An integrated neutron target structure convenient for remote control maintenance

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of neutron therapy technology, and in particular to an integrated neutron target structure that can integrate a vacuum system and a cooling system and is convenient for remote control maintenance; the target structure comprises a target container, a transition plate and a vacuum cooling integrated structure that are stacked in a sandwich-like manner in sequence; the present invention integrates the vacuum and cooling water interfaces through a fixed flange, that is, an integrated vacuum cooling integrated structure can be formed by only connecting with the fixed flange, so that the connection and sealing of the vacuum and cooling water pipelines can be achieved; secondly, the present invention adds a suspended self-positioning structure, a manipulator clamp grasping notch, etc., and the convenience of remote control operation is improved in the overall structure. In addition, in terms of structure, considering the repair problem when the sealing surface of the vacuum tube end is damaged, a transition plate is added between the vacuum cooling integrated structure and the target container, and the sealing surface of the transition plate can be replaced when it is damaged, thereby having the ability of convenient repair.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of neutron therapy, and in particular to an integrated neutron target structure capable of integrating a vacuum system and a cooling system and convenient for remote control maintenance. Background Art

[0002] In Boron-Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT), a specially prepared boron-containing compound is pre-injected into the tumor patient's body. This compound has a strong affinity with cancer cells. After entering the human body, it quickly gathers in cancer cells, while it is rarely distributed in other tissues. BNCT's super-thermal neutron rays irradiate the patient's tumor. This ray safely penetrates the normal tissue of the human body and produces a strong nuclear reaction with the boron that enters the cancer cell. This nuclear reaction releases strong alpha rays. The range of this ray is very short, only the length of a cancer cell, and it can destroy cancer cells from the inside, minimizing the impact on surrounding normal cells, thereby achieving the effect of treating cancer.

[0003] The target is the component in the BNCT device that produces neutrons by being bombarded by the accelerator proton beam. The target needs to be connected to the end of the beam vacuum tube. The target generates a large amount of heat deposition under the bombardment of the proton beam and needs to be cooled by cooling water. That is, when the target is working, it needs to be connected to the vacuum tube and the cooling water pipe. However, in the current technology, the vacuum and cooling water interfaces are usually connected independently, resulting in many connection interfaces and complicated operation.

[0004] The target will be damaged by radiation under the bombardment of the beam, and needs to be replaced after reaching a certain degree of damage; the target has strong radioactivity after use, and usually cannot be directly operated by human hands, but needs to be replaced by remote control robots; due to the limitations of the target working environment, the flexibility and achievable operations of remote control robots are limited compared to manual operation. Therefore, the design of the target should take into account the convenience of remote control robot operation, simplify the action of replacing the target, and reduce the difficulty of operation. Summary of the invention

[0005] In view of the problems in the current boron neutron capture therapy such as the independent connection of the vacuum and cooling water interfaces of the target structure, multiple connection interfaces and complicated operation, the present invention aims to provide a target structure, particularly a target structure that is easy to maintain by remote control.

[0006] The technical solution adopted by the present invention is: an integrated neutron target structure that is convenient for remote control maintenance, the target structure comprising a target container, a transition plate and a vacuum cooling integrated structure that are sequentially stacked in a sandwich shape;

[0007] The front end face of the target container is provided with a transition flange, and a water inlet, a water outlet and a screw hole are provided on the transition flange. The periphery of the water inlet and the water outlet is sealed by a cooling water sealing ring. When the target container is connected, installed and sealed, the water inlet, the water outlet and the cavity inside the target container form a cooling water flow channel. When cooling water flows into the target container from the water inlet, the target can be cooled through the cooling water flow channel. The back of the target container is designed with a notch for remote control clamping, and one side of the notch has an inclined surface to facilitate the guiding entry of the clamp. The length of the notch matches the clamp to keep the relative position of the target container and the clamp fixed, so as to ensure that the target is fixed in position during the clamping and transportation process.

[0008] The vacuum cooling integrated structure comprises a vacuum tube and a cooling water pipe integratedly mounted on a fixed flange. The fixed flange is a hollow flange structure. The bottom of the large through hole in the middle is connected to the vacuum tube. Cooling water pipes are installed on both sides of the vacuum tube. The fixed flange is designed with through holes for connecting to the cooling water pipes and pin holes for connecting the transition plate.

[0009] The shape and structure of the transition plate are compatible with the fixed flange and the transition flange. The overall shape is a hollow flange. The large through hole in the middle is connected to the vacuum tube, and the small through holes on both sides are connected to the cooling water respectively, and are connected to the fixed flange by screws.

