Flexible high power radio frequency line with joint

Abstract

A tiltable radio frequency connector for a high power coaxial radio frequency line, comprising: a first outer conductor wherein a first inner conductor is centrally disposed in the first outer conductor; and a second outer conductor wherein the second inner conductor is centrally disposed in the second outer conductor. The first inner conductor includes a joint ball socket mechanically coupled to the joint ball of the second inner conductor and forming a ball socket connection. The first inner conductor further includes a central contact surface having the shape of a spherical section, the central contact surface being in contact with the central contact spring of the second inner conductor. Any one of the outer conductors has an outer conductor contact spring that is in contact with an outer conductor contact surface at the other outer conductor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a tiltable and / or rotatable joint for a high-power coaxial radio frequency line, and to a flexible high-power radio frequency line having the joint. Background Art

[0002] For connections between high-power RF devices, such as power transmitters, and loads, a certain degree of flexibility is sometimes required. EP 3300535A1 discloses a coaxial RF connector system for connecting cables. This connector system can couple relatively high RF powers, up to several kilowatts. For higher power levels, larger connectors and larger diameter cables are required. Such cables are relatively inflexible and require significant force to disconnect the connector and remove the cable or components attached to it. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a tiltable and / or rotatable joint for a high-power coaxial radio frequency line, and a radio frequency connection system that is capable of transmitting high-power radio frequency signals in the range of several kilowatts and above within a wide frequency range between DC and 3.5 GHz, but not limited to this range.

[0004] The solution to this problem is described in the independent claim. The dependent claims relate to further developments of the invention.

[0005] In an embodiment, a tiltable and / or rotatable RF connector for a high-power coaxial RF line includes a first outer conductor and a second outer conductor. The first inner conductor is centrally disposed within the first outer conductor and has a first central axis. The second inner conductor is centrally disposed within the second outer conductor and has a second central axis. If the tiltable RF connector is straight (untilted), the first and second central axes may be the same tiltable RF connector central axis. The first inner conductor has a ball socket that mechanically couples to a ball of the second inner conductor, thereby forming a ball-and-socket connection. The ball-and-socket connection may allow tilting or rotation about at least one axis or about two mutually orthogonal axes, relative to the central axis of at least one of the inner conductors. The first tilt may be in a plane passing through the central axis, while the second tilt may be orthogonal to the plane. In addition, rotation about the central axis may be permitted. The ball-and-socket connection may also allow limited axial movement. Any combination of tilting directions, rotation, and linear displacement may be permitted. This tiltable / rotatable RF connector may also be referred to as a ball joint. Herein, for simplicity reference is made to a tiltable joint, which means the tiltable, rotatable, displaceable joint described above.The ball socket may have a locking member which may hold the ball at the socket and / or limit axial movement.

[0006] Typically, the RF connector is configured relative to a central axis defined by the first inner conductor or the second inner conductor as at least one of the following:

[0007] - tilted in a plane passing through the central axis,

[0008] - tilted perpendicular to the plane passing through the central axis,

[0009] -rotation around a central axis,

[0010] - Extend or shorten the length of the RF connector along the central axis.

[0011] While the ball-and-socket connection can have a mechanical function, an electrical contact member is also provided for contacting the inner conductor. The first inner conductor can have a central contact surface, which further has the shape of a spherical segment, and the central contact surface contacts the central contact elastic member at the second inner conductor. The central contact elastic member can be a hollow body, which can also include a plurality of grooves. The central contact elastic member can have a hollow cylindrical shape or a hollow spherical shape, or a segment of a hollow cylindrical shape or a hollow spherical shape. The central contact elastic member can touch the central contact surface from the outside of the central contact surface. The central contact surface can be on the outside of the joint ball socket. The central contact surface can have the shape of a spherical segment, wherein the center point of the shape of the spherical segment is located at the center point of the joint ball. This provides a constant radius of the elastic member and therefore a constant elastic force during tilting.

