JPH0453011Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a cavity case for an excitation lamp that is suitable for application to a solid-state laser device or the like that uses an excitation lamp.

[Conventional technology]

In general, the condenser of a solid-state laser device using an excitation lamp consists of a cylindrical laser medium (laser rod) 2 and an excitation lamp 3 arranged in parallel inside a cavity case 1, as shown in FIG. The laser medium 2 and the excitation lamp 3 form a plane.
The cavity case 1 also has a cooling water 12 inside the cavity case 1.
is supplied and circulated to cool the laser medium 2 and excitation lamp 3 and keep them at a constant temperature.

The laser medium 2 is inserted into the center of an insertion hole 5 formed through the cavity case 1, and its both ends are held by O-rings 6 and 7. Pressing members 8 and 9 screwed into the respective openings of the insertion hole 5 press against the different diameter stepped portions 10 and 11, respectively, thereby stably holding the laser medium 2. ing. Each of the pressing members 8 and 9 is formed into a cylindrical shape with both ends open, so that the laser medium 2
Center holes 13, 14 through which laser light excited from
They each have

The excitation lamp 3 is made of a quartz glass tube,
A vacuum container 3A in which a rare gas such as xenon gas or krypton gas is sealed;
It consists of an anode 15 and a cathode 16 attached to both ends of A, respectively, and an anode cable 1 is connected to these anode 15 and cathode 16.
7 and cathode cable 18 are connected to excitation lamp terminal 19
are connected to each other via. The excitation lamp terminal 19 is made of a metal with high electrical conductivity, such as brass, and is plated with gold, and has a thin cylindrical shape with one end open and elastically holding the anode 15 or cathode 16. The terminal main body 19B is connected to the closed end surface of the electrode holding portion 19A. The peripheral wall of the electrode holding portion 19A is divided into a plurality of peripheral wall pieces on the distal end side by grooves, and each peripheral wall piece is slightly bent inward to increase the holding force of the anode 15 or cathode 16. The terminal main body 19B projects outward from the lamp housing hole 25 of the cavity case 1, and the anode cable 17 or cathode cable 18 is connected and fixed to the male threaded portion formed at the projecting end with a nut 22. There is. Further, the terminal body 19B is held through the center hole of the terminal cap 23 via an O-ring 24, and the cap 23 is inserted into the cavity case 1.
It is screwed into the opening of a lamp storage hole 25 provided in the lamp via an O-ring 26. In this case, when the anode cable 17 or cathode cable 18 is connected to the terminal body 19B and the terminal cap 23 is removed from the cavity case 1, the excitation lamp terminal 19 is pulled out together with the cap 23.

Further, a trigger terminal 27 is attached to the cavity case 1, and one end of a trigger wire 28 spirally wound around the outer circumference of the vacuum container 3A is connected to the inner end of this terminal 27, and the outer end is connected to the trigger terminal 27. It is connected to a trigger pulse generation source (not shown).

In the concentrator having such a configuration, a predetermined voltage is applied between the anode 15 and cathode 16 of the excitation lamp 3 via the anode cable 17 and the cathode cape 18, respectively, and the excitation lamp terminal 19, and at the same time the trigger terminal 27 is applied. When a trigger pulse is applied to the trigger wire 28 via the trigger wire 28, the insulation within the vacuum container 3A is broken and a discharge occurs, and the excitation light generated at this time excites the laser medium 2, which emits laser light from both end faces thereof.

During the aforementioned discharge, electrons are emitted from the cathode 16, the enclosed high-pressure gas, for example, xenon gas, emits light, and xenon ions collide with the cathode 16. At this time, depending on the magnitude of the applied voltage, several kilograms may be applied to the excitation lamp terminal 19 on the cathode 16 side.
A stress of m/S ² acts. For example, in a water-cooled excitation lamp with an arc length of 50 mm and a bore diameter of 6 mm filled with xenon gas, the input voltage is
When emitting light at 1000V, peak current 400A, and pulse width 4msec, the impact force acting on the excitation lamp terminal 19 on the cathode 16 side is approximately 5Kgm/ ^S2 . In addition, due to the discharge caused by the light emission, the temperature of the quartz glass tube wall of the vacuum vessel 3A is 400 to 500℃ at the center, and the temperature at the periphery is
The temperature reaches a high temperature of 100 to 200°C, causing thermal expansion and acting on both electrode parts 15 and 16 as stress. As a result, the excitation lamp 3 tends to move from the anode 15 side toward the cathode 16.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

By the way, in the cavity case 1 of the excitation lamp 3, the excitation lamp terminals 19 supporting the excitation lamp 3 include an anode 15 and a cathode 1.
6 and the excitation lamp 3 in a predetermined position relative to the laser medium 2 and the reflector 4, as well as the xenon ions generated when the excitation lamp 3 is discharged as described above. It must also have the function of protecting the excitation lamp 3 against shock and thermal stress. However, since the conventional lamp terminal 19 of this type has a cylindrical electrode holding part 19A, although the mechanical and electrical connection between the anode 15 and the cathode 16 is reliable, the terminal cap 23 Since it is firmly fixed to the opening of the storage hole 25, it does not have the function of absorbing the stress acting on the anode 15 and cathode 16, and therefore the excitation lamp 3
The particularly weak electrode part of , that is, the anode 15
Another problem is that the stress generated when the excitation lamp 3 is discharged at the connection portion between the cathode 16 and the vacuum vessel 3A is concentrated, shortening the life of the lamp 3 and causing breakage.

Therefore, the present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems and provide a cavity case for an excitation lamp which can effectively absorb the shock and thermal stress generated when the excitation lamp discharges and prevent the lamp from moving.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an excitation lamp cavity case that houses and holds an excitation lamp that is equipped with a vacuum container filled with a rare gas and electrodes provided at both ends of the vacuum container. , an excitation lamp storage hole for storing the excitation lamp inside the cavity case, a terminal mounting hole communicating with the excitation lamp storage hole, and a terminal mounting hole inserted into the terminal mounting hole and perpendicular to the excitation lamp;
and a pair of excitation lamp terminals that removably hold the electrodes of the excitation lamp, a pin member that pivotally supports the excitation lamp terminals, and a vibration amplitude of the excitation lamp terminal that is pivotally supported by the pin members at a desired position. It is provided with a buffer member that allows the return to normal.

[Effect]

In the present invention, the pin member rotatably supports the excitation lamp terminal. The buffer member absorbs vibration amplitude of the excitation lamp terminal due to impact and thermal stress caused by light emission from the excitation lamp, and returns the excitation lamp terminal to its initial position.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing one embodiment of a cavity case of an excitation lamp according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of the same terminal, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line of FIG. 2. Components and portions in the figure that are the same as those in FIG. 4 are designated by the same reference numerals, and their explanations will be omitted. In these figures, terminal mounting holes 30 and 31 are formed at both ends of the lower surface of the cavity case 1, respectively, and communicate with the ends of the lamp storage hole 25, and the excitation lamp 3 is inserted into these holes 30 and 31. Excitation lamp terminal 32 holding each electrode, anode 15 and cathode 16 respectively
A and 32B are inserted.

The excitation lamp terminal 32A includes a terminal body 34 that is formed into a rod-shaped body and inserted into the terminal attachment hole 30 so as to be perpendicular to the excitation lamp 3. The terminal body 34 is pivotally supported inside the mounting hole 30 by a horizontal pin (pin member) 33 perpendicular to the axis of the excitation lamp 3, so that it can freely rotate in the left-right direction in FIG. O as a buffer member made of an elastic material such as fluorocarbon rubber.
It is held in the initial position by a ring 35. The terminal body 34 is made of metal such as brass and is plated with gold. Further, the upper end of the terminal main body 34 is formed in a hollow shape and has an axial pusher housing hole 36 that opens at the upper end surface, and furthermore, the anode 1
An electrode holding hole 37 having a hole diameter larger than the outer diameter of the hole 3 is formed in the radial direction on a part of the circumferential surface of the upper end.
7 communicates with the presser storage hole 36. The presser housing hole 36 includes a presser 38 that is slidable and prevented from coming off by a pin 40, and a presser 38 that is slidable and prevented from coming off by a pin 40.
A spring 39 is housed therein to bias the spring upward. When the anode 15 is inserted into the electrode holding hole 37 from the front, it is pressed and fixed to the upper wall surface of the holding hole 37 by the presser 38, thereby electrically and mechanically connecting the terminal body 34 and the anode 15. A connection is made. On the other hand, the lower end of the terminal main body 34 projects outward from the terminal mounting hole 30, and the anode cable 17 is connected and fixed to this projecting end with a set screw 41. A tapered stepped surface 42 is formed on the circumferential surface of the terminal body 34 near the pivot point, and the O-ring 35 is fitted onto this stepped surface 42. Further, a tapered portion 43 is formed on the inner surface of the terminal mounting hole 30 in correspondence with the stepped surface 42, and the O-ring 35 is held by the tapered portion 43 and the stepped surface 42.

