Waveguide tube connection device and clamp for waveguide tube connection

{
  "publication_number": "US10811746B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Waveguide tube connection device and clamp for waveguide tube connection",
  "abstract": "A waveguide connecting apparatus including two waveguide connecting clamps each including a pair of clamp pieces positioned to oppose each other and sandwich outer peripheral portions of flanges positioned to oppose each other. A fastener pressing the pair of clamp pieces against the outer peripheral portions of the flanges. Each clamp piece includes two abutting members having first faces abutting against faces on the opposite side of faces that oppose each other of the flanges positioned to oppose each other. Second faces abutting against side faces of the waveguides, and third faces serving as tapered faces of the flanges, on the opposite side of the faces opposing each other. A pressing member with a substantially V-shaped cross section, having two inclined faces engaging with the respective third faces of the abutting members, and holding the two abutting members such that the two abutting members are respectively movable in the directions of inclination of the inclined faces with which the two abutting members respectively engage. The two waveguide connecting clamps are positioned such that directions in which the pairs of clamp pieces oppose each other intersect each other.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A waveguide connecting apparatus that connects a pair of waveguides that respectively have flanges at ends, such that the flanges oppose each other, the waveguide connecting apparatus comprising: two waveguide connecting clamps, each comprising: a pair of clamp pieces positioned so as to oppose each other and sandwich outer peripheral portions of the flanges that are positioned so as to oppose each other such that the pair of waveguides are in communication with each other; and a fastener that presses the pair of clamp pieces against the outer peripheral portions of the flanges, wherein each clamp piece of the pair of clamp pieces comprises: a pair of abutting members positioned so as to sandwich the flanges that are positioned so as to oppose each other, from faces that are on the opposite side of faces that oppose each other, the pair of abutting members respectively comprising: first faces that are to abut against the faces that are on the opposite side, second faces that are to abut against side faces of the waveguides, and third faces that are to serve as tapered faces of the flanges on the opposite side of the faces that oppose each other; and a pressing member with a substantially V-shaped cross section, comprising two inclined faces that engage with the respective third faces of the pair of abutting members, and holding the pair of abutting members such that the pair of abutting members are respectively movable in directions of inclination of the two inclined faces with which the pair of abutting members respectively engage, and the two waveguide connecting clamps are positioned such that directions in which the pairs of clamp pieces of the clamps oppose each other intersect each other.",
    "2. The waveguide connecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each inclined face of the two inclined faces of the pressing member has one or more penetrating grooves that extend in the direction of inclination of the inclined face, the third faces of the pair of abutting members are respectively provided with rod-shaped members that penetrate through the one or more penetrating grooves, the rod-shaped members are provided with anti-fall structures that are positioned on the opposite side relative to the pair of abutting members and prevent the rod-shaped members from falling off the one or more penetrating grooves, and the pair of abutting members of the pair of clamp pieces are held by the pressing member so as to be movable due to the one or more penetrating grooves and the rod-shaped members that have the anti-fall structures.",
    "3. The waveguide connecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each clamp piece of the pair of clamp pieces further comprises a biasing unit that biases the pair of abutting members outward of the pressing member.",
    "4. The waveguide connecting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a frame positioned so as to surround the flanges, wherein the fastener of each of the two waveguide connecting clamps has a screw that pushes out at least one of the pair of clamp pieces of the waveguide connecting clamp via the frame.",
    "5. The waveguide connecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the two waveguide connecting clamps are positioned such that directions in which the pairs of clamp pieces of the clamps oppose each other are substantially orthogonal to each other.",
    "6. The waveguide connecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of: the third faces of the abutting members; and the inclined faces of the pressing member, which engage with the third faces of the abutting members, are made of polytetrafluoroethylene.",
    "7. A waveguide connecting clamp for connecting a pair of waveguides that respectively have flanges at ends, such that the flanges oppose each other, the waveguide connecting clamp comprising: a pair of clamp pieces positioned so as to oppose each other and sandwich outer peripheral portions of the flanges that are positioned so as to oppose each other such that the pair of waveguides are in communication with each other; and a fastener that presses the pair of clamp pieces against the outer peripheral portions of the flanges, wherein each clamp piece of the pair of clamp pieces comprises: a pair of abutting members positioned so as to sandwich the flanges that are positioned so as to oppose each other, from faces that are on the opposite side of faces that oppose each other, the pair of abutting members respectively comprising: first faces that are to abut against the faces that are on the opposite side, second faces that are to abut against side faces of the waveguides, and third faces that are to serve as tapered faces of the flanges on the opposite side of the faces that oppose each other; and a pressing member with a substantially V-shaped cross section, comprising two inclined faces that engage with the respective third faces of the pair of abutting members, and holding the pair of abutting members such that the pair of abutting members are respectively movable in directions of inclination of the two inclined faces with which the pair of abutting members respectively engage."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to an apparatus that connects waveguides, and so on.\n\nAs conventional technology, there is a known waveguide connecting apparatus that connects waveguides that are to be connected to each other, by forming flanges at ends of the waveguides, and positioning the flanges so as to overlap each other. The wave guide connecting apparatus includes a coupling clamp that includes: a clamp piece that has a V-shaped cross section, and engages with tapered faces that are provided on the opposite side of mating faces of the flanges; and a fastening unit that presses the clamp piece against the tapered faces (for example, see JP H10-135701A (Page 1, FIG. 1, etc.)).\n\nHowever, according to the above-described conventional technology, there is the problem of poor workability when waveguides are to be connected.\n\nFor example, the faces on the opposite side of the mating faces of the flanges of typical waveguides are flat faces that are orthogonal to the waveguides, and therefore, in order to apply the above-described conventional technology to typical waveguides, it is necessary to separately position a tapered-face forming member or the like for providing tapered faces on the opposite side of the mating faces of the flanges, which requires additional work to be performed to place the tapered-face forming member or the like, and increases the number of parts used for connection. Thus, there is the problem of poor workability.",
  "cpc": [
    "H01P 1/042",
    "F16B 2/065",
    "F16B 2200/509",
    "F16L 23/032",
    "F16L 23/036",
    "F16L 23/14",
    "H01P 1/04",
    "H01P 3/12"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "F16L 23/032",
    "H01P 1/04",
    "H01P 3/12"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Microwave Chemical Co Ltd"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Akinori Ishizuka",
    "Hisao Watanabe"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2017-07-25",
  "publication_date": "2020-10-20",
  "grant_date": "2020-10-20",
  "priority_date": "2016-08-05",
  "application_number": "US-201716322066-A",
  "family_id": "57800133",
  "cited_by_count": 1,
  "citations": [
    "US2738207A",
    "US3390901A",
    "JPS5582802U",
    "US4313625A",
    "US4864260A",
    "JPH0385901A",
    "JPH10135701A",
    "US7134651B1",
    "JP2010021923A"
  ]
}