US2958052A

US2958052A - Coaxial line switch apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2958052A
Application number: US627049A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carl W Concelman
Original assignee: Amphenol Borg Electronics Corp
Current assignee: Amphenol Borg Electronics Corp
Priority date: 1956-12-07
Filing date: 1956-12-07
Publication date: 1960-10-25
Anticipated expiration: 1977-10-25

Description

Oct. 25, 1960 c. wfcoNcr-:LMAN 2,958,052

COAXIAL LINE SWITCH APPARATUS Filed Dec. 7, 1956 TIEN' INVENTOR Cdr! M4 Conce/man BY 1%.@ ATTORNEY United States Patent Q.

coAxIAL LINE SWITCH APPARATUS Carl W. Concelman, Danbury, Conn., assiguor to Amphenol-Borg Electronics Corporation, Broadview, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 7, 1956, ser. No. 627,049

7 claims. (ci. ssa- 7) This invention relates to electrical switch relays, and more particularly, to switch relays adapted to connect independently and selectively a rst high frequency coaxial transmission line to a plurality of high frequency coaxial transmission lines.

The improvements herein are concerned with electrical switches of the type disclosed in the oo-pending application Serial No. 543,785, entitled Electrical Switch, and` now U.S. Patent 2,859,311, and, in particular, the inventions of the instant application are directed to provide improved cross-talk switch characteristics over wide band provide a coaxial transmission line relay switch in which positive conductive connections are realized by movable switching arms adapted to connect yor isolate selectively and individually any one of a number of such coaxial lines in respect to a particular one of such lines.

- It is still a further object of the instant invention to provide a coaxial transmission line relay switch that is economical to fabricate and simple to use for individually and selectively connecting and isolating any one of a number of such coaxial lines in respect to a particular one of such lines and adapted to provide improved crosstalk, broad band operation.

It is still a furtherlobject of the instant invention to provide a coaxial line relay switch that provides a double makev and break of the contacting members with a resultant increase in power handling ability as compared with prior artrelay switches that provide only a single frequency operation. As used herein, cross-talk means' A.

picking up a signal in the inactive transmission line circuit which may be open, grounded or resistor terminated as a result of a relatively imperfect isolation ofsuch inactive line from the active circuit. p

It is, therefore, the main object of the instant invention to provide electrical switch relay apparatus providing means for interconnecting individually and selectively a first coaxial transmission line to any one of a plurality of coaxial transmission lines and affording improved, broad band operation with better cross-talk characteristics thanl heretofore achieved.

It is a further object of the instant invention to provide coaxial transmission line relay switch apparatus in which a first of such transmission lines may be individually and selectively connected to any one of a number of such lines and wherein the inactive transmission lines of the plurality are substantially completely shielded from the. remainder of the relay circuit and under substantially perfect electrical isolating conditions.

It is a further object of the instant invention to provide coaxial transmission line relay switch apparatus in which a rst of such transmission lines may be individually and selectively connected to a plurality of such lines by rotatable `switching arms suspended within the relay chamber; by orienting the larms aslant certain of said plurality of `lines are electrically, individually and selectively shielded from the remainder of the relay circuit. The apparatus contemplates the further advantage in that the arms may be actuated by independent actuators to provide electrical connection or disconnection of any one of the plurality of lines in respect to the rst line regardless of the disposition of the remainder of said plurality of lines.

It is a further object of the instant invention to provide coaxial transmission line relay switch yapparatus in which a iirst of such transmission lines may be individually and selectively connected to a plurality of such lines by movable switching arms, suspended in the relay chamber, which arms are translated through planes substantially parallel to certain of the chamber walls to etfect electrical connection and isolation. The apparatus contemplates a further advantage in that the arms may be activated by It is still a further object ofv theuin'stant invention to 'A make and break of contact members.

.'It Vvis still a further object of the instant invention to provide a coaxial line relay switch wherein substantially all of the force of the actuating solenoid or other actuating mechanism is applied directly to the contacting members-with a resultant increase in contact pressure and reliability, which force is not used to deect elastic deilectable members through a nominal distance before actual electrical contact is made as in the prior art structure. Other objects andadvantages will become -apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the figures, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, in section and taken along line 1--1 of Fig. 2, of a switch incorporating certain of the vimprovements lof the invention;

l Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section and taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section and taken along line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

, Fig. 4 is ,an elevational view, in section, of a switch employing certain modifications and incorporating certain of the improvements lof the invention.

Referring now to the figures, an electrical switch 10 is constructed in accordance with the principles of the instant invention. Switch 10 has a longitudinally extending chamber 11 defined in part by upper and

lower conductingwalls

12, 13 in the interior of a metallic iswitch support member 14. In many respects, chamber support 14 is similar to the support shown in the embodiments of my co-pending application. Chamber 11 is completed by plane

conductive side surfaces

15, 16. Switch 10 may be constructed of any suitable material, such as brass which then may be silver plated. In crosssection, chamber 11 substantially uniform and square. cross-section provides mechanical convenience in manufacture.

Three coaxial line connectors are made up of

outer conductors

17, 18, 19 conductively yconnected at the inner ends thereof to a chamber wall 16 and respective inner conductors Z0, 21, 22. The connectors provide individual connection to coaxial transmission lines (not shown). For the purpose of description, the end connectors will be designated as input connectors and the center connector as the output connector. The pair of input connectors communicate with the cavity at the op- .posite ends of chamber 11.

Inner conductors

20, 21, 22 are suspended within respective

outer conductors

17, 18,.,19 by suitable dielectric material 23. The terminating inner ends of

inner conductors

20, 21, 22 extend 'into chamber 11 and are provided with opposed facesxthat may be rounded or iiat. The connectors are disposed along spaced apart relative parallel axes extending normal to the longitudinal axis of chamber 11. The output connector is disposed approximately midway between the input connectors.

arms

24, 25, preferably of resilient material, such as beryllium copper are suspended in chamber 11 from turnable dielectric members, such as

shafts

26, 27. Shafts 26, 27 extend through openings in `one ofthe side walls 15' of chamber support 14.

Shafts

26,27 are disposed substantially midway between adjacentvconnectors and extend along respective axes substantially parallel to the axes of such connectors. Two

rotatableactuators

28, 29, or one suitable actuator, may be mounted by bolts 31 on the external side of a wall of switch support 14, such as wall 15', to impart rotatable action selectively and independently to

respective shafts

26, 27 and thereby turning the

arms

24, 25 carried thereon. Wall 15' is held to the main part of support 14 by threaded bolts 32.

Arms

24, 25 are shaped and disposed in charnber 11 to connect conductively either one of input inner conductors 20, 22 selectively and individually to output inner conductor 21. Conductive connection is effected at

contact points

30, 31 at the opposite ends of

arms

24, 25. In particular, contact points 30 of arm 24 are adapted to connect with lower and upper at terminating ends of

inner conductors

20, 21, respectively. Arm 25 is provided with similar contact points 31 adapted to conductively connect lower and upper at terminating ends of inner conductors 21, 22, respectively.

Arms

24, 25 are relatively thin in cross-section. In width, the horizontal dimension in Fig. 3,

arms

24, 25 are proportioned and disposed with respect to the chamber walls to provide an impedance match with the connectors and associated lines. Therefore, it will be understood that the parameters of chamber 11 and

arms

24, 25 are proportioned to provide an approximate impedance match with the connectors and associated transmission lines. In the plane of chamber surface 15, the inner diameter of

outer conductors

17, 18, 19 is preferably approximately equal to the vertical cross-sectional dimension of chamber 11 to minimize impedance mismatch. Since the inner diameter of the outer conductors as shown in Fig. 3 is enlarged at 147, the inner conductors thereof are also enlarged at 148 to provide a smooth impedance transition. In addition,

arms

24, 25 provide circuit isolation as will be described hereinafter.

Upon imparting counterclockwise rotation to arm 24, contact points 30 are brought into conductive contact with upper and

lower chamber walls

12, 13 thereby effectively isolating the transmission line connected to

input connector

17, 20 from the other transmission lines. When arm 24 is aslant, it will be noticed that

connector

17, 20 is substantially completely electrically shielded from the remainder of the switch circuit. Clockwise rotation of arm 24 brings about conductive contact of conductor 20 to conductor 21 and thus interconnects the transmission lines communicating therewith. Similarly, rotation to `arm 25 to its aslant position isolates the transmission line connected to connector 19, 22 and the circuit thereof from the remainder of the switch circuit. In like manner, clockwise orientation of arm 25 brings about connection between conductor 21 and conductor 22 and thus interconnects transmission lines communicating therewith.

It will be understood that activating means mounted to switch support 14 for turning

arms

24, 25 may include a solenoid servo or other rotatable drive mechanisms. By disposing

arms

24, 25 so that the opposed contact points thereof bear against the lower terminating face of one inner conductor and the upper terminating face of the other inner conductor at the end of clockwise travel, and bear against the

opposed chamber walls

12, 13 at the end of travel in the opposite direction, positive conductive connections are provided for both arm positions even though

arms

24, 25 are made of resilient material. This arrangement provides decidedly improved electrical contacts for relay switching. In addition, the inductive loop developed by prior art lapparatus is sub- 4 stantially eliminated when `

arms

24, 25 are aslant because both contact points thereof are grounded and the inner conductor of the isolated connector is substantially electrically shielded from the active circuit.

The instant embodiment provides further combined mechanical and electrical advantages not conveniently feasible with end supported deilectable arms. For the end supported deectable arm structure as illustrated in the aforesaid patent, the servo or actuating means must furnish sufcient force to deflect the arms and moreover additional force to effect positive electrical contact with the inner connector. The rot-atable arm arrangement Yof the instant invention does not require a deilectable force. Moreover, the force to rotate same is relatively small because

arms

24, 25 are low mass and freely moving pivotal members. Hence, a smaller seiyo or solenoid coil may be used with the embodiments of the instant invention for the purpose of developing effective positive electrical contacts in contrast to prior art structures.

Moreover, rotating switch members such as

arms

24, 25 are adaptable for high speed lobe switches where the small low mass freely moving `

arms

24, 25 can be operated by a reciprocating external mechanism at operating speeds of 1,000 to 2,000 operations per minute. In addition, each arm may be operated by independent actuating means thereby imparting better control to relay switch Operation. Consequently, switch 10 offers greater switching versatility. For example,

arms

24, 25 may be operated to alternately connect and isolate an input line in respect to an output line. On the other hand, all three transmission lines may be conductively connected together or all disengaged. In addition, either of the input connectors may be connected or disconnected from the output connector as determined by its respective actuating means regardless of the position of the other input connector of the pair. The double make and break provided by

contact points

30, 31, at both ends of

arms

24, 25 allow switch 10 to handle greater power than a switch employing prior art arms arranged with a single contact point. When conductively disengaged from the inner conductors, the prior art arm structure provides a single gap between its contact point and the juxtaposed inner conductor whereas the double gap of the instant embodiment increases the level of arcing or breakdown voltage the structure is capable of withstanding. Hence the power handling capacity of switch 10 is increased.

In the embodiment of Fig. 4, rotatable switching action as hereinbefore described is replaced by lateral movement of longitudinally extending switching arms suspended in the chamber of a switch 40. Switching action is effected by two relatively thin independently operating resilient conducting

arms

41, 42. Switch 40 includes a longitudinal chamber 43 defined in part by internal upper and lower conducting walls 44 in a switch support member 45. Side walls 46, only one shown, cooperate with upper and lower walls 44 to complete chamber 43.

Arms

41, 42 are suspended to move -through planes substantially parallel to upper and lower walls 44.

