X-ray tube cooling system

An x-ray tube cooling system comprising:

• (a) a reservoir containing coolant that is continuously circulated through the reservoir by an external cooling unit;
• (b) a shield structure having an aperture that allows electrons to pass from an electron source to a target anode and that prevents electrons that rebound from the target anode from restriking the anode target;
• (c) a coolant manifold having an inlet and an outlet port, the inlet port receiving coolant from the cooling unit;
• (d) at least one passageway formed within the shield structure, wherein the at least one passageway receives coolant from the inlet port and discharges the coolant at the outlet port, the coolant thereby absorbing heat from the shield structure, and wherein at least a portion of the at least one passageway is formed by attaching a portion of the shield structure to an aperture disk;
• (e) a plurality of adjacent extended fin surfaces that are disposed about the outer periphery of the shield structure, and wherein the outlet port directs at least a portion of the coolant passed through the passageway to flow across the surfaces of the fins, and thereby increase the rate of heat transferred from the shield to the directed coolant;
• and
• (f) means for augmenting the heat transfer capability of the at least one fluid passageway.

A method for cooling a shield structure portion of an x-ray tube comprising the following steps:

• (a) providing at least a first fluid path and a second fluid path through a corresponding passageway formed within the shield structure;
• (b) directing a liquid coolant through an inlet to the first and the second fluid paths;
• (c) discharging the liquid coolant from the first and the second fluid paths via a plurality of discharge paths;
• (d) directing at least a portion of the discharged liquid coolant across a plurality of extended fin surfaces formed on an outside surface of the shield structure through at least one of the discharge paths;
• (e) circulating the liquid coolant through a cooling unit;
• and
• (f) repeating steps (b) through (e).

In an x-ray generating apparatus comprising an evacuated envelope at least partially disposed within a reservoir containing coolant, and the envelope having mounted therein an electron source for generating an electron beam and a spaced apart rotatable anode target, a shield assembly disposed between the electron source and the anode target, the shield assembly comprising:

• a main body portion having an aperture formed therein for allowing the electron beam to pass from the electron source to the anode target;
• an electron collection surface disposed about the aperture and oriented in a manner so as to face the electron source;
• a plurality of adjacent and extended cooling surfaces affixed to an outer surface of the main body portion, the extended surfaces being at least partially in contact with the coolant disposed within the reservoir so that at least a portion of the heat generated at the electron collection surface is transferred to the coolant via the plurality of cooling surfaces;
• and
• at least one fluid passageway formed within the main body portion, the passageway having an inlet port for receiving coolant and a plurality of discharge ports wherein at least one of the discharge ports directs the coolant across at least a portion of the plurality of extended cooling surfaces such that heat is transferred from the extended surfaces to the directed coolant.

An x-ray tube comprising:

• (a) a cathode cylinder having an electron source disposed therein;
• (b) an x-ray tube housing having an anode disposed therein, the anode having a target surface capable of receiving electrons emitted by the electron source;
• (c) a shield structure positioned between the cathode cylinder and the x-ray tube housing, the shield structure having an aperture formed therein through which the electrons are passed from the electron source to the target surface, wherein the shield structure is comprised of an aluminum oxide dispersion strengthened copper alloy;
• (d) at least one fluid passageway disposed proximate to the shield structure, wherein the fluid passageway allows a coolant to pass through and thereby absorb heat from at least a portion of the shield structure;
• and
• (e) a plurality of extended surfaces affixed to an outer surface of the shield structure, the extended surfaces being at least partially in contact with the coolant that has passed through the at least one fluid passageway, and the extended surfaces being oriented so that heat is transferred from the shield structure to the coolant, wherein the extended surfaces are comprised of an aluminum oxide dispersion strengthened copper alloy.

In an x-ray generating apparatus comprising an evacuated envelope at least partially disposed within a reservoir containing coolant, and the envelope having mounted therein an electron source for generating an electron beam and a spaced apart rotatable anode target, a shield assembly disposed between the electron source and the anode target, the shield assembly comprising:

• a main body portion having an aperture formed therein for allowing the electron beam to pass from the electron source to the anode target, wherein the main body portion is comprised of an aluminum oxide dispersion strengthened copper alloy material;
• an electron collection surface disposed about the aperture and oriented in a manner so as to face the electron source;
• and
• a plurality of adjacent and extended cooling surfaces affixed to an outer surface of the main body portion, the extended surfaces being at least partially in contact with the coolant disposed within the reservoir so that at least a portion of the heat generated at the electron collection surface is transferred to the coolant via the plurality of cooling surfaces, wherein the extended surfaces are comprised of an aluminum oxide dispersion strengthened copper alloy material.