Heat pipe assisted cooling of x-ray windows in x-ray tubes
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorCarey S. Rogers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An x-ray tube for emitting x-rays through an x-ray transmissive window is disclosed herein. The x-ray tube includes a casing, an x-ray tube insert which generates x-rays, an x-ray transmissive window disposed in the x-ray tube insert, and at least one heat pipe thermally coupled to the x-ray transmissive window. The x-ray transmissive window provides an area through which the x-rays pass. The heat pipe transfers thermal energy away from the x-ray transmissive window, providing intense, localized cooling of the x-ray window.
Claims12
An x-ray tube for emitting x-rays through an x-ray transmissive window, the x-ray tube comprising:
- a casing;
- an x-ray tube insert which generates x-rays, the x-ray tube insert being located within the casing;
- an x-ray transmissive window disposed in the x-ray tube insert to provide an area through which the x-rays pass;
- and
- at least one heat pipe thermally coupled to the x-ray transmissive window to transfer thermal energy away from the x-ray transmissive window.
A method for dissipating heat from an x-ray transmissive window on an x-ray generating device, the method comprising:
- providing a heat pipe thermally coupled to the x-ray transmissive window;
- providing x-rays through the x-ray transmissive window;
- and
- transferring thermal energy away from the x-ray transmissive window through the heat pipe, wherein the heat pipe comprises an evacuated sealed metal pipe partially filled with fluid and an evaporator end and a condenser end, and the step of transferring thermal energy away from the x-ray transmissive window comprises vaporizing the fluid at the evaporator end and liquifying the vaporized fluid at the condenser end, wherein the step of providing a heat pipe comprises providing a fin structure at the condenser end of the heat pipe, further comprising applying an acceleration force to aide in moving the fluid back to the evaporator section of the heat pipe.
A method of assembling an x-ray tube having a casing;
- an x-ray tube insert;
- an x-ray transmissive window;
- and at least one heat pipe, the method comprising:
- locating an x-ray tube casing;
- orienting an x-ray tube insert within the casing, the x-ray tube insert including an x-ray transmissive window through which x-rays pass;
- and
- fastening at least one heat pipe to the x-ray transmissive window.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.