Patent ID: 12188583

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

First Embodiment

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described by referring to the accompanying drawings.FIG.1is an exploded view of a part of the charged particle accelerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In a vacuum-duct joint-portion10A (10) which is a part of the charged particle accelerator, the charged particle accelerator includes: a joint (i.e., joint member)11A; an annular seal (i.e., annular seal material)12, a ring (i.e., ring member)15, and a nut (i.e., nut member)16, each of these members11A,12,15,16is inserted through a duct (or duct component)17through which charged particles pass.

In the joint11A, a male screw21is engraved on its outer peripheral surface, and a contact surface25to be brought into contact with the annular seal12is formed at the end of its inner peripheral surface22. A flange plate18is formed on the tip side of the joint11A in the first embodiment. On the ring15, a pressing surface26for pressing the annular seal12toward the contact surface25of the joint11A is formed. On the nut16, an abutting surface28that abuts on the ring15is formed. A female screw27to be screwed to the male screw21of the joint11A is engraved on the inner peripheral surface of the nut16.

FIG.2is an assembly diagram of a part of the charged particle accelerator according to the first embodiment. Between the flange plates18(FIG.1) of two joints11A facing each other, the vacuum-duct joint-portions10A provided at the respective ends of the ducts17are made to abut each other and fastened with screws or the like. On the abutting surface of the flange plate18, sealing materials (not shown) such as gaskets and O-rings for ensuring internal sealability are disposed. A plurality of ducts17are connected in this manner, and thereby, a vacuum duct configured to serve as a trajectory of moving charged particles is formed.

FIG.3is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the broken-line part A inFIG.2showing the vacuum-duct joint-portion10. A clearance31is formed between the duct17and the joint11. Another clearance31is also formed between the duct17and the nut16. These clearances31allow the duct17to tilt with respect to the joint11.

The inner diameter of the joint11has a dimensional margin and is larger than the outer diameter of the duct17to be inserted through. As to the contact surface25(FIG.1) formed at the end of the joint11, the inner peripheral surface22is enlarged to the extent that the outer circumference of the ring15is engaged, and the surface with which the annular seal12is brought into close contact is formed in a tapered shape. The inner diameter of the ring15has a dimensional margin so as to be larger than the outer diameter of the duct17to be inserted through, and the end face with which the annular seal12is brought into close contact is formed in a tapered shape. The ring15has a smoothly formed end surface that abuts on the abutting surface28(FIG.1) of the nut16, and this end face is smooth enough to prevent the ring15from rotating in conjunction with rotation of the nut16.

The annular seal12is formed by using a material such as an O-ring that elastically deforms under pressing force and adheres to the contact surface so as to exhibit airtightness. When the joint11is screwed into the nut16, the annular seal12receives pressing force from the end of joint11, the end face of the ring15, and the outer peripheral surface of the duct17. The elastically deformed annular seal12seals the intrusion route of the outside air along the outer peripheral surface of the duct17so as to maintain the degree of vacuum inside the duct17. Even if the duct17is tilted with respect to the joint11within the range of the clearances31, the elastic deformation of the annular seal12follows such that the airtightness is not impaired. Although positional deviation during construction is generally absorbed by installing bellows, in each embodiment, positional deviation can be absorbed without bellows.

FIG.4AtoFIG.4Care process diagrams illustrating a method for building the charged particle accelerator30A according to the first embodiment. As shown inFIG.4AtoFIG.4C, the charged particle accelerator30A includes: a device35that interacts with charged particles passing through the duct17; and a supporter (support member)36that supports the device35with respect to a floor surface (not shown). Although the device35interacting with the passing charged particles is exemplified by a bending electromagnet, a quadrupole electromagnet, and a screen monitor, the device35is not limited to those.

In the construction method of the charged particle accelerator30A according to the first embodiment, as shown inFIG.4A, the duct17is inserted through the device35. Further, as shown inFIG.4B, the nut16, the ring15, the annular seal12, and the joint11A are inserted in this order from the tip of the duct17. Thereafter, the male screw21(FIG.1) of the joint11A and the female screw27(FIG.1) of the nut16are screwed together. As a result, the assembly of the vacuum-duct joint-portion10A is completed as shown inFIG.4C.

FIG.5AtoFIG.5Care process diagrams illustrating a method for building the charged particle accelerator30B which is another aspect of the first embodiment. In some cases, the duct17is inserted through a plurality of devices35. The construction method of the charged particle accelerator30B conforms to the construction method of the charged particle accelerator30A described above, and its description is omitted.

Second Embodiment

Next, the second embodiment of the present invention will be described by referring toFIG.6toFIG.8C. In FIG.6toFIG.8C, components having the same configuration or function as those inFIG.1toFIG.5Care denoted by the same reference signs, and duplicate description is omitted.

FIG.6is an exploded view of a part of the charged particle accelerator according to the second embodiment of the present invention.FIG.7is an assembly diagram of a part of the charged particle accelerator according to the second embodiment.

In the vacuum-duct joint-portion10B (10) that is a part of the charged particle accelerator, the charged particle accelerator includes: a joint11B; the annular seal12; the ring15; and the nut16. These components11B,12,15, and16are inserted through the duct17through which the charged particles pass.

In the joint11B, the male screw21is engraved on its outer peripheral surface, and the contact surface25to be in contact with the annular seal12is formed at the end of its inner peripheral surface22. In the joint11B of the second embodiment, the contact surface25to be in contact with the annular seal12is formed at both ends, and two nuts16are screwed to both ends of the male screw21engraved on the outer peripheral surface. On the ring15, a pressing surface26for pressing the annular seal12toward the contact surface25of the joint11B is formed. On each nut16, an abutting surface28that abuts on the ring15is formed. The female screw27to be screwed to the male screw21of the joint11is engraved on the inner peripheral surface of each nut16.

FIG.8AtoFIG.8Care process diagrams illustrating a method for building the charged particle accelerator30C according to the second embodiment. As shown inFIG.8AtoFIG.8C, the charged particle accelerator30C includes: devices35that interact with charged particles passing through the ducts17; and the supporters36that support the devices35with respect to the floor surface (not shown).

In the construction method of the charged particle accelerator30C according to the second embodiment, as shown inFIG.8A, each duct17is inserted through the device35. Thereafter, as shown inFIG.8B, the nut16, the ring15, the annular seal12, and the joint11B are inserted in this order from the tip of each duct17. Respective two ducts17facing each other are inserted into both ends of the joint11B. Further, the male screw21(FIG.6) of the joint11B and the female screw27(FIG.6) of each nut16are screwed together. As a result, the assembly of the vacuum-duct joint-portion10B is completed as shown inFIG.7andFIG.8C.

According to the method for building the charged particle accelerator30of each embodiment described above, neither disassembly of the device35such as an electromagnet nor welding work of the flange is necessary when the duct17is inserted into the device35. Further, at the construction site, after installing the device35, the vacuum duct can be installed and the degree of freedom of construction can be increased.

According to the charged particle accelerator of at least one embodiment described above, its assembly work can be simplified by configuring the tip of the duct component with a joint member, an annular seal material, a ring member, and a nut member.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. These embodiments may be embodied in a variety of other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the accompanying claims and their equivalents as well as included in the scope and gist of the inventions.