Arms

41, 42 are shaped and disposed to connect and disconnect selectively and independently individual ones of a pair of coaxial transmission line connectors made up of inner conductors 47, 48 supported by dielectric material 49 within respective

outer conductors

50, 51 to a coaxial line connector made up of inner conductor 52 supported by dielectric 49 in outer conductor 53. The output connector is disposed approximately midway between the pair of input connectors, the latter being at the opposite ends of chamber 43. The three connectors extend along spaced apart substantially parallel longitudinal axes. The outer conductors, at the inner ends thereof, are conductively connected to the chamber walls. The inner ends of conductors 47 48, 52 terminate within chamber 43.

Chamberl 43 in cross-section lis substantially uniform asesoria and square. n the plane of side wall 46 to which the connectors are joined, the inner diameter of

outer conductors

50, 51, 53 is approximately equal to the vertical cross-sectional dimension of chamber 43 to minimize impedance mismatch. It will be understood that the parameters of chamber 43 and

arms

41, 42 are proportioned to provide an approximate impedance match With the connectors and associated transmission lines. The inner terminating ends of the

inner conductors

47, 48, 52 are provided with opposed faces disposed within chamber 43 to permit good electrical contact with

contact points

54, 55 at the opposite ends of

arms

41, 42.

Arms

41, 42 are suspended within chamber 43 by pairs of

cylindrical pin members

56, 57 of suitable dielectric material projecting through respective sets of openings in either one of chamber walls 44. Arm 41 is shaped and adapted to contact conductively the upper ilat faces of the terminating ends of inner conductors 47, 52; whereas arm 42 is shaped and disposed to connect conductively to the lower liat faces of

inner conductors

48, 52. Actuating means 58 may be suspended from the exterior of support 4S for Iimparting inward and outward motion to

pins

56, 57 as illustrated by the arrows. Such motion produces conductive interconnection between either one of the input conductors 47, 48 to output conductor 52 at the end of travel of

arms

56, 57 toward the correlated inner conductors. Travel in the opposite

direction grounds arms

41, 42 respectively to the upper and lower chamber walls 44 and thus isolates the connector of the unconnected inner conductor from the remainder of the circuit. Both contact points 54, 5S of each arm are brought in conductive contact with chamber walls 44 when the arms thereof are in the grounding position to render correlated input connectors and the associated transmission lines inactive. Cross-talk otherwise induced by inductive loops, as noted in prior art apparatus, is thus minimized. In addition, the parameters of chamber 43 may be selected to define in the region of the grounded arm a wave guide operating below cut-olf for the frequency band of operation which suppresses cross-talk signals. For example, in Fig. 4, the right-hand side of chamber 43 by reason of its parameters acts as a waveguide below cut-olf.

In width,

arms

41, 42 are less than the wide dimension of chamber 43 to permit up and down translation. In Fig. 4, arm 41 is shown in a position effecting electrical connection between conductor 47 and conductor 52, whereas arm 42 is shown in a position isolating the right hand input connector from the remainder of the relay circuit. The shape and disposition of

arms

41, 42 are such that contact points 54, 55 thereof are caused to bear firmly against the terminating ends of correlated inner conductors or against chamber walls 44 upon completion of arm travel. This arrangement produces, for both conditions, positive conductive connections. In addition to the advantages of positive electrical contacts, the instant embodiment also allows the combined mechanical and electrical advantages provided by avoiding end suspended deectable arms. For example, the low mass, freely moving

arms

41, 42 allow the use of a relatively small servo means 58 to eiect positive electrical contact. In addition, switch 40 is capable of handling greater power than an equivalent prior art structure because of the double make and break gaps at both ends of

arms

41, 42 which increases the arcing and breakdown voltage the switch can withstand. Additionally, each arm may be operated by independent actuating means 48 thereby imparting better control to relay switch operation and providing greater switching versatility in contrast to prior art apparatus. Either one of the input conductors 47, 48 may be connected to or disconnected from conductor 52 as determined by the signals applied to respective actuating means regardless of the position of the other input conductor. Moreover, this type of structure is adaptable to the use of low priced simple hinged clapper types of relay actuators.

