Abstract:
Alignment between a focused electron beam and an aperture within a partition plate separating a low pressure electron beam generating zone from a higher pressure welding chamber is obtained by positioning four carbon sensing electrodes in a circular pattern coaxial with and slightly above the aperture in the partition plate. The internal diameter of the circular pattern formed by the electrode disposition is no greater than the aperture in the partition plate to assure continuous impingement of a portion of a properly focused bell-shaped electron beam on the electrodes. The negative voltages produced upon diametrically opposite electrodes by the electron beam bombardment are fed back to an elongated pair of electrostatic deflection plates in the low pressure zone of the welding apparatus to deflect the beam at an angle proportional to the difference between the voltage signals from the electrodes. When a charged particle beam is generated in a zone having sufficient gaseous pressure to produce an electrostatic discharge between deflection plates, electromagnetic windings are employed to deflect the beam with a current amplifier being inserted between the electrodes and the electromagnetic windings to allow use of low inductance windings thereby reducing the response time of the system.