Liquid-free x-ray insert window

An x-ray tube assembly comprising:

• an insert frame defining a substantially evacuated envelope;
• a cathode assembly disposed in the evacuated envelope;
• a rotating anode assembly disposed in the evacuated envelope;
• an x-ray transmissive insert window hermetically connected to the insert frame;
• an x-ray tube housing surrounding and spaced from the insert frame;
• a dielectric liquid coolant which flows between the x-ray tube housing and the insert frame to cool the frame and the window;
• and,
• an x-ray transmissive window cooling assembly including:
• an annular, thermally conductive side plate having first and second ends, an inner surface, and an extended outer surface having a plurality of fins in contact with the dielectric liquid coolant, the first end being hermetically connected to and in thermal communication with at least one of the insert frame and insert window, such that heat from the insert window travels from the window through the side plate to the fins and into the liquid coolant;
• a flange hermetically connected to and surrounding the side plate second end, the flange being configured for interconnection with the housing;
• and,
• an x-ray transmissive top plate connected to and substantially surrounded by the flange.

An x-ray tube assembly comprising:

• an x-ray tube housing;
• a cathode assembly;
• a rotating anode assembly;
• an insert frame supported within the x-ray tube housing, said insert frame defining a substantially evacuated envelope in which the cathode and anode assemblies operate to produce x-rays;
• an x-ray transmissive window assembly which extends between and in a fluid-tight relationship with the x-ray tube housing and the insert frame, the x-ray transmissive window assembly including:
• an x-ray transmissive insert window hermetically connected to the insert frame;
• an annular side plate having first and second ends, the first end being hermetically connected to at least one of the insert frame and insert window, and the second end being connected to the housing, the insert window, and the annular side plate forming a window chamber;
• a thermally conductive non-oxygen gas disposed in the window chamber;
• a dielectric liquid coolant which flows between the x-ray tube housing and the insert frame and around the annular side plate.

An x-ray tube assembly comprising:

• a housing;
• a cathode assembly;
• an anode assembly;
• a metal insert frame disposed within the housing and defining an evacuated envelope in which the cathode and anode assemblies operate to produce x-rays;
• a cooling means which circulates a dielectric liquid coolant between the housing and the metal insert frame;
• an x-ray transmissive window through which x-rays produced by the cathode and anode assemblies pass, said window being brazed to the insert frame at a braze joint in a vacuum-tight manner;
• and,
• a heat conducting means in thermal contact with the x-ray transmissive window at the braze joint, said heat conducting means removing heat from the window and the braze joint without liquid coolant passing over the window.

An x-ray tube assembly comprising:

• a housing;
• a cathode assembly;
• an anode assembly;
• a metal insert frame disposed within the housing, said metal insert frame defining an evacuated envelope in which the cathode and anode assemblies operate to produce x-rays;
• an x-ray transmissive window through which x-rays produced by the cathode and anode assemblies pass, said window being brazed to the insert frame at a braze joint in a vacuum-tight manner;
• and,
• a cooling system which circulates a dielectric liquid coolant between the housing and the metal insert frame;
• a window cooling assembly including a thermally conductive annular side plate, the annular side plate including:
• a first end surrounding the x-ray transmissive window in a heat transmitting fluid-tight relationship with the braze joint;
• a plurality of outward extending radial fins in thermal contact with the dielectric liquid coolant;
• and,
• a second end in fluid-tight relationship with the housing;
• such that said cooling assembly removes heat from the window without liquid coolant passing over the window.

An x-ray tube assembly comprising:

• a housing;
• a cathode assembly;
• an anode assembly;
• an insert frame disposed within the housing, said insert frame defining an evacuated envelope in which the cathode and anode assemblies operate to produce x-rays;
• an x-ray transmissive window through which x-rays produced by the cathode and anode assemblies pass, said window being mounted to the insert frame in a vacuum-tight manner;
• a cooling system which circulates a dielectric liquid coolant between the housing and the metal insert frame;
• an annular side plate including:
• a first end surrounding the x-ray transmissive window in a fluid-tight relationship;
• a second end in fluid-tight relationship with the housing;
• a cold air generator which forces cold air toward a top surface of the x-ray transmissive window through a plurality of channels adjacent an inner surface of the annular side plate to remove heat from the window without the liquid coolant passing over the window.

In a high power x-ray tube assembly having an outer housing, a metal insert frame supported within the outer housing which defines an evacuated envelope in which cathode and rotating anode assemblies operate to produce x-rays, and an x-ray transmissive insert window brazed to the insert frame at a braze joint, a method of high heat transfer cooling of the x-ray transmissive insert window in which no liquid coolant oil contacts the x-ray transmissive window, the method including:

• from a thermally conductive material, forming an oil-free cooling chamber around and above the x-ray transmissive window;
• conducting heat from the window through the thermally conductive material;
• and,
• circulating the coolant oil around the oil-free cooling chamber to remove heat from the thermally conductive material.