Device for connecting conduits and / or chambers for guiding fluid.

Abstract

An apparatus for connecting a conduit and / or chamber for guiding fluid in a high-frequency electromagnetic field, wherein the apparatus has two conduit bodies and a bellows, each conduit body having an inherently rigid inner wall, wherein the inner walls of the conduit bodies together enclose an internal cavity for guiding fluid through the apparatus, and the conduit bodies are interconnected and sealed by the bellows, wherein the first and second conduit bodies are movable relative to each other and / or tilted, wherein the inner wall of the second conduit body extends into the internal space enclosed by the inner wall of the first conduit body a certain distance and terminates therein, and the inner wall of the first conduit body is electrically connected to the inner wall of the second conduit body through at least one elastically deformable sliding contact of the apparatus.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for connecting a conduit and / or chamber for guiding fluid in a high-frequency electromagnetic field, wherein the apparatus has a first conduit body and a second conduit body and, in particular, an elastically deformable bellows, the first conduit body having an inherently rigid inner wall, the second conduit body having an inherently rigid inner wall, wherein the inner walls of the first and second conduit bodies together form an internal cavity for guiding fluid through the apparatus, and the first and second conduit bodies are interconnected by the bellows, wherein the bellows at least partially and sealingly surrounds the first and second conduit bodies outwardly, and the first and second conduit bodies, in particular, can be displaced and / or tilted relative to each other, overcoming the elastic prestress of the bellows. Background Technology

[0002] In environments with high-frequency electromagnetic fields, such as in particle accelerators, care must be taken to minimize interference with the high-frequency electromagnetic fields applied inside and / or outside the pipes and / or chambers when connecting them. Furthermore, when these pipes and / or chambers are interconnected, there must be a feasibility to correct for length and / or angle when connecting them together. Various solutions to this are known in the prior art. For example, JP 3101173 U discloses a device of this type in which the inner walls of the first and second pipe bodies are arranged at a distance from each other and connected to each other by various elastic fingers of a surrounding elastic body. These elastic fingers ensure electrical connection between the two pipe bodies and allow for certain length and / or angle compensation when assembling the pipes and / or chambers.

[0003] A solution is known from JP 11-339999, in which the pipes to be interconnected each have flanges, and these flanges are directly interconnected by an intermediate seal. When connecting the flanges, the seal allows for certain angular and length compensation. Inside the flanges, these pipes are further interconnected by conductive, elastic fingers. These fingers act as sliding contacts. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a device of the above type that allows for angle and / or length compensation when connecting pipes and / or chambers, and minimizes interference with high-frequency electromagnetic fields applied internally and / or externally.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention provides an apparatus according to claim 1.

[0006] Therefore, it is stipulated that the inner wall of the second pipe body extends into the internal space enclosed by the inner wall of the first pipe body by a certain distance and terminates there, and the inner wall of the first pipe body is electrically connected to the inner wall of the second pipe body through at least one elastically deformable sliding contact portion of the device.

[0007] Surprisingly, it has been shown that, in the design according to the invention, the connection of the fluid-guiding pipes and / or chambers can be achieved with particularly low interference from the applied high-frequency electromagnetic field. Furthermore, the design of the device according to the invention also allows fluid to be transported through the internal cavity of the device with particularly low turbulence, the inner walls of the first and second pipe bodies together enclosing the internal cavity.

[0008] The device according to the invention can be used anywhere where it is necessary to connect fluid-guiding pipes to each other, or to connect fluid-guiding pipes to chambers, or to connect fluid-guiding chambers to each other, where the high-frequency electromagnetic fields present therein should be disturbed as little as possible. The source generating the high-frequency electromagnetic field can be located outside the pipes and / or chambers. However, the high-frequency electromagnetic field can also be generated in such a way that the fluid passing through the pipes and / or chambers, whether liquid or gas, is itself ionized or charged. Therefore, the device according to the invention is particularly suitable for use in particle accelerators. Other applications where fluid-guiding pipes and / or chambers must be interconnected in a high-frequency electromagnetic field are also possible application areas for the device according to the invention. Furthermore, if the pipes and / or chambers must be interconnected or are already interconnected, the design of the device according to the invention also allows for a certain degree of length and / or angular compensation. Length and / or angular compensation may be necessary when assembling the pipes and / or chambers using this device. However, the device according to the invention can also compensate for, for example, changes in length or angle of the pipes and / or chambers caused by temperature, even in an assembled state. In the various application areas of this invention, the spectrum of high-frequency electromagnetic fields can be very different. They can also be simply referred to as electromagnetic fields.

[0009] The use of the terms "first" and "second" in relation to pipe bodies and their inner walls is purely linguistic convention for explicit allocation. The designation of a first or second pipe body does not specify the installation direction or the flow direction of the fluid between the two guiding pipes and / or chambers. By convention, the inner wall of the first pipe body is referred to as the first inner wall. Similarly, the inner wall of the second pipe body is referred to as the second inner wall. In the case of two pipe bodies, the inner wall may be the only wall of the pipe body and therefore also the outer wall. However, it can also be specified that one pipe body has an additional outer wall, as will be described below as a preferred embodiment of the invention. In this invention, the first inner wall of the first pipe body and the second inner wall of the second pipe body together enclose the internal cavity of the device through which fluid is guided. However, this internal cavity of the device overlaps with, but is not identical to, an internal space surrounded by the inner wall of the first pipe body, and the inner wall of the second pipe body extends into that internal space by a distance. This is for two reasons. On the one hand, a portion of the inner wall of the second pipe body, as well as the volume surrounded by the inner wall of the second pipe body, is also located within the internal space surrounded by the inner wall of the first pipe body. On the other hand, the internal cavity of the device refers to the entire cavity of the device through which fluid is transported when the device connects pipes and / or chambers to each other in a fluid-guiding manner.

[0010] The electrically deformable sliding contact between the inner walls of the first and second pipe bodies has two functions. Firstly, it should electrically connect the two inner walls of the pipe bodies to each other. Secondly, it should allow for angular and / or length compensation by tilting the two inner walls of the pipe bodies relative to each other and / or nesting or pulling them apart. For this purpose, the sliding contact is required to be elastically deformable on the one hand, but also to be as electrically conductive as possible on the other. It can be a surrounding, self-closing, or particularly annularly constructed sliding contact, but it can also be multiple sliding contacts arranged spaced apart from each other. In principle, any component with sufficient elastic deformability and sufficient conductivity is suitable for this purpose. The sliding contact can, for example, have a connecting web that is annularly closed when necessary, with elastically deformable legs protruding from the connecting web on one and / or both sides, wherein the elastic legs electrically connect the two inner walls of the pipe bodies to each other through the connecting web.

[0011] The bellows also has two functions. Firstly, it serves to mechanically connect the first and second pipe bodies. For this purpose, the bellows advantageously possesses an elastic preload. However, a bellows capable of plastic deformation is also conceivable. In any case, the bellows allows the two pipe bodies to move relative to each other to compensate for length differences or angular deviations. For example, length or angular changes caused by temperature between interconnected pipes and / or chambers can also be compensated in this way. But in the case of elastic preload in the bellows, the first and second pipe bodies are advantageously preloaded toward their initial positions. The second function of the bellows is to seal the first and second pipe bodies externally and correspondingly at least partially surround them. The bellows is also advantageously designed to be conductive. It is particularly preferably made of metal. In the corresponding design, it thus forms an additional electrical connection between the first and second pipe bodies.

[0012] The conduits and / or chambers for guiding fluid, interconnected by the device according to the invention, can have opening cross-sections of different shapes. However, the conduits can also be, for example, pipes with circular opening cross-sections.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one elastically deformable sliding contact rests against the outer side of the inner wall of the second pipe body away from the inner cavity, and against the inner side of the inner wall of the first pipe body facing the inner cavity.

[0014] To ensure that the sliding contact remains in its intended position and does not move accidentally, it is advantageously provided that the sliding contact is disposed in a groove-shaped recess located on the outer side of the inner wall of the second pipe body facing away from the internal cavity and / or on the inner side of the inner wall of the first pipe body facing the internal cavity. By being disposed in the groove-shaped recess, accidental movement of the sliding contact is prevented.

