High voltage cable terminal and clamp system

A cable terminal and clamp system suitable for use in connection with a high-voltage x-ray generating device, and comprising:

• a cable terminal assembly including a cable socket having a cable port and a terminal port, each of which defines a corresponding axis, the respective axes being disposed in a non-parallel arrangement relative to each other;
• a cable clamp assembly including a cable clamp configured to receive at least a portion of the cable socket, and the cable socket and cable clamp assembly being configured and arranged so as to allow relative motion between the cable clamp and cable socket;
• and
• a key configured to be at least partially received within a keyway that is oriented substantially along the axis defined by the terminal port of the cable socket, the keyway being defined by at least one of:
• the cable socket;
• and, the cable clamp.

A cable terminal and clamp system suitable for use in connection with an x-ray generating device, the cable terminal and clamp system comprising:

• a cable terminal assembly including a socket having a cable port and a terminal port, each of which defines a corresponding axis, the respective axes being disposed in a non-parallel arrangement relative to each other;
• and
• a cable clamp assembly, comprising:
• a cable clamp attached to a housing portion of the x-ray device configured to receive at least a portion of the cable socket, and the cable clamp assembly and cable socket being configured and arranged so that motion of the cable socket relative to the cable clamp along a first axis is substantially unimpaired, but motion of the cable socket relative to the cable clamp along a second axis is substantially precluded;
• a resilient member interposed between the cable clamp and the cable socket, the resilient member being configured and arranged to exert a force on the cable socket substantially along the first axis so as to bias the cable socket away from the cable clamp;
• and
• an indicator that provides visual indication of the position of the cable socket relative to the cable clamp.

A cable terminal and clamp system capable of supplying electrical power to an x-ray tube device, comprising:

• a cable terminal assembly including a cable socket having a cable port and a terminal port, each of which defines a corresponding axis, the respective axes being disposed in a non-parallel arrangement relative to each other;
• a cable clamp assembly including a cable clamp that is affixed to an evacuated enclosure portion of the x-ray tube device and that is configured to receive at least a portion of the cable socket, the cable clamp assembly and cable socket being configured and arranged so that motion of the cable socket relative to the cable clamp is substantially unimpaired along at least one axis;
• and
• means for maintaining alignment of the cable socket and cable clamp relative to each other.

An x-ray device, comprising:

• an evacuated enclosure within which are at least partially disposed a cathode and an anode, the anode including a target surface configured and arranged to receive electrons emitted by the cathode;
• and
• a cable terminal and clamp system, comprising:
• a cable terminal assembly comprising:
• a cable socket having a cable port and a terminal port, each of which defines a corresponding axis;
• a terminal attached to the terminal port and in electrical communication with the cathode;
• a length of cable at least partially received in the cable port of the cable socket, the length of cable being in electrical communication with the terminal;
• and
• a cable clamp assembly including a cable clamp attached to the x-ray device and configured to receive at least a portion of the cable socket, and the cable clamp assembly and cable socket being configured and arranged so that motion of the cable socket relative to the cable clamp along a first axis is substantially unimpaired, but motion of the cable socket relative to the cable clamp along a second axis is substantially precluded.