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EP 0 128 686 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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07.12.1988 Bulletin 1988/49 |
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Date of filing: 25.05.1984 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC)4: H01P 1/04 |
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Waveguide connection arrangements
Hohlleiterverbindungsvorrichtung
Joint de guides d'ondes
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Designated Contracting States: |
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CH DE FR IT LI NL SE |
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Priority: |
27.05.1983 GB 8314805
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Date of publication of application: |
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19.12.1984 Bulletin 1984/51 |
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Proprietor: THE MARCONI COMPANY LIMITED |
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Stanmore
Middlesex HA7 4LY (GB) |
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Inventor: |
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- Da Costa, Martin Leslie
St. Albans
Hertfordshire, AL2 2NR (GB)
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Representative: Keppler, William Patrick |
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The General Electric Company plc
GEC Patent Department
Waterhouse Lane GB-Chelmsford, Essex CM1 2QX GB-Chelmsford, Essex CM1 2QX (GB) |
(56) |
References cited: :
US-A- 2 928 059
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US-A- 3 383 633
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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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[0001] The present invention relates to the connection and disconnection of waveguides and
is particularly concerned with microwave interfaces on items of equipment which need
to be rapidly connected and disconnected, such as radar and other military equipment.
[0002] Hitherto, detachable waveguide connections have generally been made by bolting together
flanged mating surfaces of the waveguides. This procedure which generally involves
the tightening or untightening of a number of nuts and bolts, is time consuming and
awkward, particularly when the connection is not easily accessible. However, it has
hitherto been believed that a tight bolted flange connection is necessary in order
to ensure low power losses at the mating interface and to ensure that dirt and moisture
are excluded.
[0003] U.S. patent specification No.2,928,059 discloses a two-part waveguide coupling comprising
two mating flanges incorporating respective registering waveguide sections. When mated,
the flanges are relatively located in the lateral direction by short dowel pins projecting
from one flange into corresponding apertures in the other. When separated, one flange
is rigidly supported and the other is weakly held on a resilient pad against the outside
of a wall of an equipment casing by the cantilever action of a U-shaped continuation
of its associated waveguide, which extends from inside said casing to the flange through
a large aperture in said wall. This flange and its associated pad therefore has limited
sliding freedom of movement over the outside of said wall, and is also tilted outwards
in one edge by its associated supporting U-section of waveguide. As they are brought
together, the flanges are initially aligned by tapered and countersunk portions of
the dowel ends and associated apertures respectively; the outwardly tilting flange
is then forced back against the cantilever action of the U-section of waveguide until
it is parallel with the other flange and then the mating faces of the flanges abut
one another and are resiliently held together by the reactive force of the resilient
pad and the U-section of waveguide. However, the angular deflection of the pad-mounted
flange (which is not constrained to slide in the axial diection) and the direction
of the reactive force of the associated U-section of waveguide (which is in general
non-perpendicular to the flange interface) ensure that the compressive force holding
the faces of the flanges together generally varies around their circumference. Accordingly
severe problems in flange face abutment are liable to arise, with consequent microwave
losses at the flange interface. The dowel pins (which are necessarily short in view
of the initial angular misalignment of the flange) do not provide any appreciable
angular alignment of the flanges sufficient to even out the abutment force around
the circumference of the mating interface.
[0004] We have found that such problems can be substantially overcome by a novel connector
arrangement which does not employ a tightly locked mating interface.
[0005] US 3 383 633 describes a waveguide connector in which the two connector parts are
biased apart by a spring, so as to give a tight seal at the interface. The connector
parts are aligned as they are brought together by alignment pins on one part adapted
to engage with alignment funnels on the other part. By the symmetric arrangement of
the alignment means and spring bias means, the abutment force around its interface
is thus evened out. The present invention also aims to provide an even force about
the interface, but by different means, and this invention further aims to reduce power
losses at the interface, and to protect the interface in use from dirt and contamination.
[0006] According to the present invention a two-part slidably detachable waveguide connector
provided on one part with a first waveguide portion biassed away from said part by
spring means and on the other part with a second waveguide portion arranged to mate
with said first waveguide portion, said first waveguide portion being mounted for
sliding movement in the axial direction of said one part, characterised in that a
tubular outer sleeve is provided on either part, which sleeve slidably locates said
portions and surrounds their mating interface when the connector parts are attached.
[0007] The axial alignment provided by the outer sleeve ensures that the abutment force
acts evenly on the mating waveguide sections. Furthermore the outer sleeve electrically
reduces power losses to a surprising extent by its presence around the mating interface.
