Raychem Limited

David A Vroom

Marlin N Schuetz

Bernard J Lyons

An electron beam accelerator has an accelerator tube consisting essentially of metal and ceramic components which are fused directly to each other and a transmission window generally rectangular in shape when viewed in the direction of the electron beam and is convex towards the vacuum chamber with a radius of curvature which is at most twice the width of the rectangle when measured in the absence of a pressure differential across the window. The electron beam accelerator is particularly suitable for use as a liquid material processor. The preferred transmission window of the accelerator of the invention can withstand energy transfer rates of at least 1500 watts per gram of the window material to which the energy is transferred. Certain embodiments are especially suitable for irradiating fluids to higher doses or for irradiating liquids containing suspended solids or slurries. A mobile transporter enabling relocation of the liquid material processor between process sites is also described.

Apparatus and methods for electron beam irradiation

A particle accelerator has a transmission window formed of a thin homogeneous foil having a predetermined thickness and having a predetermined length, and when laid fiat as a sheet having a transverse dimension. The window is formed to have a locus of a curve in cross section along the transverse dimension such that a radius of curvature of at least a portion of the curve in cross section is less than the length of the transverse dimension. Longitudinal channel and tubular shapes are preferred. Window cooling by gaseous and liquid fluid flows is also described. A transmission window assembly and a particle beam accelerator having an efficient rugged accelerator tube structure are also described. As one example, a liquid material processor and processing method employs either the curved window or a conventional window and advantageously directs liquid material onto the window to cool it, while a particle beam passing through the window enters the liquid material and changes it chemically in a predetermined manner. A mobile transporter enabling relocation of the liquid material processor between process sites is also described.

Transmission window for particle accelerator

A method for irradiating a workpiece, such as a strand, by charged particle, e.g. electron, bombardment is in accordance with the following steps:

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Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

David A Vroom