JP2005317316A - X-ray generating device cooling system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an X-ray generating device cooling system cooling an X-ray tube or an anticathode of the X-ray tube by circulating cooling water, from which, the X-ray tube or the anticathode can be simply and safely removed from a cooling water piping, for maintenance, change of wave length or the like. <P>SOLUTION: Three way valves 41, 42 switching and connecting pump side flow passage pipes 31, 34 to a flow passage pipes at X-ray tube 20 side and a bypass flow passage pipe 35 are interposed in the middle part at forward flow passage side and backward flow passage side of forward and backward flow passage pipes 31 to 34 respectively, and an aspirator 36 is arranged in the middle of the bypass flow passage pipe 35. A suction port of the aspirator is jointed to the X-ray tube side flow passage pipes 32, 33, further, a check valve leading outside air in the pipes 32, 33 when the pressure in the X-ray tube side flow passage pipe 32 becomes negative, is arranged on the pipe 32. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an X-ray generator cooling system that cools an X-ray tube or an anti-cathode of the X-ray tube with a coolant that is circulated and supplied by a pump.

  In a high-energy X-ray generator, since the amount of heat generated at the counter cathode (target or anode) of the X-ray tube is large, it is necessary to cool the counter cathode. In order to efficiently perform this cooling, a water-cooling type cooling system using a cooling liquid, particularly cooling water is used (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  In this X-ray tube cooling system, as shown in FIG. 3, the cooling water circulated and supplied from the cooling water circulation supply device 10 is introduced into the X-ray tube 20 through the reciprocating flow channel pipes 31 'and 34' and circulated. The cooling water circulation supply device 10 includes a cooling water tank (reservation tank) 11, a circulation drive pump 12, a cooling device 13 that cools the cooling water, a temperature control device 14, and the like. The cooling water (drain water) that has passed through the cooling flow path 21 is fed into the tank 11 through the return flow path pipe 34 ′ while being fed into the cooling flow path 21 in the X-ray tube 20 via the pipe 31 ′. Reflux.

  In the X-ray tube 20, a cathode filament 22 and an anti-cathode 23 for generating X-rays are installed, and a cooling channel 21 is formed behind the anti-cathode 23. Usually, a hose (or a tube) which is a flexible tube is used for the channel pipes 31 ′ and 34 ′. The flow rate of the cooling water circulated and supplied through the flow channel pipes 31 ′ and 34 ′ is monitored by a flow meter 52.

JP 2001-273999 A JP2000-251811

  The X-ray tube 20 or the counter-cathode 23 of the X-ray tube is temporarily removed from the cooling system hose (channel tubes 31 ′, 34 ′) when performing maintenance such as repair or replacement, or when changing the wavelength. There is a need. At this time, the cooling water remaining in the hose and the tube often leaks out and damages nearby electronic devices. In order to prevent this, the cooling water pump must be stopped and the cooling water remaining in the hose and the tube must be removed cleanly. I often leaked.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is an X-ray generator for cooling an X-ray tube or an anti-cathode of the X-ray tube with a coolant circulated and supplied by a pump. An object of the present invention is to make it possible to safely and easily remove the X-ray tube or the counter-cathode of the X-ray tube from the cooling water pipe for maintenance or wavelength change in the cooling system.

The solving means of the present invention is characterized by the following (1).
That is, (1) In an X-ray generator cooling system that cools an X-ray tube or an anti-cathode of the X-ray tube with a coolant that is circulated and supplied by a pump, the coolant is introduced into the X-ray tube and circulated. A reciprocating channel pipe and a pump-side channel tube are switched between an X-ray tube side channel tube and a bypass channel tube by interposing each of the reciprocating channel tube on the forward path side and the return path side respectively. A three-way valve, an aspirator that performs a suction operation by the flow of the coolant flowing through the bypass channel tube, a suction side channel tube that connects the suction port of the aspirator to a channel tube on the X-ray tube side, and an X-ray And a check valve for introducing outside air into the pipe when the pressure inside the pipe on the pipe side becomes negative.

In the present invention, the following embodiments are preferable or desirable.
(2) In the above (1), the flow tube on the X-ray tube side and the coolant circulation port of the X-ray tube are detachably connected with a fluid connector.

  (3) In the above (1) or (2), the switching operations of the three-way valve interposed on the forward path side of the reciprocating flow channel pipe and the three-way valve interposed on the return path side are synchronized with each other.

  (4) In any one of the above (1) to (3), the three-way valve is an automatic valve device that is driven by electric or fluid pressure.

