Rotating anode for X-ray tubes

In an improved rotating anode assembly for an X-ray tube such rotating anode assembly being one of the type which includes an anode plate member and a cylindrical rotor means therefor, such rotor means having (a) an axis, (b) means responsive to circumferentially applied electromagnetic force causing said rotor means to rotate about such axis, and (c) bearing means functionally associated therewith and adapting said rotor means for rotational movements relative to said bearing means, said bearing means including contact portions for applying during such rotational movements an electron accelerating potential to said plate member, the improvement which comprises the combination of

• A. a shaft axially extending from one end of said rotor means and terminating forwardly in a tubular configuration, said shaft being rotationally associated with said rotor means and rotatable therewith,
• B. said plate member having a generally disc-shaped body and being coaxial with said axis, said plate member having radially tapered surface portions on one face thereof adjacent the circumferential periphery of said plate member, said surface portions being adapted to convert incident electron energy striking same in an axially parallel direction into X-ray energy emitted therefrom at a predetermined angle relative to said incident electron energy, and further having an axial projection extending from the opposed face thereof,
• C. said tubular configuration having an inside diameter ranging from about 2 to 0.8 times the axial length of said axial projection,
• D. said axial projection being shrink fitted into said tubular configuration.