System and tool for cleaning a glass surface of an accelerator column
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Solution Overview
Problem
The hard-to-reach glass surfaces between electrodes in accelerator columns of beamline ion implanters are difficult to clean due to their inaccessible location and small internal diameter, leading to contamination accumulation.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning tool with a shaft and a foam body having a textured surface is designed to be inserted between electrodes, allowing for rotation to effectively clean the glass surface, utilizing removable electrode inserts to create access and a modular design for varying lengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the accelerator column is elongated to achieve higher beam energy, then the beam energy capability is improved, but the accessibility for cleaning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning tool is divided into modular segments including a shaft, foam body, and mounting bracket that can be assembled and disassembled. This segmentation allows the tool to be configured for different column lengths while maintaining cleaning effectiveness in hard-to-reach areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning tool transitions from attempting to clean the glass surface directly to using a foam body that can be inserted through the aperture and reach the glass surface indirectly. This dimensional approach allows cleaning of surfaces that are not directly accessible from the outside.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the internal diameter is reduced to fit component constraints, then the apparatus design flexibility is improved, but the cleaning accessibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The foam body is inserted through the aperture and nested within the accelerator column structure to reach the glass surface. This nesting approach allows the cleaning tool to access internal surfaces without requiring large external dimensions, maintaining design flexibility while enabling cleaning.
3Productivity
If a cleaning tool is designed to reach hard-to-access glass surfaces, then the cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the tool complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning tool uses a segmented design with a shaft, foam body, and mounting bracket that can be independently selected and assembled. This modularity simplifies manufacturing and maintenance while achieving the capability to clean hard-to-reach surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The foam body acts as a flexible cleaning element that can deform to navigate the confined space between the aperture and glass surface. This flexibility simplifies the tool design compared to rigid mechanisms, allowing it to adapt to the internal geometry without complex joints or actuators.
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 tool enables thorough cleaning of the glass surfaces, removing contamination and maintaining the accelerator column's integrity, while its modular design accommodates different column lengths and ensures convenient operation.
Implementation Method 1
An outer circumference of the foam body includes a textured cleaning surface for contacting the glass surface of the accelerator column
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning tool for cleaning a glass surface of an accelerator column is disclosed. The cleaning tool includes a shaft including a first end and a second end; a foam body located at the first end of the shaft; and a mounting bracket coupled to the first end of the shaft, the mounting bracket receiving the foam body. An outer circumference of the foam body includes a textured cleaning surface for contacting the glass surface of the accelerator column.