[0015] For the sake of flow-friendly design, it is advantageous for the internal cavities of the device used to guide fluid through to have an opening cross-section that is as uniform as possible throughout. To achieve this, a preferred variant of the invention specifies that the inner wall of the first conduit body has two sections, wherein the opening cross-section enclosed by the inner wall of the first conduit body in the first section is smaller than that in the second section. This allows the inner wall of the second conduit body of the second conduit body to extend into and terminate within the internal space enclosed by the inner wall of the first conduit body in the second section of the first conduit body. By providing a second section with a larger opening cross-section compared to the first section, a region is provided in the inner wall of the first conduit body in which the inner wall of the second conduit body can be arranged in a segment extending into the internal space of the inner wall of the first conduit body. This ensures that the internal cavities of the device used to guide fluid through the two conduit bodies have at least a substantial uniform opening cross-section throughout.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second pipe body may further be provided with an outer pipe wall disposed on the side of the inner pipe wall opposite to the internal cavity and at a certain distance from the inner pipe wall, wherein the inner pipe wall of the first pipe body extends into and terminates in the intermediate space between the inner and outer pipe walls of the second pipe body. The distance between the inner and outer pipe walls of the second pipe body is advantageously such that the inner pipe wall of the first pipe body disposed therebetween is movable relative to the second pipe body for angular and / or length compensation. To minimize interference with high-frequency electromagnetic fields, it is advantageously provided in this case that the inner pipe wall of the first pipe body is electrically connected to the outer pipe wall of the second pipe body via at least one other elastically deformable sliding contact portion of the device.

[0017] To minimize interference with high-frequency electromagnetic fields, the components of the device according to the invention should be as electrically conductive as possible. In this case, it is preferably specified that the first conduit body and / or the second conduit body and / or the bellows and / or one or more sliding contacts are made of metal. Suitable metals include, for example, aluminum, steel, spring steel, copper, etc. If desired, a correspondingly highly conductive metal alloy may also be used. A coating with silver and / or gold may also be specified. In any case, it is advantageously specified that the first conduit body and / or the second conduit body and / or the bellows and / or one or more sliding contacts have a thickness of at least 1 × 10⁻⁶. 6 Siemens / meter, preferred 10×10 6 Siemens DC conductivity value per meter.

[0018] In addition to the device according to the invention, the invention also relates to a structure having a first component as a conduit or chamber and a second component as a conduit or chamber, wherein a high-frequency electromagnetic field is formed in and / or around the first and second components. This structure according to the invention is characterized in that the first component is connected to the second component in a fluid-guiding manner via the device according to the invention. Advantageously, in such a structure, the first and second components are connected to the device respectively via a seal and an electrically sliding contact, wherein the seal is preferably surrounded by the electrically sliding contact. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Other features and details of the preferred design of the present invention will be explained by way of example in the following description of the accompanying drawings.

[0020] Figure 1 An external view shows two fluid-guiding pipes connected by an embodiment of the device according to the invention;

[0021] Figure 2 Enlarged view along Figure 1Longitudinal cross-section of section AA in the diagram;

[0022] Figure 3 Enlarged display Figure 2 Detail B;

[0023] Figure 4 Enlarged display Figure 2 Detail C;

[0024] Figure 5 An exploded view illustrates the apparatus according to this embodiment of the invention;

[0025] Figure 6 The sliding contact portion used in this embodiment is shown;

[0026] Figure 7 It is along the sliding contact part Figure 6 A cross-sectional view of the DD profile line;

[0027] Figure 8 A longitudinal cross-sectional view is shown, illustrating a plurality of sequentially arranged fluid-guiding pipes connected by a device according to the invention; and

[0028] Figure 9 A longitudinal cross-sectional view is shown of a conduit for guiding fluid connected to a chamber via a device according to the invention, which is also a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the device according to the invention. Detailed Implementation

[0029] exist Figure 1 In this embodiment, two fluid-guiding pipes 2 are connected to each other in a fluid-guiding manner via a device 1 according to the invention. In other words, fluid can flow from one pipe 2 through the device 1 or through its internal cavity 9 into the other pipe 2, and vice versa. In the illustrated embodiment, each pipe 2 has a flange 24. The device 1 is secured to its respective flange 24 by its pipe bodies 4 and 6 or their respective connecting faces 25, which can be done in a manner known per se and not further shown herein, such as by tightening, welding, bonding, clamping, etc. Alternatively, the flange 24 can be omitted, allowing the end faces of the corresponding pipe 2 to be directly fixed to the first pipe body 4 or the second pipe body 6 or their connecting faces 25.

