Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Kevin Charles Kraft

Gerald James Carlson

Qing Kelvin Lu

Paul Xu

Min He

Ming-Wei Paul Xu

Xiaopo Ma

Quin Kelvin Lu

Fince Tendian

Shengzhong Zhang

Qing K Lu

An anode () is formed by building a carbon, such as a carbon reinforced carbon composite, or other ceramic substrate (). A ductile, refractory metal is electroplated on the ceramic substrate to form a refractory metal carbide layer () and a ductile refractory metal layer (), at least on a focal track portion (). A high-Z refractory metal is vacuum plasma sprayed on the ductile refractory metal layer to form a vacuum plasma sprayed high-Z refractory metal layer (), at least on the focal track portion.

Anode disk element with refractory interlayer and VPS focal track

A method () creates a braze joint () between an anode plate () and a piece of graphite () of an x-ray tube (). The method () includes receiving () the anode plate () and the piece of graphite (). A barrier layer () and a braze layer () are arranged () between the anode plate () and the piece of graphite (), where the barrier layer () is between the piece of graphite () and the brazing layer (). The barrier layer () is heated () with the braze layer () to create the braze joint () between the anode plate () and the piece of graphite ().

Brazed X-ray tube anode

The present invention relates to X-ray generating technology in general, in particular, it relates to an anode disk element () for an X-ray generating device (). The generation of electromagnetic radiation may be considered to be quite inefficient, since a substantial part of energy applied to a focal track is converted to heat rather than X-radiation. Thus, a limiting factor in the operation of X-ray tubes is the cooling of the anode element and more specifically the focal track. In the present invention, an anode disk element is provided, with an improved dissipation of heat from the focal track. Thus, the anode disk element may sustain increased heat while maintaining structural integrity. The anode disk element () comprises at least a first surface () and a second surface (), with the first surface () comprising a focal track () and the second surface () comprising a conductive coating (). The anode disk element () is rotatable about a rotational axis () with the focal track () being rotationally symmetrical to the rotational axis (). The first surface () comprising the focal track () and the second surface () comprising the conductive coating () are adjacently arranged.

Anode disk element comprising a conductive coating

An anode disk element for the generation of X-rays that provides improved dissipation of heat from a focal track includes an anisotropic thermal conductivity. The anode disk element includes a focal track and at least one heat dissipating element. The anode disk element is rotatable about a rotational axis with the focal track being rotationally symmetrical to the rotational axis. The at least one heat dissipating element is configured for heat dissipation from the focal track in the direction of reduced thermal conductivity of the anode disk element.

Anode disk element comprising a heat dissipating element

A cooling apparatus () for X-ray tube inserts () is provided. The apparatus comprises a flow director () that is configured to direct at least a portion of a flow of a coolant toward a window () of an X-ray tube insert. The flow director may incorporate a flow sleeve () of a plurality of nozzles ().

X-ray tube cooling apparatus

A housing () surrounds at least a portion of an x-ray tube (). A cooling system (') supplies a cooling liquid through the housing. The cooling system includes a pump (&#x2032;) and a flow sensor system (&#x2032;) which measures a pressure difference across the pump. A processor (&#x2032;) determines a cooling fluid flow rate from the pressure difference. A controller () limits operation of the x-ray tube based on the cooling fluid flow rate and a measured temperature of the cooling fluid to prevent x-ray tube overheating while minimizing cooling time between x-ray tube operations.

Liquid flow sensor fox x-ray tubes

A cooling system () for an x-ray tube assembly () includes a heat exchanger () which receives cooling fluid from a housing () of the x-ray tube assembly and transfers the heat to a flow of air. A fan (), such as an axial fan, directs the flow of air through the heat exchanger. The fan is positioned within a duct (). A contoured air flux director () is positioned to intercept the flow of air from the duct and to redirect the flow of air in a direction which is generally perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the fan.

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Plainfield, IL, United States of America

Kevin Charles Kraft