Abstract:
A quick attachment system for cathodes is described. One embodiment of the system comprises a laterally movable support shaft; a flange connected to the support shaft, the flange including a cavity locking element and a shoulder locking element; a bordering separator connectable to a target pipe, the bordering separator comprising ring extensions for engaging the cavity locking element of flange; and a straining ring configured to engage the bordering separator and the shoulder locking element of the flange to thereby secure the laterally movable shaft to the target pipe.

Description:
COPYRIGHT  
       [0001]     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a cathode arrangement. In particular, embodiments of the present invention relate to cathode attachment systems.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     In the vacuum coating technique, rotating coating cathodes are being used more frequently. This usually involves a pipe rotatable around the longitudinal axis, having a magnetic system fixed in the interior. An advantage of this rotation cathode compared with planar cathodes is a much better utilization of the target material, and consequently, greater serviceable life.  
         [0004]     This tubular cathode is essentially distinguished by two principles of configuration. The explanation of the two principles follows in the examples of horizontal coating equipment.  
         [0005]     In the first principle, the complete drive unit, including the media supply on the cover of the coating chamber in the form of so-called end blocks or end heads is mounted on each of the pipe ends. For target rotation, the entire unit, including the cover, is removed from the installation. Outside of the installation, the target rotation is done on a special work rack or the entire unit is replaced.  
         [0006]     In the second principle, the drive unit including the media supply is mounted on a side chamber wall. Slewing motions and media are consequently introduced from the side into the process chamber. This may be a freely projecting (cantilevered) construction up to a certain pipe length. An additional support on the other end of the pipe is required for longer pipes. For the target rotation, the target pipe, including the magnetic system found in the interior, is dismounted from the drive unit and lifted from the chamber. Afterwards, the entire target magnetic unit may either be changed or further dismantled and only the actual target pipe replaced.  
         [0007]     There are other negative points in the projecting cathodes: there is great force at least on the rear side of the junction point as a result of the design and operation. Furthermore, there must be a precise rotary movement through constant axial orientation, since even smaller deviations in a target length of four meters have enormous negative effects.  
         [0008]     Prior art in this regard are mostly simple flange solutions that are connected on the outer diameter using several screws. This may be a mechanically stable connection, but its disadvantage is that all screws need to be individually loosened for disassembly, requiring much space and an enormous amount of time.  
         [0009]     Furthermore, different ways for achieving the object are known, in which the connection is made via a combination of union nuts having different geometries on the outer surface of the target.  
         [0010]     Another difficulty in creating a connection that should also be mentioned is that there are two different principles of target pipes.  
         [0011]     The first principle deals with targets manufactured from a mechanically stable, vacuum-tight and workable thick-walled pipe. In this case, there are no strict limits for the design of the sealing and fastening geometries.  
         [0012]     As required by the process, the second principle deals with a thin-walled, but still vacuum-tight and mechanically stable support pipe, on which in turn the actual target material, e.g., Si, Zn, SiAl and all other mechanically unstable materials, are placed in a different way.  
         [0013]     One of the tasks was therefore to obtain a connection between the driving gear and the target pipe, which on the one hand is independent of the design of the target pipe, but on the other hand reliably correlates the target magnetic system unit mechanically and using vacuum technology, and furthermore allows a rapid target rotation. At the same time, fast disassembly of the target magnetic system unit should be possible. The target or support pipe should be easy to manufacture at a reasonable price, since this involves an expendable part.  
         [0014]     The prior art will be explained in greater detail in the following with the help of some publications.  
         [0015]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,356,073 discloses an atomizing and coating device for even substrates having a cylindrical cathode and a magnetic system accommodated parallel to the axis therein. The cathode is open on one side and is provided there with a handle, through which new or other surface parts may be placed section by section by turning the cathode into the range of influence of the race track magnetic field, be it to compensate for the wear or to change the coating material. The magnetic system, the angular position of which can likewise be changed via a lever, is supported via fitted pole pieces—non-slip—on the inner surface of the target pipe. Cooling water is supplied through the tubular magnetic support and flows out of the opening of the target pipe into the open air. The assembly and the replacement of the target pipe, necessitated by wear and tear, is possible only through a circular opening of a correspondingly larger cross section, by unscrewing a straining ring and a bearing ring, in the course of which it may be difficult to thread into its stationary bearing the centric bearing neck, lying opposite, of the target pipe sealed there, without having to open the entire installation.  
         [0016]     Through U.S. Pat. No. 4,417,968, a rotation-symmetrical cathode system for magnetron coating of rotating bulk goods in a cylindrical chamber is known, in which a stationary target pipe and a rotatable multipolar magnetic system therein are concentrically arranged. Numerous other magnetron cathodes that are parallel to the axis are arranged with reverse building principle in radial and tangential equidistant distances, i.e., stationary magnetic systems oriented toward the center are arranged within the target pipes rotatable through driving gears. Numerous rod-shaped substrate holders, which are synchronously driven through a planetary gear, are arranged in the more or less ring-shaped space between the central target pipe and the peripheral target pipes. Because of their double-ended orientations, changing all the target pipes requires that the ring-shaped chamber cover having the substrate holders be dismounted, and the assembly and changing the target pipes as well turn out to be difficult and time-consuming because of the depth of the chambers and the need to loosen several screwed connections on the other end of the chamber. Even the cooling systems are to be loosened and opened and then closed again in the process.  
         [0017]     Through U.S. Pat. No. 4,422,916, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 4,356,073, a continuously working cathode atomizing system for coating even substrates is known starting from  FIG. 9 . A rotatable target pipe and a magnetic system stored therein in a stationary manner is arranged on the cover of a more or less cuboid-shaped vacuum chamber. Two sleeve shafts of a fixed chamber having the magnetic system are held over pillow blocks with cooling connections. The rotatable target pipe, which is driven via a chain by a concentric toothed wheel, an eccentric pinion gear having a shaft parallel to the axis, and an external electromotor arranged on the chamber, is stored on the said sleeve shafts in a rotatable manner by means of two end walls and bearing bushes arranged therein. Even in this case, an assembly and a change of the target pipe prove to be time-consuming and difficult because for this purpose, the magnetic system also has to be dismantled after taking a chamber cover apart.  
         [0018]     Through U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,778 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,529,674, tubular, non-rotatable targets are known, through which the substrates may be led through either axially or through slits through the axis. Furthermore, variations are described, in which ribbon-shaped substrates are led away outside through the slits. Furthermore, planar targets with longitudinal boreholes and slits parallel to the axis are described, through which the ribbon-shaped substrate may be led away. The targets as well as their supporting members are shown as non-rotatable because a turning through radial joining elements for external connections would be prevented. Collet chucks are disclosed for connecting the supporting members and the targets—insofar as symmetrical in rotation—the collet chucks being made of pivoting ring halves having inner conical surfaces and a joint and a straining screw each, whose axis runs perpendicular to the tubular axle. Insofar as magnetic systems are disclosed for the containment of plasma ( FIGS. 9 and 20 ), these are found outside of the target pipe. The invention does not deal with such systems.  
         [0019]     Through WO 00/00766, it is known that a radial ring flange is to be arranged at the end of a tubular support shaft for a replaceable tubular target or a target-pipe combination, the radial flange having a step and two lining grooves, onto which the end of the target may be inserted in a water and vacuum tight manner. Here, the ring flange of the support shaft and a further ring flange at the end of the target pipe are connected through a detachable coupling arrangement made up of two semicircular ring halves that may be braced against the ring flange through at least one screw, whose axis is right-angled to the rotational axis.  
         [0020]     Here, the ring halves each have at least one conical surface, which is designed to complement one conical surface on the ring flange of the support shaft. Such a coupling arrangement, however, requires considerable free space for positioning tools and for swiveling or removing the ring halves themselves, and considerable tangential sliding movements that consume force and cause wear and tear occur while twisting the ring halves.  
         [0021]     Through U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,562, it is known to connect the two ends of a tubular target with two support shafts, each of which exhibits a ring flange on their target side ends. Nothing is said about the type of connection or their detachability. Arranged in the interior of the vacuum chamber for storing the support shafts are pillow blocks—each insulated—of which one is designed to relay current and the other to feed and carry off cooling water. The vacuum and watertight storing requires a complex system of rotary seals, however, the separation of which makes changing the target more difficult.  
         [0022]     Through U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,314 and the corresponding WO 97/15697, it is furthermore known to provide the end of a support shaft for a tubular target with a ring flange, whose side turned toward the target exhibits a step having a radial ring surface and a lining groove having a ring seal. The step, however, is only for plane parallel adjusting of support shaft and target and not for centering. Rather, the attempt to center is done through a straining ring and a screw thread connection found on the inside of the straining ring and the outside of the target end. The screw thread connection should preferably occur through two screw-like coiled sections of a steel wire. Even such a coupling arrangement requires considerable room to maneuver to position the tools and to remove the straining ring itself, and considerable tangential sliding movements that consume force and, it should be pointed out in particular, cause wear and tear while twisting the ring halves.  
         [0023]     Through U.S. Pat. No. 6,375,815 B1, it is known to provide support shafts of rotatable tubular targets, each having a ring flange and to make the connection with the targets in turn through semi-annular coupling elements, which overlap undercut ring flanges of the targets and rings on the support shafts, and likewise by means of undercut screw thread connections that simultaneously bring about an axial and a radial twisting. Such screw thread connections are made only at great processing cost. Such a coupling arrangement, however, requires considerable room to maneuver to position the tools and to swivel or remove the ring halves themselves, and considerable tangential sliding movements that consume force and cause wear and tear occur while twisting the ring halves.  
         [0024]     Although present devices are functional, they are not sufficiently accurate or otherwise satisfactory. Accordingly, a system and method are needed to address the shortfalls of present technology and to provide other new and innovative features.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0025]     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention that are shown in the drawings are summarized below. These and other embodiments are more fully described in the Detailed Description section. It is to be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the forms described in this Summary of the Invention or in the Detailed Description. One skilled in the art can recognize that there are numerous modifications, equivalents and alternative constructions that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the claims.  
         [0026]     Embodiment of the present invention relate to a cathode arrangement for atomizing a target pipe ( 12 ) having a non-rotatable magnetic system ( 23 ) for generating a magnetic field for the containment of a plasma, in which the target pipe ( 12 ) is rotatable within a vacuum chamber right through the magnetic field, in which in at least one load bearing structure ( 1 ) there is a movable support shaft ( 6 ) arranged for the target pipe ( 12 ), in which furthermore within the target pipe ( 12 ), a fixing device for the magnetic system ( 23 ) is arranged, and in which at least one detachable coupling arrangement for changing the target pipe ( 12 ) is arranged between the support shaft ( 6 ) and the target pipe ( 12 ). For the cathode arrangement described at the start, to solve the task of simultaneously bringing about a high and highly loadable coaxiality of support shaft(s) ( 6 ) and target pipes ( 12 ), a reliable sealing against water and vacuum, and a slight, often repeatable connection and separation—that does not cause much wear and tear—of support shaft(s) ( 6 ) and target pipes ( 12 ), without the need for much room to maneuver and for much time for the necessary manipulations and to ensure a good concentricity in a constant axial position, it is proposed according to the present invention, to arrange between the movable support shaft ( 6 ) and the target pipe ( 12 ) a separator ( 15 ) coaxial thereto, and two detachable points of separation ( 32 / 53 ), and that through the points of separation ( 32 / 53 ), the torsionally rigid and dimensionally stable connections between the support shaft ( 6 ) and the separator ( 15 ) on the one hand and the separator ( 15 ) and a target pipe ( 12 ) on the other hand are detachable and recoverable.  
         [0027]     As previously stated, the above-described embodiments and implementations are for illustration purposes only. Numerous other embodiments, implementations, and details of the invention are easily recognized by those of skill in the art from the following descriptions and claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0028]     Various objects and advantages and a more complete understanding of the present invention are apparent and more readily appreciated by reference to the following Detailed Description and to the appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein:  
         [0029]      FIG. 1  illustrates an axial section through a stationary load-bearing structure for a support shaft, a detachable coupling arrangement and the coupling side end of the rotatable target pipe and of the magnetic system accommodated therein;  
         [0030]      FIG. 2  illustrates arrangement according to  FIG. 1  in a partially uncoupled state;  
         [0031]      FIG. 3  illustrates section from the right part of  FIG. 2 , in an enlarged scale;  
         [0032]      FIG. 4  illustrates an axial section through the parts of the driving gear;  
         [0033]      FIG. 5  illustrates a radial section along Line V-V in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0034]      FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective representation of a bayonet connection, as they can be used for the connection of a ring flange and a straining ring;  
         [0035]      FIG. 7  is a perspective explosive representation of a separated coupling arrangement between a movable support shaft and a target pipe; and  
         [0036]      FIG. 8  is a perspective representation of the coupling arrangement according to  FIG. 7  in closed or coupled state. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0037]     Referring now to the drawings, where like or similar elements are designated with identical reference numerals throughout the several views. Referring first to  FIG. 1 , it illustrates a load-bearing structure  1 , made up of a perpendicular plate  2  and a firmly inserted support pipe  3 . A vacuum rotary feed through  4  is tightly sealed here, on whose right end is a radially braceable extension  5 . Inserted into this vacuum rotary feed through  4  is a rotatable support shaft  6 , on whose right end a ring flange  8  is put on in such a way as to restrict movement via a wedge  7 , the ring flange being established in axial direction through a supporting ring  9  via a screw thread connection  10 . Between the outer circumference of support ring  9  and ring flange  8  is a coaxial nozzle clearance area parallel to the axis, which forms a first positive-locking element  11 .  
         [0038]     The system axis A-A, whose spatial position may be chosen, is indicated by a broken line. Load-bearing structure  1  may be fastened in the interior of a vacuum chamber, not shown, on one of the side walls, on the floor or on the ceiling of the vacuum chamber.  
         [0039]     Shown on the right of a rotatable target pipe  12 , which is made up of a support pipe  13  and a coating  14  out of a coating material, which may be condensed in a non-reactive atmosphere (e.g., argon) on a substrate, not shown, or in a reactive atmosphere as a connection of coating  14 . Here, the substrate is moved through a guide parallel to axis A-A and vertical to the plane of projection. These processes are known, however, and will not be described further. For example, support pipe  13  and coating  14  may be made of the same material if this has a sufficient consistency.  
         [0040]     The torque-resistant connection between support shaft  6  and target pipe  12  takes place through the following means: between ring flange  8  and target pipe  12  is a strong bordering separator  15  having a ring flange  15   a  and a coaxial ring extension  15   b , which locks into first positive-locking element  11 . For easier threading and for centering, ring extension  15   b  is provided inside and outside with truncated cone surfaces  15   c  and  15   d  ( FIG. 2 ). A first one-piece straining ring  16  having at least one second detachable positive-locking element  17  overlaps ring flange  15   a . The connection may be concentrically tightened through bezels, such as a bayonet system (according to  FIG. 6 ) or a thread.  
         [0041]     In the further course of separator  15 , this has a hollow cylindrical extension  15   e  having two outer threads  15   f  and  15   g . A second one-piece straining ring  18  and a thrust bearing  19  is screwed onto this extension. Straining ring  16  presses on a ring surface  15   h  of separator  15 .  
         [0042]     In the interior of support shaft  6 , of separator  15  and of target pipe  12  is found—concentrically or parallel to axis A-A—a load-bearing system of pipes  20 ,  21  and  22 , which forms a support for a known, rigid magnetic system  23 , made up of yokes  24  and magnets  25 . The suspension and determination of position take place through support elements  26 , of which only one is shown. The vacuum tight cooling means supply is shown by a thick arrow. Particulars and effects are explained in greater detail with the help of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0043]      FIG. 2  shows the arrangement according to  FIG. 1  in partially decoupled state. Almost the entire sector of separator  15  is surrounded by a rotation-symmetrical and coaxial darkroom screen  27 , which is made up of a connection ring  26  and hollow cylinders  29 ,  30  and  31 , in which hollow cylinder  31  slightly overlaps the end of target pipe  12 .  
         [0044]     In  FIG. 2 , support shaft  6  having ring flange  8  is decoupled on a first point of separation  32 , after the straining ring  16  has been loosened from ring flange  8 . The end of pipe  20  turned toward first point of separation  32  is coaxially stored in support shaft  6  through a straining ring made of plastic with boreholes  33  for coolant penetration. Ring flange  15   a  is extracted from positive-locking element  11 , likewise pipe  21  from plug-type connector  34  having pipe  20 . Darkroom screen  27  may be coaxially pushed toward target pipe  12  and also dismantled so that tools may be put on straining rings  16  and  18 . The complex structural component to the right of point of separation  32  may now be removed from the vacuum chamber.  
         [0045]     It is emphasized that this complex structural component for relatively short target pipes  12  may be stored in a floating manner, or that for relatively long target pipes  12  an additional storing may be placed on its opposite, right end, which is not shown here, however. The border, in this embodiment, lies between approximately 100 and 200 cm.  
         [0046]      FIG. 3  shows an enlarged view of the arrangement according to  FIG. 2  to the right of the radial surface plane E-E in  FIG. 2 —but in a running state. Straining ring  18  has interchanging boreholes  18   a  and  18   b  on the circumference. Rod-shaped lathe tools may be inserted into boreholes  18   a . Mushroom-shaped support bodies  48  having dome-shaped outer surfaces  48   a  on which hollow cylinder  30  of darkroom screen  27  is propped up, are put into boreholes  18   b.    
         [0047]     A second point of separation  53  is found between straining ring  18  and ring-shaped abutment  19  screwed on stay pipe  13  in such a way that it restricts movement and is sealed. Points of separation  32  and  53  are to be considered completely independent of one another. They may be created within the scope of claim  1  completely independent of one another and, within the scope of the exemplary embodiment, do not have any compelling combinatorial character.  
         [0048]      FIG. 3  shows within point of separation  53  an axially movable thrust collar  35 , which has a concentric truncated cone surface  35   a . An expander  36  is arranged thereon, sector-pattern sleeves  36   a  having outer surfaces  36   b , which by twisting straining ring  18  are retractable in radial directions into an inner ring-shaped recess  13   a  of stay pipe  13  in order to lay down stay pipe  13  in axial and radial direction. In the course of screwing back straining ring  18 , sleeves  36   a  are radially drawn together through annular spring  37  to release target pipe  12 .  
         [0049]     Arranged between sleeves  36  and thrust bearing  19  is a further thrust collar  38 , which together with thrust bearing  19  includes V-shaped snap ring groove  39  that opens outwards, in which there is an elastomer sealing ring  40 . In the course of twisting the device, sealing ring  40  is pressed against a cylindrical inner surface of stay pipe  19  in order to seal coolant-filled space  41  within stay pipe  13  and target pipe  12  against the vacuum in the vacuum chamber.  
         [0050]     For purposes of compensating the assembly state according to  FIG. 3 , straining ring  18  is screwed back to the left. As a result, thrust collar  35  becomes axially freely movable. Annular spring  37  tightens, as a result of which sleeves  36   a  slide on truncated cone surface  35   a  and its outer surfaces  36   b  release stay pipe  13  with coating  14  from atomizing material. Thrust collar  38  follows the movement under the influence of a wave-shaped annular spring  38   a  until a limiting ring  49  made up of a spring steel wire open on one side, as a result of which snap ring groove  39  widens and sealing ring  40  can tighten and likewise loosen from stay pipe  13 . Target pipe  12  may now be pulled off in axial direction toward the right. The restoration of the operating state according to  FIGS. 1 and 3  follows in the reverse.  
         [0051]     Load-bearing structure  1  is shown freely in space in  FIG. 4 —while continuing the reference figures. Support shaft  6  is rotatably stored over roller bearing  5  in stay pipe  3 . Support shaft  6  has extension  6   a , on which via roller bearing  43  a rotation coupling  42  is stored in a stationary manner for coolant supply and carrying off.  
         [0052]     Such types of rotation couplings  42  for liquids are known in themselves, however, so that a description of other particulars may be dispensed with. The actuation of support shaft  6  takes place via motor  44 , two pulleys  45  and  46 , and a transmission belt  47 . Sliding contacts  50  are provided for the supply of atomizing voltage. Connecting channels  51  and  52  are provided for the supply and carrying off of coolants.  
         [0053]      FIG. 5  shows a radial section along line V-V in  FIG. 3 . Arranged on the circumference of straining ring  18 , at equidistant distribution and radial directions, are boreholes  18   a  for inserting a rod-shaped tool and  18   b  for putting in support bodies  48 , which are mushroom-shaped and provided with dome-shaped outer surfaces  48   a , on which darkroom screen  27  that turns along with it is propped up.  
         [0054]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective representation of a bayonet connection, as it may be used for connecting a ring flange  8  and straining ring  16 . Ring flange  8  is fastened in a twist-proof manner at the end of support shaft  6 ; three pin rockers  8   a  are arranged on its circumference at equidistant distribution. Found in analogous arrangement in straining ring  16  are three L-shaped columns  16   a  having intakes and flanks  16   b  parallel to the axis, which run in a selectively ascending manner to the right toward their ends  16   c  in axial direction, so that the bayonet connection tightens and loosens again sensitively and without much effort while putting together and twisting. The threaded joint may be made non-detachable without tools using lock screws, not shown here.  
         [0055]     Shown on the left of  FIG. 7  is the chamber inner end of such a support shaft  6 , on which a first point of separation  60  is arranged on the left and on the right, beside it, a second point of separation  61 . The first point of separation  60  is formed through a ring flange  62  having a hub  63 , which is halved on a portion of its length, and at this point, is supplemented by a semi-ring-shaped thrust piece  64 , which is shown only partially here. The connection takes place by pushing in the direction of the arrow and by twisting by means of screws and screw holes  65  and  66 . This twisting, which—symmetrical in rotation—is then torque- and flex-resistant, forms a separator  67  together with ring flange  62  ( FIG. 8 ).  
         [0056]     The second point of separation  61  is made up of two combinable parts that are positive-locking with one another, namely ring flange  62  and straining ring  68 . The connection initially takes place by pushing a target pipe  12  to the left, which at least on one end has a ring flange  69  that sticks out radially outwards. Target pipe  12  may be monolithically constructed for mechanically highly stable atomizing materials, but in less durable non-metallic materials, may also made of a metallic inner pipe and an outer coating made of atomizing materials, such as for example, Si, Zn, SiAl, etc.  
         [0057]     The fixing of ring flange  69 , and consequently, of target pipe  12 , follows in a positive-locking and non-positive manner through straining ring  68 , which is part of a bayonet connection and through which ring flange  69  and ring flange  62  is non-rigid to the left and is also twistable compared with ring flange  62 . To produce the positive-locking, ring flange  62  has on its outer circumference at least one latch  70 , which after the twisting of straining ring  68  is each overlapped by a hook ring sector  71 . Flanks  70   a  of latch(es)  70  that overlap in the process and inner surface(s)  71   a  of ring sectors  71  may include in the process in axial direction an angle of pressure with a slight slope (as for a screw thread). Straining ring  68  has a step-by-step indentation  68   a.    
         [0058]     To fix the twisting angle, straining ring  68  has a fork part  72  having a tangential slit  73 . On the other hand, ring flange  62  has a radial overhang  74  having a screw hole  75 , into which a draw spindle  76  is screwed in. Between overhang  74  and the head of draw spindle  78  is a ring  77 , from which a retention pin  78  sticks out radially to the screw axis but tangentially to ring flange  62 , the retention pin engaging in a pushed together state, in accordance with  FIG. 8 , into slit  73 .  
         [0059]      FIG. 8  shows a perspective representation of the coupling arrangement according to  FIG. 7  in closed or coupled state. It can be seen that hub  63  and thrust piece  64  screws down almost together and with support shaft  6 , completing a rotational solid, which together with ring flange  6  forms a unit, which is indeed detachable.  
         [0060]     Ring flange  69  of target pipe  12  is arranged between ring flange  62  and straining ring  68 . However, it is now visible that latch  70  juts slightly behind ring sector  71  and in this manner forms a positive-locking connection.  
         [0061]     This also applies to any other connections of this type. Ring flange  69  of target pipe  12  lies in recess  68   a  of straining ring  68 . Straining screw  76  is tightened, and retention pin  78  now lies within slit  73 .  
         [0062]     In the interior of rotatable target pipe  12  is found—as in FIGS.  1  to  4  as well—a non-rotating magnetic system, not shown here, under whose lines of electric flux target pipe  12  runs through in operation. Supports and lines for the magnetic system and its coolant run through support shaft  6  until target pipe  12 , but are likewise not shown here.  
         [0063]     In conclusion, the present invention provides, among other things, a system and method for arranging a cathode and/or and associated target pipe. Those skilled in the art can readily recognize that numerous variations and substitutions may be made in the invention, its use and its configuration to achieve substantially the same results as achieved by the embodiments described herein. Accordingly, there is no intention to limit the invention to the disclosed exemplary forms. Many variations, modifications and alternative constructions fall within the scope and spirit of the disclosed invention as expressed in the claims.