Combined electromagnetic waveguide and mode filter

Claim 2

A substantially rigid, composite electro-magnetic waveguide component of circular cross-section comprising an inner tubular layer of insulating material; at least one waveguide comprising a continuous circumferential electrically conductive coating extending over a part of the length of the outer surface of the tubular layer; a mode filter constituted by a plurality of mutually spaced, circumferentially continuous, electrically conductive rings or at least one electrically conductive helix with closely spaced turns, extending over the remaining part of the outer surface of the tubular layer; and a reinforcing body of electrically insulating material which surrounds, and extends beyond at least one end of, the component formed by the waveguide or waveguides and mode filter and renders the component substantially rigid, the or each projecting end of the reinforcing body being shaped to form a socket with a substantially smooth internal surface in which an end of a waveguide or of another waveguide component can make a spigot and socket joint.

Claim 3

A composite waveguide component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reinforcing body projects beyond one end of the component to form a socket and the mode filter is located at the other end of the component.

Claim 4

A composite waveguide component as claimed in claim 1, wherein a single mode filter is located between the ends of the component.

Claim 5

A composite waveguide component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reinforcing body projects beyond both ends of the component and each projecting end of the reinforcing body is shaped to form a socket.

Claim 6

A composite waveguide component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the waveguide or waveguides extends or extend over a major part of the length of the component.

Claim 7

A composite waveguide component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reinforcing body comprises a plurality of layers of resin bonded glass fibre.

Claim 8

A composite waveguide component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mode filter is surrounded by at least one layer of lossy material.

Claim 9

A composite waveguide component as claimed in claim 1, having an outer conductive screen.

Claim 10

A composite waveguide component as claimed in claim 8, wherein the outer conductive screen comprises a thin steel jacket.

Claim 11

A composite waveguide component as claimed in claim 8, wherein the outer conductive screen comprises a braided wire sleeve.

Claim 12

A transmission path built up of a plurality of substantially rigid electro-magnetic waveguide components of circular cross-section connected end-to-end, each Of which waveguide components comprises an inner tubular layer of insulating material, at least one waveguide comprising a continuous circumferential electrically conductive coating extending over a part of the length of the outer surface of the tubular layer, a mode filter constituted by a plurality of mutually spaced, circumferentially continuous electrically conductive rings or at least one electrically conductive helix with closely spaced turns, extending over the remaining part of the outer surface of the tubular layer, and a reinforcing body of electrically insulating material which surrounds, and extends beyond one end of, a component formed by the waveguide or waveguides and mode filter and renders the component substantially rigid, the projecting end of the reinforcing body of each waveguide component being shaped to form a socket with a substantially smooth internal surface, in which the other end of an adjacent waveguide component makes a spigot and socket joint.

Claim 13

A transmission path built up of a plurality of substantially rigid electro-magnetic waveguide components of circular cross-section connected end-to-end, each Of which waveguide components comprises an inner tubular layer of insulating material, at least one waveguide comprising a continuous circumferential electrically conductive coating extending over a part of the length of the outer surface of the tubular layer, a mode filter constituted by a plurality of mutually spaced, circumferentially continuous electrically conductive rings or at least one electrically conductive helix with closely spaced turns, extending over the remaining part of the outer surface of the tubular layer, and a reinforcing body of electrically insulating material which surrounds, and extends beyond one end of, a component formed by the waveguide or waveguides and mode filter and renders the component substantially rigid, the projecting end of the reinforcing body of each waveguide component being shaped to form a socket with a substantially smooth internal surface, in which the other end of an adjacent waveguide component makes a spigot and socket joint.

Claim 14

A transmission path built up of a plurality of substantially rigid electro-magnetic waveguides of circular cross-section interconnected by a plurality of substantially rigid composite electro-magnetic waveguide components of circular cross-section, each of which waveguide components comprises an inner tubular layer of insulating material, at least one waveguide comprising a continuous circumferential electrically conductive coating extending over a part of the length of the outer surface of the tubular layer, a mode filter constituted by a plurality of mutually spaced, circumferentially continuous, electrically conductive rings or at least one electrically conductive helix with closely spaced turns, extending over the remaining part of the outer surface of the tubular layer, and a reinforcing body of electrically insulating material which surrounds, and extends beyond both ends of, the component formed by the waveguide or waveguides and mode filter and renders the component substantially rigid, the projecting ends of the reinforcing body each being shaped to form a socket with a substantially smooth internal surface in which an end of an adjacent waveguide makes a spigot and socket joint.

Claim 15

A transmission path built up of a plurality of substantially rigid electro-magnetic waveguides of circular cross-section interconnected by a plurality of substantially rigid composite electro-magnetic waveguide components of circular cross-section, each of which waveguide components comprises an inner tubular layer of insulating material, at least one waveguide comprising a continuous circumferential electrically conductive coating extending over a part of the length of the outer surface of the tubular layer, a mode filter constituted by a plurality of mutually spaced, circumferentially continuous, electrically conductive rings or at least one electrically conductive helix with closely spaced turns, extending over the remaining part of the outer surface of the tubular layer, and a reinforcing body of electrically insulating material which surrounds, and extends beyond both ends of, the component formed by the waveguide or waveguides and mode filter and renders the component substantially rigid, the projecting ends of the reinforcing body each being shaped to form a socket with a substantially smooth internal surface in which an end of an adjacent waveguide makes a spigot and socket joint.