JP2536765Y2 - Laser excitation lamp holder - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a holder for supporting a laser excitation lamp used for a solid-state laser or the like.

2. Description of the Related Art A laser excitation lamp is typically a xenon flash lamp or a krypton flash lamp, and is arranged in a laser oscillator close to and parallel to a laser rod.

The applicant of the present application has previously disclosed the Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 63-96771 (Japanese Utility Model Application No.
4) discloses a laser excitation lamp holder having a novel structure. The holder holds the electrode terminal of the laser excitation lamp from both sides by first and second holding members, at least one of which is conductive, and presses the electrode terminal with the first and second holding members by pressing means. This is a structure in which a substantially uniform pressure is applied to the contact surface between them, and at least one of the first and second holding members is connected to the holder supporting member via an elastic member. According to such a holder structure, since both holding members surround and hold the electrode terminals, the electrode terminals can be easily detached by separating the two holding members, so that attachment / detachment and replacement of the lamp are easy. The pressurizing means applies a substantially uniform pressure to the contact surface under the condition that the contact surface is wrapped and held, so that there is no variation in the contact pressure distribution, so that the current and voltage supplied to the lamp are partially applied to the contact surface. The effect is that concentration does not occur, electrolytic corrosion is less likely to occur, and the elastic member absorbs the expansion and contraction stress of the lamp tube, so that there is no possibility of damaging the lamp tube.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] The holder of the prior application described above generally solves the problems of the old type holder and is of great practical value, but there is still much room for improvement.

In particular, it has been found that there is a problem in the effect of the elastic member absorbing the load from the lamp side and the stretching stress. That is,
In the holder of the prior application, the elastic member is formed of a U-shaped leaf spring. In the leaf spring having such a structure, the U-shaped curved portion has a direction parallel or perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the lamp. When a force in the lamp longitudinal direction is received from the lamp side, the free end of the spring, that is, the end on the holding member side, is displaced in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the lamp. Is displaced in the same direction,
I was sick. In a solid-state laser using a laser excitation lamp, light from the lamp is transmitted to a laser medium (laser rod).
In general, a lamp and a rod are aligned and arranged at a pair of focal positions in an elliptical reflecting lens barrel so as to effectively irradiate the light to the lens. Therefore, it is not preferable that the lamp is deviated from the axis of focus due to thermal expansion.

In addition, the load of the lamp and the holding member is always applied to the elastic member of this kind in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the lamp (in the direction of gravity). Direction (gravitational direction). In the holder of the prior application, the free end of the spring, that is, the end on the holding member side, regardless of whether the U-shaped curved portion of the leaf spring is oriented in a direction parallel or perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the lamp. Is elastically displaced not only in the direction (gravitational direction) in which the load or pressing force acts from the lamp side, but also in the direction perpendicular to the direction (horizontal direction, that is, the lamp longitudinal direction). Directional stress was always applied, and it was difficult to ensure the safety of the lamp.

An object of the present invention is to provide a holder for a laser excitation lamp, which is capable of more stably and effectively absorbing a force from the laser excitation lamp side.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, a laser excitation lamp holder according to the present invention is characterized in that at least one of the electrode terminals of the laser excitation lamp is provided by first and second holding members that are conductive. From both sides, applying a substantially uniform pressure to a contact surface between the electrode terminal and the first and second holding members by a pressing means, and applying at least one of the first and second holding members. In a holder for a laser excitation lamp coupled to a holder supporting member via an elastic member, the elastic member has a first U-shaped or semicircular curved portion that is convex in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the lamp. And a second spring portion having a U-shaped or semi-circular curved portion that is convex in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the lamp, and wherein the first spring portion and the second 2 spring And a conductive plate spring formed by connecting the parts in series.

[Operation] In the holder for a laser excitation lamp of the present invention, an elastic member for connecting at least one of the first and second holding members and the holder supporting member is made of a conductive leaf spring. A first spring portion having a U-shaped or semi-circular curved portion that is convex in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the laser excitation lamp; and a U-shaped or semi-circular curved portion that is convex in a substantially parallel direction. A second spring portion is included, and both spring portions are connected in series.

When a force in the lamp longitudinal direction is applied to the leaf spring due to thermal expansion of the lamp or the like, the first and second spring portions are elastically displaced in the same direction in a direction substantially parallel to the lamp longitudinal direction, respectively. In a direction substantially perpendicular to each other, they are elastically deformed in opposite directions and absorb (cancel) each other. This allows the entire leaf spring to effectively absorb the force from the lamp while holding the lamp on the same axis.

