Electron tube

Abstract

To provide an electron tube that can be separated into electron tube split bodies.SOLUTION: An electron tube 10 has electron split bodies 40, 41 split into a plurality of units, and is assembled by combining metallic tube components 42, 43 provided in the electron tube split bodies 40, 41. The electronic tube 10 comprises joints 46, 47, and a separation member 48. The joints 46, 47 are provided on outer peripheral parts of the tube components 42, 43 to be combined, respectively, and are joined to each other by welding. The separation member 48 is interposed between the tube components 42, 43 to be combined.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention relates to an electron tube. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in the case of electron tubes such as klystrons, a single product is divided into multiple electron tube segments (semi-finished products), and these electron tube segments are combined to form a single product for use. Furthermore, when collected after use, the electron tube segments are separated and collected, and at least some of the collected electron tube segments are reused as new products. In this case, the metal tube components of the combined electron tube segments are combined, and the joints on the outer peripheries of these tube components are welded together to form an integrated assembly. Furthermore, when collected after use, the welded joints are removed, for example, to release the welds, allowing the electron tube segments to be separated and collected.

[0003] However, there is a risk that tube components made of the same metal (especially oxygen-free copper components) may burn together due to the same principles as diffusion bonding, caused by factors such as the weight of the electron tube itself, the heat applied when evacuating the tube to create a vacuum during assembly, and the wall current caused by the electron beam flowing inside the electron tube during operation. If tube components burn together, they cannot be separated and recovered as individual electron tube segments, making it difficult to reuse the electron tube segments. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-93041 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an electron tube that can be separated into individual electron tube segments. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The electron tube of this embodiment is an electron tube that is assembled by combining electron tube segments divided into a plurality of units and the metal tube components provided on these electron tube segments. The electron tube includes a joint and a separating member. The joints are provided on the outer peripheries of the combined tube components and are joined to each other by welding. The separating member is interposed between the combined tube components. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electron tube showing an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a combination of electron tube segments that constitute the same electron tube. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0009] 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an electron tube 10. As the electron tube 10, FIG. 1 shows an example of a klystron.

[0010] The electron tube 10 comprises an electron gun section 11 that emits an electron beam, a collector section 12 that captures the electron beam, and a high frequency circuit section 13 that is arranged between the electron gun section 11 and the collector section 12.

[0011] The electron gun section 11 includes a cathode 16 that emits an electron beam, a focusing electrode 17 that focuses the electron beam, a cathode support 18 that supports the cathode 16 and the focusing electrode 17, an anode 19 that is an acceleration electrode that accelerates the electron beam, an anode support 20 that supports the anode 19, a body electrode 22 that is disposed downstream in the direction of electron beam propagation and has a passage hole 21 through which the electron beam passes, and insulating cylinders 23 and 24 that are hermetically sealed insulating ceramics that are disposed airtightly between the cathode support 18 and the anode support 20 and between the anode support 20 and the body electrode 22, respectively.

[0012] The high-frequency circuit section 13 is configured by arranging a plurality of resonant cavities 28a-28f in series in the direction of electron beam propagation via a plurality of drift tubes 27 through which the electron beam passes. Of the plurality of resonant cavities 28a-28f, a high-frequency signal input section 29 is connected to the resonant cavity 28a located at one end on the electron gun section 11 side, and a high-frequency signal output section 30 is connected to the resonant cavity 28f located at the other end on the collector section 12 side. The high-frequency circuit section 13 is integrally formed by combining the drift tube 27 and a plurality of cavity forming sections 31 that form the resonant cavities 28a-28f. The cavity forming section 31 on one end is combined and assembled with the electron gun section 11, and the cavity forming section 31 on the other end is combined and assembled with the collector section 12.

[0013] The electron tube 10 is divided into, for example, an electron gun section 11, a collector section 12, and a high-frequency circuit section 13, and these electron gun section 11, collector section 12, and high-frequency circuit section 13 are each configured as divided electron tube sections (semi-finished products) 40, 41. For example, the body electrode 22 of the electron gun section 11 and the cavity forming section 31 on one end side of the high-frequency circuit section 13 are configured to be separable from each other.

[0014] It is to be noted that three or more electron tube segments may be configured by making collector section 12 and high-frequency circuit section 13 separable, or by making high-frequency circuit section 13 separable into multiple sections. The structure of the klystron, which is electron tube 10, is not limited to the structure shown in FIG.

[0015] Furthermore, a focusing electromagnet (not shown) is disposed around the high-frequency circuit unit 13 so as to surround the high-frequency interaction unit 3. A magnetic field is generated by energizing the focusing electromagnet, and the generated magnetic field focuses electrons to the center so that they do not collide with the inner wall of the drift tube 27.

[0016] In the electron tube 10, electrons emitted from the cathode 16 of the electron gun section 11 pass through the resonant cavity 28a in which the input section 29 is provided, and are bunched by interactions each time they pass through the plurality of resonant cavities 28b to 28e. The bunched electrons are decelerated in the resonant cavity 28f, and high-frequency power amplified to the desired output is extracted via the output section 30.

[0017] Next, FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the electron tube segments 40 and 41 that make up the electron tube 10.

[0018] The two electron tube segments 40, 41 that are fitted together have tube parts 42, 43 that are also the tube vessel through which electrons of the electron tube 10 pass, and are assembled by fitting together the ends of these tube parts 42, 43. The tube parts 42, 43 are, for example, the body electrode 22 of the electron gun section 11, the cavity forming section 31 of the high-frequency circuit section 13, etc.

