Technical Field

The present invention relates to a waveguide.

Background Art

As is known, a waveguide is a linear structure made of metallic or dielectric material, adapted to convey and confine electromagnetic waves inside a path comprised between their respective ends, thus allowing a guided propagation.

In detail, the waveguide consists of a medium for transmitting a signal on a communication channel.

The waveguides of known type do have a confinement space provided with an inlet port and with an outlet port of the micro wave stream and with a microwave generator device arranged in the proximity of the inlet port itself.

The microwave stream generated by the respective generator device propagates inside the confinement space and flows out in the surrounding environment through the outlet port.

Microwave propagation through the outlet port has numerous management issues depending on the environment outside the confinement space.

In fact, if the environment outside the confinement space consists of a fluid, such as e.g. a liquid, it is necessary to provide for the interposition of separating devices that affect the directional efficiency of the waveguide.

In addition, if a liquid medium is placed at the point where the outlet port is located, it is necessary to prevent the liquid medium from flowing inside the confinement space, which greatly complicates the construction and the structure of the waveguide.

Description of the Invention

The main aim of the present invention is to devise a waveguide for microwaves which allows ensuring microwave propagation efficiency with a liquid medium surrounding the confinement space and bordering the outlet port.

Within this aim, one object of the present invention is to devise a waveguide which allows the isolation of the confinement space from the external environment, yet ensuring the electromagnetic communication with the same. Another object of the present invention is to devise a waveguide which allows overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art within a simple, rational, easy, effective to use and low cost solution.

The objects set out above are achieved by the present waveguide for microwaves having the characteristics of claim 1.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more evident from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a waveguide for microwaves, illustrated by way of an indicative, yet non-limiting example, in the accompanying tables of drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an axonometric view of the waveguide according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the waveguide according to the invention.

Embodiments of the Invention

With particular reference to these figures, reference numeral 1 globally indicates a waveguide.

In particular, the aforementioned waveguide 1 is employable for the transmission of a microwave stream in a liquid medium.

The waveguide 1 comprises a confinement space 2 of a microwave stream and a microwave generator device 3 associated with the confinement space 2.

The confinement space 2 comprises an inlet port 4 of the microwave stream and an outlet port 5 of the microwave stream.

The inlet port 4 has a circular shape.

As can be seen in the figures, the confinement space 2 comprises a lateral wall 6 provided with four faces 7, 8, 9, 10 parallel and opposite each other in twos and a back wall 11 arranged orthogonally to the lateral wall 6.

Advantageously, the confinement space 2 has a quadrangular cross-sectional shape.

With reference to the particular embodiment shown in the figures, the confinement space 2 has a rectangular cross-sectional shape.

It cannot however be ruled out from the scope of the present disclosure that the confinement space 2 has a circular cross section. It cannot also be ruled out that the confinement space 2 has an elliptical cross section.

In detail, the lateral wall 6 comprises an upper face 7, a lower face 8, a first lateral face 9 and a second lateral face 10.

At the same time, the generator device 3 is associated above with the confinement space 2 at the inlet port 4.

As can be seen in the figures, the inlet port 4 is made on one of the faces 7, 8, 9, 10 in the proximity of the back wall 11.

In detail, with reference to the position of use shown in the figures, the inlet port 4 is made on the upper face 7.

In addition, the generator device 3 comprises at least one magnetron 12.

By way of example, the magnetron 12 consists of a chamber with a circular cross-section surrounded by lobes, in which a vacuum has been obtained, the structure of which constitutes the anode, with zero electrical potential.

At the centre a wire kept glowing is placed, the cathode, and at a negative, constant or pulsed, very high electrical potential with respect to the anode.

In the standard direction to the electric field, formed between the cathode and anode, a magnetic field produced by a permanent magnet is kept.

The cathode is coated with a material suitable for emitting electrons.

The electrons emitted by thermionic effect from the filament tend to move towards the walls of the chamber, kept at zero potential, which correspond to the anode, positive with respect to the cathode.

