Additively fabricated electrical transmission line, and manufacturing method

Abstract

An additively fabricated electrical transmission line is formed as a single, unified, continuous, monolithic additively fabricated material part and includes an outer housing defining a cavity inside, a conductive stripline passing through this cavity, and a stub in the cavity electrically coupling the outer housing to the stripline. The stripline may be a flat stripline. The stub may be angled with respect to the stripline, which facilitates surface treatment within the housing (e.g., polishing to reduce surface roughness), which may be part of the manufacturing method of the electrical transmission line. The electrical transmission line may be part of an electrical installation comprising a plurality of such electrical transmission lines, which may have various shapes, including curved shapes, to establish desired electrical connections between components.

Claims

1. An outer housing that defines the cavity inside, A conductive strip line passing through the cavity, The outer housing comprises a stub in the cavity that electrically connects to the conductive stripline, The outer housing, the conductive stripline, and the stub are all components of a single, unified, continuous, monolithic additively fabricated transmission line. Electrical transmission line.

2. The electrical transmission line according to claim 1, wherein the stub is angled to form an acute angle with respect to the direction in which the conductive stripline extends.

3. The electrical transmission line according to claim 1, wherein the conductive stripline is flat.

4. The electrical transmission line according to claim 1, wherein the conductive stripline has a rectangular cross-section.

5. The electrical transmission line according to claim 4, wherein the transmission line end of the conductive stripline has a circular cross-section, and a transition region is provided between the rectangular cross-section and the transmission line end.

6. The conductive stripline has transmission line ends at both ends of the conductive stripline, The electrical transmission line according to claim 1, wherein the outer housing narrows around the end of the transmission line, defining a constricted passage that fluidly communicates with the cavity.

7. The electrical transmission line according to claim 1, wherein the stub is at an angle of 30 to 60 degrees with respect to the conductive stripline.

8. The electrical transmission line according to claim 1, wherein the stub is at an angle of 40 to 50 degrees with respect to the conductive stripline.

9. The electrical transmission line according to claim 1, wherein the stub extends from both opposite ends of the conductive stripline.

10. The electrical transmission line according to claim 9, wherein the stubs are arranged in the longitudinal direction along the conductive stripline such that their opposite sides are alternately offset from each other.

11. The electrical transmission line according to claim 1, wherein the stub has convex, opposing streamlined surfaces that facilitate the flow through the stub.

12. The electrical transmission line according to claim 1, wherein the air in the cavity functions as a dielectric around the conductive stripline.

13. The electrical transmission line according to claim 1, wherein the electrical transmission line is non-linear.

14. An electrical installation between a pair of devices, The device comprises an electrical conductor that connects one conductor of the device to the other conductor of the device, and each of the electrical conductors is An outer housing that defines the cavity inside, A conductive strip line passing through the cavity, The outer housing comprises a stub in the cavity that electrically connects to the conductive stripline, The outer housing, the conductive stripline, and the stub are all components of a single, unified, continuous, monolithic, additively fabricated transmission line. At least a portion of the aforementioned electrical conductor is a non-linear electrical conductor. Electrical equipment.

15. A method for manufacturing an electrical transmission line, The method involves laminating an electrical conductor as an integrally molded product, wherein the electrical conductor is An outer housing that defines the cavity inside, A conductive strip line passing through the cavity, The outer housing includes a stub that electrically connects to the conductive stripline, The aforementioned lamination formation, To reduce surface roughness, the inner surfaces of the outer housing, the conductive stripline, and the stub are treated, method.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the lamination formation includes powder bed molding.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the lamination formation includes laser powder bed fabrication.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the lamination formation includes forming the electrical conductor in the longitudinal direction.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein the process includes polishing the inner surface.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the abrasive flow machining includes reciprocating a fluid containing an abrasive material within the cavity.

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