[0012] In order to provide electrical contact between the outer conductors, the first outer conductor may have an outer conductor contact elastic member that contacts the outer conductor contact surface of the second outer conductor. This can also be reversed, so that the second outer conductor may have an outer conductor contact elastic member that contacts the outer conductor contact surface of the first outer conductor. The outer conductor contact elastic member may be a hollow body. The outer conductor contact elastic member may have a hollow cylindrical shape or a hollow spherical shape. The outer conductor contact elastic member may touch the outer conductor contact surface from the inside of the outer conductor contact surface. The outer conductor contact surface may have a hollow spherical shape or a section of a hollow spherical shape, and the center point of the hollow spherical shape or the section of the hollow spherical shape may be located at the center point of the joint ball. This provides a constant radius of the elastic member and therefore provides a constant elastic force during tilting.

[0013] To seal the tiltable RF connector and protect its interior from environmental influences, the outer conductors may overlap each other. The second outer conductor may have an outer support surface that may be in the shape of a spherical segment. This outer support surface may overlap the inner support surface of the first outer conductor. This order may also be reversed, such that the first outer conductor may have an outer support surface that may be in the shape of a spherical segment, and this outer support surface may overlap the inner support surface of the second outer conductor. This overlapping surface may also have the shape of a spherical segment. The outer support surface may have a convex shape, while the inner support surface may have a concave or convex surface.

[0014] To maintain the inner conductor in a central position within the outer conductor, at least one spacer may be provided between the inner conductor and the outer conductor of the inner conductor. A first spacer may be provided between the first inner conductor and the first outer conductor. Furthermore, a second spacer may be provided between the second inner conductor and the second outer conductor.

[0015] The tilt angle of the tiltable RF connector can be limited to a range of ±60° or less in any direction, such as ±45° or ±30°. The angle of rotation about the central axis need not be limited, but can be limited to 360° or less, 180° or less, or 90° or less. Linear displacement can be limited to 20 mm or less, 10 mm or less, or 5 mm or less. Linear displacement can also be limited to a value less than 1 mm. The diameter of the inner conductor can range from 5 mm to 500 mm, or from 10 mm to 50 mm. The diameter of the outer conductor can be 1 to 4 times larger than the diameter of the inner conductor.

[0016] The connector component may include a tiltable RF connector as described above. The connector component may also include an electrical contact member, such as an inner conductor contact portion, and / or a mechanical attachment member, and / or at least one elongated conductor segment. The electrical contact member may be, for example, an inner conductor contact portion, and the mechanical attachment member may be, for example, a connecting flange. The elongated conductor segment may include an outer conductor and an inner conductor. The inner conductor contact portion may be a pin or a socket. The inner conductor contact portion may include at least one elastic member.

[0017] In an embodiment, the connector component may comprise a plurality of tiltable RF connectors connected in series. This allows for a higher degree of mechanical flexibility. There may be 2, 3, 4 or more such tiltable RF connectors connected together.

[0018] In a specific embodiment, the connector component can include two tiltable RF connectors connected in series and mirroring each other, so that, for example, two second inner conductors can be connected together. This has the advantage that the connector balls of the two tiltable RF connectors can be retained by a common connector ball locking member, which simplifies assembly. Multiple such connector components can be connected together to further increase flexibility.

[0019] The RF connection system may include multiple connector components connected together. Furthermore, at least one of a straight conductor component, a curved conductor component, or a corner conductor component may be added. Such a conductor component may include an outer conductor and an inner conductor centrally disposed within the outer conductor. The corner conductor component, also known as an elbow, may have a 90° angle, but other angles, such as 60°, 45°, or any value in between, are also possible. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, without limiting the general inventive concept, by way of example.

[0021] Figure 1 A line section with a single tiltable radio frequency joint is shown.

[0022] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of a line section with a single tiltable RF joint is shown.

[0023] Figure 3 A line section with two double tiltable radio frequency joints is shown.

[0024] Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of a line section with two tiltable radio frequency joints is shown.

[0025] Figure 5 Shown Figure 4 An enlarged section.

[0026] Figure 6 A side view of the RF connection system is shown.

[0027] Figure 7 A cross-sectional view of a radio frequency connection system is shown.

[0028] Figure 8 A top view of the RF connection system is shown.