[0030] Figure 2 Slightly enlarged to show along Figure 1 The longitudinal section view of the cutting line AA. Therefore, in Figure 2 as well as Figure 1The diagram illustrates a structure having a first component (here, pipe 2) and a second component (here, another pipe 2), wherein the first component is flow-guidedly connected to the second component via a device 1 according to the invention. In this connection, the device 1 according to the invention firstly allows for some compensation for length and / or angular deviations of the pipes 2 facing each other. Furthermore, according to the invention, the device 1 is designed to interfere with or negatively affect high-frequency electromagnetic fields as little as possible. The source of the high-frequency electromagnetic field, not shown here, may be arranged both outside and inside the pipes 2. The pipes 2 and the device 1 may also be traversed by gaseous and / or liquid fluids having ionized or charged particles.

[0031] exist Figure 2 As can be clearly seen, the device 1 has a first pipe body 4 and a second pipe body 6 interconnected by a preferably elastically deformable bellows 8, wherein the bellows 8 at least partially surrounds and seals the first pipe body 4 and the second pipe body 6 outwards. As mentioned at the beginning, the bellows 8 is advantageously designed as a metal bellows. It preferably has elastic properties. In this case, the two pipe bodies 4 and 6 are pre-stressed relative to each other towards a neutral position by the prestress of the bellows 8. However, they can also be deflected relative to this neutral position, i.e., nested, pulled apart, or pivoted relative to each other in their angular positions, so as to compensate for possible misalignment between the two pipes 2 to be connected, or to compensate for the expansion or contraction of the pipes 2, for example, due to temperature. Figure 2 It can also be clearly seen that the first pipe body 4 has an inherently rigid inner wall 5, and the second pipe body 6 has an inherently rigid inner wall 7. These two inner walls 5 and 7 together form an internal cavity 9 for guiding fluid through the device 1. The first pipe body 4 and the second pipe body 6 preferably overcome the prestress of the bellows 8 and can be displaced and / or tilted relative to each other.

[0032] However, according to the present invention, the inner wall 7 of the second pipe body 6 extends a certain distance into the internal space 10 enclosed by the inner wall 5 of the first pipe body and terminates there. Furthermore, the inner wall 5 of the first pipe body is electrically connected to the inner wall 7 of the second pipe body via an elastically deformable sliding contact 11. In other words, the two pipe bodies 4 and 6 are electrically short-circuited to each other via the sliding contact 11. Due to its elasticity, the sliding contact 11 allows relative movement between the two pipe bodies 4 and 6 for length compensation, but also for angular compensation.

[0033] Regarding the relationship between the internal cavity 9 and the internal space 10, please refer to the corresponding explanation above. Figure 2 The content described there can be easily understood.

[0034] exist Figure 2It can also be clearly seen that the elastically deformable sliding contact portion 11 rests against the outer side 12 of the inner wall 7 of the second pipe body 7, away from the inner cavity 9. Furthermore, the sliding contact portion 11 also rests against the inner side 13 of the inner wall 5 of the first pipe body 5, facing the inner cavity 9. The groove-shaped recess 14 formed here in the inner wall 5 of the first pipe body 4, which accommodates the sliding contact portion 11, prevents the sliding contact portion 11 from moving undesirably too far when the two pipe bodies 4 and 6 are brought together or pulled apart for length compensation, or when tilted for angle compensation. Figure 2 It can also be clearly seen that the inner wall 5 of the pipe body has two sections 15 and 16, which have different opening cross-sections 17. The second section 16, with a larger opening cross-section, is the section of the inner wall 5 of the first pipe body 5 into which the inner wall 7 of the second pipe body extends a certain distance and terminates. This stepped design of the opening cross-section 17 of the inner wall 5 of the first pipe body allows, as in Figure 2 As can be clearly seen, the internal cavity 9 is designed to have a constant opening cross-section in the device 1 over substantially its entire extension or at least most of its extension.

