Assembly device for arc-shaped superconducting magnets

Abstract

This disclosure provides an assembly apparatus for an arc-shaped superconducting magnet, relating to the field of particle accelerator assembly. The assembly apparatus includes: a drive module for providing power to drive the arc-shaped superconducting magnet along a predetermined trajectory into a cryostat; a support module connected to the drive module for supporting the arc-shaped superconducting magnet; a sensing module disposed on the surface of the superconducting magnet for detecting operating parameters during the movement of the arc-shaped magnet; and a control module communicatively connected to the drive module and the sensing module for controlling the operating state of the drive module based on the operating parameters fed back by the sensing module. This method, through the coordinated operation of the drive module, sensing module, and control module, transforms the assembly process of the arc-shaped superconducting magnet from an invisible, feedback-free, and purely experience-based manual operation into an intelligent operation mode with full-process visual detection, significantly improving the assembly safety and positioning accuracy of large-scale cryogenic superconducting equipment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the technical field, and more particularly to an assembly device for an arc-shaped superconducting magnet. Background Technology

[0002] With the cross-disciplinary integration of radiation medicine and nuclear physics, proton and heavy ion therapy devices have become internationally recognized as the pinnacle of precision radiotherapy for tumors. To reduce construction costs, minimize footprint, and increase equipment adoption, next-generation treatment devices are evolving towards compactness, high field strength, and lightweight designs. In this trend, curved superconducting magnets have become core components of the main accelerator and rotating gantry. To maximize space utilization efficiency, the magnets are designed as complex geometries with specific curvatures and must be entirely encapsulated within a cryostat providing a low-temperature environment.

[0003] In the accelerator assembly process, feeding the massive, high-value curved superconducting magnet into the cryostat is the riskiest and most challenging step in the entire manufacturing chain. Current technologies, in order to reduce footprint, drastically compress the radial gap between the cryostat's inner wall and the magnet, and the magnet is inserted several meters deep into the Dewar, creating a severe monitoring blind spot, making it impossible to know the front-end position and its pose relationship with the inner wall in real time. During the feeding of the curved superconducting magnet, minute attitude deviations are amplified by the long lever arm; traditional devices lack sensor feedback and cannot intervene in advance, easily leading to the magnet colliding with the inner wall. Furthermore, the transfer of multi-ton loads relies entirely on manual experience, lacking quantitative guidance, resulting in collimation deviations and magnetic axis misalignment; the support straps are subjected to undesigned lateral forces, posing a risk of fatigue fracture and directly threatening the integrity of the cryogenic system. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the above problems, embodiments of this disclosure provide an assembly device for an arc-shaped superconducting magnet, comprising: a drive module for providing power to drive the arc-shaped superconducting magnet to move along a predetermined trajectory into the interior of a thermostat; a support module connected to the drive module for supporting the arc-shaped superconducting magnet; a sensing module disposed on the surface of the superconducting magnet for detecting operating parameters during the movement of the arc-shaped magnet; and a control module communicatively connected to the drive module and the sensing module for controlling the operating state of the drive module according to the operating parameters fed back by the sensing module.

[0005] According to an embodiment of this disclosure, the carrier module integrates an arc-shaped guide plate, and the drive module engages with the arc-shaped guide plate to guide the arc-shaped superconducting magnet to move along an arc-shaped track.

[0006] According to an embodiment of this disclosure, the assembly device further includes: a calibration module located at both ends of the opening of the thermostat, with one end of the calibration module connected to the carrier module. The calibration module is used to fine-tune the position of the arc-shaped superconducting magnet after it moves into the thermostat.

[0007] According to an embodiment of this disclosure, the calibration module is communicatively connected to the control module, and the control module is further configured to control the calibration module to fine-tune the position of the arc-shaped superconducting magnet based on the operating parameters fed back by the sensing and detection module.

[0008] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the operating parameters include: feed depth, attitude angle, dynamic clearance, and feed resistance.

[0009] According to an embodiment of this disclosure, the sensing and detection module includes a displacement monitoring unit disposed at the top of one end of the arc-shaped superconducting magnet near the sensor, for measuring the feed depth.

[0010] According to an embodiment of this disclosure, the sensing and detection module further includes: an attitude sensing unit disposed at the geometric center of the top of the arc-shaped superconducting magnet, for monitoring attitude angles.