  In an X-ray generator cooling system that cools an X-ray tube or an anti-cathode of the X-ray tube by a coolant that is circulated and supplied by a pump, the X-ray tube or the counter-cathode of the X-ray tube is subjected to maintenance, wavelength change, etc. Therefore, the work of once removing from the cooling water pipe can be performed safely and easily.

  FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an X-ray generator cooling system to which the technology of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 shows an example of an X-ray tube to which the X-ray generator cooling system of the present invention is applied.

  The cooling system for the X-ray generator shown in FIG. 1 cools the counter-cathode of the open type or closed type X-ray tube 20 with cooling water (cooling liquid) circulated and supplied by a pump 12, and its main part is The reciprocating flow pipes 31 to 34 for introducing and circulating the cooling water circulated and supplied by the pump 12 to the X-ray pipe 20, the three-way valves 41 and 42, the bypass flow pipe 35, the aspirator 36, and the check A valve 44 is used.

  The X-ray tube 20 has a cathode filament 22 for generating X-rays and a counter cathode (target or anode) 23, and a cooling channel 21 through which cooling water flows is formed behind the counter cathode 23. (See FIG. 2). The cooling flow path 21 is connected to the flow path pipes 32 and 33 via a detachable fluid connector 51.

  The cooling water is supplied from the cooling water circulation supply device 10 including the pump 12 and introduced into the cooling flow path 21 in the X-ray tube 20 through the forward path side flow pipes 31 and 32. The cooling water introduced into the cooling flow channel 21 and passing through the counter cathode 23 while cooling is returned to the cooling water circulation supply device 10 through the return-side flow channel pipes 33 and 34.

  The cooling water circulation supply device 10 includes a cooling water tank (reservation tank) 11, a circulation drive pump 12, a cooling device 13 for cooling the cooling water, a temperature control device 14, and the like. It is connected to the X-ray tube 20. A flexible tube such as a hose (or tube) is used for each of the flow channel tubes 31 to 34. The reciprocating flow pipes 31 to 34 are provided with a flow meter 52 for monitoring the flow rate of the cooling water.

  A three-way valve 41 for switching and connecting the flow path pipe 31 on the pump 12 side to the flow path pipe 32 on the X-ray tube 20 side and the inlet of the bypass flow path pipe 35 is provided in the middle of the forward flow path flow pipes 31 and 32. Is provided. Similarly, in the middle of the return-side channel pipes 33 and 34, three-way switching and connecting the channel pipe 31 on the pump 12 side to the channel pipe 32 on the X-ray tube 20 side and the outlet of the bypass channel pipe 35. A valve 42 is provided. Also,

  In addition, an aspirator 36 is provided in the middle of the bypass channel pipe 35. The aspirator 36 performs a suction operation by the flow of cooling water flowing through the bypass flow channel pipe 35, and the suction port is connected to the flow channel 33 on the X-ray tube 20 side on the return path side via the suction side flow channel pipe 37. It is connected.

  A check valve 44 is provided in the flow path pipe 32 on the X-ray tube 20 side on the forward path side. The check valve 44 is provided so that outside air is introduced into the flow channel 32 when the pressure in the flow channel 32 becomes negative. In this case, the cooling water in the flow path pipe 32 is prevented from flowing out to the outside by the check valve 44.

  A fluid connector 51 is detachably connected between the flow pipes 32 and 33 on the X-ray tube 20 side and the cooling water circulation port of the X-ray tube 20. In addition, the three-way valve 41 interposed in the forward path side flow pipes 31 and 32 and the three-way valve 42 interposed in the return path side flow pipes 33 and 34 are automatic valve devices that are driven by electric or fluid pressure, Each switching operation is installed so as to be synchronized with each other.

Next, the operation will be described.
In the normal operation mode in which the X-ray tube 20 or the counter cathode 23 of the X-ray tube is cooled, the switching ports of the two three-way valves 41 and 42 are respectively connected to the X-ray tube 20 side. In this state, the cooling water supplied from the cooling water circulation supply device 10 by the pump 12 passes through the flow path pipe 31 on the forward path side, the three-way valve 41, and the flow path pipe 32 to the cooling flow path 21 in the X-ray tube 20. The cooling water that has been supplied and has passed through the cooling flow path 21 returns to the cooling water tank 11 in the cooling water circulation supply device 10 through the flow path pipe 33, the three-way valve 41, and the flow path pipe 34 on the return path side. .