[0035] exist Figure 2 As can also be clearly seen, in this embodiment, the second pipe body 6 has an outer pipe body wall 18, which is disposed on the side of the second pipe body wall 7 opposite to the internal cavity 9 and spaced apart from the second pipe body wall 7 by a distance 19. The first pipe body wall 5 is arranged in the intermediate space 20 created by the distance 19 between the second pipe body wall 7 and the outer pipe body wall 18. It extends into and terminates there. This also serves to minimize interference with high-frequency electromagnetic fields applied externally and / or internally by the device 1 according to the invention. Relatedly, it is also advantageous, as also achieved here, that the first pipe body wall 5 is electrically connected to the outer pipe body wall 18 via at least one additional resiliently deformable sliding contact 21 of the device 1.

[0036] Apart from slightly different dimensions, the additional sliding contact 21 can be designed essentially identically to the sliding contact 11. The grooved recess 26 again holds the sliding contact 21 in place, thus having the same function as the grooved recess 14 for the sliding contact 11, as described above. This applies to this embodiment, but can also be used in other variations of the invention.

[0037] To ensure a sealed connection between the respective pipe bodies 4 and 6 and the respective flanges 24 or pipes 2, a known sealing element 22 is provided, which in this embodiment is designed as a surrounding ring. The sealing element 22 is further surrounded by an electrically sliding contact 23. This electrically sliding contact 23 serves to ensure a good electrical connection between the flange 24 or pipe 2 and the pipe bodies 4 and 6 of the device 1 according to the invention. For linguistic distinction, these sliding contacts 23 may also be referred to as connecting sliding contacts 23. These sliding contacts 23 can also advantageously be designed to be elastically deformable. Apart from their dimensions, these sliding contacts 23 can also be designed substantially like sliding contacts 11.

[0038] Figure 3 Enlarged to show Figure 2 Details B are shown in the area of ​​the seal 22 and the sliding contact 23. Figure 4 Enlarged to show Figure 2 In region C, it can be clearly seen how the electric sliding contact 11 rests against the inner side 13 of the inner wall 5 of the first pipe body on one hand and against the outer side 12 of the inner wall 7 of the second pipe body on the other hand, so that the two inner walls 5 and 7 of the pipe body are electrically but also elastically displaced to each other.

[0039] Figure 5 The various components of an embodiment of the device 1 according to the present invention are shown in an exploded view. The sliding contact portion 11, designed here as a self-closing loop, is... Figure 6 It is shown separately in the text. Figure 7 It shows along Figure 6 The cross-sectional view DD of the cutting line, in Figure 7 In China, combined Figure 6 It can be clearly seen how the annular connecting web 27 of the sliding contact portion 11 has a series of elastic legs 28 on each side, which can be elastically deflected relative to the connecting web 27. Through the elastic legs 28, the sliding contact portion 11 rests against the inner wall 5 of the first pipe body on one side and against the inner wall 7 of the second pipe body on the other side.

[0040] As already explained, sliding contacts 21 and 23 can be designed accordingly. However, other elastically deformable and highly conductive sliding contacts can also be used. In particular, sliding contact 11 does not necessarily have to be designed as a closed loop. Multiple spaced-apart, mutually separated sliding contacts 11 can also exist to achieve both a highly conductive connection between the two pipe bodies 4 and 6 and to allow the two pipe bodies 4 and 6 to be elastically positioned relative to each other, while also enabling a corresponding connection between pipe body 4 and pipe 2.

[0041] Figure 8In the corresponding longitudinal cross-sectional view, it is exemplarily shown how a total of three pipes 2 are connected to each other in a flow-guiding manner through two devices 1 according to the invention of the embodiment shown here.

[0042] Figure 9 An example is shown in which the centrally located chamber 3 is connected to two pipes 2, each connected in the middle to the device 1 according to the invention. Of course, the two chambers 3 can also be directly connected to each other accordingly.

