Twin sealing chamber hub
View Patent ↗Devices and methods for cooling microwave antennae and microwave hub construction are disclosed herein. The cooling system and hub can be utilized with a variety of microwave antenna types. A microwave hub is utilized to provide cooling fluids to a microwave antenna. The hub is constructed using no glue or adhesive for holding the different parts of the chambers in place. O-rings provide an increased reliability and consistency for fluid-tight seals in the hub. The various parts of the hub are form fitted and work together with the o-rings.
1. A microwave assembly, comprising:
a hub, the hub comprising a proximal end, a distal end, an input port and an output port;
a first insert, the first insert having a center hole;
a second insert; the second insert having a center hole, and an end portion;
a first lumen path and a second lumen path concentrically oriented respective to each other and wherein the first lumen path is connected to the center hole of the first insert and the second lumen path is connected to the center hole of the second insert;
a handle, the handle functionally connected to a probe;
a first chamber defined by the first insert; and
a second chamber defined by the first insert and the second insert,
wherein the first insert is inserted into the proximal end of the hub, the proximal end of the hub being adapted to receive the first insert, the second insert is inserted into the distal end of the hub, the hub adapted to receive the second insert, the first lumen path and the second lumen path extend through the center hole of the second insert and through the distal end of the hub, and the handle is inserted into the proximal end of the hub in abutting engagement with the first insert.
2. The microwave assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hub further comprises an interior surface, and further comprising:
a first o-ring adapted to fit around the first insert creates a seal against the interior surface;
a second o-ring adapted to fit around the handle creates a seal against the interior surface; and
a third o-ring adapted to fit around the second insert creates a seal against the interior surface.
3. The microwave assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first chamber is between the first and second o-rings and the second chamber is between the first and third o-rings, wherein the first chamber is in fluid communication with the input port and the second chamber is in fluid communication with the output port.
4. The microwave assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second insert is attached to the distal end of the hub.
5. The microwave assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hub comprises a stop in the interior surface and the first insert abuts the stop.
6. The microwave assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hub comprises a stop in the interior surface and the first insert abuts the stop, and the interior surface circumferentially decreases from the proximal end to a predetermined location toward a center point of the hub and ceases to decrease circumferentially before the stop; and wherein the interior surface circumferentially decreases from the distal end to a predetermined location toward the center point of the hub and ceases to decrease circumferentially.
7. The microwave assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hub comprises a stop in the interior surface and the first insert abuts the stop, the interior surface circumferentially decreases from the proximal end to a predetermined location toward a center point of the hub and ceases to decrease circumferentially before the stop; and wherein the interior surface circumferentially decreases from the distal end to a predetermined location toward the center point of the hub and ceases to decrease circumferentially, and the hub further comprises an extension adapted to extend laterally away from the center of the hub and to engage the handle to disallow incorrect insertion of the handle into the proximal end of the hub.