[0008] Said connector may be incorporated in an arrangement further comprising guide means
distinct from said connector which in use slidably locate the connector parts and
align them when they are separated. Thus one of the waveguide connector parts may
be mounted on the rear of the casing on a piece of equipment arranged to be rack-mounted
and the other waveguide connector part is then mounted at a corresponding position
on the rack, so that the connector parts can be mated simply by sliding the equipment
into the rack and held in position by frictional engagement between the equipment
and the rack. Any slight initial mismatch in the positions or orientations of the
connector parts may be accommodated by providing an alignment taper on the engaging
surfaces of either or both of the connector parts. However the waveguide portions
should be a close sliding fit in the outer sleeve in order to ensure that their mating
faces accurately abut one another, and thereby ensure low electrical losses at the
interface. Normally any strain on the connector will be taken by the flexible casing
of the equipment or the rack.
[0009] The invention is however also applicable to multiple bayonet connectors as used in
military applications, for example.
[0010] Preferably the outwardly biassed waveguide portion is mounted on one (male) part
of the connector and the tubular guide is incorporated in the other (female) part
of the connector.
[0011] One of the mating surfaces (which are preferably planar) may be provided with a groove
surrounding the inner surface of the waveguide. The groove acts as a waveguide choke
at the connector interface and thereby reduces the mismatch in impedance between the
connector parts (which is inherent in all waveguide and transmission line (discontinuities)
and hence any power losses which might otherwise occur.
[0012] In most cases the lengths of waveguide connected by the connector will be reactangular
in cross section and will need to be rotationally aligned about their common axis.
One length of waveguide may be gripped within the tubular guide and the tubular outer
sleeve (which may suitably be circular in cross-section) in turn may be aligned by
means of a pin mounted on the body of the associated connector part which engages
an axial slot in its surface. The bodies of the connector parts may be relatively
aligned by means of a dowel pin projecting from one body into a hole in the other.
[0013] Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference
to Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings, of which:
Figure 1 is an axial sectional elevation of one part of a connector for use in an
arrangement in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 is a plan view taken on Figure 1;
Figure 3 is an axial sectional elevation of another connector part suitable for fitting
to that shown in Figures 1 and 2;
[0014] 4 Figure is a plan view taken on Figure 3;
[0015] Figure 5 is a sectional elevation showing the connector parts of Figures 1 to 4 in
a schematic arrangement in accordance with the invention, and
[0016] Figure 6a is an axial section of one part of a bayonet connector for use in an arrangement
in accordance with the invention,
[0017] Figure 6b is an axial section of a corresponding connector part aligned with the
connector part of Figure 6a, and
[0018] Figure 7 is an axial section showing the connector parts of Figures 6a and 6b locked
together. Similar parts are indicated by corresponding reference numerals throughout
the drawings.
[0019] Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, the connector part shown comprises a guide tube
1 integral with a supporting flange 2 and a tubular insert member which is a sliding
fit in the guide tube. A rectangular section waveguide 4 is brazed to the inner wall
of insert member 3 so as to lie flush with a flat mating surface 9 of the latter.
Supporting flange 2 is provided with four holes 5 and tubular insert member 3 is similarly
provided with four threaded holes 6 (Figure 2) on its flange portion so that the supporting
flange 2 and tubular insert member 3 can be bolted to a common supporting plate (not
shown) which is thus clamped between them. Guide tube 1 is provided with a tapered
alignment surface 7 to enable the corresponding male part of the connector (shown
in Figures 3 and 4) to be inserted into guide tube 1.
[0020] The corresponding male part of the connector comprises a tubular waveguide portion
10 (Figure 3) provided with a flat mating surface 11. A section of waveguide 12 is
brazed to the inside wall of waveguide portion 10 and lies flush with surface 11.
A tapered alignment surface 13 is provided on the perimeter of surface 11, enabling
waveguide portion 10 to be slid into the guide portion 1 of the female connector part
shown in Figures 1 and 2. Waveguide portion 10 is slidingly supported by a supporting
flange 14 and biassed outwardly by a spring 15 which acts on a ring 16 which is in
turn held in place by a clip 17. Outward movement of waveguide portion 10 is limited
by an annular stop 18, and a pin 19 projects into an axial slot 20 to ensure rotational
alignment of waveguide portion 10 with flange 14.
