Patent ID: 9502207
Filing Date: 2016-11-22
CPC Classification: H01J

Claim Text:
1. An ion source filament clamp, comprising: a clamp member having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end comprises one of a cam surface and a cam follower, and wherein the clamp member comprises first and second portions associated with the first end thereof that are opposed to one another and separated by a slot, wherein a lead opening is further defined in the slot and configured to receive a lead of an ion source filament; an actuator pin extending along an actuator pin axis, wherein a first section of the actuator pin is coupled to the first portion of the clamp member, and wherein the actuator pin extends through a thru-hole in the second portion of the clamp member and is in sliding engagement with the thru-hole; and a cam member operably coupled to a second section of the actuator pin, wherein the cam member comprises a handle and the other of the cam surface and cam follower, wherein the cam member is configured to rotate between a clamped position and an unclamped position, wherein the cam follower is configured to slidingly contact the cam surface, and wherein in the clamped position, the cam follower is configured to engage the cam surface in a first predetermined manner, and wherein in the unclamped position, the cam follower is configured to engage the cam surface in a second predetermined manner, wherein in the clamped position, the first and second portions of the clamp member are forced toward one another, therein exerting a clamping pressure on the lead within the lead opening, and wherein in the unclamped position, the first and second portions of the clamp member are forced apart from one another, therein releasing the clamping pressure on the lead within the lead opening, wherein one of the first predetermined manner and second predetermined manner comprises inducing a spring tension between the first and second portions of the clamp member, and wherein the other of the first predetermined manner and second predetermined manner comprises releasing the spring tension between the first and second portions of the clamp member.