The excitation lamp terminal 32B holding the cathode 16 is formed exactly the same as the lamp terminal 32A, so the same components and portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

Thus, according to the cavity case 1 that holds the excitation lamp 3 by the excitation lamp terminals 32A and 32B having such a configuration, it is possible to effectively absorb shock and thermal stress caused by light emission from the excitation lamp 3 during discharge. It is something. That is, when the excitation lamp 3 is discharged, the lamp 3 first moves from the anode 15 toward the cathode 16. At this time, since the terminal body 34 of each excitation lamp terminal 32A, 32B holding the anode 15 and cathode 16 is rotatably supported by the pin 33,
As the excitation lamp 3 moves, it rotates counterclockwise in FIG. Try to rotate it back clockwise. Therefore, the terminal main body 34 repeats such an amplitude movement, gradually attenuating the amplitude, and returns to the initial position before discharging the excitation lamp 3. Further, thermal stress applied to the anode 15 and cathode 16 is also absorbed by the O-ring 35 since the terminal body 34 can freely rotate around the pin 33.

Therefore, the excitation lamp 3 can be held in a predetermined position with respect to the laser medium 2, and the lamp 3 can be prevented from being destroyed or damaged. Also, O
The ring 35 prevents the cooling water 12 from leaking.

In addition, in this embodiment, cavity case 1
By creating a structure in which the laser medium 2 and the excitation lamp 3 can be divided into two on a perpendicular plane that does not include the optical axis, the excitation lamp 3 can be attached and detached in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper, and unnecessary work in the optical axis direction is avoided. Space is no longer needed.

[Effect of idea]

As described above, with the excitation lamp cavity case according to the present invention, the excitation lamp terminal is rotatably supported by the pin member, and the amplitude vibration of the excitation lamp terminal is absorbed by the buffer member. Since the excitation lamp terminal is configured to return to its initial position, the shock and thermal stress caused by the excitation lamp's light emission can be well and effectively absorbed, and the life of the excitation lamp can be extended, despite the simple structure. can be realized. In addition, the excitation lamp can be reliably set and maintained at a predetermined position, which has great practical effects.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cavity case of the excitation lamp according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a front view of the same terminal, Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a conventional lamp terminal. FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the condenser used. 3...Excitation lamp, 3A...Vacuum container, 15...
... Anode, 16 ... Cathode, 19 ... Excitation lamp terminal, 19A ... Electrode holding part, 19B ... Terminal body, 23 ... Terminal cap, 32A, 32B
...excitation lamp terminal, 33 ... pin, 34 ... terminal body, 35 ... O ring, 50 ... excitation lamp terminal.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In an excitation lamp cavity case that houses and holds an excitation lamp that includes a vacuum vessel filled with a rare gas and electrodes provided at both ends of the vacuum vessel, the excitation lamp is placed inside the cavity case. an excitation lamp storage hole for storing the
a terminal mounting hole that communicates with the excitation lamp storage hole; and a pair of excitation lamp terminals that are inserted into the terminal mounting hole and intersect with the excitation lamp at right angles, and each detachably holds the electrodes of the excitation lamp. , a cavity case for an excitation lamp, comprising a pin member that pivotally supports an excitation lamp terminal, and a buffer member that returns the vibration amplitude of the excitation lamp terminal that is pivotally supported by the pin member to the desired position. .