Waveguide Connection Structure with Stub Grooves for Leakage Suppression
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Waveguides made of metal often have manufacturing tolerances that lead to gaps when connected, causing radio wave leakage, especially when fasteners are not used due to stress restrictions.
Innovation Solution
A waveguide connecting structure with stub grooves on the receiving waveguide that are positioned to create nodes for the oscillating electric field, reducing leakage by aligning electric fields to suppress radiation through gaps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If waveguides are connected using flanges with fasteners to eliminate gaps, then radio wave leakage is reduced, but stress is applied to the flanges and manufacturing tolerances still cause gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary structure (the connecting piece with protruding portion) that mediates between the first and second waveguides. This intermediary absorbs misalignment due to manufacturing tolerances and provides a stable connection surface, eliminating the need for fasteners and stress on the waveguide flanges while maintaining gap-free connection for radio wave containment
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting piece with its protruding portion acts as a sacrificial or disposable element that compensates for manufacturing tolerances. Rather than requiring precise, expensive waveguide fabrication, the design uses a simple connecting structure that absorbs the tolerance variations, making the overall system more cost-effective and reliable
2Strength
If waveguides are connected without fasteners to avoid stress on flanges, then flange integrity is maintained, but gaps occur due to manufacturing tolerances causing radio wave leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting piece serves as a mediator that provides the necessary mechanical alignment and gap elimination without requiring fasteners. The protruding portion of the connecting piece fits into the recess of the adjacent waveguide, creating a precise mechanical interface that maintains both flange integrity and radio wave containment without stress concentration
3Reliability
If manufacturing tolerances are reduced to eliminate gaps, then radio wave leakage is suppressed, but production cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the waveguide connection system into separate components: the first waveguide, the connecting piece with protruding portion, and the second waveguide. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured with standard tolerances, while the assembly of these segments creates the precise, gap-free connection needed for radio wave containment, eliminating the need for high-precision monolithic waveguide fabrication
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively suppresses radio wave leakage and maintains waveguide performance by aligning electric fields to nodes, allowing for stress-free connections and accommodating manufacturing tolerances.
Implementation Method 1
a first end opening to the receiving end face and a second end closing inside the receiving waveguide. An electric length of each of the stub groove in the conduit axial direction from the first end to the second end is 1/2 of a conduit wavelength of the stub groove.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A waveguide connecting structure includes an inserting waveguide (1) having an inserting conduit line (10) and a flange (11) extending outwardly in a conduit radial-direction (RD), and a receiving waveguide (2) having a receiving conduit line (20), a receiving structure (21) into which the inserting waveguide (1) is inserted, and stub grooves (22) disposed on both sides of the receiving conduit line (20) outwardly in the direction (RD). The receiving structure (21) has a receiving end face (210) extending in the radial direction (RD) and opposing to a flange end face (12), and an annular receiving inner-circumferential surface (210) disposed outward of the flange (11) and extending in a conduit axial-direction (AD). An electric length (EL1) of each stub groove (22) in the axial direction (AD) from an opening first end (22a) to a closing second end (22b) is 1/2 of a conduit wavelength (λg) of the stub groove (22).