Patent US3838313A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3838313A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Beam current regulator for electron beam machines
Assignee: RTX Corp
•
Filing: 1973-05-21
•
Granted: 1974-09-24
•
Expires: 1993-05-21
Abstract
Abstract In an electron beam machine for welding or cuting a workpiece, the current produced by the electron gun is regulated by a beam regulating system to maintain a programmed value. A feedback voltage proportional to beam current is compared with a commanded voltage proportional to desired beam current, any difference therebetween in the form of an error voltage being used to vary the bias voltage of the electron gun and modify the beam current. A novel saturable reactor circuit permits the bias voltage which is at a high potential to be varied by a DC current which varies about ground level. A novel latch and hold circuit permits the beam current regulator to be bypassed when the electron gun filament is ''''peaked''''. A novel current adder circuit permits the automatic programming of multi-level beam currents.
Inventors
- 👤 H Anderson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:28
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05F; G05F1/00; G05F1/10; G05F1/12; G05F1/32; G05F1/34; G05F1/38; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/04; G05B19/07; G05B19/075
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
A beam current regulator for an electron gun having a filament and a bias electrode comprising means for sensing the electron gun beam current and producing a beam current signal indicative thereof, means for generating a beam command signal indicative of desired electron gun beam current, a comparator for comparing said beam current signal with said beam command signal to produce a beam current error signal variable as the difference therebetween, first and second saturable reactors having input and output windings, the output windings of said reactors being connected in series and the input windings thereof being connected in series opposition, a source of alternating voltage, means for connecting said alternating voltage source to one end of said series connected saturable reactor output windings, means for connecting said beam current error signal to the input windings of said saturable reactors to vary the impedance of said saturable reactors inversely with the magnitude of said beam current error signal, output means connected to the pposite end of said series connected saturable reactor output windings for producing an ac output signal having an amplitude variable with the magnitude of said beam current error signal, means for rectifying said ac output signal to produce therefrom a dc bias voltage, and means for connecting said dc bias voltage to said electron gun bias electrode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
220 words
A beam current regulator for an electron gun having a filament and a bias electrode comprising means for sensing the electron gun beam current and producing a beam current signal indicative thereof, means for generating a beam command signal indicative of desired electron gun beam current, a comparator for comparing said beam current signal with said beam command signal to produce a beam current error signal variable as the difference therebetween, first and second saturable reactors having input and output windings, the output windings of said reactors being connected in series and the input windings thereof being connected in series opposition, a source of alternating voltage, means for connecting said alternating voltage source to one end of said series connected saturable reactor output windings, means for connecting said beam current error signal to the input windings of said saturable reactors to vary the impedance of said saturable reactors inversely with the magnitude of said beam current error signal, output means connected to the pposite end of said series connected saturable reactor output windings for producing an ac output signal having an amplitude variable with the magnitude of said beam current error signal, means for rectifying said ac output signal to produce therefrom a dc bias voltage, and means for connecting said dc bias voltage to said electron gun bias electrode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
82 words
A beam current regulator as in claim 1 and including means for producing a high potential negative dc voltage, means for connecting said high potential negative dc voltage to said electron gun filament, means for combining said dc bias voltage with said high potential negative dc voltage so that said combined voltage is more negative than said high potential dc voltage by the amount of said dc bias voltage, and means for connecting said combined voltage to said electron gun bias electrode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
119 words
A beam current regulator as in claim 1 wherein said means for producing a beam command signal comprises integrator means producing first and second voltage reference signals of equal magnitude, means for selectively producing from said first and second voltage reference signals respectively first and second variable command voltage signals, and current adder means including multiplier means for receiving said first and second voltage reference signals and said first and second command voltage signals, said current adder means producing a beam command signal which will cause said beam current to achieve a first level as a function of said first command voltage signal, and subsequently to achieve a second level as a function of said second command voltage signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
147 words
A beam current regulator for an electron gun, said gun having a filament and a bias electrode, comprising means for sensing the electron gun beam current and producing a beam current singal indicative thereof, means for producing a beam command signal indicative of desired electron gun beam current, means comparing said beam current signal with said beam command signal to produce a beam current error signal variable as the difference therebetween, means responsive to said error signal for generating a dc bias voltage, means for connecting said dc bias voltage to said bias electrode, a signal storage circuit, means connecting said error signal with said storage circuit to store therein the value of said error signal, and switching means for disconnectiNg said error signal from said bias voltage generating means and connecting in place thereof the value of the error signal stored in said signal storage circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
147 words
A beam current regulator for an electron gun, said gun having a filament and a bias electrode, comprising means for sensing the electron gun beam current and producing a beam current singal indicative thereof, means for producing a beam command signal indicative of desired electron gun beam current, means comparing said beam current signal with said beam command signal to produce a beam current error signal variable as the difference therebetween, means responsive to said error signal for generating a dc bias voltage, means for connecting said dc bias voltage to said bias electrode, a signal storage circuit, means connecting said error signal with said storage circuit to store therein the value of said error signal, and switching means for disconnectiNg said error signal from said bias voltage generating means and connecting in place thereof the value of the error signal stored in said signal storage circuit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-23 | 1978-03-25 | 1978-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-23 | 1982-03-25 | 1982-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-23 | 1986-03-25 | 1986-09-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |