Technicare Corporation

Edward A Blaskis

Roland W Carlson

An all metal and ceramic high vacuum rotary anode x-ray tube adapted for mounting on a gantry of a rotational type CT scanner. The evacuated region where x-rays are generated is maintained at about 10.sup.-7 Torr. Vacuum sealing about the rotating shaft of the anode is provided by a magnetic fluid. No bearings are utilized within the evacuated region. Large, long wearing ball bearings that transmit rotation through the vacuum seal are provided about the shaft outside of the high vacuum region where conventional lubricants may be applied. Circulating coolant is applied internally through the anode assuring continual operation of the tube without the need for frequent cool-down waits. A preferred embodiment discloses a modified path in the rotor for the coolant designed to disturb the conventional laminar type of flow which is heat transfer inefficient to one characterized by high turbulence resulting in approximately an order of magnitude improvement in the coefficient of heat transfer.

High vacuum rotating anode x-ray tube

An all metal and ceramic high vacuum rotary anode X-ray tube adapted for mounting on a gantry of a rotational type CT scanner. The evacuated region where X-rays are generated is maintained at about 10.sup.-7 Torr. Vacuum sealing about the rotating shaft of the anode is provided by a magnetic fluid. No bearings are utilized within the evacuated region. Large, long wearing ball bearings that transmit rotation through the vacuum seal are provided about the shaft outside of the high vacuum region where conventional lubricants may be applied. Circulating coolant is applied internally through the anode assuring continual operation of the tube without the need for frequent cool-down waits.

High vacuum rotating anode X-ray tube

A method of vacuum assembling a rotating anode X-ray tube of the type having a rotor and a shaft extending therefrom with a magnetic fluid for vacuum sealing about the shaft. The tube is subjected to a high temperature bake-out whereby gases are sufficiently evolved from exposed metal parts that a stable low pressure region is created. A static seal is used to temporarily seal the region during bake-out with the anode temporarily rendered non-rotatable and the permanent magnetic vacuum seal protected from the high temperature. The system is then allowed to cool off before the permanent magnetic vacuum seal is moved into its operational position within the high vacuum. Assembly tooling is provided ensuring that the high vacuum is maintained throughout the installation. Bearings are installed external to the region of high vacuum to transmit rotary motion of the shaft through the permanent seal. Finally, the tube is rendered operational by displacing the static seal thereby permitting the anode to be rotated.

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Hudson, OH, United States of America

Edward A Blaskis