Patent ID: 6172463
Filing Date: 2001-01-09
Classification: H01J,H05H

Abstract:
A drift tube for use in a drift tube linear accelerator, the drift tube comprising:a stem having an inner end, an outer end, an inlet passage and an outlet passage, wherein said inlet passage and said outlet passage extend substantially from said inner end to said outer end of said stem;a substantially cylindrical hollow body of an electrically conductive material interconnected to said inner end of said stem and having a high energy end, a low energy end, a first side disposed adjacent said stem and a second side spaced apart from said first side, said first and second sides extending between said high and low energy ends, a first annular cooling channel located adjacent to said low energy end of said hollow body to facilitate cooling of said low energy end, a second annular cooling channel located adjacent to said high energy end of said hollow body to facilitate cooling of said high energy end, and an annular return channel disposed between said first and second annular cooling channels, said first and second cooling channels and aid return channel enclosed within and encircling said hollow body, said first and second cooling channel being connected to said inlet passage of said stem through a disbursing channel disposed adjacent to said first side of said hollow body, said return channel being connected to said outlet passage of said stem, and said return channel being connected to said first and second cooling channels through a collecting channel disposed adjacent to said second side of said hollow body, such that cooling fluid travels from said inlet passage of said stem to said first and second cooling channels via said disbursing channel, and from said first and second cooling channels to said return channel via said collecting channel and to said outlet passage of said stem from said return channel;a substantially cylindrical magnet disposed within and substantially co-axial with said hollow body and having a magnet orifice;a high energy end cap of an electrically conductive material interconnected to said high energy end of said hollow body and having a high energy orifice;a low energy end cap of an electrically conductive material interconnected to said low energy end of said hollow body and having a low energy orifice;a substantially cylindrical bore tube of an electrically conductive material extending from said low energy orifice through said hollow body and said magnet orifice to said high energy orifice; andsaid hollow body further includes;a substantially cylindrical inner shell having an inner surface - an outer surface, a first end surface, and a second end surface;a substantially cylindrical cover disposed over and engaging said outer surface of said shell to define said return channel;a low energy Z-ring having an outer flange and an inner flange extending from a central element, said outer flange of said low energy Z-ring extending toward said magnet and said inner flange of said low energy Z-ring extending away from said magnet, wherein said outer flange and said central element of said low energy Z-ring engage said inner shell to define the first cooling channel;a high energy Z-ring having an outer flange and an inner flange extending from a central element, said outer flange of said high energy Z-ring extending toward said magnet and said inner flange of said high energy Z-ring extending away from said magnet, wherein said outer flange and said central element of said high energy Z-ring engage said inner shell to define the second cooling channel; andwherein said high energy end cap and said low energy end cap each have a flange slot, said inner flange of said high energy Z-ring engaging said flange slot of said high energy end cap and said inner flange of said low energy Z-ring engaging said flange slot of said low energy end cap.