The presence of the magnetic field however causes a curvature in their trajectory due to the Lorentz force, leading them to follow a cycloid path, i.e. a point belonging to a circumference moving along a straight line, i.e. from the inlet port 4 to the outlet port 5.

Preferably, the magnetron 12 is associated with the upper face 7 in the proximity of the back wall 11.

It cannot however be ruled out from the scope of the present disclosure that the magnetron 12 is associated with the lower face 8.

The possibility cannot also be ruled out that the magnetron 12 is associated with one of the lateral faces 9, 10.

The magnetron 12 abuts against the inlet port 4.

In detail, a supporting ring 17 is interposed between the magnetron 12 and the inlet port 4 adapted to keep the magnetron 12 inserted at least partly in the inlet port itself.

The supporting ring 17 has a circular conformation mating the conformation of the inlet port 4.

In detail, the supporting ring 17 is peripherally associated with the inlet port 4. Additionally, the generator device 3 comprises a containment enclosure for the containment of the magnetron 12 configured to allow the ventilation of the magnetron itself, ensuring cooling thereof.

The latter is further provided by the ventilation means of the type of fans internally associated with the containment enclosure 3.

In addition, the waveguide 1 comprises sealing means 13 associated with the outlet port 5 and adapted to isolate the confinement space 2 from the external environment and to allow the passage of the microwave stream from the confinement space 2 to the external environment.

The sealing means 13 comprise at least one gasket element 14 having a conformation mating the outlet port 5.

This means that, as visible in the figures, the outlet port 5 has a rectangular conformation and, in turn, the gasket element 14 has a rectangular conformation.

The fact that the gasket element 14 has the same conformation as the outlet port 5 allows the airtight isolation of the confinement space 2 from the external environment, preventing the fluids present therein from flowing.

In this way, when the gasket element 14 is associated with the outlet port 5, the latter is homogeneously covered by the gasket element itself.

The gasket element 14 is made at least partly of PTFE.

In other words, the gasket element 14 is made of foil, and the constituent material thereof allows the microwave stream to pass through, thus allowing the electromagnetic communication with the external environment. For this purpose, the confinement space 2 comprises a supporting flange 15 associated with the outlet port 5 and wherein the gasket element 14 is associated with the supporting flange 15.

In detail, the waveguide 1 comprises at least two supporting flanges 15, wherein the gasket element 14 is interposed between the supporting flanges themselves. The supporting flanges 15 are peripherally associated with the outlet port 5.

The gasket element 14 is associated with one of the supporting flanges 15 by interposition of a layer of adhesive material.

Alternatively, the gasket element 14 is associated with one of the supporting flanges 15 by sealing using an O-ring.

Additionally and/or alternatively, the gasket element 14 is associated with one of the supporting flanges 15 comprising a plurality of through holes 16, each of which being intended to house a connecting element in order to keep the supporting flanges themselves tightened together.

Alternatively, the presence cannot be ruled out of blind bolts which are welded onto one of the flanges 15 with the relevant tightening nuts bolted onto the opposite flange 15.

When the gasket element 14 is interposed between the flanges 15, in order to ensure sealing thereof, an O-ring is further provided.

In order to allow the homogeneous adhesion of the outlet port 5, the flange element 15 may be welded to the lateral wall of the system with which the operation of the waveguide 1 is associated at a respective associating opening. The operation of the present invention is as follows.

The microwave stream generated by the magnetron 12 propagates inside the confinement space 2 passing through the inlet port 4.

The microwave stream propagating inside the confinement space 2 flows out of the outlet port 5 through the gasket element 14 and diffuses into the surrounding environment.

It has in practice been ascertained that the described invention achieves the intended objects.

In particular, the fact is emphasized that the particular expedient of providing a gasket element associated with the outlet port allows isolating in an airtight manner the confinement space from the external environment, thus ensuring the electromagnetic communication thereof with the latter and the propagation efficiency with the external environment.