Coaxial 2-of-n relay transfer switch having reed contacts

Claim 1

A coaxial 2-of-n relay transfer switch arrangement, where n is an integer comprising first and second coaxial input lines and n coaxial output lines each including an inner conductor and an outer conductor, first and second groups of reed switches, each group including n reed switches arranged generally in the shape of a star with said reed switches forming the edges of a pyramid, each of said reed switches including reed contacts, a first reed terminal connected in common with the like terminals in the same group to form two first branching points, one for each of said groups, each first branching point connected to an inner conductor of a respective input line, and a second reed terminal which is connected to a like terminal from the other group to form n second branching points, each of said second branching points connected to said inner conductor of a respective output line, a plurality of non-magnetic metallic tubes, each of said tubes housing a respective reed switch, a pair of metallic heads, each of said heads enclosing a respective first branching point and connected to an outer conductor of a respective input line and serving with that branching point as a respective coaxial input, the ends of said metallic tubes adjacent a second branching point electrically connected to said outer conductor of a respective output line and serving with the respective branching point as a coaxial output, said metallic tube and metallic heads electrically connected and including interior constructions which electrically add inductance between said input line inner conductors and said first branching points and between said first branching points and the respective reed contacts in each group.