Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Picker International, Inc.

Philips Medical Systems (cleveland), Inc.

Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.v.

Mark S Maska

Donald Charles Mueller

Norman Wandke

Andrew R Kaczmarek

Lester Donald Miller

Qing Kelvin Lu

Jason P Harris

Todd Russell Bittner

Robert C Crawford

Qing K Lu

An x-ray tube comprising a first electrode and a second electrode. The first and second electrodes are located in operative relationship with one another to generate x-rays when the electrodes are energized at their respective operating potential. An evacuated envelope encloses the first and second electrodes. The evacuated envelope includes a first envelope wall portion, a second envelope wall portion and an envelope weld member comprising an electrical conductor. The envelope weld member is in electrical communication so as to be at operating potential of one of the first and second electrodes when the x-ray tube is energized. The envelope weld member is adapted for vacuum tight joining to the first envelope wall portion and to the second envelope wall portion. The envelope weld member has an integral corona shield portion.

X-ray tube envelope with integral corona shield

A connection device ( ) provides electrical connection between a stator motor ( ) of an x-ray tube and a stator cord ( ). The connection device is connected with the x-ray tube housing ( ) by threading a threaded portion ( ) into a corresponding threaded aperture ( ) in the housing to create a leak-tight seal. The threaded portion is rigidly connected with a connecting portion ( ), such as a bayonet socket, which receives a corresponding fitting ( ) of the stator cord. An electrical conduction path ( ), hermetically sealed in the connecting device, provides electrical connection between the socket and the interior of the housing. The connection device allows the stator cord to be quickly connected or disconnected from the housing yet provides a seal which resists leakage of cooling oil from the housing.

Hermetically sealed stator cord for x-ray tube applications

A CT scanner comprises a beryllium window mounted on an x-ray insert, a cooling fluid circulation line, and a cooling fluid return line. A plurality of fins are mounted in the cooling fluid circulation line. The fluid circulation line is in fluid communication with one of an anode side cavity and a cathode side cavity and in fluid communication with a heat exchanger. The fluid return line is in fluid communication with the heat exchanger and in fluid communication with the other one of the anode side cavity and the cathode side cavity. A pump means circulates the cooling fluid through the heat exchanger, the suction and return lines, and the x-ray tube housing assembly.

Integration of cooling jacket and flow baffles on metal frame inserts of x-ray tubes

A high energy x-ray tube includes an evacuated chamber ( ) containing a rotor ( ) which rotates an anode ( ) in the path of a stream of electrons (A) to generate an x-rays (B) and heat. The rotor includes a bearing shaft ( ) connected to the anode by a thermally conductive structure ( ). The bearing shaft carries soft metal-lubricated bearing balls ( F, R) in forward and rear bearing races ( ). An annular groove ( ) is defined longitudinally in the shaft which, particularly when evacuated, provides a thermal barrier between the forward race and the portion of the shaft that is thermally connected with the anode. The groove lengthens the path heat entering the bearing shaft travels in order to reach the forward bearing race. As a result, the temperature of the forward race, and hence the evaporation of lubricant during operation of the x-ray tube, is reduced. The groove may be formed by electrical discharge machining the bearing shaft or by forming the shaft from inner and peripheral components ( ) which are connected together adjacent the rear bearing race ( ).

Thermally isolated x-ray tube bearing

A high energy x-ray tube includes an evacuated chamber ( ) containing a rotor ( ) which rotates an anode ( ) in the path of a stream of electrons (A) to generate an x-ray beam (B) and heat. Heat is carried away from the anode to a bearing shaft ( ) which rotates relative to a stationary rotor ( ) on forward and rear lubricated bearings ( P, R). The heat is directed away from the forward bearings ( F), by a core ( ) of a thermally conductive material, such as copper, disposed in a central cavity ( ) within the shaft. Annular insulating regions ( ) are optionally defined between the core and the bearing shaft adjacent the races to increase the thermal path between the anode and the races. The reduction in temperature of the forward bearings results in a decrease in the evaporation rate of the lubricant ( ) and a corresponding increase in the lifetime of the x-ray tube.

Thermally equalized X-ray tube bearing

An x-ray tube is disposed within an x-ray tube housing defining a chamber filled with oil or other cooling medium for cooling the x-ray tube. The x-ray tube includes an envelope enclosing an evacuated chamber in which an anode assembly is rotatably mounted to a bearing assembly and interacts with a cathode assembly for production of x-rays. The bearing assembly includes a bearing housing and a plurality of bearings disposed on a surface of the bearing housing. A heat sink is coupled to the bearing assembly and provides a thermally conductive path between the bearing assembly and the cooling medium in the x-ray tube housing for providing direct cooling of the bearing assembly during operation.

Cooling device for x-ray tube bearing assembly

An anode assembly (14) is mounted by a bearing assembly (20-28) in a bearing housing (30). The bearing housing is constructed of substantially pure copper or other high thermal conductivity metal. The bearing housing defines a shoulder portion (36) between a side wall (34) and a mounting shank (38). The mounting shank is threaded (66) to be clamped into a mounting assembly (60) which provides substantially the sole support for the bearing and anode assembly. A steel reinforcing collar (52) with an integral seat portion (54) supports the shank and shoulder portions of the bearing housing. A vacuum envelope (40) of the x-ray tube includes a metal cap portion (44) which is sealed between the seat and shoulder portions in a vacuum tight relationship. In this manner, relatively soft substantially pure copper is used in the bearing housing to conduct thermal energy from the anode while the reinforcing collar provides sufficient structural strength that the weight of the cantilever mounted anode and bearing assembly to resist deformation of the copper shank and shoulder portion.

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Palatine, IL, United States of America

Mark S Maska