Refrigerated coaxial coupling

Claim 2

Microwave processing apparatus comprising: walls defining a housing; amplifying means disposed in said housing; a waveguide extending to said housing, said waveguide having walls with a hole; a coaxial line extending from said amplifier means to said waveguide at said hole thereof; a refrigerator coupled to said coaxial line to cool it; said coaxial line including a tubular outer coaxial conductor electrically coupled to the walls of said waveguide, and an inner coaxial conductor with an inner end coupled to said amplifier means and an outer end projecting through said hole in said waveguide; and a cover of dielectric material disposed in said waveguide over said outer end of said central conductor and sealing the outer end of coaxial line around said hole; the space between said central and outer conductors being evacuated to form a vacuum, and said refrigerator being thermally coupled to said inner end of said coaxial conductor.

Claim 3

The apparatus described in claim 1 wherein: said inner conductor of said coaxial line is constructed of a substantially solid rod of highly heat-conductive material having a heat conductivity at least as great as that of copper, whereby to conduct heat from the outer end of the inner coaxial conductor to the refrigerator so that even the outer end of the conductor is maintained at a low temperature.

Claim 4

The apparatus described in claim 1 wherein: said inner coaxial conductor is supported at only said inner end thereof.

Claim 5

The apparatus described in claim 1 wherein: the inside of said housing is evacuated, said cover is sealingly attached to said waveguide to form a vacuum seal around the end of said inner coaxial conductor, said waveguide is connected to said housing by fasteners that can be readily removed and attached in the field, and including an elastomeric sealing washer (82) disposed between said waveguide and housing to form a vacuum seal between them.

Claim 6

Microwave processing apparatus comprising: a waveguide; a vacuum housing; at least one radiation shield within said housing for minimizing heat transfer by radiation; a coaxial line having an inner end within said radiation shield and an outer end outside said shield, said line having a central coaxial conductor extending through said housing and the wall of said waveguide into said waveguide, said coaxial line also having a continuous outer coaxial conductor surrounding said central coaxial conductor; a dielectric cover disposed within said waveguide over the outer end of said central coaxial conductor; means forming a vacuum between said cover and said outer coaxial conductor, to maintain a vacuum in said coaxial line; a maser within said radiation shield; means for coupling the inner end of said coaxial line to said maser; and refrigerator means having a first stage heat station coupled to said radiAtion shield and having a final stage heat station which maintains a temperature less than said first stage coupled to said inner end of said coaxial line at a location within said radiation shield.

Claim 7

Microwave processing apparatus comprising: a waveguide; a vacuum housing; at least one radiation shield within said housing for minimizing heat transfer by radiation; a coaxial line having an inner end within said radiation shield and an outer end outside said shield, said line having a central coaxial conductor extending through said housing and the wall of said waveguide into said waveguide, said coaxial line also having a continuous outer coaxial conductor surrounding said central coaxial conductor; a dielectric cover disposed within said waveguide over the outer end of said central coaxial conductor; means forming a vacuum between said cover and said outer coaxial conductor, to maintain a vacuum in said coaxial line; a maser within said radiation shield; means for coupling the inner end of said coaxial line to said maser; and refrigerator means having a first stage heat station coupled to said radiAtion shield and having a final stage heat station which maintains a temperature less than said first stage coupled to said inner end of said coaxial line at a location within said radiation shield.

Claim 8

The apparatus described in claim 5 wherein: said central coaxial conductor is constructed of a solid rod of material at least about as heat-conductive as copper, and said central coaxial conductor is supported only at its inner end by the outer coaxial conductor.

Claim 9

The apparatus described in claim 5 wherein: said outer coaxial conductor is firmly supported on said waveguide, and including flexible straps of heat conductive material coupling locations along said outer coaxial conductor to said heat stations of said refrigerator means.