Further, the load of the lamp and the holding member always acts on the leaf spring in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the lamp (gravity direction). Gravitational direction),
The first and second spring portions of the leaf spring in the present invention are elastically displaced in the same direction (gravity direction) in the same direction with respect to such a force acting in the gravitational direction, and the direction perpendicular to the direction (horizontal direction). Direction), they are elastically deformed in opposite directions and absorb (cancel) each other. This allows the leaf spring as a whole to safely and effectively absorb the force in the gravitational direction from the lamp side without applying a longitudinal stress to the lamp.

Embodiment FIGS. 1 and 2 to 4 are a partial cross-sectional front view and a partial cross-sectional side view, respectively, showing a configuration of a laser excitation lamp holder according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The holding member of the holder 10 according to this embodiment includes an upper holding plate 12 and a lower holding plate 14 each made of copper or brass. 2, V-groove-shaped recesses 12a, 14a are formed in the center portions of the opposing surfaces of both holding plates 12, 14, and these recesses 12a, 14a serve as the cylindrical electrode terminals 42 of the excitation lamp 40. Wrap from both sides and hold. Then, bolts 16 and 18 are screwed into the lower holding plate 14 on the left and right sides of the concave portions 12a and 14a, respectively, against the elasticity of the spring washers 20 and 22. 24 and 26 are ordinary washers. According to such a configuration, the V-groove recesses 12a, 14a of the holding plates 12, 14 contact the electrode terminals 42 by wires, and when the diameter of the electrode terminals 42 changes, the position of the line contact moves, The contact area is kept constant. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, even if the diameter of the electrode terminal 42 changes, the electrode terminal 42 is
Holds firmly with stable contact pressure between 12,14. As a result, various lamps 40 having different sizes can be used and replaced by one holder. It is preferable to provide the V-groove recesses 12a and 14a in each of the holding plates 12 and 14 as in this embodiment, but it is also possible to provide the recess 14a in only one of them, for example, only the lower holding plate 14. It is. Further, the upper holding plate 12 does not necessarily need to be a conductor, and may be a ceramic plate.

Further, in this embodiment, spring washers 20, 22 are used as the pressurizing means. Since the spring washer is an elastic member with little play (deformation), the two holding plates are fastened by bolts 16 and 18 via these washers 20 and 22 to provide a strong and stable connection between both holding plates and the electrode terminals. A high contact pressure can be obtained, and electric corrosion based on poor contact can be more reliably prevented.

Next, the holder supporting elastic member in this embodiment will be described.

In FIG. 1, one end 50a of a conductive leaf spring 50 made of beryllium copper or phosphor bronze is fixed to the bottom of the lower holding plate 14, and the other end 50b of the leaf spring 50 is connected via a holding plate 30. It is fixed to an electrode plate (holder support member) 34 by a bolt 32.

The leaf spring 50 has two U-shaped or semicircular spring portions 50d and 50c as shown. That is, the first spring portion 5
0d has a U-shaped or semicircular curved portion that is convex in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the lamp 40, and the second spring portion 50c is convex in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the lamp 40. It has a V-shaped or semi-circular curved portion, and both spring portions 50d, 50c are connected in series at a spring intermediate portion.

When the lamp 40 expands due to thermal expansion or the like, both spring portions 50d and 50c receive a force parallel to the longitudinal direction of the lamp. First spring part 50d
Is elastically deformed in the direction in which the curved portion opens (in the direction of arrow H) by the force from the lamp 40 side, and the free end side, that is, the connection point side with the second spring portion 50c is lowered in FIG. Try to displace On the other hand, the second spring portion 50c
Is elastically deformed in a direction (arrow V direction) in which the curved portion is opened by a force from the lamp 40 side, and the free end side, that is, the connection point side with the first spring portion 50d, in FIG. Attempts to displace upward. As a result, both spring portions 50
d and 50c are directions parallel to the lamp longitudinal direction (direction of arrow H)
In this case, the displacements in the same direction (the direction in which the lamp 40 extends) are absorbed (canceled) from each other in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the lamp (the direction of the arrow V).

In this manner, the leaf spring 50 elastically displaces only in a direction parallel to the lamp longitudinal direction as a whole, thereby absorbing the stress from the lamp 40 while keeping the lamp 40 on the same axis. Can be.

