly less than the width of said annular groove in said interior bore of said split collar and protruding from the surface of said waveguide a distance less than the depth of said annular groove interior bore of said split collar to permit said retaining ring to fit into said annular groove in said interior bore of said split collar when said split collar is assembled around said waveguide;

e) means for fastening said split collar together around said first waveguide, with said first waveguide protruding from said near end of said central bore in said split collar;

f) a second collar having a central bore slightly larger than the diameter of said cylindrical waveguides and assembled on said second waveguide at a point from said first end of said second waveguide greater than the distance from said first end of said second waveguide to said annular groove and retaining ring on said second waveguide;

g) an external sealing surface formed adjacent said first end of said first and second waveguides at the terminated of said reduced external diameter portion of said first and second waveguides;

h) a seal ring carried on one of said reduced external diameter portions of said waveguides; and

i) means for fastening said second collar to said split ring collar which will urge said second collar against said retaining ring on said second waveguide to urge said second waveguide into said far end of said central bore of said split collar to sealingly engage said seal ring against said sealing surface of said first waveguide in said split ring collar.