[0043] List of reference numerals

[0044] 1 device

[0045] 2 Pipelines

[0046] 3 chambers

[0047] 4 First Pipeline

[0048] 5. Inner wall of the first pipeline

[0049] 6 Second Pipeline

[0050] 7. The inner wall of the second pipe

[0051] 8 Corrugated pipe

[0052] 9. Internal cavity

[0053] 10. Interior Space

[0054] 11 Sliding contact part

[0055] 12 Outer side

[0056] 13. Inner side

[0057] 14 grooved recess

[0058] 15 First Section

[0059] 16 Second Section

[0060] 17. Opening cross-section

[0061] 18. External wall of the duct passage

[0062] 19 Distance

[0063] 20 Intermediate Space

[0064] 21 Other sliding contact parts

[0065] 22 Seals

[0066] 23 Sliding contact part

[0067] 24 Flange

[0068] 25 Connecting surfaces

[0069] 26 grooved recess

[0070] 27 Connecting webs

[0071] 28 Elastic Legs

Claims

1. A device (1) for connecting a pipe (2) and / or a chamber (3) guiding a fluid in a high-frequency electromagnetic field, wherein The device has a first duct body (4) with a first duct body inner wall (5) which is itself rigid, a second duct body (6) with a second duct body inner wall (7) which is itself rigid, wherein the first duct body inner wall (5) and the second duct body inner wall (7) together enclose an inner space (9) for conducting a fluid through the device (1), the first duct body (4) and the second duct body (6) are connected to one another by a bellows (8), wherein the bellows (8) at least partially surrounds the first duct body (4) and the second duct body (6) in an outwardly sealing manner, the first duct body (4) and the second duct body (6) can be displaced and / or tilted relative to one another against the elastic prestress of the bellows (8), characterized in that the second duct body inner wall (7) of the second duct body (6) extends into the inner space (10) enclosed by the first duct body inner wall (5) over a distance and ends there, and the first duct body inner wall (5) is electrically conductively connected to the second duct body inner wall (7) by at least one elastically deformable sliding contact (11) of the device (1), wherein the second duct body (6) has a duct body outer wall (18) which is arranged on the side of the second duct body inner wall (7) facing away from the inner space (9) at a distance (19) from the second duct body inner wall (7), wherein the first duct body inner wall (5) extends into the intermediate space (20) between the second duct body inner wall (7) and the duct body outer wall (18) and ends there.

2. The device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The at least one elastically deformable sliding contact (11) rests on the outer side (12) of the second duct body inner wall (7) facing away from the inner space (9) and on the inner side (13) of the first duct body inner wall (5) facing the inner space (9).

3. The device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that The sliding contact is arranged in a groove-shaped recess (14) on the outer side (12) of the second duct body inner wall (7) facing away from the inner space (9) and / or on the inner side (13) of the first duct body inner wall (5) facing the inner space (9).

4. The device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The first duct body inner wall (5) has two sections (15, 16), wherein the open cross section (17) enclosed by the first duct body inner wall (5) is smaller in the first section (15) than in the second section (16).

5. The device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that The second duct body inner wall (7) of the second duct body (6) extends into the inner space (10) enclosed by the first duct body inner wall (5) over a distance in the second section (16) of the first duct body inner wall (5) and ends there.

6. The device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The first duct body inner wall (5) is electrically conductively connected to the duct body outer wall (18) by at least one further, elastically deformable sliding contact (21) of the device (1).

7. The device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that The first pipe body (4) and / or the second pipe body (6) and / or the bellow (8) and / or the plurality of sliding contacts (11, 21) are made of metal and / or have at least 1 x 10 6 Siemens / Metrohm direct current conductivity values.

8. The device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that The first pipe body (4) and / or the second pipe body (6) and / or the bellows (8) and / or the plurality of sliding contacts (11, 21) have a 10 x 10 6 Siemens / Metrohm direct current conductivity values.

9. A structure for connecting a pipe (2) and / or a chamber (3) guiding a fluid in a high-frequency electromagnetic field, having a first component being a pipe (2) or a chamber (3) and a second component being a pipe (2) or a chamber (3), wherein, A high-frequency electromagnetic field is formed in and / or around the first component and the second component, characterized in that the first component is connected to the second component in a fluid-conducting manner by means of a device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The structure of claim 9, wherein The first component and the second component are connected to the device (1) by means of a seal (22) and a sliding contact (23), respectively, wherein the seal (22) is surrounded by the sliding contact (23).

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