Abstract: Means for enhancing heat transfer from liquid cooled rotating anode x-ray tubes that provide for extended surfaces on the liquid cooled concave curved heat exchange surfaces opposing the electron beam focal track. The extended surfaces take the form of fins lying in the direction of coolant flow, said fins preferably being generally triangular in cross section.

Abstract: An X-ray generator has an anode formed by an electrically conductive fluid having a flat surface on which focused electrons are incident, so that X-rays are generated at a solid angle with respect to the surface, with .alpha..sub.2C being the critical angle of total reflection. For enhancing the spectral brilliance of the X-rays, a method and apparatus are disclosed wherein X-rays at a specific angle .alpha..sub.2 are tapped (the "tap angle"), with .alpha..sub.2 satisfying the condition .alpha..sub.2C <.alpha..sub.2 <3.alpha..sub.2C.

Abstract: The present invention provides an internally liquid cooled rotating target of high average power capabilities that is illuminated by an energy beam wherein multiple independent centrifugal forces are established on an associated heat transfer surface to enhance heat transfer.

Abstract: A patient receiving region (12) is defined within a stationary CT scanner frame (A). An x-ray tube (B) is mounted on a rotating frame portion (40) for rotation about the patient receiving region on an annular bearing (44, 46, 48). A fluidic slip ring (60) is mounted between the rotating and stationary frames adjacent the bearing for conveying cooling fluid between the x-ray tube and a stationarily mounted, preferably off-site, chiller (D). The fluidic slip ring enables large amounts of heat to be removed from the x-ray tube to maintain the x-ray tube at proper operating temperatures without overheating the interior of the CT scanner, the CT scanner room, or the like.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns X-ray tubes. To obtain greater temperature stability of an X-ray tube, a substance is placed in the circulation space of the cooling fluid of the tube. The latent heat of fusion of this substance is used so that it melts during the examination stage in absorbing heat, and gets solidified during the resting stage. The disclosure is applicable to X-ray tubes.

Abstract: Cooling oil for an X-ray tube head assembly is contained within a resilient elastomeric envelope together with a high voltage assembly.

Abstract: A high intensity x-ray source that uses a flowing stream of liquid gallium as a target with the electron beam impinging directly on the liquid metal.

Abstract: An x-ray tube has a stationary cathode and a rotating anode contained in an evacuated housing. The anode is mounted on a stationary shaft on bearings. The anode has a hollow interior, in which a stationary heat-absorption member is disposed, also mounted to the shaft. The shaft is in the form of a tube, with the interior thereof being charged by a coolant. The coolant circulates through the heat-absorption member within the hollow interior of the anode to dissipate heat from the anode generated during the production of x-rays.

Abstract: A rotatable anode for an X-ray tube is provided including a hollow rotatable anode wheel having two circular faces. One of the circular faces has a bevelled edge for a target region. A circular baffle is situated concentrically inside the hollow anode wheel. The baffle has means for imparting a tangential velocity to a liquid. The outer perimeter of the circular baffle is spaced away from the interior of the anode wheel. Means for supplying cooling liquid to the central portion of one side of the baffle is provided as well as means for removing cooling liquid from the other side of the baffle. Structural means are provided for rotating the baffle and the anode wheel at the same angular velocity.

Abstract: An x-ray tube includes a cathode which supplies electrons that bombard a target material to produce x-rays. The target is supported on a rotating anode that includes fins covered with a high emissivity material. An envelope surrounds these elements and provides a vacuum chamber in which they operate. A receptor is mounted to the envelope and includes fins which mate with the anode fins to enhance the radiation of heat from the rotating anode. A cooling liquid is pumped through the receptor.

Abstract: An X-ray generating tube with improved thermal performance comprises a stationary disc within a hollow rotating target disc. The target operates at the target metal temperatures limit. The stationary disc is cooled by forced convection with a dielectric liquid. Heat is transferred from the target inwardly and outwardly.

Abstract: A microfocus X-ray tube having a rotating anode wherein X-ray are generated by electron beam bombardment of the anode and wherein the electron beam is bent as by a magnetic field to impinge on a selected surface of the anode.

Abstract: Several different embodiments of high-intensity rotating-anode X-ray are shown which use a liquid or fluid-cooled rotating-anode. No ferrofluid-type rotating joints or O-ring gasket-type seals are required so that the interior of the tube maintains a high vacuum without pumping. A bellows permits mechanical coupling to interior structures of the tube while providing a completely vacuum tight enclosure. All joints may be hard soldered or brazed together so the entire system can be baked at a high temperature during pumpdown.

Abstract: An x-radiator has heat-producing components therein which are enclosed in a housing filled with an insulating fluid surrounding the components. A circulating pump is in fluid communication with the interior of the housing and has respective ports through which the fluid is circulated through the pump between the ports for aiding in dissipating heat from the components. The pump may be integrated within the housing, or attached to an exterior of the housing, with only its ports being in communication with the housing interior. The pump may be a squirrel-cage induction motor with a fluid conveying element, such as a ship's propellor forming a unit with the rotor and being arranged in a protective housing together with the stator.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for the cooling of an X-ray tube contained in a casing, using a fluid put into forced circulation in a cooling circuit comprising a heat exchanger. The device of the invention can be used to obtain efficient cooling while, at the same time, using a small volume of fluid and a heat exchanger of smaller size than in the prior art. To this end, the cooling circuit comprises means to, firstly, store a quantity of heat accumulated by the fluid when the latter reaches a pre-determined temperature during an examination period and, secondly, to restore this quantity of heat during an idle period which follows the examination period.

Abstract: An x-radiator has a housing in which an x-ray tube is disposed surrounded by an electrically insulating coolant and having a circulation system for the coolant. The housing is substantially filled with the coolant, and a heat exchanger is disposed outside of the housing through which the coolant is pumped. *) The direction of flow of the coolant is automatically reversible dependent on the three-dimensional position of the x-radiator. *) For aiding in dissipating heat from said coolant a cooling fluid is circulated through the heat exchanger isolated from the coolant.

Abstract: An X-ray generator system comprising a pressurized fluid source disposed for directing dielectric coolant fluid through a housing wherein an X-ray source may be electrically connected for generating X-rays, the system including a venturi device having a restricted passage through which the fluid flows and which is disposed in communication with portions of the housing where gas bubbles may accumulate in the fluid. Thus, the fluid flowing through the restricted passage of the venturi device produces a reduction in pressure which draws fluid from said portions of the housing so that any gas bubbles accumulated therein may be purged from the system.

Abstract: An equipped forced-convection housing unit for a rotating-anode X-ray tube comprises a flow-initiating device which is integrated in the housing unit and has the function of circulating the coolant fluid surrounding the X-ray tube. This arrangement simplifies the problems relating to supply of electric power to the motor which drives the flow-initiating device and the motor which drives the anode of the X-ray tube in rotation.

Abstract: An x-ray source having a cathode and a disc-shaped anode with a peripheral surface at constant radius from the anode axis opposed to the cathode. The anode has stub axle sections rotatably carried in heat conducting bearing plates which are mounted by thermoelectric coolers to bellows which normally bias the bearing plates to a retracted position spaced from opposing anode side faces. The bellows cooperate with the x-ray source mounting structure for forming closed passages for heat transport fluid. Flow of such fluid under pressure expands the bellows and brings the bearing plates into heat conducting contact with the anode side faces. A worm gear is mounted on a shaft and engages serrations in the anode periphery for rotating the anode when flow of coolant is terminated between x-ray emission events.

Abstract: An x-ray tube device with an anode target capable of rotation and a cathode which generates electrons causing them to collide with the target set in a vacuum envelope, and with a shaft which supports and rotates the anode projecting outside the envelope. This x-ray tube device has a structure such that the target is cooled by coolant flowing through coolant channels in the shaft. A vacuum seal is maintained by seal means such as magnetic fluid seal between the envelope and the rotating shaft. The envelope and coolant channels are best maintained at ground potential, and thus have an intermediate potential, with high positive and negative voltages supplied to the anode target and cathode.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Rotating anode x-ray generating apparatus including a mechanism which utilizes the rotational motion of the anode (20) to increase the effective rate of coolant with respect to the anode heat exchange surface (43).

Abstract: A high intensity microfocus x-ray source for the inspection of superalloy objects and the like operates at a voltage of the order of 400-500 kV with an electron beam focal spot size of the order of 2-10 mils and at power levels of tens to hundreds of kilowatts and affords a brightness improvement of at least three thousand over conventional x-ray sources.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rotating anode x-ray source assembly which is particularly adapted for effecting high x-ray emission from a conventional x-ray source for use in replicating VLSI circuits, and comprises a rotatable anode target ring, cooling water flow channels dispose adjacent the target ring for cooling the target ring during operation, an E-beam directed to a spot on the target ring towards the periphery thereof, the cooling water flow channel being constructed and arranged so that on a transverse plane with respect to the axis of rotation all diametrically opposed points on any diameter have the same cooling water density, thereby dynamically balancing the anode under all thermal conditions.

Abstract: A soft X-ray generator comprises an electron gun and an anode which are disposed in individual vacuum containers, respectively but are interconnected by a conduit provided with an electron lens so that an electron beam generated from the electron gun is guided through the conduit on the anode in a focused form, thereby emitting soft X-rays from the surface of the anode.

Abstract: An evacuated casing has outer and inner tubes respectively covering the outer and inner peripheries of a hollow cylindrical rotor. Ring members of a ferromagnetic material are provided in the inner wall of the rotor and face permanent magnets, which are provided on the inner periphery of the inner tube and are magnetized in the radial directions of the rotor. The permanent magnets are fitted on a cylindrical yoke between first and second poles formed thereon, the fluxes being inserted in the rotor via the inner tube. The first poles are disposed to face the respective ring members, while the second pole is disposed to face the opposed end faces of the ring members. With this arrangement, contactless magnetic bearings are formed to support the rotor stably.

Abstract: There is disclosed a liquid cooled anode x-ray tube wherein the rotating anode is adapted for irradiation by an energy beam, and includes a heat exchange surface, said x-ray tube includes means for providing a flow of coolant liquid to remove heat from said heat exchange surface by formation of nucleate vapor bubbles on said heat exchange surface, said liquid tending to include a viscous sublayer adjacent to said heat exchange surface, the improvement wherein said heat exchange surface includes at least one of: means for forming pressure gradients in said liquid having a component perpendicular to said heat exchange surface to facilitate removal of said nucleate bubbles; and means for breaking up said viscous sublayer to facilitate removal of said nucleate bubbles.

Abstract: A x-ray tube housing assembly is disclosed which includes a manifold for distributing incoming coolant within the housing in the area adjacent the hot zone of the x-ray tube. The manifold preferably comprises a generally tubular conductor circumferentially disposed about a first axis which is generally parallel to the axis of the tube housing.

Abstract: A rotating anode X-ray generating tube having heat dissipating fins on the anode structure interleaved with heat receiving fins attached to the vacuum envelop with means for cooling the heat receiving fins, thereby allowing enhanced heat transfer from the anode structure to the outside environment. The operation of the foregoing structure may be enhanced further by judicious choice of materials.