  On the other hand, when the flow tube 32, 33 is removed for maintenance or wavelength exchange of the X-ray tube 20 or its counter cathode 23, the switching operation of the three-way valves 41, 42 causes the pump 12 side (cooling water circulation supply device). 10 side) channel tubes 31 and 34 are connected to the bypass channel tube 35, and the X-ray tube 20 side channel tubes 32 and 33 are disconnected from the pump 12 side.

  As a result, as indicated by broken line arrows in FIG. 1, the cooling water circulated by the pump 12 does not flow to the X-ray tube 20 side, and is bypass-circulated through the bypass flow channel tube 35. The aspirator 36 performs a suction operation by the flow of the cooling water flowing through the bypass passage pipe 35. By this suction, the flow path pipes 32 and 33 on the X-ray tube 20 side become negative pressure, but when this negative pressure is generated, outside air flows from the check valve 44. Thereby, the cooling water remaining in the flow path 21 in the X-ray tube 20 and the flow path pipes 32 and 33 on the X-ray tube 20 side is sucked into the bypass flow path pipe 35, and the cooling water in the cooling water circulation supply device 10. It is returned to the tank 11 and collected.

As described above, the remaining cooling water on the X-ray tube 20 side can be recovered while the pump 12 is in an operating state, so that repair or replacement of the X-ray tube 20 or the counter cathode 23 is safe and secure. It becomes very easy to do.
In this case, air is mixed into the cooling water returned to and collected in the cooling water tank 11, but the cooling water tank 11 is normally open to the atmospheric pressure, so the mixed air is transferred from the cooling water tank 11 to the atmosphere. Released.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on the typical Example, this invention can have various aspects other than having mentioned above. For example, the three-way valves 41 and 42 may be configured by combining two-way valves. The cooling liquid may be a liquid cooling medium other than water. The circulation drive pump 12 may be installed on either the forward path side or the return path side of the reciprocating flow path pipes 31 to 34.

  In an X-ray generator cooling system that cools an X-ray tube or an anti-cathode of the X-ray tube with a coolant that is circulated and supplied by a pump, the X-ray tube or the counter-cathode of the X-ray tube is subjected to maintenance, wavelength change, etc. Therefore, the work of once removing from the cooling water pipe can be performed safely and easily.

It is a piping configuration schematic diagram showing one embodiment of an X-ray generator cooling system to which the technology of the present invention is applied. It is an abbreviated sectional view showing typically an example of the X-ray tube to which the X-ray generator cooling system of the present invention is applied. It is a piping configuration schematic diagram showing a configuration of a conventional X-ray generator cooling system.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Cooling water circulation supply apparatus 11 Cooling water tank 12 Circulation drive pump 13 Cooling apparatus 14 Temperature control apparatus 20 X-ray tube 21 Cooling flow path 22 Cathode filament 23 Cathode 31 Flow path pipe on pump side on forward path 32 X-ray on forward path side Pipe side flow pipe 33 Flow path pipe on the return side and flow pipe on the side of the X-ray pipe 34 Flow path pipe on the return side and pump side 35 Bypass flow pipe 36 Aspirator 37 Suction side flow pipe 41 and 42 Three-way valve 44 Check valve 51 Fluid connector 52 Flow meter

Claims (4)

  In an X-ray generator cooling system for cooling an X-ray tube or a counter-cathode of the X-ray tube with a coolant circulated and supplied by a pump, a reciprocating flow channel tube for introducing and circulating the coolant into the X-ray tube; A three-way valve for switching and connecting the pump-side flow pipe to the X-ray pipe-side flow pipe and the bypass flow pipe, respectively, in the middle of each of the reciprocating flow pipe on the forward path side and the return path side, An aspirator that performs a suction operation by the flow of coolant flowing through the bypass channel tube, a suction side channel tube that connects the suction port of the aspirator to a channel tube on the X-ray tube side, and a channel on the X-ray tube side An X-ray generator cooling system comprising: a check valve for introducing outside air into the pipe when the inside of the pipe becomes negative.   2. The X-ray generator cooling system according to claim 1, wherein a flow connector on the X-ray tube side and a coolant circulation port of the X-ray tube are detachably connected by a fluid connector.   The X-ray generator cooling according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the switching operations of the three-way valve interposed on the forward path side of the reciprocating flow channel pipe and the three-way valve interposed on the return path side are synchronized with each other. system.   The X-ray generator cooling system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the three-way valve is an automatic valve device that is electrically driven or driven by fluid pressure.

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