[0011] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the sensing and detection module further includes a gap monitoring unit disposed on the side wing of the arc-shaped superconducting magnet for monitoring dynamic gaps.

[0012] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the sensing module further includes a resistance monitoring unit disposed at the bottom of the arc-shaped superconducting magnet for monitoring feed resistance.

[0013] According to an embodiment of this disclosure, the control module includes an early warning unit, which is used to perform risk analysis based on the operating parameters fed back by the sensing and detection module, and to issue an early warning based on the analysis results.

[0014] This disclosed method, through the coordinated operation of the drive module, sensing and detection module and control module, transforms the assembly process of the arc-shaped superconducting magnet from a manual operation that is invisible, without feedback and purely based on experience to an intelligent operation mode with full-process visualization and detection, which significantly improves the assembly safety and positioning accuracy of large-scale cryogenic superconducting equipment. Attached Figure Description

[0015] The foregoing contents, as well as other objects, features, and advantages of this disclosure, will become clearer from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0016] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the assembly apparatus for an arc-shaped superconducting magnet according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0017] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this disclosure clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with specific embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

[0018] It should be noted that similar or identical parts are referred to by the same reference numerals in the accompanying drawings or description. The technical features of the various embodiments exemplified in the specification can be freely combined to form new solutions without conflict. Furthermore, each claim can stand alone as an embodiment, or the technical features in the various claims can be combined to form new embodiments. In the drawings, the shape or thickness of the embodiments may be enlarged and indicated in a simplified or convenient manner. Moreover, elements or implementations not shown or described in the drawings are those known to those skilled in the art. Additionally, although this document provides examples of parameters containing specific values, it should be understood that the parameters need not be exactly equal to the corresponding values, but can approximate the corresponding values ​​within acceptable error tolerances or design constraints.

[0019] Unless there are technical obstacles or contradictions, the various embodiments described above in this disclosure can be freely combined to form other embodiments, all of which are within the protection scope of this disclosure.

[0020] Although this disclosure has been described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the embodiments disclosed in the drawings are intended to illustrate preferred embodiments of this disclosure and should not be construed as limiting the disclosure. The dimensions in the drawings are merely illustrative and should not be construed as limiting the disclosure.

[0021] While some embodiments of the general concept of this disclosure have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general concept of this disclosure, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

[0022] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the assembly apparatus for an arc-shaped superconducting magnet according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0023] like Figure 1 As shown, an embodiment of this disclosure provides an assembly device for an arc-shaped superconducting magnet, comprising: a drive module 10 for providing power to drive the arc-shaped superconducting magnet to move along a predetermined trajectory into the interior of a thermostat; a support module 20 connected to the drive module 10 for supporting the arc-shaped superconducting magnet; a sensing and detection module 30 disposed on the surface of the superconducting magnet for detecting operating parameters during the movement of the arc-shaped magnet; and a control module communicatively connected to the drive module and the sensing and detection module for controlling the operating state of the drive module 10 according to the operating parameters fed back by the sensing and detection module.

[0024] In some embodiments, the drive module 10 serves as the power hub of the entire assembly device. This module can be composed of a high-precision servo motor and a matching precision gear transmission system. The core function of the drive module 10 is to provide stable and controllable power output, precisely driving the arc-shaped superconducting magnet along a predetermined trajectory to complete the assembly feed into the thermostat and the subsequent retraction operation. Simultaneously, a safety interlocking loop can be formed through the feedback interface of the sensing module 30 to ensure controllable motion boundaries.

[0025] In some embodiments, the support module 20 is used to support the weight of the arc-shaped superconducting magnet and define its motion trajectory. The support module 20 integrates a specially designed arc-shaped guide plate, which is precision-machined with arc-shaped rack features that mesh with the drive module 10, thereby strictly constraining and ensuring that the entire assembly can move smoothly along the arc-shaped track of the design reference.

[0026] In some embodiments, the arc-shaped superconducting magnet serves as the assembled object body, and its key parts (such as the ends, tops, and support points) integrate a multi-source sensing matrix, namely a sensing and detection module 30. The sensing and detection module 30 is used to detect the operating parameters during the movement of the arc-shaped magnet, wherein the operating parameters include: feed depth, attitude angle, dynamic gap, and feed resistance.

[0027] The feed depth refers to the distance the curved superconducting magnet moves inward along its trajectory from the inlet of the thermostat. This value reflects the current assembly position of the curved superconducting magnet and is used to determine whether the curved superconducting magnet has reached the predetermined assembly point.

[0028] Attitude angle refers to the tilt state of the curved superconducting magnet relative to the horizontal reference plane during movement. This state can include, for example, the pitch and roll angles of the curved superconducting magnet caused by structural deformation or vibration during feeding. These two values ​​are used to determine whether the curved superconducting magnet maintains the correct placement attitude.

[0029] The dynamic gap refers to the spatial distance between the outer surface of the curved superconducting magnet and the inner wall of the thermostat. This distance changes in real time as the curved superconducting magnet moves, and is used to determine whether the curved superconducting magnet is excessively close to or in contact with the inner wall of the thermostat.

[0030] The feed resistance refers to the mechanical reaction force that the drive module 10 needs to overcome when moving the arc-shaped superconducting magnet. This value helps determine whether there is any unexpected mechanical interference or jamming during the movement of the arc-shaped superconducting magnet.

[0031] The sensing module 30 includes a displacement monitoring unit S1, disposed on the top of the arc-shaped superconducting magnet near the sensor, for measuring the feed depth. In some embodiments, the displacement monitoring unit S1 may be a high-precision pull encoder.

[0032] An attitude sensing unit S2 is disposed at the geometric center of the top of the arc-shaped superconducting magnet and is used to monitor attitude angles. In some embodiments, the attitude sensing unit S2 may be a dual-circumference tilt sensor.

[0033] The gap monitoring unit S3 is disposed on the side wing of the arc-shaped superconducting magnet and is used to monitor the dynamic gap. In some embodiments, the gap monitoring unit S3 can be a laser rangefinder or a miniature industrial camera, using machine vision algorithms to achieve edge recognition and gap measurement.

[0034] A resistance monitoring unit S4, located at the bottom of the arc-shaped superconducting magnet, is used to monitor the feed resistance. It is used to acquire operating parameters during the assembly process in real time. In some embodiments, the resistance monitoring unit S4 can be a pressure sensor or a high-sensitivity strain gauge.

[0035] In some embodiments, the calibration module 40 can be symmetrically distributed on both sides of the thermostat opening to provide positioning support at the assembly end. The calibration module 40 integrates a multi-dimensional fine-tuning mechanism, which is designed based on the principle of precision threaded pair transmission compensation. This mechanism can achieve sub-millimeter-level fine adjustment and centering of the six-degree-of-freedom spatial attitude of the arc-shaped superconducting magnet according to the instructions issued by the control module.

[0036] In some embodiments, the calibration module 40 is communicatively connected to the control module, and the control module is further configured to control the calibration module 40 to fine-tune the position of the arc-shaped superconducting magnet according to the operating parameters fed back by the sensing and detection module 30.

[0037] In some embodiments, the control module can synchronously acquire data from the sensing module 30 in real time and use a coordinate transformation algorithm to unify the discrete signals of the sensing module 30 into the design curvature coordinate system of the magnet.

[0038] The drive module 10 can then be controlled based on the feedback operating parameters. For example, if the dynamic gap acquired in real time exceeds a certain interference threshold, or the attitude angle deviation exceeds physical limits, the control module will immediately cut off the propulsion power of the drive module 10 and issue an alarm, entering an emergency stop state.

[0039] In some embodiments, the control module further includes an early warning unit. When certain operating parameters do not reach the interference threshold but are higher than the early warning threshold, the early warning unit will issue an audible and visual warning. For example, if the interference threshold for the dynamic gap is 5 mm and the early warning threshold for the dynamic gap is 1 cm, and the monitored dynamic gap is 7 mm, only an early warning will be triggered, issuing an audible and visual warning, and will not enter an emergency shutdown state.

[0040] Simultaneously, in the event of an early warning, the early warning unit can compare with the theoretical model to calculate the required adjustment compensation amount for the assembly base or guide rail. Workers can then use the correction module 40 to perform online fine-tuning of the arc-shaped superconducting magnet based on this adjustment compensation amount.

