Waveguide assembly for coupling a waveguide to an apparatus using a waveguide adapter assembly

Abstract

A waveguide adapter assembly for coupling a waveguide to an apparatus comprises a waveguide adapter having an adapter body, having a first end, a second end and a cavity therein. The cavity has a first opening in the first end for receiving an end portion of a waveguide and a second opening in the second end for communicating with a corresponding opening in the apparatus. The second end has a face around the second opening for mating with a corresponding surface of the apparatus. A flange assembly has a first end and a second end for connecting to the apparatus, with a bore therethrough for receiving the waveguide adaptor. In a further arrangement, the adapter assembly comprises an adapter body for receiving an end portion of a waveguide and for connecting to the apparatus; and means for biasing the adapter body into contact with a mating surface of the apparatus.

Claims

1. A waveguide assembly for coupling a waveguide to an apparatus, the assembly comprising: a waveguide; a waveguide adapter assembly, the adapter assembly comprising: an adapter body receiving an end portion of the waveguide, the adapter body being formed from an electrically conductive material, the adapter body having a first end and a second end, the adapter body further having a cavity therein, the cavity having a first opening in the first end for receiving the end portion of the waveguide and a second opening in the second end for communicating with a corresponding opening in the apparatus, the second end having a mating face around the second opening for mating with a corresponding surface of the apparatus; wherein the end portion of the waveguide is attached to the adapter body; and a flange assembly having a first end, and a second end for connecting to the apparatus, the flange assembly having a bore therethrough; wherein the adapter body is received in the bore in the flange assembly at the second end of the flange assembly and the waveguide is received in the bore in the flange assembly; wherein the flange assembly is formed from an electrically non-conductive material.

2. The waveguide adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the flange assembly comprises an outer surface, the outer surface of the flange assembly comprising one or more openings, recesses or protrusions at the first end of the flange assembly.

3. The waveguide adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the adaptor body extends through the flange assembly from the first end thereof to the second end thereof.

4. The waveguide adapter assembly according to claim 3, wherein the adaptor body is provided with a flange at the first end thereof in contact with the first end of the flange assembly.

5. The waveguide adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bore through the flange assembly has a portion at the second end of the flange assembly having an increased cross-sectional dimension.

6. The waveguide adapter assembly according to claim 5, wherein the bore in flange assembly comprises a shoulder formed by the said portion.

7. The waveguide adapter assembly according to claim 5, wherein the adaptor body extends partially through the bore in the flange assembly from the second end of the flange assembly within the portion of increased cross-sectional dimension.

8. The waveguide adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cavity in the adapter body is provided with a flange against which the end portion of the waveguide can abut.

9. The waveguide adapter assembly according to claim 8, wherein the flange is provided at the opening in the second end of the adapter body.

10. The waveguide adapter assembly according to claim 9, wherein the flange extends wholly around the circumference of the second opening in the second end of the adapter body.

11. The waveguide adapter assembly according to claim 9, wherein the flange is flush with the mating face of the second end of the adapter body.

12. The waveguide adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the flange assembly is provided with means to form an interference connection with a sleeve cast around the flange assembly.

13. The waveguide adapter assembly according to claim 12, wherein said means to form an interference connection with a sleeve cast around the flange assembly comprises a protrusion extending from the first end of the flange assembly.

14. The waveguide adapter assembly according to claim 13, wherein the protrusion is provided with one or more openings therein.

15. The waveguide adapter assembly according to claim 14, wherein the flange assembly comprises an outer surface, and wherein the outer surface of the flange assembly is provided with an opening therein, the adapter body comprising an opening aligning with the opening in the flange assembly.

16. The waveguide adapter assembly according to claim 13, wherein the protrusion comprises a ring extending from the first end of the flange assembly.

17. The waveguide adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the adapter body is of a metal alloy.

18. The waveguide assembly according to claim 1, the flange assembly comprises an outer surface and the waveguide comprises an outer surface, the assembly further comprising a flexible sleeve extending over at least a portion of the outer surface of the waveguide and a portion of the outer surface of the flange assembly.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a waveguide assembly comprising a waveguide adapter assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 1 in a first assembled condition;

(4) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 2 in a second assembled condition;

(5) FIG. 4 is a an exploded perspective view of a waveguide assembly comprising a waveguide adapter assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

(6) FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 3 in a first assembled condition; and

(7) FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 5 in a second assembly condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(8) Like features in different drawing figures are denoted by the same reference label and may not be described at every instance in the drawing figures.

(9) Referring to FIG. 1, a waveguide assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown, generally indicated as 2. The waveguide assembly 2 comprises a waveguide adapter assembly, generally indicated as 4, and a waveguide 6 of known configuration. The waveguide adapter assembly 4 comprises a flange assembly 8 and an adapter 10.

(10) The flange assembly 8 has a first end 12 for receiving the waveguide 6 and a second end 14 for connecting with an apparatus. The flange assembly 8 is of a moulded plastic material, in particular NYLON (an aliphatic or semi-aromatic polyamide).

