Excimer Lamp Fall Prevention Member for Broken Tube Catching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Excimer lamps in ultraviolet light irradiation devices experience curvature and eventual breakage due to ultraviolet light distortion, leading to potential damage to workpieces or transport mechanisms when the light-emitting tube contacts a movement limiting member.
Innovation Solution
The ultraviolet light irradiation device incorporates a fall prevention member positioned under the excimer lamp, overlapping with the light-emitting tube on both sides of the movement limiting member, to securely hold the broken tube and prevent it from falling, while allowing for easy replacement of the excimer lamp.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a movement limiting member is provided to mechanically restrain the curve of the light-emitting tube, then the curving of the light-emitting tube is prevented, but the light-emitting tube breaks at the contact point with the movement limiting member
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a fall prevention member positioned below the light-emitting tube at a location that does not restrict curvature but can catch broken tube segments. This cushioning element prevents catastrophic failure when the tube breaks, addressing the reliability issue while maintaining the curvature prevention function of the movement limiting member.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the light-emitting tube is restrained from curving, then the tube stability is improved, but the tube eventually breaks under continuous operation
Solution Approach 1:
The fall prevention member is positioned to catch broken tube segments before they can cause damage or create safety hazards. This allows the movement limiting member to maintain tube stability during operation while the fall prevention member provides a safety net for end-of-life failure modes.
3Ease of repair
If the light-emitting tube breaks and falls, then the excimer lamp must be replaced, but the broken tube may damage workpieces or transport mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The fall prevention member acts as an intermediary element between the light-emitting tube and the workpiece/transport mechanism. It intercepts broken tube segments, preventing them from reaching and damaging downstream components, thus protecting the system while allowing easy lamp replacement.
4Stability of the object's composition
If a support is provided near the center of the light-emitting tube, then the tube is supported from below, but the tube may still break and fall when it curves against the movement limiting member
Solution Approach 1:
The fall prevention member provides a secondary support function that activates only when the tube breaks. During normal operation, the central support maintains tube stability, and the fall prevention member remains inactive. Upon breakage, it catches the broken segments, providing reliability without interfering with normal tube support.
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
This configuration effectively prevents the excimer lamp from falling and damaging workpieces or rollers, ensuring safe operation and easy maintenance by securely holding the broken light-emitting tube and minimizing light obstruction.
Implementation Method 1
a reflective coating formed on the upper inner surface of the light-emitting tube
Implementation Method 2
An excimer lamp used in the ultraviolet light irradiation device, which is filled with xenon gas in a light-emitting tube made of quartz glass, emits ultraviolet light of 172 nm
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An ultraviolet light irradiation device (1) includes an excimer lamp (3) provided with a long light-emitting tube (30), a pair of electrodes (34, 35) disposed on the outer wall surface of the light-emitting tube (30), and a reflective coating (36) formed on the inner wall surface of the light-emitting tube (30); an housing (2) that holds both ends of the excimer lamp (3); a movement limiting member (5) that protrudes from the bottom surface of the housing (2) toward the excimer lamp (3); and a fall prevention member (7) disposed under the excimer lamp (3). At least a part of the fall prevention member (7) overlaps with the light-emitting tube (30) in a first region and a second region that are located on both sides of the excimer lamp (3) in the longitudinal direction with respect to the movement limiting member (5) when viewed from the vertical direction.