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US 2019/0116653 A1Published application
X-ray Tube Integral Heatsink
AssigneeMoxtek, Inc.
InventorsEric Miller, Thomas E. Blair
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Improved heat transfer from an x-ray tube can be accomplished with a heatsink surrounding at least part of an x-ray tube. The heatsink can be electrically connected to an anode of the x-ray tube and can be an electrical current path. The heatsink can include a plurality of protrusions extending radially outward from the x-ray tube and can be a single, integral substance extending from an inner-surface of the heatsink to a distal-end of the protrusions.
Claims20
An x-ray source comprising:
- an x-ray tube including a cathode, an anode, and an enclosure;
- the enclosure being electrically-insulative;
- the cathode and the anode being electrically insulated from each other and attached to the enclosure;
- the cathode located at one end of a longitudinal axis extending through a hollow core of the enclosure and the anode located at an opposite end of the longitudinal axis;
- the cathode having an electron-emitter capable of emitting electrons towards the anode;
- and the anode capable of emitting x-rays in response to impinging electrons from the electron-emitter;
- a heatsink encircling the longitudinal axis and the x-ray tube about the longitudinal axis;
- being electrically conductive and electrically-coupled to the anode and electrically-insulated from the cathode;
- including a plurality of protrusions extending radially outward from the x-ray tube, the protrusions configured to increase heat transfer away from the x-ray tube;
- and having at least a portion of an outer surface with an electrical volume resistivity of at least 108 ohm*cm;
- and
- an electrically-insulative material encircling and adjoining an outer-surface of the enclosure and adjoining an inner-surface of the heatsink, including a region with a thermal conductivity of at least 0.8 W/(m*K), including a region with an electrical volume resistivity of at least 1×1016 ohm*cm, filling an annular portion of an annular gap between the heatsink and the enclosure, and at least partially separating the heatsink from the enclosure;
- and
- a radial path from the outer-surface of the enclosure to the inner-surface of the heatsink passing only through the electrically-insulative material.
11 more elements
An x-ray source comprising:
- an x-ray tube including a cathode, an anode, and an enclosure, the enclosure being electrically-insulative, the cathode and the anode being electrically insulated from each other and attached to the enclosure, the cathode located at one end of a longitudinal axis extending through a hollow core of the enclosure and the anode located at an opposite end of the longitudinal axis, the cathode having an electron-emitter capable of emitting electrons towards the anode, and the anode capable of emitting x-rays in response to impinging electrons from the electron-emitter;
- a heatsink encircling the longitudinal axis and the x-ray tube about the longitudinal axis;
- being electrically conductive, electrically-coupled to the anode, and electrically-insulated from the cathode;
- and including a plurality of protrusions extending radially outward from the x-ray tube, the protrusions configured to increase heat transfer away from the x-ray tube;
- an electrically-insulative material encircling and adjoining an outer-surface of the enclosure and adjoining an inner-surface of the heatsink;
- and
- a radial path from the outer-surface of the enclosure to the inner-surface of the heatsink passing only through the electrically-insulative material.
4 more elements
An x-ray source comprising:
- an x-ray tube including a cathode and an anode being electrically insulated from each other, the cathode including an electron-emitter capable of emitting electrons towards the anode, and the anode capable of emitting x-rays in response to impinging electrons from the electron-emitter;
- a heatsink being electrically conductive;
- being directly electrically-coupled to the anode by an electrically-conductive solder, weld, epoxy, adhesive, press-fit, or combinations thereof;
- being electrically-insulated from the cathode;
- and including at least 10 elongated ribs extending radially outward from the x-ray tube;
- the elongated ribs configured to increase heat transfer away from the x-ray tube, having a length extending substantially-parallel to a direction of electron-flow from the cathode to the anode, and having a length at least as long as a length of the x-ray tube;
- and
- a power supply electrically-coupled to the heatsink, electrically-coupled to the x-ray tube by a cable having a length of at least two meters, and configured to cause electrons to flow from the cathode to the anode then from the anode through the heatsink.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.