Patent Application
20230163545
The following documents are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth: German Patent Application No. 10 2021 130 901.8, filed Nov. 25, 2021.
The present invention relates to a connecting device used for synchrotrons or other particle accelerators for passing through charged particles.
Connecting devices of this type are used in so-called synchrotrons or other particle accelerators. These synchrotrons or particle accelerators have a line system consisting of lines and/or chambers through which electrically charged particles are passed, usually in the form of electrically charged particle beams. In such line systems, connecting devices of the type in question serve to compensate for displacements and changes in length caused by thermal or other factors so that excessive stresses or distortion do not occur in the line system. For this purpose, such connecting devices are designed to be flexible so that the first flange and the second flange can move relative to each other in the longitudinal direction of the connecting device and also in at least one transverse direction angled relative to the longitudinal direction, in order to compensate for the displacements and/or changes in length in the line system caused, for example, by thermal factors.
In addition, it is also important that the electrically charged particles or the beam of electrically charged particles that also pass through the connecting device or through the line cavity of the line element are not deflected or negatively influenced in any other way.
A connecting device of the type in question is shown in FIG. 1 of US 2017/0279205 A1. The connecting devices shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 of US 2017/0279205 A1 are not devices of the type in question. Their flanges are not connected to each other with the interposition of a bellows.
It is the object of the invention to improve connecting devices of the type in question in such a way that they can compensate well for displacements in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the connecting device and at the same time the charged particles passed through the line cavity are deflected as little as possible or are not deflected or otherwise negatively influenced during this relative displacement of the flanges with respect to each other.
This is achieved by a connecting device having one or more of the features disclosed herein.
In the invention, it is thus provided that a connection element is arranged on the first flange and on the second flange in each case for electrically connecting the line element to the flange in question, the line element being movably mounted in or on both connection elements, and/or the line element having or consisting of at least one annular spring or at least one helical spring.
The line element according to the invention ensures that the cross-sectional area of the line cavity arranged inside the line element remains as constant as possible in the event of a relative displacement of the flanges of the connecting device relative to one another caused by thermal or any other factors. This, in combination with the bellows guided around the outside of the line element, ensures that the charged particles passed through the line cavity of the connecting device are not deflected or otherwise negatively influenced, or at least only minimally. The invention ensures that the flanges remain optimally electrically conductively connected to each other via their connection elements and the line element even in the event of larger displacements of the flanges in the longitudinal direction of the connecting device and/or in the transverse direction thereof. This is achieved by the movable mounting of the line element in or on both connection elements and/or simply by the fact that the line element is formed as an annular spring or helical spring or at least has such a spring.
In case of doubt, the terms “longitudinal direction” and “transverse direction” of the connecting device refer to the initial position of the connecting device in which the two flanges of the connecting device are not displaced relative to each other by external forces. The transverse direction(s) is/are angled to the longitudinal direction. Preferably, the transverse direction(s) run orthogonal to the longitudinal direction.
Connecting devices according to the invention are preferably used in line systems of synchrotrons or other particle accelerators. These line systems can, as is known per se, comprise lines but also chambers.
In connecting devices according to the invention, the first flange and the second flange are connected to each other with the interposition of the bellows. There are different variants for this. The bellows can extend over the entire distance between the first flange and the second flange and thus directly connect the first flange and the second flange to each other. However, it is also possible that the bellows only extends over a partial region between the first flange and the second flange. In these exemplary embodiments, a jacket tube is advantageously arranged at least on at least one of the flanges. The bellows can then extend, for example, from a free end of the jacket tube to the other flange. A second jacket tube can be arranged around the bellows and is then preferably arranged or fixed or formed on the other flange. In any case, the bellows is advantageously made of metal.
Since the connecting device according to the invention serves to compensate for length changes and/or displacements in a line system, in particular those caused by thermal factors, it could also be referred to as a compensation device or a compensation connecting device.
In order to be able to compensate not only for displacements of the line system in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction of the connecting device, but also for torsional movements in the line system, particularly preferred variants of the invention provide that at least one of the connection elements is rotatably mounted on the flange on which it is arranged, preferably rotatably about an axis of rotation coaxial or at least parallel to the longitudinal direction of the connecting device.
The line element that surrounds the line cavity can be formed to be circumferentially closed. However, this is not absolutely necessary. Rather, it is important that the line element connects the connection elements and thus the two flanges of the connecting device to each other so as to produce a good electrically conductive connection. For this purpose, it can also be provided that the line element comprises a plurality of rods, the rods being arranged running parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other and jointly surrounding a partial region of the line cavity or the entire line cavity. The line element can also consist exclusively of such an arrangement of rods.