[0029] Figure 9 The contact spring of the second tiltable RF joint is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Figure 1An embodiment of a first joint component with a single ball joint is shown. The first joint component 100 includes a tiltable RF joint 101. The first joint component 100 has a first joint center axis 109 and a ball joint center 108 located on the first joint center axis 109. A first section, for example, including a first outer conductor 110, can be tilted relative to a second section, for example, including a second outer conductor 120. There can be a first tilt direction 106 that is orthogonal to the drawing plane, and a second tilt direction 107 that is in the drawing plane. In this context, tilting can be a rotational movement within a limited angle range. In addition, there can be a rotation 105 around the first joint center axis 109 and / or a linear displacement 104 along the first joint center axis 109. Any combination of tilt directions, rotations, and linear displacements can exist. Typically, each joint component in the joint components can have its own center axis. In the embodiment shown, the joint components form a straight line so that the two center axes are identical.

[0031] Figure 2 Shown Figure 1 Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a first connector component 100. The first section of the first connector component includes a first outer conductor 110 having an inner support surface 111 that can mechanically contact an outer support surface 121 of a second section, which includes a second outer conductor 120. This mechanical contact is not required, but can improve stability and help seal the internal components. The first section also includes an outer conductor contact spring 112 that makes electrical contact with an outer conductor surface 123 of the second section. This establishes a continuous electrical connection between the outer conductor of the first section and the outer conductor of the second section.

[0032] The first segment also includes a first inner conductor 140 having a first inner conductor contact portion 141 for externally contacting the joint segment. First inner conductor 140 also includes a joint ball socket 142 that mechanically contacts a joint ball 151 of the second segment, thereby forming a ball-and-socket connection that substantially allows for tilting between the segments. A central contact surface 143 on the first segment is contacted by a central contact spring 144 on the second segment. Joint ball 151 can be locked by a joint ball locking member 153, which can be a screw and allows for easy assembly and disassembly of the segments.

[0033] In the second section, the second inner conductor 160 having the second inner conductor contact portion 161 may be connected to the first joint ball 151 and the first center contact spring 144 , which may include a plurality of slots.

[0034] To maintain the inner conductor at a central position within the outer conductor, a first spacer 171 may be provided between the first inner conductor 140 and the first outer conductor 110. Furthermore, a second spacer 172 and a third spacer 173 may be provided between the second inner conductor 160 and the second outer conductor 120.

[0035] In order to mechanically mount and connect the outer conductor, a first connecting flange 119 may be provided on the first outer conductor 110 .

[0036] Figure 3 A circuit section with two dual-tilt RF connectors is shown. A second connector component 200 includes a first tiltable RF connector 201, a second tiltable RF connector 202, a third tiltable RF connector 203, and a fourth tiltable RF connector 204. Essentially, all of these tiltable RF connectors are configured similarly to the first tiltable RF connector 101 of the first component 100. The first and second tiltable RF connectors 201 and 202 form a first connector assembly 205. The third and fourth tiltable RF connectors 203 and 204 form a second connector assembly 206. Because the second connector assembly 206 is essentially identical to the first connector assembly 205, only the first connector assembly 205 will be described in detail herein. The second connector component 200 has a second connector center axis 209.

[0037] The second connector component is a double connector component that essentially includes two connectors arranged in a mirror image of the first connector component. For greater clarity, the various parts of the first connector are designated "A," while the various parts of the second connector (the mirror image) are designated "B." The second connector component includes a first inner conductor A 240, which further includes a first inner conductor A contact portion 241. A second connecting flange 219 may be provided for electrically and mechanically connecting the second connector component 200. To secure the inner conductors relative to the outer conductors, a first spacer 271 may be provided between the first inner conductor A 240 and the first outer conductor A 210. A second spacer 271 may be provided between the dual second inner conductor 250 and the dual second outer conductor 220. Furthermore, a third spacer 273 may be provided between the first inner conductor B 260 and the first outer conductor B 230.

[0038] More details are depicted in the enlarged view of the next figure.

