High thermal performance cathode via heat pipes
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorDouglas J. Snyder
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An x-ray tube for emitting x-rays which includes an anode and a cathode is disclosed herein. The x-ray tube includes a housing, an anode disposed in the housing and including a target, a cathode disposed in the housing at a distance from the anode, and a heat pipe thermally coupled to the cathode and extending away from the electron emitter. The cathode includes an electron emitter which is configured to emit electrons which hit the target of the anode and produce x-rays. The heat pipe provides transfer of thermal energy away from the electron emitter and into a heat sink.
Claims20
An x-ray tube for emitting x-rays which includes an anode and a cathode, the x-ray tube comprising:
- a housing;
- an anode disposed in the housing and including a target;
- a cathode disposed in the housing at a distance from the anode, the cathode includes an electron emitter configured to emit electrons which hit the target of the anode and produce x-rays;
- and
- a heat pipe thermally coupled to the cathode and extending away from the electron emitter, the heat pipe providing transfer of thermal energy away from the electron emitter.
An x-ray tube for emitting x-rays with increased performance by effective heat dissipation, the x-ray tube comprising:
- an electron source, the electron source emitting electrons;
- an x-ray source, the x-ray source providing x-rays from a bombardment of electrons from the electron source;
- and
- heat pipe means for selectively directing heat energy away from the electron source.
A method for dissipating heat from a cathode in an x-ray tube during operation of the x-ray tube, the method comprising:
- providing electrons using an electron emitter in the cathode, the electrons producing x-rays and heat upon impact with a target;
- and
- transferring heat away from the electron emitter with at least one heat pipe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.