In order to be able to compensate for displacements of the flanges in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction of the connecting device and at the same time ensure optimum electrical contact, it is preferably provided that the rods are mounted movably and electrically conductively in or on both connection elements. In this context, it is particularly preferred that the rods are mounted movably and electrically conductively in rod-receiving cavities of the two connection elements. In the latter variants, the rods are preferably movably mounted with their ends in the rod-receiving cavities. There, they are surrounded on all sides by the corresponding walls of the connection element, so that the rods cannot lift off from the connection element, but rather a very good electrical contact is always ensured between each rod and the corresponding connection element. Preferably, the rods each have a circular cross-section. This is also very favourable in terms of ensuring optimum electrical contact. Alternative variants, however, also provide for the rods to be formed as flattened rods.
It can also be provided that two bulges, spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the connecting device, are formed on rods of the connection element in question for electrically conductive connection to one rod each of the line element, the rods with the bulges resting in an electrically conductive manner on the particular rod of the line element and the particular rod of the line element being supported by a support shoulder of the connecting device in a region between the two bulges on the side opposite the particular rod of the particular connection element. The at least two bulges arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the connecting device and the support shoulder arranged between them in the longitudinal direction ensure particularly good electrical contact between the rods of the line element and the corresponding connection element even if there are larger displacements in the longitudinal and/or transverse directions of the connecting device.
Another variant for achieving precisely this provides that the ends of the rods of the line element facing the connection element in question each have a bend and the connection element in question has rods with bends, the bends of the rods of the connection element in question being arranged in intermediate spaces between the bends of the rods of the line element and a connecting rod being passed through the bends of the rods of the particular connection element and through the bends of the rods of the line element. It is advantageous here if the various bends of the rods are in the form of slots extending in the longitudinal direction of the connecting device. This ensures that the connecting rod is mounted in the bends so that it is displaceable in the longitudinal direction.
In the variants in which the line element has an annular spring or is formed as such, it is advantageously provided that the annular spring has a sequence of ring elements arranged one behind the other, the successive ring elements being connected to one another by means of elastic elements and being movable relative to one another. The ring elements can preferably be rigid bodies in themselves. Advantageously, all ring elements have the same diameter. However, this does not necessarily have to be so. In any case, the elastic elements mounted between the ring elements ensure a corresponding movability of the annular spring in order to be able to compensate for an offset between the flanges in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction of the connecting device. Here, too, the ring elements ensure that the line element has the same line cross-section everywhere, even in a relatively strongly deflected state. In addition to the elastic elements, which can be formed as a helical spring, for example, electrical sliding contacts can also be arranged between the ring elements and ensure an optimal electrically conductive connection of the successive ring elements to each other and an optimal electrically conductive transition from the line element to the corresponding connection element.
In variants of the invention in which a helical spring is part of or forms a line element, it is advantageously provided that the helical spring has a plurality of turns arranged one behind the other, which are elastically movable relative to each other. This also ensures that the line cavity within the line element has the same cross-section everywhere, even in the case of larger relative displacements of the flanges in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction of the connection element. In the undeflected state of the connecting device, the turns are advantageously arranged on an imaginary circular-cylinder lateral surface. Particularly preferred variants provide that the line element has two helical springs or consists of these, one of the helical springs being arranged in an interior space of the other helical spring, it preferably being provided that the turns of the two helical springs are arranged offset with respect to one another in the longitudinal direction of the connecting device.
Connecting devices according to the invention are advantageously designed so that a negative pressure or vacuum in the region of 1×1010 mbar (millibar) and smaller can be formed in the interior space surrounded by the bellows.
Particularly preferred variants of the invention provide that the flanges, the connection elements and/or the line element consist of or comprise a copper-beryllium alloy. Alternative materials are stainless steel or copper, which are preferably silver-plated or gold-plated.
Further features and details of the invention, as well as preferred variants thereof, are explained below by way of example in the description of the figures, in which:
The first exemplary embodiment according to the invention of a connecting device 1 shown in
Before discussing the special embodiment of the line element 10 and its connection to the connection elements 13 and 14 in this exemplary embodiment, features of this embodiment as also realized in the subsequent exemplary embodiments are discussed. This part of the description thus applies to all embodiments shown here.
In all exemplary embodiments, this connecting device is a connecting device 1 for a line system of a synchrotron or another particle accelerator. Electrically charged particles, usually in the form of a beam of electrically charged particles, are thus passed through this line system as well as through the connecting device 1. The line system can comprise both lines and chambers. In any case, the connecting device 1 comprises a first flange 2 and a second flange 4 as well as a bellows 6. The first flange 2 and the second flange 4 are connected to each other with the interposition of the bellows 6. In this exemplary embodiment, this is realized in such a way that the bellows 6 extends only over a partial region of the connection between the two flanges 2 and 4. Specifically, in this exemplary embodiment, as in the other exemplary embodiments, it is arranged between the pivot bearing ring 32 of the second flange 4 and a jacket tube 40, which is fixed to the first flange 2. In alternative embodiments, however, the bellows 6 could, for example, also extend completely from the first flange 2 to the second flange 4. In
The connecting device 1 of all exemplary embodiments shown here serves to compensate for displacements between the first line 3 or chamber of the line system and the second line 5 or chamber of the line system. These displacements can occur both in the longitudinal direction 7 of the connecting device 1 and in at least one transverse direction 8 of the connecting device 1, which is angled with respect to the longitudinal direction and is preferably orthogonal. The flanges 2 and 4 of the connecting device 1 can be moved along with their respective lines 3 and 5 or chamber to which they are attached. The bellows 6 and the corresponding line element 10 allow this relative movement of the flanges 2 and 4 both in the longitudinal direction 7 and in the transverse direction(s) 8, so that no stresses or breaks occur in the line system. These displacements in the longitudinal direction 7 and/or transverse direction 8 in the line system can be caused by thermal, but also other factors.