(11) The flange assembly 8 comprises a flange body 16 having a generally rectangular bore 18 extending longitudinally therethrough. A generally rectangular flange 20 is provided at the second end 14 of the flange assembly. The flange 20 is provided with bores 22 therethrough for receiving bolts (not shown for clarity) for connecting the flange 20 to the apparatus.

(12) A cylindrical ring 24 extends from flange body 16 at the first end 12 of the flange assembly and is provided with rectangular openings 26 therein.

(13) Turning to the adapter 10, the adapter has a first end 28 and a second end 30. The adapter 10 further has an adapter body 32 having a cavity 34 therein having a first opening 36 in the first end 28, as shown in FIG. 2, and a second opening 38 in the second end 30, as shown in FIG. 2. The cavity 34 is generally rectangular in cross-section. A waveguide retaining flange 40 extends into the cavity within the adapter body from the second end 30. A flange 42 extends outwards from the adapter body 32 at the first end 28.

(14) The adapter 10 is preferably formed from brass. Other suitable materials include aluminium, copper, and non-conductive materials, such as a polymer, coated in a layer of an electrically conductive material.

(15) The components of the waveguide assembly 2 are assembled as shown in FIG. 2, that is with the end portion of the waveguide 6 extending through the first opening 36 and received within the cavity 34 of the adapter body 32. The end of the waveguide 6 is soldered to the waveguide retaining flange 40. The adapter 10 is received in the bore 18 in the body 16 of the flange assembly 8 with the flange 42 at the first end 28 of the adapter 10 against the first end 12 of the flange assembly 8.

(16) As shown in FIG. 3, a flexible sleeve 50 is formed from silicone rubber and is cast about the outer surface of the waveguide 6 and the cylindrical ring 24 of the flange assembly. The sleeve material extends through the openings 26 in the ring 24 and forms an interference connection with the flange assembly 8.

(17) Turning to FIGS. 4 to 6, there is shown a second embodiment of a waveguide assembly according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, the waveguide assembly, generally indicated as 102, comprises a waveguide adapter assembly, generally indicated as 104, and a waveguide 106 of the same known configuration as shown in FIG. 1. The waveguide adapter assembly 104 comprises a flange assembly 108 and an adapter 110.

(18) The flange assembly 108 has a first end 112 for receiving the waveguide 106 and a second end 114 for connecting with an apparatus. The flange assembly 108 is of a molded plastic material, in particular NYLON (an aliphatic or semi-aromatic polyamide).

(19) The flange assembly 108 comprises a flange body 116 having a generally rectangular bore 118 extending longitudinally therethrough. A generally rectangular flange 120 is provided at the second end 114 of the flange assembly. The flange 120 is provided with bores 122 therethrough for receiving bolts (not shown for clarity) for connecting the flange 120 to the apparatus.

(20) Referring to FIG. 5, the bore 118 is provided with a first portion 118a extending from the first end 112 of the flange assembly and a second portion 118b extending from the second end 114 of the flange assembly 108. The first bore portion 118a has a cross-sectional area less than that of the second bore portion 118b, thereby forming a shoulder 119 within the bore, visible in FIG. 4.

(21) A cylindrical ring 124 extends from flange body 116 at the first end 112 of the flange assembly and is provided with rectangular openings 126 therein.

(22) Turning to the adapter 110, the adapter has a first end 128 and a second end 130. The adapter 110 further has an adapter body 132 having a cavity 134 therein having a first opening 136 in the first end 128 and a second opening 138 in the second end 130. The cavity 134 is generally rectangular in cross-section. A waveguide retaining flange 140 extends into the cavity within the adapter body from the second end 130.

(23) The adapter body 132 has a first end portion 132a and is elastically deformable. When assembled, the first end portion 132a abuts the shoulder 119 (FIG. 4) in the bore 118 in the flange assembly, as shown in FIG. 5. In use, the action of securing the flange 120 to the apparatus forces the first end portion 132a of the adapter body 132 against the shoulder 119, deforming the adapter body. The elastic properties of the adapter body 132 urge the second end 130 into better contact with the corresponding surface of the apparatus.

(24) The adapter 110 is preferably formed from brass. Other suitable materials include aluminium, copper, and non-conductive materials, such as a polymer, coated in a layer of an electrically conductive material.

(25) The components of the waveguide assembly 102 are assembled as shown in FIG. 5, that is with the end portion of the waveguide 106 extending through the first opening 136 and received within the cavity 134 of the adapter body 132. The end of the waveguide 106 is soldered to the waveguide retaining flange 140. The adapter 110 is received in the second bore portion 118b in the body 116 of the flange assembly 108 with its first end 128 abutting the shoulder 119 within the bore 118.

(26) As shown in FIG. 6, a flexible sleeve 150 is preferably formed from silicone rubber, or another synthetic rubber, such as neoprene, and is cast about the outer surface of the waveguide 106 and the cylindrical ring 124 of the flange assembly. The sleeve material extends through the openings 126 in the ring 124 and forms an interference connection with the flange assembly 108.