[0021] Figure 5 shows an arrangement incorporating the connector parts of Figures 1, 2 and
3, 4 mounted on the rear of an equipment casing 21 and a vertical member 22 of a rack
respectively. Shelves 23 and 24 of the rack co-operate with the casing 21 to guide
the two parts of the connector into mating engagement as shown when the equipment
is slid into the rack as indicated by arrow A, the extent of this travel being limited
by one or more stops 25. Spring 15 acts against frictional engagement between casing
21 and shelf 23 to force mating surfaces 11 and 9 into close contact. Waveguide section
12 need not be particularly flexible but it should be long enough to allow reasonable
freedom of movement of waveguide portion 10 in the direction of arrow A. The connection
may be broken simply by withdrawing the equipment from the rack in the opposite direction
to arrow A. It will be apparent that the invention includes within its scope similar
arrangements in which mating surface 9 rather than mating surface 11 is outwardly
spring biassed or in which guide tube 1 is integral with waveguide portion 10 and
co-operates with a male connector part mounted on the equipment casing.
[0022] Figure 6a shows a connector part comprising a waveguide portion 10 slidably mounted
within a guide tube 1. A rectangular section of waveguide 12 is fitted into waveguide
portion 10 and is rotationally aligned by a pin 19 which engages a longitudinal slot
20. A guide bushing 25 mounted via a carrier member 26 on guide tube 1 is a sliding
fit around waveguide portion 10. A rotatable locking collar 27 is slidably mounted
on a carrier 26 and is spring biassed away from the direction of engagement by means
not shown. Waveguide portion 10 is provided with a flat mating surface 9 and is biassed
outwardly by a spring 15.
[0023] The corresponding connector part shown in Figure 6b is fixed to an equipment casing
21 (by means not shown) and comprises a tube 28 within which is mounted a waveguide
portion 10' from a flange 29. A rectangular waveguide section 12' runs to waveguide
portion 10 from the interior of the equipment casing. Dowel pins 30 ensure rotational
alignment of the waveguide portion 10 withtube 28.
[0024] The locking collar 27 is provided with a bayonet slot 31 and tube 28 is provided
with a corresponding locking portion 32. The connector parts may be interlocked as
shown in Figure 7 by rotating collar 27 to align locking portion 28 with its bayonet
slot 31 and then further rotating collar 27 to prevent withdrawal. The connector parts
are rotationally aligned relative to each other by longitudinal ribs (not shown) in
carrier member 26 which engage in corresponding slots (not shown) in the inside surface
of tube 28.
1. A two part slidably detachable waveguide connector provided on one part (10) with
a first waveguide portion (12) biassed away from said part by spring means (15) and
on the other part (3) with a second waveguide portion (4) arranged to mate with said
first waveguide portion, said first waveguide portion being mounted for sliding movement
in the axial direction on said one part, characterised in that a tubular outer sleeve
(1, 25) is provided on either part which sleeve slidably locates said portions and
surrounds their mating interface (9, 11) when the connector parts (3, 10) are attached.
2. A waveguide connector as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said outwardly biassed waveguide
portion (12) is mounted on a male connector part (10) and the tubular outer sleeve
(1, 25) is incorporated in a mating female connector part (3).
3. A waveguide connector as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 wherein a groove surrounding the
inner surface of the waveguide is provided on one of the mating surfaces (9, 11) of
the connector.
4. A waveguide connector according to any preceding claim wherein the bodies of the
connector parts are relatively aligned by means of one or more dowel pins (30) projecting
from one body into a hole in the other.
5. A multiple bayonet connector incorporating a waveguide connector as claimed in
any preceding claim.
6. An arrangement comprising a waveguide connector as claimed in any of Claims 1 to
4, said arrangement further comprising guide means (23, 24) distinct from said connector
which in use slidably locate the connector parts (3, 10) and align them when said
parts are separated.
7. An arrangement according to Claim 6 wherein a rack (22, 23, 24) constitutes said
guide means and one of said waveguide connector parts is mounted on the rear of the
casing (21) of a rack-mountable piece of equipment and the other of said waveguide
connector parts is mounted at a corresponding position on the rack, so that the connector
parts can be mated by sliding the equipment into the rack and held in position by
frictional engagement between said piece of equipment and said rack.
1. Zweiteiliger, verschiebbar lösbarer Hohlleiterverbinder, der auf einem Teil (10)
mit einem ersten mittels einer Federeinrichtung (15) von diesem Teil weg vorgespannten
Hohlleiterabschnitt (12) und mit einem zweiten Hohlleiterabschnitt (4), der dazu ausgelegt
ist, mit dem ersten Hohleiterabschnitt zusammenzulaufen, auf dem anderen Teil (3)
versehen ist, wobei der erste Hohlleiterabschnitt zur gleitenden Verschiebung in der
axialen Richtung auf dem einen Teil angebracht ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß ein
rohrförmiger äußerer Führungskörper (1, 25) an einem Teil vorgesehen ist, welcher
Führungskörper diese Abschnitte verschiebbar eingrenzt und ihre Paßgrenzfläche (9,
11) umgibt, wenn die Verbinderteile (3, 10) gekuppelt sind.