All line elements 10 realized in the exemplary embodiments shown here have the advantage that they can compensate for corresponding relative movements between the flanges 2 and 4 without the risk of their electrically conductive connection to the connection elements 13 and 14 and thus between the flanges 2 and 4 being interrupted. In addition, the line elements 10 have the advantage that they always ensure that the opening cross-section of the line cavity 11 surrounded by the line element 10 remains at least substantially unchanged during these relative displacements of the flanges 2 and 4 with respect to each other. This ensures that the particles passed through the line cavity 11 are not deflected and thus the particle beam remains undisturbed.
In all exemplary embodiments, it is in any case the case that the line element 10 is arranged in the interior space 9 surrounded at least in regions by the bellows 6, the line elements 10 of the various exemplary embodiments electrically conductively connecting the flanges 2 and 4 to one another via the connection elements 13 and 14. The interior space of the line element 10 forms the line cavity 11 through which the charged particles are passed.
In all exemplary embodiments shown here, a jacket tube 41 is arranged on the second flange 4. This surrounds the bellows 6 as well as the jacket tube arranged on the first flange 2. However, as already explained above, this can also be solved differently.
In order to be able to compensate not only for relative displacements in the line system in the longitudinal direction 7 and in the transverse direction 8, but also to be able to compensate for torsional movements in the line system, it is provided in all variants shown here that at least one of the connection elements 13 or 14 is rotatably mounted on the corresponding flange 2 or 4 on which it is arranged. Specifically, this is realized in the exemplary embodiments shown here by the pivot bearing ring 32, to which the connection element 14 is fixed. This pivot bearing ring 32 is rotatably mounted in the second flange 4. The axis of rotation 17 about which the pivot bearing ring 32 is rotatable runs coaxially or at least parallel to the longitudinal direction 7.
In all exemplary embodiments, it is in any case the case that connection elements 13 and 14 are arranged one on the first flange 2 and one on the second flange 4, for electrically connecting the line element 10 to the flanges 2 and 4.
In the first exemplary embodiment shown in
The line element 10 has a plurality of rods 18. The rods 18 run parallel to each other and are spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction. Together, they surround at least a partial region of the line cavity 11. In this first exemplary embodiment, the rods 18 of the line element 10 are connected to each other in the central region of the line element in a connecting region 31.
In this first exemplary embodiment, rods 23 are also formed on the various connection elements 13 and 14. The rods 23 of the connection element 13 are pushed into the line element 10 on one side. The rods 23 of the other connection element 14 are pushed into the line element 10 on the opposite side. For the electrically conductive connection of one rod 23 of each of the connection elements 13 and 14 to one rod 18 of the line element 10, in this exemplary embodiment two bulges 19 and 20 are formed on the particular rod 23 of the particular connection element 13 and 14 and are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction 7 of the connecting device 1. These bulges can be seen particularly well in the enlargement of the region A from
Looking now at the second exemplary embodiment of the invention in
A common feature with the first exemplary embodiment is first of all that here, too, the line element 10 has a plurality of rods 18 which run parallel to one another and are arranged at a distance from one another and together surround the line cavity 11 between the connection elements 13 and 14. In contrast to the first exemplary embodiment, however, the rods 18 of the line element 10 are not connected to one another in a connecting region 31. Rather, their arrangement results from their connection to the connection elements 13 and 14.
In this second exemplary embodiment of the invention according to
The third exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in
The annular spring 15 has a sequence of ring elements 27 arranged one behind the other. These ring elements 27 can be substantially rigid in themselves. The successive ring elements 27 are connected to each other by means of elastic elements 28 and can thus be moved relative to each other. The specific structure realized here can be seen particularly well in
The fifth exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in
The sixth exemplary embodiment in
In this exemplary embodiment, the connecting region 31 of the rods 18 is relatively wide in the central region of the line element 10. Of course, this does not necessarily have to be the case. It could of course also be narrower, as is the case, for example, in the first exemplary embodiment in
In this exemplary embodiment, the various connection elements 13 and 14 also have rods 23. These rods 23 also have a bend 24. The bends 24 of the rods 23 of the particular connection element 13 or 14 are arranged in intermediate spaces 25 between the bends 20 of the rods 18 of the line element 10. A connecting rod 26 is passed through the bends 24 of the rods 23 of the particular connection element 13 and 14 and through the bends 22 of the rods 18 of the line element 10, as can be clearly seen in
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102021130901.8 | Nov 2021 | DE | national |
