Radiant energy – Irradiation of objects or material – Ion or electron beam irradiation
Patent
1990-09-17
1991-09-17
Berman, Jack I.
Radiant energy
Irradiation of objects or material
Ion or electron beam irradiation
2504421, 250396R, 3133611, H01J 326
Patent
active
050497553
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the treatment of surfaces of metal or ceramics of machine components by ion irradiation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Properties of metals, such as strength and lubrication properties, can be altered by ion irradiation. Thus e.g. steel can be given a harder surface and altered lubrication properties by implementing heavy ions, such as titanium and molybdenum.
Machine components which warrant advanced surface treatment include steel balls in ball bearings positioned far inside a machine or other machine components, which are so disposed, that mounting and demounting of them for repair or replacement is a difficult and time-consuming operation. By the surface treatment of the subject invention, the life of such machine component can be increased.
The purposes of the present invention is consequently to propose a method and provide an apparatus for such advanced surface treatment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, ion irradiation is produced continuously and with a uniform distribution over the irradiated surface.
The present invention simplifies the treatment since no synchronization is needed between the position of the object to be treated and the position of the particle beam. Thus, if, e.g., a wire is to be treated it is brought past a treatment location at a certain velocity which is determined by the intensity of the particle radiation.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the particles can be injected in several points around the peripheri of the apparatus to increase the particle intensity or to simultanously use different particles for the irradiation.
In the apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of magnets can be superposed upon each other, in the uppermost one e.g. argon being injected for cleaning the treated object, in next magnet ring e.g. aluminium being injected for a first treatment, in the following magnet ring e.g. chrome for a second treatment and finally e.g. silicon for colouring and finish. An object of e.g. iron can then be dropped through the four magnet rings for successive cleaning, the first and second treatments and colouring.
By the present invention it is also possible to perform ion irridiation not only by e.g. heavy ions but also by substances, which normally exist in gaseous form. If such substances are applied which do not directly oxidize with the oxygen of the air, e.g. nitrogen, improved corrosion properties are then obtained.
Further advantages are that known components such as ordinary magnetic materials, conventional vacuum pumps, ion sources, accelerators and beam optic equipments can be used in the construction of the apparatus according to the invention.
According to an advantageous further embodiment of the invention a layer of a suitable material is first applied to the surface to be treated, e.g. by evaporation of for instance chrome, and then the layer coating the surface is subjected to ion irradiation. Ion irradiation improves the adhesion between the surface to be treated and the applied layer, and in this way a thicker layer can be produced. To provide such thicker layers by only ion irradiation is not possible because such a treatment would take absurdly long time.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
An exemplifying embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings, on which:
FIG. 1 shows a principal overall view of the apparatus according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a plasma gun which is used as an ion source for injecting ions into the tank of the apparatus;
FIG. 3 is a schematic lateral view of a pick-up device;
FIG. 4 is an end view of the device in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the design of the storage magnets;
FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the design of the electrodes;
FIG. 7 shows the arrangement of the magnets in a section along the plane of movement of the particles;
FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view
REFERENCES:
patent: 3687716 (1972-08-01), Steigerwald
patent: 4069457 (1978-01-01), Martin et al.
patent: 4322622 (1982-03-01), Trone
patent: 4829550 (1989-05-01), Sanderson
Emmoth Birger
Stenbacka, deceased Rolf
Stenbacka, heir by Marlene
Berman Jack I.
Nguyen Kiet T.
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