Remotely operated microwave attenuator having automatic plug-in connectors for coupling to step attenuators on multiposition turret

Claim 1

REMOTELY OPERATED MICROWAVE APPARATUS COMPRISING A STEP ATTENUATOR HAVING TWO COAXIAL TYPE TERMINALS DISPLACEABLE TO EFFECT INDIVIDUAL END TO END ENGAGEMENT AND DISENGAGEMENT WITH ATTENUATOR PADS OF THE STEP ATTENUATOR, AND TERMINALS BEING ALIGNED IN A PREDETERMINED AXIAL POSITION FOR SELECTIVE COACTION WITH THE ATTENUATOR PADS, A FIRST ELECTRIC DRIVE UNIT HAVING A SHAFT COUPLED TO SAID TERMINALS INCLUDING LINKAGE MEANS TO AXIALLY SEPARATE AND DISENGAGE SAID TERMINALS FROM THE ATTENUATOR PADS THROUGH OPERATION OF SAID FIRST DRIVE UNIT, A SECOND ELECTRIC DRIVE UNIT ARRANGED TO ROTATE SAID STEP ATTENUATOR WHEN SAID TERMINALS ARE DISENGAGED FROM THE ATTENUATOR PADS, AND SELECTION MEANS INCLUDING CIRCUIT CONNECTIONS TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND DRIVE UNITS FOR EFFECTING THE AXIAL SEPARATION AND DISENGAGEMENT OF SAID TERMINALS FROM AN ATTENUATOR PAD ENGAGED THEREWITH AND THEREUPON SELECTIVELY ROTATING THE ATTENUATOR PADS TO A DESIRED POSITION AND SPRING MEANS FOR AXIALLY ENGAGING SAID TERMINALS END TO END WITH THE SELECTED ATTENUATOR PAD.