[0010] One end surface of the transition plate is connected to the vacuum cooling integrated structure through a fixed flange, and the other end surface is connected to the target container through a transition flange.

[0011] Pins are installed in the pin holes on the fixed flange respectively. The size of the pins is smaller than the holes at the corresponding positions on the target container. There are two pins, which are used to suspend the target container or the transition plate, and automatically position the target container or the transition plate to be coaxial with the fixed flange under the action of gravity, so as to realize the sequential stacking installation of the target container, the transition plate and the vacuum cooling integrated structure.

[0012] The screw holes on the transition plate adopt screws that will not fall out, and the screws can be screwed into the screw holes in advance before installing the target container.

[0013] The number of the screws that do not fall out is two or more.

[0014] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: firstly, the present invention integrates the vacuum and cooling water interfaces through a fixed flange, that is, an integrated vacuum cooling integrated structure can be formed only by connecting with the fixed flange, so as to realize the connection and sealing of the vacuum and cooling water pipelines; secondly, the present invention adds a suspended self-positioning structure, a manipulator clamp grasping notch, etc., and the convenience of remote control operation is improved in the overall structure. In addition, in view of the repair problem in the case of damage to the sealing surface of the vacuum tube end, a transition plate is added between the vacuum cooling integrated structure and the target container, and the sealing surface of the transition plate can be replaced when it is damaged, thereby having the ability of convenient repair. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the decomposition structure of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the target container in the present invention.

[0018] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the lateral side structure of the target container in the present invention.

[0019] Notes on the accompanying drawings: 1-target container, 2-transition plate, 3-vacuum cooling integrated structure, 4-pin hole, 6-non-slip screw, 11-cooling water sealing ring, 12-slot, 13-flange, 14-vacuum sealing ring, 15-transition flange, 16-water inlet, 17-water outlet, 21-fixed flange, 22-vacuum tube, 23-cooling water pipe, 24-pin. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The specific implementation of the present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0021] like Figure 1-4 As shown, an integrated neutron target structure that is easy to maintain by remote control, the target structure includes a target container 1, a transition plate 2 and a vacuum cooling integrated structure 3 that are stacked in a sandwich-like manner in sequence; more specifically, one end face of the transition plate 2 is connected to the target container 1, and when connected and installed, vacuum sealing is performed through a vacuum sealing ring 14; the other end face is connected to the vacuum cooling integrated structure 3, the structure is simple, and it is easy to implement.

[0022] A target body is installed in the target body container, and a transition flange 15 is provided on the front end face of the target body container. A water inlet 16, a water outlet 17 and screw holes are provided on the transition flange 15. The peripheries of the water inlet 16 and the water outlet 17 are sealed by a cooling water sealing ring 11. When the target body container 1 is connected, installed and sealed, the cavity formed between the water inlet 16, the water outlet 17 and the target body container 1 constitutes a cooling water flow channel. When cooling water flows into the target body from the water inlet 16, the target body can be cooled through the cooling water flow channel. A notch 12 for remote control clamping is designed on the back of the target body container, and one side of the notch 12 has an inclined surface to facilitate the guiding entry of the clamp. The notch 12 has a certain length, which matches the clamp of the manipulator, keeps the relative position of the target body container and the clamp fixed, and ensures that the target body container is fixed in position during the clamping and transportation process.

[0023] The vacuum cooling integrated structure 3 includes a vacuum tube 22 and a cooling water pipe 23 integrated on a fixed flange 21. The fixed flange 21 is a hollow flange structure, and the bottom of the large through hole in the middle is connected to the vacuum tube 22. Cooling water pipes 23 are installed on both sides of the vacuum tube 22. The fixed flange 21 is designed with through holes for connecting to the cooling water pipes 23 and pin holes 4 for connecting to the transition plate 2. The shape and structure of the transition plate 2 are compatible with the fixed flange 21 and the transition flange 15. The whole is a hollow flange shape, the large through hole in the middle is connected to the vacuum tube 22, and the small through holes on both sides are connected to the cooling water respectively, and are connected to the fixed flange 21 by screws. One end face of the transition plate 2 is connected to the vacuum cooling integrated structure 3 through the fixed flange 21, and the other end face is connected to the target container through the transition flange 15.

[0024] The pin holes 4 on the fixed flange 21 of the vacuum cooling integrated structure 3 are respectively installed with pins 24. There are two pins 24, which are used to suspend the target container 1 or the transition plate 2, and automatically position the target container 1 or the transition plate 2 to be coaxial with the fixed flange 21 under the action of gravity, so as to realize the sequential stacking installation of the target container 1, the transition plate 2 and the vacuum cooling integrated structure 3, and the target container 1 and the transition plate 2 are sealed by the vacuum sealing ring 14; the diameter of the pin 24 is smaller than the size of the pin hole 4, which reduces the difficulty of centering of the remote control operation; in this embodiment, the diameter of the pin 24 is φmm, and the diameter of the through hole is φ11mm.

[0025] The screw holes on the transition plate 2 are provided with screws 6 that will not fall out. Before the target container is installed, the screws can be screwed into the screw holes in advance without the need for remote control manipulators to pick up the screws, center them, screw them in, and other operations, thereby simplifying the operation and reducing the difficulty of operation. The number of screws 6 that will not fall out is two or more. In this embodiment, the number of screws is optimized and calculated, and six are designed to further optimize and reduce the pre-tightening force of the sealing ring. It is possible to further reduce the number of screws, such as two, to achieve a stable connection and fixing effect, and also to simplify the remote control operation. By tightening the screws, the target container is connected and fixed to the transition plate 2, and the cooling water sealing ring 11 and the vacuum sealing ring 14 are pre-tightened, achieving the effect of sealing the cooling water and the vacuum at the same time.

[0026] In this embodiment, vacuum and cooling water are sealed synchronously, which simplifies the operation of replacing the target in the target container; at the same time, a pin 24 suspended self-positioning structure is adopted to achieve automatic coaxial accuracy and reduce the requirements for remote control operation positioning accuracy; compared with conventional designs, the number of pre-tightening screws is reduced to six, and after reducing the pre-tightening force of the sealing ring, the number of screws can be further reduced; a notch 12 with an inclined surface is provided on the outer surface of the target container, which can facilitate the guide entry, clamping and maintenance of the relative position of the target and the clamp used for remote control operation; the convenience of remote control maintenance is improved as a whole; the transition plate 2 in the present invention is replaceable, so that in the event of damage to the sealing surface, it is also possible to repair it.

[0027] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention. Technical personnel in this industry can make some deformation and modifications under the inspiration of this technical solution. Any modifications, equivalent changes and modifications made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention are still within the scope of the technical solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. An integrated neutron target structure that is convenient for remote control maintenance, characterized in that: The target structure comprises a target container, a transition plate and a vacuum cooling integrated structure which are stacked in a sandwich shape in sequence; The front end face of the target container is provided with a transition flange, and a water inlet, a water outlet and a screw hole are provided on the transition flange. The periphery of the water inlet and the water outlet is sealed by a cooling water sealing ring. When the target container is connected, installed and sealed, the water inlet, the water outlet and the cavity inside the target container form a cooling water flow channel. When cooling water flows into the target container from the water inlet, the target can be cooled through the cooling water flow channel. The back of the target container is designed with a notch for remote control clamping, and one side of the notch has an inclined surface to facilitate the guiding entry of the clamp. The length of the notch matches the clamp to keep the relative position of the target container and the clamp fixed, so as to ensure that the target is fixed in position during the clamping and transportation process. The vacuum cooling integrated structure comprises a vacuum tube and a cooling water pipe integratedly mounted on a fixed flange. The fixed flange is a hollow flange structure. The bottom of the large through hole in the middle is connected to the vacuum tube. Cooling water pipes are installed on both sides of the vacuum tube. The fixed flange is designed with through holes for connecting to the cooling water pipes and pin holes for connecting the transition plate. The shape and structure of the transition plate are compatible with the fixed flange and the transition flange, and the whole is in the shape of a hollow flange. The large through hole in the middle is connected to the vacuum tube, and the small through holes on both sides are connected to the cooling water respectively, and are connected to the fixed flange by screws; one end face of the transition plate is connected to the vacuum cooling integrated structure through the fixed flange, and the other end face is connected to the target container through the transition flange; pins are installed in the pin holes on the fixed flange respectively, and the pin size is smaller than the hole at the corresponding position on the target container. There are two pins, which are used to suspend the target container or the transition plate, and automatically position the target container or the transition plate to be coaxial with the fixed flange under the action of gravity, so as to realize the target container, the transition plate and the vacuum cooling integrated structure. The stacking installation of the sequence.

2. The integrated neutron target structure convenient for remote control maintenance according to claim 1, characterized in that: The screw holes on the transition plate adopt screws that will not fall out, and the screws can be screwed into the screw holes in advance before installing the target container.

3. The integrated neutron target structure convenient for remote control maintenance according to claim 2, characterized in that: The number of the screws that do not fall out is two or more.

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