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US3821670A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Waveguide alignment and quick disconnect coupler

Assignee: Raytheon Co
•
Filing: 1973-07-11
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Granted: 1974-06-28
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Expires: 1993-07-11
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Abstract

Abstract A universal type waveguide flange aligning and quick-release assembly for coupling and decoupling abutting waveguide flanges rapidly and for providing a substantially loss free connection. The coupler which is useful for either square, substantially square or round flanges includes a first cylindrical portion having an inner flat shoulder surface or counter bored face and a threaded annular ring axially surrounding the inner shoulder surface. A plurality of dowel pins are slideably mounted in the shoulder surface in positions corresponding to the waveguide flange holes. The first cylindrical portion has an internal axial opening greater than the diameter of the shoulder structure of the waveguide flange for its attachment to the waveguide. A second cylindrical portion of the coupler includes an internal flat shoulder surface or counter bored face and an annular ring axially surrounding the inner shoulder surface and having threads thereon for engaging the threads of the first portion. The second portion also has an internal axial opening greater than the diameter of the flange supporting structure. In some arrangements of the invention, a slot having sides parallel to the diameter of the cylindrical structures is provided in both cylindrical portions to allow a waveguide to pass through to the internal axial opening. The invention herein described was made in the course of or under a contract or subcontract thereunder with the Navy.

Inventors

  • 👤 R Thompson

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 11:06
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01P; H01P1/00; H01P1/04; H01P1/042

