X-ray tube vapor chamber target
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorDouglas J. Snyder
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An x-ray tube for emitting x-rays includes a housing, an anode assembly disposed in the housing and including a target surface, a cathode assembly mounted in the housing at a distance from the anode assembly, and a target body extending from the target surface of the anode assembly. The cathode assembly includes an electron emitter which emits electrons. The electrons hit the target surface of the anode assembly and produce x-rays. The target body has a cavity containing a working fluid and is configured to transfer thermal energy away from the target surface.
Claims21
An x-ray tube for emitting x-rays which includes an anode assembly and a cathode assembly, the x-ray tube comprising:
- a casing;
- an anode assembly disposed in the casing and including a target surface;
- a cathode assembly mounted in the casing at a distance from the anode assembly, the cathode assembly including an electron emitter which emits electrons, the electrons hitting the target surface of the anode assembly and producing x-rays;
- and
- a target body extending from the target surface of the anode assembly, the target body having an enclosed cavity extending normal to the target surface, the cavity containing a working fluid and configured to transfer thermal energy away from the target surface by vaporization of the working fluid.
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 a track on a target surface for the electrons from the electron source to hit and produce x-rays;
- and
- enclosed means extending normal to the target surface for transferring thermal energy away from the track by vaporizing a fluid.
A method for dissipating heat from an anode bombarded with electrons in an x-ray tube during operation of the x-ray tube, the method comprising:
- rotating a target surface to distribute the heat from the impact of electrons on a track of the target surface;
- and
- transferring heat away from the target surface using a target body with an enclosed cavity extending normal to the target surface, the cavity being configured to transfer thermal energy away from the target surface by vapor action.
A method of assembling an x-ray tube having a vacuum vessel;
- an anode assembly;
- a cathode assembly;
- and a target body, the method comprising:
- locating an x-ray tube vacuum vessel;
- orienting an anode assembly and cathode assembly within the vacuum vessel;
- and
- fastening a target body having a target surface to the anode assembly, the target body having an enclosed cavity extending normal to the target surface, the cavity containing a working fluid and configured to transfer thermal energy away from the anode assembly by vaporization of the working fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.