When the lamp 40 cools and becomes shorter, the force acting on the two spring portions 50d, 50c from the lamp 40 side is opposite to the above, and the two spring portions 50d, 50c are elastically deformed in the opposite directions, respectively. As a result, a direction parallel to the lamp longitudinal direction (arrow H)
Direction) (the direction in which the lamp 40 becomes shorter)
Respectively, but absorbs (cancels) each other's displacement in a direction (arrow V direction) perpendicular to the lamp longitudinal direction. Therefore, also in this case, the leaf spring 50 is elastically displaced only in the direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the lamp (the direction of arrow H) as a whole, and the stress from the lamp 40 side is maintained while the lamp 40 is kept on the same axis. Can be absorbed.

Further, the load of the lamp 40 and the holding members 12, 14 always acts on the leaf spring 50 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the lamp 40 (the direction of gravity or the direction of the arrow V). The pressing force of the hand or tool may be applied in the same direction (gravity direction), but the first and second spring portions 50d and 50c are in the same direction with respect to the force acting in the gravitational direction. They are elastically displaced in the same direction (gravity direction or arrow V direction) and elastically deform in the direction perpendicular to the direction (horizontal direction or arrow H direction) in opposite directions to absorb (cancel) each other. Thereby, as a whole, the leaf spring 50 does not apply a longitudinal stress to the lamp 40,
The force in the direction of gravity from the lamp 40 side can be safely and effectively absorbed.

FIG. 5 shows a modification of the holder supporting elastic member according to the present embodiment. The leaf spring 50 in the above embodiment (FIG. 1)
In the first spring portion having a U-shaped or semi-circular curved portion that is convex in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the lamp 40,
50 d is provided on the holding plate 14 side, and a second spring portion 50 c having a U-shaped or semi-circular curved portion which is convex in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the lamp 40 is provided with an electrode plate (holder support member) 34.
It was provided on the side. The leaf spring 60 in the modification of FIG.
In the first spring portion having a U-shaped or semi-circular curved portion that is convex in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the lamp 40,
60d is provided on the electrode plate 34 side, and a second spring portion 60c having a U-shaped or semicircular curved portion which is convex in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the lamp 40 is provided on the holding plate 14 side.

That is, the modification of FIG.
The positions of the spring portion and the second spring portion are replaced with those of the embodiment of FIG. 1, and the direction of the convex portion of the curved portion of the first spring portion is opposite in the configuration of FIG. 1 and the configuration of FIG. It has become. In the configuration of this modification, the first and second spring portions 60d and 60c operate in the same manner as the first and second spring portions 50d and 50c, respectively, and the leaf spring 60 operates in the same manner as the leaf spring 50. It works.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the laser excitation lamp holder of the present invention, the conductive member constituting the elastic member for coupling at least one of the first and second holding members and the holder support member. A first spring portion having a U-shaped or semicircular curved portion that is convex in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the laser excitation lamp, and a U-shaped or convex shape that is convex in a substantially parallel direction. And a second spring portion having a semicircular curved portion, and by connecting both spring portions in series, in the direction in which the two spring portions act on the force from the lamp side. Each of the leaf springs is elastically displaced in the same direction and elastically deforms in the opposite direction in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the force acts, and absorbs or cancels each other. Safe and effective absorption Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional front view showing a configuration of a laser excitation lamp holder according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing a configuration of a holder of the embodiment, FIG. FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing the operation of the holder of the embodiment, FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing the operation of the holder of the embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a partial cross-section showing a modification of the embodiment. It is a front view. 10… Laser excitation lamp holder, 12… Upper holding plate, 14…
Lower holding plate, 12a, 14a: V-groove recess, 16, 18, ... bolt, 2
0,22 ... spring washer, 34 ... electrode plate, 40 ... lamp,
42: electrode terminal, 50, 60: leaf spring, 50c, 50d, 60c, 60d: spring part.

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] A first and a second conductive member, at least one of which is conductive;
The electrode terminal of the laser excitation lamp is held from both sides by the holding member, and a substantially uniform pressure is applied to the contact surface between the electrode terminal and the first and second holding members by the pressurizing means. And a holder for a laser excitation lamp in which at least one of the second holding member is connected to a holder supporting member via an elastic member, wherein the elastic member is convex in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the lamp. A first spring portion having a U-shaped or semi-circular curved portion, and a second spring portion having a U-shaped or semi-circular curved portion that is convex in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the lamp. A holder for a laser excitation lamp, comprising a conductive leaf spring formed by connecting the first spring portion and the second spring portion in series.