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 184 words
A coupler device for coupling first and second waveguides each having a flange with a selected number of holes therethrough, and each flange having a mounting shoulder associated therewith, said coupler device comprising: first and second annular frame portions each having an axial opening which is larger than the cross-section of the said flange mounting shoulders, and a shoulder extending outward from said inner circular opening and adapted for engaging the flanges of the waveguides; a threaded ring portion on each of said first and second frame portions, said ring portions being threadably engagable for moving the shoulders of the two frame portions axially relative to each other; and a plurality of dowel pins positioned in the shoulder of said first frame portion so as to be adapted for passing through the holes in said flanges, and said dowel pins being slideably mounted in said first frame portion so as to allow the pins to be forced further into said first frame portion upon contact of said pins with the shoulder of said second frame portion during the threadable engagement of said frame portions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 184 words
A coupler device for coupling first and second waveguides each having a flange with a selected number of holes therethrough, and each flange having a mounting shoulder associated therewith, said coupler device comprising: first and second annular frame portions each having an axial opening which is larger than the cross-section of the said flange mounting shoulders, and a shoulder extending outward from said inner circular opening and adapted for engaging the flanges of the waveguides; a threaded ring portion on each of said first and second frame portions, said ring portions being threadably engagable for moving the shoulders of the two frame portions axially relative to each other; and a plurality of dowel pins positioned in the shoulder of said first frame portion so as to be adapted for passing through the holes in said flanges, and said dowel pins being slideably mounted in said first frame portion so as to allow the pins to be forced further into said first frame portion upon contact of said pins with the shoulder of said second frame portion during the threadable engagement of said frame portions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 40 words
The coupler device of claim 1 in which said first and second frame portions each have a circumferential slot formed therein, with the length of said slot being at least equal to the smallest external cross-sectional dimension of said waveguides.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 257 words
A waveguide coupling assembly for coupling first and second waveguides each having a flange with a selected number of holes therethrough, and each flange having a mounting shoulder associated therewith, said coupling assembly comprising: a first cylindrical portion having an inner circular opening with a diameter greater than the largest external dimension of said mounting shoulders, an annular shoulder surface extending outward from said inner circular opening and adapted for engaging the flange of one of said waveguides, a ring structure positioned at the outer circumference of said shoulder surface and having an external thread thereon; a second cylindrical portion having an inner circular opening with a diameter greater than the largest external dimension of said mounting shoulders, an annular shoulder surface extending outward from said inner circular opening, and adapted for engaging the flange of the other of said waveguides, and a ring structure positioned at the outer circumference of said shoulder surface and having an internal thread adapted for engagement with the threads of the ring structure of said first portion; and a plurality of dowel pins positioned in the shoulder of said first cylindrical portion and extending axially so as to be adapted for passing through the holes in said waveguide flanges, and with said dowel pins being slideably mounted in said first cylindrical portion so as to allow the pins to be forced further into said first cylindrical portion upon contact of said pins with the shoulder of said second cylindrical portion during the threadable engagement of said first and second cylindrical portions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 257 words
A waveguide coupling assembly for coupling first and second waveguides each having a flange with a selected number of holes therethrough, and each flange having a mounting shoulder associated therewith, said coupling assembly comprising: a first cylindrical portion having an inner circular opening with a diameter greater than the largest external dimension of said mounting shoulders, an annular shoulder surface extending outward from said inner circular opening and adapted for engaging the flange of one of said waveguides, a ring structure positioned at the outer circumference of said shoulder surface and having an external thread thereon; a second cylindrical portion having an inner circular opening with a diameter greater than the largest external dimension of said mounting shoulders, an annular shoulder surface extending outward from said inner circular opening, and adapted for engaging the flange of the other of said waveguides, and a ring structure positioned at the outer circumference of said shoulder surface and having an internal thread adapted for engagement with the threads of the ring structure of said first portion; and a plurality of dowel pins positioned in the shoulder of said first cylindrical portion and extending axially so as to be adapted for passing through the holes in said waveguide flanges, and with said dowel pins being slideably mounted in said first cylindrical portion so as to allow the pins to be forced further into said first cylindrical portion upon contact of said pins with the shoulder of said second cylindrical portion during the threadable engagement of said first and second cylindrical portions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 61 words
The waveguide coupling assembly of claim 3 wherein said shoulder structure and said ring structure of said first and second portions each have a circumferential slot formed therein of a length equal to at least the smallest external dimension of said waveguides, so that said first and second portions may be positioned with the corresponding circular openings partially enclosing said waveguides.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 28 words
The waveguide coupling assembly of claim 4 including wrench flats positioned axially on said first and second cylindrical portions at the ends opposite from said annular shoulder surfaces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 185 words
A waveguide coupler for coupling first and second waveguides each having a flange with a plurality of holes therethrough, and each flange having a mounting structure, said waveguide coupler comprising: first and second cup portions each having an axial circular opening with a diameter greater than the largest cross-sectional dimension of said mounting structures and smaller than the largest cross-sectional dimension of said flanges, and a counter bored surface surrounded by an annular ring having threads thereon, said rings being threadably engagable for moving the counter bored surfaces of the two cup portions axially relative to each other; and a plurality of dowels mounted in the counter bored surface of said first cup portion and extending axially so as to be adapted for passing through the holes in said flanges, and with said dowel pins being slideably mounted in said first cup portion so as to allow the pins to be forced further into the counter bored surface of said portion upon contact of said pins with the counter bored surface of said second cup portion during the threadable engagement of said two cup portions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 185 words
A waveguide coupler for coupling first and second waveguides each having a flange with a plurality of holes therethrough, and each flange having a mounting structure, said waveguide coupler comprising: first and second cup portions each having an axial circular opening with a diameter greater than the largest cross-sectional dimension of said mounting structures and smaller than the largest cross-sectional dimension of said flanges, and a counter bored surface surrounded by an annular ring having threads thereon, said rings being threadably engagable for moving the counter bored surfaces of the two cup portions axially relative to each other; and a plurality of dowels mounted in the counter bored surface of said first cup portion and extending axially so as to be adapted for passing through the holes in said flanges, and with said dowel pins being slideably mounted in said first cup portion so as to allow the pins to be forced further into the counter bored surface of said portion upon contact of said pins with the counter bored surface of said second cup portion during the threadable engagement of said two cup portions.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

No citation records indexed.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1977-06-27 1977-12-27 1978-06-28 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1981-06-27 1981-12-27 1982-06-28 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1985-06-27 1985-12-27 1986-06-28 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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