Electron Beam Device Bulge-Shaped Control Grid

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electron beam devices used for sterilizing web packaging materials face challenges in maintaining beam shape stability and assembly complexity, which affect their performance and longevity.

Innovation Solution

An electron beam device with a tubular body and elongate cathode housing, featuring a control grid with bent longitudinal end portions forming bulge-like shapes to direct electrons perpendicular to the exit window, and a semi-annular cathode housing for easy assembly and efficient electron beam shaping.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the control grid and cathode housing are attached by complex attachment means, then the assembly is more secure, but the assembly process becomes more complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly securityVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control grid is divided into a central portion and two separate end portions that are bent into bulge-like shapes. These segmented portions can be independently attached to the cathode housing, simplifying the assembly process while maintaining secure attachment through multiple attachment points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The end portions of the control grid are pre-bent into bulge-like shapes before assembly. This preliminary shaping ensures proper alignment and facilitates easier attachment to the cathode housing, reducing assembly complexity while ensuring secure mounting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If the electron beam device uses a simple cathode housing design, then the assembly is easier, but the ability to shape the electron beam and maintain beam quality is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly easeVSAvoidbeam shaping precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The end portions of the control grid are bent into bulge-like shapes that create curved surfaces. These curved surfaces effectively shape the electric field and direct electron trajectories perpendicular to the exit window, achieving precise beam shaping without requiring complex housing structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The bulge-like shapes are formed specifically at the end portions of the control grid where they are needed for beam shaping, while the central portion remains simple for easy attachment. This localized complexity achieves the required beam quality without making the entire device complex.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the electron beam device is designed for high performance sterilization, then the sterilization quality is improved, but the device complexity and assembly difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesterilization qualityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bulge-like shapes formed by bending the control grid end portions create optimized electric field distribution that ensures high-quality sterilization. This curved geometry achieves superior beam uniformity and perpendicular incidence on the exit window without requiring additional complex components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The beam shaping function is merged into the control grid structure itself through the bulge-like shapes, rather than requiring separate beam shaping components. This integration maintains high sterilization quality while reducing overall device complexity and simplifying assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution enhances the electron beam device's ability to maintain a stable and focused beam for effective sterilization of wide web packaging materials, improving assembly simplicity and performance by actively shaping the electric field and counteracting electron trajectory spreading near the exit window.

Implementation Method 1

The cathode housing comprises a filament which is heated by a current in order for electrons to be produced

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermionic emission: Thermionic Emission

Implementation Method 2

The thus produced electrons are accelerated by means of a high-voltage potential

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectron acceleration by electric field: Electrostatics

Implementation Method 3

free longitudinal end portions of the control grid are bent in a direction towards each other to form bulge-like shapes for the formation of electron beam shaping electrodes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectric field shaping: Electric Field

Data Source

PatentEP2729939B1An electron beam device and a method of manufacturing said electron beam device
Publication Date: 2018.02.14 TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE SA
  • EP2729939B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP2729939B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2729939B1 patent drawingFigure 5a~6b

AI summary

The present invention relates to an electron beam device having a tubular body of elongate shape with an electron exit window extending in the longitudinal direction of the tubular body. Said tubular body is at least partly forming a vacuum chamber, said vacuum chamber comprising therein a cathode comprising a cathode housing (112) having an elongate shape, and at least one electron generating filament (120) and a control grid (114) both extending along the elongate shape of the cathode housing (112). The control grid (114) and the cathode housing (112) are attached to each other by attachments means (118). Free longitudinal end portions of either the control grid (114) or the cathode housing (112) are bent in a direction towards each other to form bulge-like shapes (126) for the formation of electron beam shaping electrodes. The invention is further comprising a method of manufacturing said electron beam device.