Since many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodi ments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. Electr-ical switch apparatus for selectively and individually connecting a first high frequency coaxial transmission line to a plurality of such transmission lines comprising, a switch body having fixed and opposed inner `conductive walls defining a substantially enclosed and longitudinal interior chamber, first coaxial connector means supported by said body and having an inner conductor extending into said chamber along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal chamber axis, a pair of coaxial connectors supported in spaced relationship by said body and each having a respective inner conductor extending into said chamber on opposite sides of said iirst inner conductor, said irst connector being adapted for connection to the first of said transmission lines and said pair of connectors being adapted for connection to individual ones of said plurality of transmission lines, a plurality of movable conductive means each supported .in said chamber for rotation between said iirst inner conductor and a correlated one of said other inner conductors, and means for rotating said conductive means individually from a first to a second of two positions, the4 axis of rotation of said conductive means being perpendicular to said longitudinal chamber axis, said `conductive means each having a pair of spaced contact portions to conductively connect respectively said first inner conductor and said correlated one of said other inner conductors when such means is rotated to the first of its two posi-tions, each of said conductive means occupying a positionsubstantially parallel to said longitudinal chamber axis when rotated to its first position and operatively cooperating with the surrounding chamber walls to form a section of coaxial line for connecting the first transmission line to a correlated one of said plurality of said transmission lines, and each of said conductive means occupying a position relatively aslant with respect to said longitudinal chamber axis when rotated to the second of its positions and the contact portions thereot` conductively connecting respectively with opposed cond-uctive walls of said chamber for electrically shielding its correlated one of said other inner conductors from said first inner conductor.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim l wherein, said chamber walls including opposed upper and lower walls and said inner conductors having opposite upper and lower terminal faces confronting said upper and lower chamber walls respectively, said conductive means being a pair of longitudinal resilient arms having substantially oppositely tu-rned ends deiining the spaced contact portions thereof wherein the contact portions of one arm is adapted to conductively connect with the upper lface of said first inner conductor and the lower face of its correlated one of said other inner conductors upon movement of such arm to its first position and the contact portions of the other arm is adapted to conductively connect with the lower face of said first inner conductor and the upper face of its correlated one of said other inner conductors upon movement of such arm to its rst position, i

3. Electrical switch apparatus for selectively and individually connecting a first high frequency transmission line to a plurality of such transmission lines comprising, a switch body having opposed innner conductive walls including end wallsand defining a substantially enclosed longitudinal interior chamber, first coaxial connector means supported by said body and having an inner conductor extending into said chamber along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal chamber axis, a pair of coaxial connectors supported in spaced relationship by said body and each having a respective inner conductor extending into said chamber on opposite sides of said first inner conductor, said respective inner conductors being supported adjacent correlated ones of said chamber end walls, said rst connector being adapted for connection to the first of said transmission lines and said pair of connectors being adapted for connection to individual ones of said plurality of said transmission lines, a pair of movable longitudinal conductive arms each supported in said'chamber between said rst inner conductor and a correlated one of said other inner conductors, and means for alternately rotating said arms in opposite directions from a first to la second of two positions, the axis of rotation of said arms being perpendicular to said longitudinal chamber axis, each arm having a pair of contact portions spaced to bridge said first inner conductor and its correlated one of said other inner conductors upon rotation of such arrn to the first of its positions, movement of each arm to a first of its positions results in such arm occupying a position substantially parallel to said longitudinal chamber axis, whereby such arm operatively cooperates with said chamber walls to define a section of coaxial line as the spaced contact portions thereof conductively connect respectively with said first inner conductor and its correlated one of said other inner conductors, movement of each larm to the second of its positions results in said arm occupying a position relatively aslant with respect to said longitudinal chamber axis as the contact portions thereof conductively contact 'respective opposed chamber walls for electrically isolating its correlated inner conductor from the other inner conductors.

