Rotatable Electron Gun Barrel for Source Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
The limited life of electron sources in electron guns disrupts device operation, requiring frequent replacements and recalibration, and existing rotatable structures face issues with high electric field concentrations and surface charging effects.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable structure with a barrel-shaped central portion and annularly disposed openings for electron sources, allowing for seamless replacement without realignment and minimizing contamination and electric field concentration issues, while maintaining vacuum integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single electron source is used in an electron gun, then the device can operate normally during use, but the electron source has limited life and requires replacement which disrupts device operation
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple electron sources are combined into a single rotatable barrel assembly that can hold several electron sources simultaneously. The barrel rotates to bring different electron sources into the active position, allowing continuous operation without device disassembly or realignment when one source fails.
Solution Approach 2:
The electron source configuration is made dynamic through the rotatable barrel assembly. Instead of a fixed single electron source, the system can dynamically switch between multiple electron sources by rotating the barrel, enabling rapid replacement without disrupting the vacuum or requiring realignment.
2Ease of operation
If multiple electron sources are mounted in a rotatable structure, then replacement is easier without realignment, but high electric field concentrations and surface charging effects occur
Solution Approach 1:
The barrel assembly is designed with localized features including protrusions and depressions that create specific electric field distributions. The depressions in the barrel surface provide shielding effects that reduce electric field concentrations at critical locations, while still allowing multiple electron sources to be mounted and rotated.
3Ease of repair
If the electron source is replaced by disassembling the vacuum vessel, then the electron source can be replaced, but the vacuum vessel must be disassembled and reassembled which is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The electron source system is segmented into multiple independent electron sources that can be individually replaced by rotating the barrel assembly. This segmentation allows replacement of only the failed electron source without affecting the entire vacuum system, eliminating the need to disassemble and reassemble the vacuum vessel.
4Manufacturing precision
If precisely aligned components are present in the electron gun, then the electron beam can be generated and transmitted effectively, but replacement of the electron source requires reestablishing alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable barrel assembly maintains precise alignment dynamically through its mechanical design. The barrel is positioned and oriented once, and rotation brings pre-aligned electron sources into the active position without requiring realignment, as all sources are pre-positioned relative to the barrel's rotation axis and the beam transmission path.
Data Source
AI summary
A device which employs an electron beam, for performing a desired function, includes an electron gun for generating the electron beam. The electron gun includes a barrel shaped rotatable structure having a plurality of annularly disposed electron sources. A curvature of a surface portion of the rotatable structure is shaped to optimize electric field concentrations. The rotatable structure further includes end portion protrusions.