Importance

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Abstract

A mechanism (100) for fixing the relative position of two members including a first member (104) having a first coefficient of thermal expansion and a second member (102) positioned adjacent to the first member and having a second coefficient of thermal expansion. The first member (104) is adapted to receive thermal energy. The first and second members are mounted for relative motion therebetween at a first temperature and are in contact at a relative fixed position at a second temperature. In a specific embodiment, a microwave control valve (100) for use in a waveguide is disclosed and includes a housing (104) having a first coefficient of thermal expansion and a first plurality of housing waveguide openings (130). A rotor (102) is positioned within the housing and has a second coefficient of thermal expansion and a plurality of rotor waveguide openings (132). The housing (104) is adapted to receive RF energy. An actuator (106) is provided to rotate the rotor for aligning at least two of the rotor waveguide openings (132) with at least two of the housing waveguide openings (130) for directing the RF energy through the valve. The housing and the rotor are mounted for relative motion therebetween at a first temperature and are in contact at a relative fixed position at a second temperature. Thus, the invention provides a control valve (100) for use in high power microwave systems, which eliminates a rotor-housing clearance gap (105) after RF energy is applied for increasing the average power handling capability.

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First Claim