4. Switch apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein, said chamber walls having spaced openings, said means for alternately rotating said arms comprising, a pair of dielectric members passing through individual ones of said openings, said members having portions extending into said chamber for rotatably supporting respective ones of said arms.

5. Switch apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein opposed walls of said chamber define a substantially uniform cross-sectional area in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal chamber axis, each of said arms having a substantially uniform cross-sectional area in a plane perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, whereby each arm of said pair operatively cooperates with the surrounding chamber walls to define a coaxial section of relatively uniform impedance when such arm is in its first position.

6. Electrical switch apparatus for selectively and individually connecting a first high -frequency transmission line to a plurality of such tnansmission lines comprising, a switch body having fixed opposed conductive walls including upper, lower and end walls defining a substantially enclose-d longitudinal interio-r chamber, first coaxial connector means supported by said body and having an inner conductor extending into said chamber along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal chamber axis, a pair of coaxial connectors supported in spaced relationship by said body land each having a respective inner conductor extending into said chamber on opposite sides of said first inner conductor and adjacent correlated ones of said end walls, said first connector being adapted for connection to the first or said transmission lines and said pair of connectors being adapted for connection to individual ones of said plurality of transmission lines, a pair of movable and substantially longitudinal conductive arms each supported in said chamber for alternating movement through planes parallel to said longitudinal chamber axis from a `first to a second of two positions, and means for supporting each arm between said first inner conductor and a correlated one of said other inner conductors for moving such arms individually between their two positions, said inner conductors having opposite upper and lower terminal faces confronting said upper and lower chamber walls respectively, each arm having contacting portions longitudinally spaced Vto conductively connect respectively said first inner conductor and the correlated one'of said other inner conductors upon movement of such arm to the first of its positions, said opposed upper and lower chamber walls being a fixed distance apart substantially the full longitudinal length of said chamber, movement of a first arm to its first position results in the contact portions thereof contacting respectively the upper faces of said first conductor and its correlated one of the other inner conductors whereas movement of the second arm to its first position results in the contact portions thereof contacting respectively the lower faces of said first conductor and the correlated one of said other inner conductors, and movement of said arms to their respective second positions causing the contact portions of said first arm to contact said upper chamber wall and the contact portions of said second arm to contact the lower chamber wall, when an arm is in its second position the longitudinal section of said chamber coextending therewith is characterized as a wave guide below cut olf Ifrequency to increase effective electrical isolation between the inner conductor adjacent the end wall of such wave guide section and the other inner conductors in said chamber.

7. Electrical switch apparatus for connecting a first high frequency co-axial transmission line to a plurality of such transmission lines comprising, a switch body having fixed and opposed inner conductor walls defining a substantially enclosed and longitudinal interior chamber, first coaxial connector means supported by said body and having inner conductor means extending into said chamber along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal chamber axis, a pair of axial connectors supported in spaced relationship by said body and each having a respective inner conductor extending into said chamber on opposite sides of said first inner conductor, said first connector being adapted for connection to the first of said transmission lines land said pairs of connectors being adapted for connection to the individual ones of said plurality of said transmission lines, conductive means in said chamber for connecting said first inner conductor to a correlated one of said other inner conductors, at least one of said conductive means being rotatable about an axis perpendicular to said longitudinal chamber axis and having contact portions spaced to conductively connect respectively said first inner conductor and its correlated one of said other inner conductors when such means is rotated to a first of two positions, said rotatable conductive means occupying a position substantially parallel to said longitudinal chamber axis when 'rotated to its rst position and operatively co-operating with the coextending chamber walls to form a section of co-axial line for connecting said first inner conductor to its correlated one of said other conductors, said rotatable conductor means occupying a position relatively aslant with respect to said longitudinal chamber axis when rotated to the second of its positions and the contact portions thereof conductively connecting respectively the opposed chamber walls for electrically shielding its correlated one of said other inner conductors from said first inner conductor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS