VACUUM TUBE SUPPORT STRUCTURE

A vacuum tube support structure includes a vacuum tube, a cover configured to cover the vacuum tube, and a support member configured to support the vacuum tube and the cover. The cover includes a fluid introduction port configured to allow a fluid to pass through the cover to introduce the fluid inside the cover and a fluid discharge port configured to allow the fluid to pass through the cover to discharge the fluid from inside the cover. The fluid introduced through the fluid introduction port contacts the vacuum tube and is discharged through the fluid discharge port.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to and the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-084819 filed May 23, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a vacuum tube support structure.

BACKGROUND

Vacuum tube support structures for storing and supporting vacuum tubes are known. See, for example, Patent Literature (PTL) 1.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

SUMMARY

A vacuum tube support structure including:a vacuum tube;a cover configured to cover the vacuum tube; anda support member configured to support the vacuum tube and the cover, whereinthe cover includes a fluid introduction port configured to allow a fluid to pass through the cover to introduce the fluid inside the cover and a fluid discharge port configured to allow the fluid to pass through the cover to discharge the fluid from inside the cover, andthe fluid introduced through the fluid introduction port contacts the vacuum tube and is discharged through the fluid discharge port.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the aforementioned vacuum tube support structure, the temperature inside the vacuum tube support structure rises due to the heat generated by the vacuum tube, resulting in premature deterioration of the vacuum tube.

It would be helpful to provide a vacuum tube support structure such that the internal temperature does not rise easily.

An aspect of the present disclosure is as follows.[1] A vacuum tube support structure including:a vacuum tube;a cover configured to cover the vacuum tube; anda support member configured to support the vacuum tube and the cover, whereinthe cover includes a fluid introduction port configured to allow a fluid to pass through the cover to introduce the fluid inside the cover and a fluid discharge port configured to allow the fluid to pass through the cover to discharge the fluid from inside the cover, andthe fluid introduced through the fluid introduction port contacts the vacuum tube and is discharged through the fluid discharge port.[2] The vacuum tube support structure according to [1], wherein the fluid discharge port is configured to allow wiring of the vacuum tube to pass through the fluid discharge port.[3] The vacuum tube support structure according to [1] or [2], further including a fluid supply apparatus, whereinthe fluid supply apparatus is configured to supply the fluid to the fluid introduction port.[4] The vacuum tube support structure according to [3], whereinthe fluid supply apparatus includes piping configured to connect to the fluid introduction port, andthe piping is configured to supply the fluid to the fluid introduction port.[5] The vacuum tube support structure according to [3] or [4], wherein the fluid supply apparatus includes a fan configured to send the fluid.[6] The vacuum tube support structure according to any one of [3] to [5], wherein the fluid supply apparatus includes a cooling apparatus capable of cooling the fluid.[7] The vacuum tube support structure according to any one of [3] to [5], whereinthe fluid supply apparatus includes a temperature adjustment apparatus capable of adjusting a temperature of the fluid.[8] The vacuum tube support structure according to any one of [1] to [7], further including a fluid discharge apparatus, whereinthe fluid discharge apparatus is configured to discharge the fluid from the fluid discharge port.[9] The vacuum tube support structure according to [8], whereinthe fluid discharge apparatus includes piping configured to connect to the fluid discharge port, andthe piping is configured to discharge the fluid from the fluid discharge port.[10] The vacuum tube support structure according to [8] or [9], wherein the fluid discharge apparatus includes a fan configured to send the fluid.[11] A sensor including:the vacuum tube support structure according to any one of [1] to [10], whereinthe sensor is configured to measure a physical quantity of a measurement target by receiving electromagnetic waves irradiated from the vacuum tube toward the measurement target.[12] A measurement apparatus comprising:the sensor according to [11]; anda movement apparatus configured to move the sensor in a direction intersecting a direction of movement of the measurement target.

According to the present disclosure, a vacuum tube support structure such that the internal temperature does not rise easily can be provided.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated below with reference to the drawings.

As illustrated inFIGS.1to3, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, a vacuum tube support structure1includes a vacuum tube2, a cover3that covers the vacuum tube2, and a support member4that supports the vacuum tube2and the cover3. The cover3includes a fluid introduction port5that allows a fluid to pass through the cover3to introduce the fluid inside the cover3and a fluid discharge port6configured to allow the fluid to pass through the cover3to discharge the fluid from inside the cover3. The fluid introduced through the fluid introduction port5contacts the vacuum tube2and is discharged through the fluid discharge port6.

According to the above configuration, the cover3covering the vacuum tube2can protect the surrounding area from high voltage applied to the vacuum tube2. Furthermore, the fluid introduced inside the cover3from the fluid introduction port5comes in contact with the vacuum tube2and thus removes the heat generated by the vacuum tube2. The fluid is then discharged from inside the cover3through the fluid discharge port6, thereby suppressing a rise in temperature inside the cover3. Therefore, a vacuum tube support structure1such that the internal temperature does not rise easily can be achieved. As a result, deterioration of the vacuum tube2can be suppressed, and the amount of work to replace the vacuum tube2, for example, can be reduced.

The fluid discharge port6allows wiring7of the vacuum tube2to pass through the fluid discharge port6. According to this configuration, the fluid discharge port6can also serve as a passage for the wiring7of the vacuum tube2, thereby simplifying the vacuum tube support structure1.

The vacuum tube support structure1includes a fluid supply apparatus8, and the fluid supply apparatus8supplies the fluid to the fluid introduction port5. According to this configuration, fluid can be easily introduced inside the cover3by the fluid supply apparatus8.

The fluid supply apparatus8includes piping8aconnecting to the fluid introduction port5, and the piping8asupplies the fluid to the fluid introduction port5. According to this configuration, the piping8acan be used to introduce the fluid from a desired location to the fluid introduction port5.

As in the example illustrated inFIG.4, the fluid supply apparatus8may be configured to include a fan8bthat sends the fluid. According to this configuration, the structure of the fluid supply apparatus8can be simplified, since the fluid can be sent to the fluid introduction port5by the fan8b.

As in the example illustrated inFIG.4, the fluid supply apparatus8may be configured to include a cooling apparatus8ccapable of cooling the fluid. According to this configuration, since the cooling apparatus8ccan supply cooled fluid, a vacuum tube support structure1such that the internal temperature does not rise easily can be achieved.

While not illustrated, the fluid supply apparatus8may be configured to include a temperature adjustment apparatus capable of adjusting the temperature of the fluid. According to this configuration, since the temperature adjustment apparatus can supply an appropriately cooled fluid, the temperature inside the vacuum tube support structure1can be appropriately controlled.

While not illustrated, the vacuum tube support structure1may be configured to include a fluid discharge apparatus, and the fluid discharge apparatus may discharge the fluid from the fluid discharge port6. According to this configuration, fluid can be easily discharged from inside the cover3by the fluid discharge apparatus.

While not illustrated, the fluid discharge apparatus may be configured to include piping8athat connects to the fluid discharge port6, and the piping8amay discharge the fluid from the fluid discharge port6. According to this configuration, the piping8acan be used to discharge the fluid from the fluid discharge port6to a desired location.

While not illustrated, the fluid discharge apparatus may be configured to include a fan8bthat sends the fluid. According to this configuration, the structure of the fluid discharge apparatus can be simplified, since the fluid can be discharged from the fluid discharge port6by the fan8b.

The cover3includes a peripheral wall member3a, which has one end supported by the support member4, and an end member3bprovided at the other end of the peripheral wall member3a. According to this configuration, the cover3can be achieved with a simple structure.

The fluid introduction port5and the fluid discharge port6are located in the peripheral wall member3a. According to this configuration, the heat generated by the vacuum tube2can be efficiently removed, and a rise in temperature inside the cover3can be further suppressed.

The vacuum tube2is an x-ray tube that emits x-rays. X-ray tubes are particularly prone to deterioration due to heat generation. Therefore, deterioration can be significantly suppressed by using the vacuum tube support structure1according to this configuration, in which the internal temperature does not rise easily. The vacuum tube2is not limited to being an x-ray tube but may also be configured to emit electromagnetic waves other than x-rays.

The vacuum tube support structure1includes an electromagnetic wave transmission space9that allows electromagnetic waves emitted by the vacuum tube2to be transmitted through the vacuum tube support structure1for emission from within the vacuum tube support structure1. According to this configuration, electromagnetic waves can be emitted through the electromagnetic wave transmission space9. As illustrated inFIGS.3and4, the support member4includes the electromagnetic wave transmission space9, but this configuration is not limiting.

A sensor10includes the vacuum tube support structure1and measures a physical quantity of a measurement target11by receiving electromagnetic waves irradiated from the vacuum tube2toward the measurement target11. In greater detail, the sensor10includes a transmitter12that includes the vacuum tube support structure1and irradiates electromagnetic waves from the vacuum tube2toward the measurement target11and a receiver13that receives the electromagnetic waves irradiated toward the measurement target11. According to this configuration, it is possible to achieve a sensor10that includes a vacuum tube support structure1such that the internal temperature does not rise easily.

As illustrated inFIG.1, the sensor10is a transmission-type sensor such that the transmitter12and the receiver13are installed on different sides as viewed from the measurement target11, but this configuration is not limiting. The sensor10may also be configured as a reflection-type sensor such that the transmitter12and the receiver13are installed on the same side as viewed from the measurement target11.

The sensor10includes a power source14that supplies power to the vacuum tube2, and the power source14is supported by the support member4. According to this configuration, the structure of the sensor10can be simplified.

A measurement apparatus15includes the sensor10and a movement apparatus16that moves the sensor10in a direction intersecting (see the double bold arrows inFIG.1) the direction of movement (see the bold arrow inFIG.1) of the measurement target11. According to this configuration, it is possible to achieve a measurement apparatus15that includes a vacuum tube support structure1such that the internal temperature does not rise easily.

The measurement apparatus15is installed on a production line along which the measurement target11flows. According to the this configuration, a physical quantity of the measurement target11can be measured on the production line.

The measurement apparatus15is configured as a thickness gauge, such as a basis weight meter, that measures the thickness of the measurement target11by the intensity of the electromagnetic waves received by the receiver13. According to this configuration, it is possible to achieve a thickness gauge that includes a vacuum tube support structure1such that the internal temperature does not rise easily.

The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be modified in various ways without departing from the scope thereof.