[0041] This disclosed method utilizes multi-source sensor fusion sensing technology to map the complex physical posture, position coordinates, and dynamic gap parameters of the arc-shaped superconducting magnet inside the thermostat to a digital terminal in real time, enabling visualized monitoring and quantitative control of the entire assembly process. Operators can fully grasp the magnet's motion state and spatial orientation on the control interface without entering the deep cavity or relying on visual inspection, significantly improving the certainty and controllability of the assembly process and completely eliminating monitoring blind spots in traditional operation modes. Simultaneously, the system incorporates a tiered early warning and emergency interlock shutdown mechanism, automatically triggering protective actions when the dynamic gap is too small, the posture deviation exceeds limits, or the feed resistance is abnormal. This constructs a reliable physical safety barrier for the high-value superconducting magnet, multi-layer insulation layer, and cryogenic support structure, fundamentally avoiding the risk of equipment damage and failure caused by mechanical impact, friction, or load transition instability.

[0042] It should be understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the disclosed process is an example of an exemplary method. Based on design preferences, it should be understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the process may be rearranged without departing from the scope of this disclosure. The appended method claims provide elements of various steps in an exemplary order and are not intended to limit the scope to a specific order or hierarchy.

[0043] It should also be noted that the directional terms mentioned in the embodiments, such as "up," "down," "front," "back," "left," and "right," are only for reference to the directions in the accompanying drawings and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this disclosure. Throughout the drawings, the same elements are represented by the same or similar reference numerals. Conventional structures or constructions will be omitted when they may cause confusion in understanding this disclosure. Furthermore, the shapes, sizes, and positional relationships of the components in the drawings do not reflect their actual size, scale, or actual positional relationships.

[0044] In the detailed description above, various features are combined together in a single embodiment to simplify this disclosure. This approach to disclosure should not be construed as reflecting an intention that embodiments of the claimed subject matter require more features than are explicitly stated in each claim. Rather, as reflected in the appended claims, this disclosure is in a state of having fewer features than all of the features of the single disclosed embodiment. Therefore, the appended claims are hereby explicitly incorporated into the detailed description, with each claim representing a separate preferred embodiment of this disclosure.

[0045] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this disclosure, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise expressly specified. The term "comprising" as used in the specification or claims is interpreted in a manner similar to the term "including," as "including" is used as a conjunction in the claims. The use of any term "or" in the specification or claims is intended to mean "non-exclusive or."

[0046] The specific embodiments described above further illustrate the purpose, technical solutions, and beneficial effects of this disclosure. It should be understood that the above descriptions are merely specific embodiments of this disclosure and are not intended to limit this disclosure. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this disclosure should be included within the protection scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. An assembly device for an arc-shaped superconducting magnet, characterized in that, include: The drive module provides power to move the arc-shaped superconducting magnet along a predetermined trajectory into the thermostat. The support module, connected to the drive module, is used to support the arc-shaped superconducting magnet; A sensing and detection module is disposed on the surface of the superconducting magnet and is used to detect the operating parameters during the movement of the arc-shaped magnet; The control module is communicatively connected to the drive module and the sensing module, and is used to control the operating state of the drive module according to the operating parameters fed back by the sensing module.

2. The assembly device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The load-bearing module integrates an arc-shaped guide plate, and the drive module engages with the arc-shaped guide plate to guide the arc-shaped superconducting magnet to move along the arc-shaped track.

3. The assembly device according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: A calibration module is located at both ends of the opening of the thermostat, and one end of the calibration module is connected to the support module. The calibration module is used to fine-tune the position of the arc-shaped superconducting magnet after the arc-shaped superconducting magnet moves into the thermostat.

4. The assembly device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The calibration module is communicatively connected to the control module. The control module is also used to control the calibration module to fine-tune the position of the arc-shaped superconducting magnet according to the operating parameters fed back by the sensing and detection module.

5. The assembly device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The operating parameters include: feed depth, attitude angle, dynamic clearance, and feed resistance.

6. The assembly device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The sensing and detection module includes: A displacement monitoring unit is disposed on the top of the arc-shaped superconducting magnet near the sensor and is used to measure the feed depth.

7. The assembly device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The sensing and detection module also includes: An attitude sensing unit is located at the geometric center of the top of the arc-shaped superconducting magnet and is used to monitor the attitude angle.

8. The assembly device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The sensing and detection module also includes: A gap monitoring unit is disposed on the side wing of the arc-shaped superconducting magnet and is used to monitor the dynamic gap.

9. The assembly device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The sensing and detection module also includes: A resistance monitoring unit is located at the bottom of the arc-shaped superconducting magnet and is used to monitor the feed resistance.

10. The assembly apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control module includes: The early warning unit is used to perform risk analysis based on the operating parameters fed back by the sensing and detection module, and to issue an early warning based on the analysis results.

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