System for connecting waveguides
View Patent ↗A connecting system can couple two waveguides to one another, wherein each of the waveguides comprises a flange or a protruding rim. When the waveguides are connected together, the flanges can face one another in an adjoining arrangement. The connecting system can comprise two members, each having a groove, recess, or slot that receives a circumferential area of the adjoining flanges. The two members can be disposed on opposite lateral sides of the waveguides with each groove embracing a peripheral area of the adjoining flanges. A fastener or another apparatus can bring the two members towards one another, thereby causing the flanges to move deeper into the grooves. That is, the two members can clamp around opposing sides of the flanges. In response to the flanges moving deeper into the grooves, the sidewalls of the grooves can compress the flanges together to attach the waveguides to one another.
1. An apparatus, for connecting a first waveguide having a first flange to a second waveguide having a second flange, comprising:
a first member comprising a first groove that embraces first circumferential portions of the first flange and the second flange; and
a second member, comprising a second groove that embraces second circumferential portions of the first flange and the second flange, mechanically coupled to the first member via a fastener having a thread axis disposed at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the first waveguide, wherein the angle is an obtuse angle.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the fastener is operative to urge the first member towards the second member in response to rotation about the thread axis; and
the first groove and the second groove are operative to urge the first flange towards the second flange in response to the fastener urging the first member towards the second member.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fastener comprises a bolt.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a second fastener disposed through a first hole in the first member and a second hole in the second member.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fastener comprises a screw.
6. An apparatus, for connecting a first waveguide having a first flange to a second waveguide having a second flange, comprising:
a first member comprising a first groove that embraces first circumferential portions of the first flange and the second flange; and
a second member, comprising a second groove that embraces second circumferential portions of the first flange and the second flange, mechanically coupled to the first member via a fastener having a thread axis disposed at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the first waveguide,
wherein the apparatus is further for connecting a third waveguide having a third flange to a fourth waveguide having a fourth flange,
wherein the first member further comprises a third groove that embraces third circumferential portions of the third flange and the fourth flange, and
wherein the second member further comprises a fourth groove that embraces fourth circumferential portions of the third flange and the fourth flange.
7. A system for connecting a first section of waveguide, comprising a first protruding rim at a first end, to a second section of waveguide, comprising a second protruding rim at a second end, the system comprising:
a first member, comprising a first channel for receiving a first periphery area of the first and the second protruding rims from a first lateral side of the first section of waveguide;
a second member, comprising a second channel for receiving a second periphery area of the first and the second protruding rims from a second lateral side of the first section of waveguide; and
a mechanism, connecting the first member to the second member, operative to decrease lateral separation between the first member and the second member, wherein the first channel and the second channel are operative to apply compression force between the first protruding rim and the second protruding rim in response to the decrease in lateral separation,
wherein the mechanism comprises a fastener, wherein the first section of waveguide has a longitudinal axis, wherein the fastener has an axis of rotation, and wherein the axis of rotation is oriented at an obtuse angle with respect to the longitudinal axis.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the mechanism comprises a screw disposed through a hole in at least one of the first member and the second member.
9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the first channel comprises a first groove and wherein the second channel comprises a second groove.
10. A system for connecting a first section of waveguide, comprising a first protruding rim at a first end, to a second section of waveguide, comprising a second protruding rim at a second end, the system comprising:
a first member, comprising a first channel for receiving a first periphery area of the first and the second protruding rims from a first lateral side of the first section of waveguide;
a second member, comprising a second channel for receiving a second periphery area of the first and the second protruding rims from a second lateral side of the first section of waveguide; and
a mechanism, connecting the first member to the second member, operative to decrease lateral separation between the first member and the second member, wherein the first channel and the second channel are operative to apply compression force between the first protruding rim and the second protruding rim in response to the decrease in lateral separation,
wherein:
the first member further comprises a third channel, adjacent the first channel, for receiving a first portion of a third protruding rim of a third section of waveguide;
the second member further comprises a fourth channel, adjacent the second channel, for receiving a second portion of a fourth protruding rim of a fourth section of waveguide; and
wherein the system is operative to connect the third section of waveguide to the fourth section of waveguide.