Liquid metal containment in an x-ray tube
AssigneeVarian Medical Systems, Inc.
InventorsWard Vincent Coon, Dennis H. Runnoe, Lawrence Wheatley Bawden
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Liquid metal containment in an x-ray tube. In one example embodiment, an x-ray tube anode assembly includes a stationary shaft terminated by a head and an anode connected to an anode hub. The anode hub is at least partially surrounding the head of the stationary shaft. The anode hub defines a hub opening through which the stationary shaft extends. The anode hub is configured to contain a volume of a liquid metal and to rotate around the stationary shaft. The anode hub also defines a catch space within the anode hub that is configured to catch the liquid metal in order to contain the liquid metal within the hub regardless of the orientation of the x-ray tube anode assembly.
Claims20
An x-ray tube anode assembly comprising:
- a stationary shaft terminated by a head;
- an anode connected to an anode hub, the anode hub at least partially surrounding the head of the stationary shaft, the anode hub defining a hub opening through which the stationary shaft extends, the anode hub configured to contain a volume of a liquid metal and to rotate around the stationary shaft, the anode hub also defining a catch space within the anode hub that is configured to catch the liquid metal in order to contain the liquid metal within the hub regardless of the orientation of the x-ray tube anode assembly.
An x-ray tube anode assembly comprising:
- a stationary shaft;
- an anode hub at least partially surrounding the stationary shaft, the anode hub defining a hub opening through which the shaft extends, the anode hub configured to contain a volume of a liquid metal and to rotate around the stationary shaft;
- and
- a diaphragm connected to the anode hub, the diaphragm configured to seal against the stationary shaft when the anode hub is at rest in order to impede the liquid metal from escaping through the hub opening regardless of the orientation of the x-ray tube anode assembly.
A rotating anode x-ray tube, comprising:
- an evacuated enclosure;
- a cathode at least partially positioned within the evacuated enclosure;
- and
- an anode assembly at least partially positioned within the evacuated enclosure, the anode assembly comprising:
- a volume of liquid metal;
- a stationary shaft terminated by a head;
- and
- an anode connected to an anode hub, the anode hub at least partially surrounding the head and containing the volume of liquid metal, the anode hub defining a hub opening through which the stationary shaft extends, the anode hub configured to rotate around the stationary shaft, the anode hub also defining a catch space within the anode hub that is configured to catch the liquid metal in order to impede the liquid metal from escaping through the hub opening regardless of the orientation of the x-ray tube anode assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.