X-ray shielding mechanism for off-axis X-rays
AssigneeHoriba, Ltd.
InventorsSeiichi Taniguchi, Akimichi Kira, Kozo Kashihara
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An X-ray shielding mechanism to block off-axis X-rays for example, in an X-ray analytical instrument such as a fluorescent X-ray spectroscope is provided. X-rays are guided on-axis by elongated glass guide tubes and outer elongated metallic protective pipes are spatially positioned on the exterior of the glass guide tubes to block off-axis X-rays.
Claims11
A fluorescent X-ray spectroscope comprising:
- a source of X-rays having an X-ray generating point;
- an X-ray shielding plate having an entrance window to emit X-rays from the X-ray generating point;
- a first elongated glass tube having a first aperture extending the length of the first glass tube for guiding the X-rays;
- a sample stage aligned with one end of the first glass tube to receive the X-rays;
- and
- a first protective X-ray tube positioned about the first glass tube and extending substantially along an intermediate length of the first glass tube to block off-axis X-rays that are not aligned with the first aperture of the first glass tube.
An X-ray shielding mechanism for off-axis X-rays provided with an X-ray cartridge comprising:
- an X-ray source which radiates X-rays;
- a glass X-ray guide tube with an inner peripheral surface into which the X-rays are introduced;
- an X-ray shielding plate made of metal and having a window for introducing X-rays into the X-ray guide tube, the shielding plate is disposed on an input end of the X-ray guide tube, and
- a metallic protective pipe which has a predetermined length extending from the side of the input end at a predetermined distance from the X-ray source to the side of the end, from which the X-rays are emitted, and which is disposed outside of the X-ray guide tube whereby the X-rays which pass through the entrance window and are transmitted from a side surface of the X-ray guide tube can be blocked and satisfying the following condition:
- r1/x1<r2/x2
- wherein r1 is a diameter of the entrance window of the X-ray shielding plate, x1 is a distance from an X-ray generation point of the X-ray source to the X-ray shielding plate, x2 is a distance from the X-ray generation point to an input end of the protective pipe and r2 is the inside diameter of the protective pipe.
In an X-ray analytical instrument for applying and analyzing the consequence of X-rays applied to a sample, the improvement of:
- an elongated glass guide tube for guiding X-rays to the sample from a source of X-rays;
- and
- an outer metallic tube of sufficient density and length to block X-rays extending about the elongated glass guide tube whereby off-axis X-rays transmitted through an outer surface of the guide tube are blocked, wherein the X-ray analytical instrument includes an entrance window in an X-ray shielding plate having a diameter r1, the metallic tube has an inside diameter of r2, x1 is a distance from an X-ray generating point of an X-ray source to the X-ray shielding plate and x2 is a distance from the X-ray generating point to an input end of the metallic tube wherein the following condition applies:
- r1/x1<r2/x2
In an X-ray analytical instrument for applying and analyzing the consequence of X-rays applied to a sample, the improvement of an elongated glass guide tube for guiding X-rays to the sample from a source of X-rays;
- and
- an outer stainless steel tube of sufficient density and length to block X-rays extending about the elongated glass guide tube whereby off-axis X-rays transmitted through an outer surface of the guide tube are blocked, wherein the X-ray analytical instrument includes an entrance window in an X-ray shielding plate having a diameter r1, the stainless steel tube has an inside diameter of r2, x1 is a distance from an X-ray generating point of an X-ray source to the X-ray shielding plate and x2 is a distance from the X-ray generating point to an input end of the stainless steel tube wherein the following condition applies:
- r1/x1<r2/x2.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.