[0039] Figure 5 Shown Figure 4An enlarged section of FIG. Details of the first and second tiltable RF joints 201 and 202 are shown here. The second tiltable RF joint 202 is essentially a mirror image of the first tiltable RF joint 201. The first outer conductor A 210 has an inner bearing surface A 211 that can contact an outer bearing surface A 221 of the dual second outer conductor 220. The outer conductor contact spring A 212 can make mechanical and electrical contact with the outer conductor contact surface A 223 of the dual second outer conductor 220. The first inner conductor A 240 can include a joint ball socket 242 that forms a ball-and-socket connection with a joint ball A 251, which is part of the dual inner conductor 250. This ball-and-socket connection primarily serves a mechanical function and defines a center of tilt or rotation. The ball socket can have an elongated shape so that the ball can also be displaced axially. The ball socket can have a locking member 245 that can retain the ball in the socket and / or limit axial movement. For electrical connection between the inner conductors, the first inner conductor A240 has a central contact surface A243, which can be in electrical and mechanical contact with the central contact elastic member A244.

[0040] In this embodiment, the second tiltable RF connector 202 is essentially a mirror image of the first tiltable RF connector 201. The second tiltable RF connector 202 includes a first outer conductor B 230, which forms an inner bearing surface B 231 that can mechanically contact the outer bearing surface B 222 of the dual second inner conductor 250. The second tiltable RF connector 202 also includes an outer conductor contact spring B 232 that can electrically and mechanically contact the outer contact surface B 224 of the dual second inner conductor 250. A ball-and-socket connection is defined by a ball socket B 262, which is part of the first inner conductor B 260, and a ball B 252, which is part of the dual second inner conductor B 250. The ball B 252 and the ball A 251 can be locked to the dual second inner conductor B 250 together by a second ball locking member 253. The central electrical contact is established by a central contact spring B 264 which is part of the dual second inner conductor 250 , which further contacts a central contact surface B 263 which is part of the first inner conductor B 260 .

[0041] Figure 6 A side view of an RF connection system is shown. The exemplary RF connection system 400 includes a first connector component 100 , a second connector component 200 , and a corner section 300 having a corner outer conductor 310 .

[0042] Figure 7 A top view of the RF connection system 400 is shown.

[0043] Figure 8 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the RF connection system 400. In this figure, the internal components can basically be seen. The details of the internal components have been described in the previous figures. Here, the corner inner conductor 320 of the corner section 300 is also shown.

[0044] exist Figure 9 , the contact springs of the second connector component 200 are shown in greater detail. The outer conductor contact spring A212 and the outer conductor contact spring B232 are part of the first connector assembly 205. These outer conductor contact springs A212 and B232 have outwardly directed spring elements configured to press against the outer conductor contact surfaces A223 and B224. Due to their outwardly extending shape, the outer conductor contact springs A212 and B232 can maintain electrical contact even when tilted. The center contact springs A244 and B264 are configured to contact the center contact surfaces A243 and B263. Instead of a single spacer, multiple spacers 272 or spacer segments can be arranged between the center contact springs A244 and B264 to maintain the dual second inner conductor 250 in a defined position within the dual second outer conductor 220.

[0045] Reference Signs List

[0046] 100 first joint component

[0047] 101 tiltable RF connector

[0048] 104 Linear movement direction

[0049] 105 Rotation direction

[0050] 106 Tilt direction perpendicular to the drawing plane

[0051] 107 is in the tilted direction in the drawing plane

[0052] 108 Ball Joint Center

[0053] 109 Center axis of the first joint

[0054] 110 first outer conductor

[0055] 111 Inner bearing surface

[0056] 112 Outer conductor contact elastic member

[0057] 119 First connecting flange

[0058] 120 second outer conductor

[0059] 121 External bearing surface

[0060] 123 Outer conductor contact surface

[0061] 140 first inner conductor

[0062] 141 first inner conductor contact portion

[0063] 142 joint ball socket

[0064] 143 center contact surface

[0065] 144 center contact elastic member

[0066] 151 Joint Ball

[0067] 153 Joint ball locking member

[0068] 160 Second inner conductor

[0069] 161 Second inner conductor contact portion

[0070] 171 first spacer

[0071] 172 Second spacer

[0072] 173 Third spacer

[0073] 200 Second connector component

[0074] 201 First tiltable RF connector

[0075] 202 Second tiltable RF connector

[0076] 203 Third tiltable RF connector

[0077] 204 Fourth tiltable RF connector

[0078] 205 first connector assembly

[0079] 206 Second connector assembly

[0080] 209 Second joint center axis

[0081] 210 first outer conductor A

[0082] 211 inner supporting surface A

[0083] 212 outer conductor contact elastic member A

[0084] 219 Second connecting flange

[0085] 220 double second outer conductor

[0086] 221 outer supporting surface A

[0087] 222 outer supporting surface B

[0088] 223 Outer conductor contact surface A

[0089] 224 outer conductor contact surface B

[0090] 230 first outer conductor B

[0091] 231 inner supporting surface B

[0092] 232 outer conductor contact elastic member B

[0093] 240 first inner conductor A

[0094] 241 first inner conductor contact portion

[0095] 242 joint ball socket A

[0096] 243 center contact surface A

[0097] 244 center contact elastic member A

[0098] 245 Locking member

[0099] 250 double second inner conductor

[0100] 251 Joint Ball A

[0101] 252 Joint Ball B

[0102] 253 joint ball locking member

[0103] 260 first inner conductor B

[0104] 262 joint ball socket B

[0105] 263 center contact surface B

[0106] 264 center contact elastic member B

[0107] 271 First spacer

[0108] 272 Second spacer

[0109] 273 Third spacer

[0110] 300 Corner Parts

[0111] 310 Corner outer conductor

[0112] 320 Corner inner conductor

[0113] 400 RF Connection System

Claims

1. A radio frequency connector (101), the radio frequency connector (101) being used for a high-power coaxial radio frequency line, comprising: a first outer conductor (110), wherein a first inner conductor (140) is centrally disposed within the first outer conductor (110), a second outer conductor (120), wherein a second inner conductor (160) is centrally disposed within the second outer conductor (120), The first inner conductor (140) includes a joint ball socket (142) that is mechanically coupled to a joint ball (151) of the second inner conductor (160) and forms a ball-and-socket connection. The first inner conductor (140) further comprises a central contact surface (143) having a shape of a spherical segment, The central contact surface (143) is also in contact with the central contact elastic member (144) of the second inner conductor (160). wherein the first outer conductor (110) has an outer conductor contact elastic member (112), and the outer conductor contact elastic member (112) contacts an outer conductor contact surface (123) at the second outer conductor (120), or The second outer conductor (120) has an outer conductor contact elastic member (112), and the outer conductor contact elastic member (112) contacts an outer conductor contact surface (123) at the first outer conductor (110).

2. The radio frequency connector (101) according to claim 1, characterized in that The second outer conductor (120) has an outer support surface that overlaps the inner support surface (111) of the first outer conductor (110).

3. The radio frequency connector (101) according to claim 1, characterized in that A first spacer (171) is provided between the first inner conductor (140) and the first outer conductor (110).

4. The radio frequency connector (101) according to claim 1, characterized in that A second spacer (172) is disposed between the second inner conductor (160) and the second outer conductor (120).

5. The radio frequency connector (101) according to claim 1, characterized in that The central contact surface (143) has the shape of a spherical segment, wherein the center point of the shape of the spherical segment is located at the center point of the joint ball (151).

6. The radio frequency connector (101) according to claim 1, characterized in that The outer conductor contact surface (123) has a hollow spherical shape or a section of a hollow spherical shape, and the center point of the hollow spherical shape or the section of the hollow spherical shape is located at the center point of the joint ball (151).

7. The radio frequency connector (101) according to claim 1, characterized in that The radio frequency connector is configured relative to a central axis (109) defined by the first inner conductor (140) or the second inner conductor (160) as at least one of the following: - inclined in a plane passing through said central axis (109), - inclined orthogonally to a plane passing through said central axis (109), - rotates around said central axis (109), - Extending or shortening the length of the radio frequency connector along the central axis (109).

8. A radio frequency connector (101) component comprising at least one tiltable radio frequency connector (101) according to claim 1, Also includes at least one of the following: Inner conductor contact portion (141, 161), connecting flange (119), and An elongated conductor section includes an outer conductor and an inner conductor.

9. The radio frequency connector (101) component according to claim 8, characterized in that: The two RF connectors are connected in series and mirror each other.

10. A radio frequency connection system comprising at least two radio frequency connector (101) components according to claim 8 connected together, and the radio frequency connection system further comprising: At least one straight conductor part, a bent conductor part or a corner conductor part further comprising an outer conductor and an inner conductor centrally disposed within the outer conductor.

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