Multiway waveguide switch

March 29, 1966

D. A. HOSMAN

MULTIWAY WAVEGUIDE SWITCH

Filed June 3, 1964

3,243,733

<img file="US3243733A_D0001.tif" />

FIG. 4

<img file="US3243733A_D0002.tif" />

FIG. 5

<img file="US3243733A_D0003.tif" />

<img file="US3243733A_D0004.tif" />

FIG. 3

<img file="US3243733A_D0005.tif" />

FIG. I

<img file="US3243733A_D0006.tif" />

FIG. 2

Donald A. Hosman INVENTOR.

by eJL^JL J. Rdi#T.

3,243,733

Patented Mar. 29, 1966

United States Patent Office

243 733

MULTIWAY WAVEGUIDE SWITCH

Donald A. Hosman, Hampton, N.H., assignor, by mesne assignments, to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army ⁵

Filed June 3,1964, Ser. No. 372,430

Claims. (Cl. 333—7)

This invention relates to a waveguide switch for connecting any one of a multiplicity of inputs to an output and at the same time provide for attenuation of each of the remaining inputs with a matched load.

In the waveguide art, a need has arisen for a waveguide switch which is capable of connecting any one of three or more inputs to an output and at the same time provide load means to attenuate the signals at the inputs that are not being used.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a waveguide switch that has three inputs, one output, and means for connecting any one of the inputs to the output as desired.

Another object of this invention is to provide load means in a rotary member of a waveguide switch to attenuate the signals at the inputs that are not being used.

A further object of this invention is to provide a compact waveguide switch having a novel configuration which achieves a high degree of isolation and prevents undesirable signal leakage in the desired transmission path.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a three way waveguide switch.

In accordance with this invention, a new waveguide switch is provided that includes a housing which has a cylindrical chamber with a plurality of input ports and a single output port opening into said chamber. A cylindrical rotary member is mounted in the chamber of the housing, and a plurality of channels in the cylindrical member connect the desired input port to the output port while loads mounted in the cylindrical member attenuate the signals at the input ports not in use to prevent undesirable signal leakage into the channel which connects said desired input port to the output port.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the same:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view illustrating an actuator arrangement for the rotary control member of a waveguide switch,

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2—2 of FIGURE 1 and partially cut away,

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of a waveguide switch according to the invention with the rotary control member being illustrated in a first position,

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 3, but illustrating the rotary control member in a second position, and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view similar to FIGURES 3 and 4, but illustrating the rotary control member in a third position.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, numeral 1 designates a waveguide switch that includes a housing 3 and a cylindrical rotary control member 5. Housing 3 has three input ports 7, 9 and 11 which open into a cylindrical chamber 13 in housing 3. An output port 15 also opens into a cylindrical chamber 13, and rotary control member 5 is rotatably mounted in cylindrical chamber 13.

Rotary control member 5 has a straight through passage or channel 17 for connecting input port 9 with output port 15, and a curved passage or channel 19 for connecting either of input ports 7 and 11 to output port 15. Four load or attenuating members 21,23,25, and 27 are mount2 ed in rotary control member 5 and are so positioned in the rotary control member as to cover the input ports not connected by the appropriate channel. With good quality fabrication techniques, isolation of greater than 60 db between input ports can be expected.

By using loads made of iron loaded epoxy, the VSWR in the terminated inputs should be less than 1.05 over a 2.5% band and less than 1.12 over a 15% band.

A handle 29 is connected to a stem portion 31 of the rotary control member in a conventional manner, and indicating numerals 33 on the housing and pointer 35 on the handle indicate which input is connected with the output. Adjustable limit stops 37 may be provided to limit the arc of rotation of the rotary control member and to ac15 curately align channel 17 with input port 9 and output port 15.

In operation, handle 29 is rotated to the position desired to connect the desired input port with the output port, and the two signals at the remaining two input ports are 20 attenuated by the load means in the rotary control member as illustrated in FIGURES 3, 4, and 5.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example only, and that various changes in the size, shape 25 and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.