[0019] The tube parts 42 and 43 are formed in a cylindrical or annular shape from the same type of metal material, such as oxygen-free copper, which has excellent electrical conductivity.

[0020] The mating surfaces of the end portions of the pipe parts 42, 43 that are fitted together are provided with stepped portions 44, 45 that allow the parts to fit together, and the pipe parts 42, 43 are positioned relative to each other in the radial direction by being fitted together via these stepped portions 44, 45. Note that the mating surfaces of the end portions of the pipe parts 42, 43 that are fitted together may not be provided with stepped portions 44, 45 and may be flat.

[0021] Fittings 46, 47 are fixed to the end portions of the outer peripheries of the pipe components 42, 43 where they are fitted together. The fittings 46, 47 are formed in an annular shape and are fixed airtightly around the entire circumference of the pipe components 42, 43 at positions away from the fitting surfaces of the pipe components 42, 43. The fittings 46, 47 protrude from the outer peripheries of the pipe components 42, 43, and their tip ends are joined to each other by welding. By joining the tip ends of the fittings 46, 47 by welding, the fitted pipe components 42, 43 are fixed to each other and the fitted pipe components 42, 43 are sealed to each other, ensuring airtightness between the fitted pipe components 42, 43.

[0022] A separating member 48, which is an anti-seizure member, is interposed between the combined pipe parts 42, 43. The separating member 48 is made of a metal material that has at least one of higher conductivity, a higher melting point, and a lower diffusion coefficient than the metal material (e.g., oxygen-free copper) of the pipe parts 42, 43. The separating member 48 is formed in a sheet shape from a material such as nickel. The sheet shape of the separating member 48 allows it to be interposed between the pipe parts 42, 43 so as to be sandwiched along the stepped portions 44, 45. The sheet has a thickness of, for example, 0.005 mm to 1 mm, and is flat and annular (O-shaped), allowing it to be interposed between the stepped portions 44, 45.

[0023] The separating member 48 may be made of a metal material other than nickel, such as tantalum or stainless steel. Stainless steel has a low diffusion coefficient due to the presence of an oxide film on its surface. The separating member 48 may also be formed, for example, by plating, on the mating surfaces of the end portions of the pipe components 42, 43 where they are joined together, rather than in a sheet form. The separating member 48 may also be made of a material other than a metal, as long as it can prevent seizure between the pipe components 42, 43.

[0024] Preferably, the separating member 48 is flush with the inner surfaces of the tube parts 42 and 43 and does not protrude from them so as not to interfere with the effect of wall currents resulting from the electron beam flowing inside the tube during operation.

[0025] When the electron tube 10 is collected after use, it is separated into the electron tube segments 40, 41 and collected, and at least some of the collected electron tube segments 40, 41 are reused as new products.

[0026] The electron tube segments 40, 41 can be separated by removing the welded portions at the tip ends of the joints 46, 47 with, for example, a grinder to release the welding, thereby enabling the electron tube segments 40, 41 to be separated individually.

[0027] If the separating member 48 were not interposed between the combined tube components 42, 43, the tube components 42, 43 made of the same metal (oxygen-free copper) could potentially seize together due to the same factors as diffusion bonding, such as the weight of the electron tube 10 itself, the heat applied when evacuating the tube to create a vacuum during assembly, and the wall current caused by the electron beam flowing inside the tube during operation. If the tube components 42, 43 seize together, the electron tube segments 40, 41 cannot be separated and recovered, making it difficult to reuse the electron tube segments 40, 41.

[0028] By interposing the separating member 48 between the combined tube parts 42, 43, as described above, it is possible to prevent the tube parts 42, 43 made of the same metal (oxygen-free copper) from burning out between the combined tube parts 42, 43 due to the influence of the weight of the electron tube 10 itself, the influence of heat applied when evacuating the tube to create a vacuum during assembly, and the influence of wall currents caused by the electron beam flowing inside the electron tube during operation, using the same principle as diffusion bonding.The electron tube segments 40, 41 can then be separated and recovered, allowing the electron tube segments 40, 41 to be reused.

[0029] The separating member 48 is made of a metal material that has at least one of higher conductivity, a higher melting point, and a lower diffusion coefficient than the metal material (e.g., oxygen-free copper) of the tube components 42 and 43, thereby preventing seizure that occurs based on a principle similar to that of diffusion bonding. The high conductivity of the separating member 48 suppresses heat generation due to the influence of wall currents from the electron beam flowing inside the electron tube during operation, preventing seizure between the tube components 42 and 43. The high melting point of the separating member 48 suppresses bonding by melting, preventing seizure between the tube components 42 and 43. The low diffusion coefficient of the separating member 48 suppresses diffusion bonding, preventing seizure between the tube components 42 and 43.

[0030] The separating member 48 can be applied to electron tubes other than klystrons, such as magnetrons, gyratrons, high frequency power output tubes, transmitting tubes, X-ray tubes, and X-ray image tubes.

[0031] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents as defined in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 10 electron tube 40,41 Electron tube segment 42,43 Pipe parts 46,47 Joint 48 Separation member

Claims

1. An electron tube is assembled by combining metal tube components provided on electron tube segments divided into a plurality of units, a joint provided on the outer periphery of each of the combined pipe parts and joined to each other by welding; a separating member interposed between the combined pipe parts; An electron tube comprising:

2. The separating member is formed of a metallic material having at least one of the following properties: higher electrical conductivity, higher melting point, and lower diffusion coefficient than the metallic material of the pipe part.

2. The electron tube according to claim 1.

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