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US 4,788,705 AGranted
High-intensity X-ray source
AssigneeVarian Assoicates, Inc.
InventorWeston A. Anderson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A high-intensity X-ray source generates significant heat at the anode. To help dissipate this heat, the anode is often rotated in the vacuum. Heat must still be radiated from the anode to the exterior walls. An improved X-ray source incorporates the anode in the walls of the vacuum chamber and rotates the entire chamber. The heat is then easily conducted to the exterior where it may be dissipated by connection or forced air cooling.
Claims24
An X-ray source comprising:
- a housing forming a vacuum chamber, the entirety of said housing being rotatable about an axis, a portion of said housing being an anode;
- means for rotating said housing about said axis;
- means, mounted within said chamber, for generating electrons and for focusing said electrons onto a region off said axis;
- rf transformer means for inductively coupling rf energy from a source external to said vacuum chamber through a wall portion of said housing to said means for generating electrons, said transformer means comprising a primary coil mounted outside of said vacuum chamber and a secondary coil mounted within said vacuum chamber, said secondary coil having an air core;
- and
- means for holding said means for generating and for focusing fixed when said housing is rotated about said axis so that said region remains fixed and said anode rotates through said region.
3 more elements
An X-ray source comprising:
- a housing forming a vacuum chamber, the entirety of said housing being rotatable about an axis, said housing including an anode comprising a plurality of electrically conducting portions off said axis and equidistant from said axis and separated from one another by electrically insulating material;
- means for rotating said housing about said axis;
- means, fixedly mounted within said chamber on said axis and symmetric with respect to said axis, for generating electrons and for focusing said electrons;
- means for applying a first electrical potential to said means for generating and for focusing;
- and
- means for applying a second electrical potential greater than said first electrical potential to those electrically conducting portions passing through a fixed spatial region when said housing is being rotated, so that said electrons are attracted to impinge on said portions passing through said fixed spatial region.
3 more elements
An X-ray source comprising:
- a vacuum chamber;
- means for generating electrons mounted within said vacuum chamber;
- an anode having a surface within said vacuum chamber for receiving electrons generated by said means for generating;
- and
- rf transformer means for inductively coupling rf energy from a source external to said vacuum chamber through a wall of said vacuum chamber to said means for generating electrons, said transformer means comprising a primary coil positioned outside of said vacuum chamber and a secondary coil mounted within said vacuum chamber, said secondary coil having an air core.
2 more elements
An X-ray source comprising:
- a housing forming a vacuum chamber, the entirety of said housing being rotatable about an axis, a portion of said housing being an anode;
- means for rotating said housing about said axis;
- means, mounted within said chamber, for generating electrons and for focusing said electrons onto a region off said axis;
- rf transformer means for inductively coupling rf energy from a source external to said vacuum chamber through a wall portion of said housing to said means for generating electrons, said transformer means comprising a primary coil mounted outside of said chamber and a secondary coil mounted within said vacuum chamber, said secondary coil having an axis coinciding with said axis about which said housing is rotatable;
- and
- means for holding said means for generating and for focusing fixed when said housing is rotated about said axis so that said region remains fixed and said anode rotates through said region.
3 more elements
An X-ray source comprising:
- a vacuum chamber;
- means for rotating said vacuum chamber about an axis;
- means for generating electrons mounted within said vacuum chamber;
- an anode having a surface within said vacuum chamber for receiving electrons generated by said means for generating;
- and
- rf transformer means for inductively coupling rf energy from a source external to said vacuum chamber through a wall of said vacuum chamber to said means for generating electrons, said transformer means comprising a primary coil positioned outside of said vacuum chamber and a secondary coil mounted within said vacuum chamber, said secondary coil having an axis coinciding with said axis about which said vacuum chamber is rotatable.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.