2. Hohlleiterverbinder nach Anspruch 1, in welchem der nach außen vorgespannte Hohlleiterabschnitt
(12) an einem Einsteckverbinderteil (10) angebracht ist und der rohrförmige äußere
Führungskörper (1, 25) in ein passendes Aufnahmeverbinderteil (3) inkorporiert ist.
3. Hohlleiterverbinder nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, in welchem eine die Innenfläche des
Hohlleiters umlaufende Ausnehmung an einer der Paßflächen (9, 11) des Verbinders vorgesehen
ist.
4. Hohlleiterverbinder nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, in welchem die Körper
der Verbinderteile mittels eines oder mehrerer von einem Körper in ein Loch im anderen
Körper hineinragender Paßstifte (30) relativ zueinander ausgerichtet werden.
5. Mehrfachbajonettverbindungsvorrichtung, einschließend einen Hohlleiterverbinder
nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche.
6. Anordnung, umfassend einen Hohlleiterverbinder nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4,
welche Anordnung ferner vom Verbinder gesondert vorgesehene Führungseinrichtungen
(23, 24) aufweist, die im Gebrauch die Verbinderteile (3, 10) verschiebbar eingrenzen
und sie ausrichten, wenn diese Teile getrennt sind.
7. Anordnung nach Anspruch 6, in welcher ein Rahmengestell (22, 23, 24) die Führungseinrichtungen
bildet und eines der Hohlleiterverbinderteile auf der Rückseite des Gehäuses (21)
eines ins Rahmengestell einsetzbaren Gerätestücks angebracht ist und das andere der
Hohlleiterverbinderteile an einer entsprechenden Position am Rahmengestell angebracht
ist, so daß die Verbinderteile durch Schieben des Geräts in das Rahmengestell zusammenpaßbar
sind und durch Reibschlußeingriff zwischen dem Gerätestück und dem Rahmengestell in
Position gehalten werden.
1. Connecteur en deux parties pour guide d'ondes, séparables par coulissement, comprenant,
sur une première partie (10), un premier tronçon (12) de guide d'ondes écarté de ladite
partie par un dispositif à ressort (15) et, sur l'autre partie (3), un second tronçon
(4) de guide d'ondes destiné à coopérer avec le premier tronçon de guide d'ondes,
le premier tronçon de guide d'ondes étant monté afin qu'il puisse se déplacer par
coulissement dans la direction axiale sur la première partie, caractérisé en ce qu'un
manchon tubulaire externe (1, 25) est disposé sur l'une ou l'autre partie, ce manchon
positionnant par coulissement lesdits tronçons et entourant leur interface (9, 11)
de coopération lorsque les parties (3, 10) du connecteur sont fixées.
2. Connecteur pour guide d'ondes selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le tronçon
de guide d'ondes (12) qui est repoussé vers l'extérieur est monté sur une partie mâle
(10) de connecteur et le manchon tubulaire externe (1, 25) est incorporé à une partie
femelle coopérante (3) de connecteur.
3. Connecteur pour guide d'ondes selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel une gorge
entourant la surface interne du guide d'ondes est formée sur l'une des surfaces coopérantes
(9, 11) du connecteur.
4. Connecteur pour guide d'ondes selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
dans lequel les corps des parties de connecteur sont alignés mutuellement par un ou
plusieurs ergots de positionnement (30) dépassant d'un corps et pénétrant dans un
trou formé dans l'autre corps.
5. Connecteur à baïonnette multiple, comprenant un connecteur pour guide d'ondes selon
l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes.
6. Ensemble comprenant un connecteur pour guide d'ondes selon l'une quelconque des
revendications 1 à 4, comprenant en outre un dispositif (23, 24) de guidage distinct
du connecteur et qui, pendant l'utilisation, assure un positionnement par coulissement
des parties (3, 10) du connecteur et les aligne lorsque lesdites parties sont séparées.
7. Ensemble selon la revendication 6, dans lequel un bâti (22, 23, 24) constitue le
dispositif de guidage et l'une des parties du connecteur pour guide d'ondes est montée
à l'arrière du boïtier (21) d'un élément d'appareil destiné à être monté sur le bâti,
et l'autre des parties du connecteur pour guide d'ondes est montée en position correspondante
sur le bâti, si bien que les parties du connecteur peuvent être mises en coopération
par glissement de l'appareil dans le bâti et maintenues en position par coopération
par frottement entre l'appareil et le bâti.