US3993910A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Liquid lithium target as a high intensity, high energy neutron source
Assignee: Energy Research and Development Administration ERDA
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Filing: 1975-12-02
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Granted: 1976-11-23
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Expires: 1995-12-02
Abstract
Abstract This invention provides a target jet for charged particles. In one embodiment the charged particles are high energy deuterons that bombard the target jet to produce high intensity, high energy neutrons. To this end, deuterons in a vacuum container bombard an endlessly circulating, free-falling, sheet-shaped, copiously flowing, liquid lithium jet that gushes by gravity from a rectangular cross-section vent on the inside of the container means to form a moving web in contact with the inside wall of the vacuum container. The neutrons are produced via break-up of the beam in the target by stripping, spallation and compound nuclear reactions in which the projectiles (deuterons) interact with the target (Li) to produce excited nuclei, which then "boil off" or evaporate a neutron.
Inventors
- 👤 Don M. Parkin
- 👤 Norman D. Dudey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:10
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05H; H05H6/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
Target means for charging particles, comprising: - a. first source means for producing a beam of deuterons; b. longitudinally extending container means having sides terminating in closed ends for transporting the beam of deuterons along an axis toward one end of the container means; and c. second source means of a flowing liquid lithium stream having a nozzle defining a narrow vent in one side of the container means adjacent the one end thereof for converting the flowing liquid lithium stream into a falling, gushing, liquid lithium jet that flows by gravity as a sheet-shaped web along and across the one end of the container means in a direction transverse to the axis of the container means to interact the liquid lithium with the beam of deuterons.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
Target means for charging particles, comprising: - a. first source means for producing a beam of deuterons; b. longitudinally extending container means having sides terminating in closed ends for transporting the beam of deuterons along an axis toward one end of the container means; and c. second source means of a flowing liquid lithium stream having a nozzle defining a narrow vent in one side of the container means adjacent the one end thereof for converting the flowing liquid lithium stream into a falling, gushing, liquid lithium jet that flows by gravity as a sheet-shaped web along and across the one end of the container means in a direction transverse to the axis of the container means to interact the liquid lithium with the beam of deuterons.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 in which the container means is evacuated to provide the interaction in a low pressure vacuum.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 2 in which the nozzle has a transition piece that converts the flowing liquid lithium stream from a round cross-section along a vertical axis to a falling, gushing, liquid lithium jet having a rectangular cross-section parallel to the beam axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 3 having recovery means including a transition piece that converts the rectangular cross-section, falling, gushing, liquid lithium jet into a round cross-section flowing liquid lithium stream.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 4 in which the container means has a vacuum tight bulkhead forming a neutron window between the falling, gushing, liquid lithium jet and the outside of the container means for maintaining the integrity of the low pressure ambient in the vicinity of and adjacent to the liquid lithium jet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 5 in which the second source means causes the falling, gushing, liquid lithium jet to hub the inside of the neutron window in the low pressure vacuum in the container means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 6 having means on the sides of the neutron windoe forming a U-shaped trough or receiving and transporting the falling, gushing, liquid lithium jet in the low pressure vacuum in the container means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
The system of claim 7 in which the recovery means has an auxiliary catch basin and a drain from the low pressure ambient in the container means for returning to the second source means any liquid lithium that is not recovered from the falling, gushing, liquid lithium jet in the low pressure ambient in the container means by the transisiton piece of the recovery means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
The system of claim 8 in which the first source means has deuteron source and accelerator means for producing D + and D - deuteron beams along the axis for producing neutrons via break-up of the beams by stripping, spallation and compound nuclear reactions in and on the falling, gushing, liquid lithium jet in the low pressure ambient, wherein the deuterons disintegrate into protons and neutrons.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
104 words
Target means for charging particles, comprising: a. a charged particle beam; b. vacuum container means having an inside wall for receiving the beam; c. vent means on the inside of the vacuum container means adjacent said wall and direct along a trajectory transverse to the charged particle beam; and d. a falling, copiously flowing liquid lithium target jet that gushes by gravity from the vent means transverse to the charged particle beam to form a moving web in contact with the wall of the container means for receiving the beam to produce a neutron beam in the same direction as the charged particle beam.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
104 words
Target means for charging particles, comprising: a. a charged particle beam; b. vacuum container means having an inside wall for receiving the beam; c. vent means on the inside of the vacuum container means adjacent said wall and direct along a trajectory transverse to the charged particle beam; and d. a falling, copiously flowing liquid lithium target jet that gushes by gravity from the vent means transverse to the charged particle beam to form a moving web in contact with the wall of the container means for receiving the beam to produce a neutron beam in the same direction as the charged particle beam.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The target means of claim 10 in which the vent has a rectangular cross-section opening.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The target means of claim 11 in which the target jet is an endlessly circulating sheet-shaped, liquid lithium jet having a rectangular cross-section when it is bombarded by the charged particle beam.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3500098A
Cited
US3623130A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-11-23 | 1980-05-24 | 1980-11-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-11-23 | 1984-05-24 | 1984-11-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-11-23 | 1988-05-24 | 1988-11-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |