US2090582A - X-ray tube - Google Patents

X-ray tube Download PDF

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Publication number
US2090582A
US2090582A US710432A US71043234A US2090582A US 2090582 A US2090582 A US 2090582A US 710432 A US710432 A US 710432A US 71043234 A US71043234 A US 71043234A US 2090582 A US2090582 A US 2090582A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
tube
cathode
anode
cap
envelope
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US710432A
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English (en)
Inventor
Harry F Mesick
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
General Electric X Ray Corp
Original Assignee
General Electric X Ray Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by General Electric X Ray Corp filed Critical General Electric X Ray Corp
Priority to US710432A priority Critical patent/US2090582A/en
Priority to FR785412D priority patent/FR785412A/fr
Priority to GB4141/35A priority patent/GB442324A/en
Priority to BE407782D priority patent/BE407782A/xx
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2090582A publication Critical patent/US2090582A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J35/00—X-ray tubes
    • H01J35/24—Tubes wherein the point of impact of the cathode ray on the anode or anticathode is movable relative to the surface thereof
    • H01J35/26—Tubes wherein the point of impact of the cathode ray on the anode or anticathode is movable relative to the surface thereof by rotation of the anode or anticathode

Definitions

  • This invention has to do with an X-ray tube in which the area of bombardment or focal spot on the target is constantly shifted by rotating the tube or anode so as to subject an ever changing surface of target material to bombardment during any given X-ray exposure, thus increasing the area subjected to electronic bombardment without increasing the size of the focal spot.
  • a tube of the type herein described is capable l0 of handling large amounts of energy with a relatively small focal spot, thus making the tube applicable to heavy or fast work where eX- tremely good definition is essential.
  • Tubes of this type constructed previously to this invention contain denite limitations, either as to load capacity or lfocal spot shape, which limit their usefulness. These limitations are avoided in the type of tube constructed by applicant.
  • the present invention relates further to means u whereby a line focus cathode may be used in a tube of the type described in connection with an anode which is stationary with respect to the tube envelope, and hence is capable of. transmitting heat generated at the focal spot to a radiator exterior to the envelope at a rate to permitl energization of the tube for relatively long periods of time.
  • the invention has to do further with an X-ray tube, the cathode of which is rotatable within 3U the tube envelope and with reference thereto, but
  • the invention concerns also novel means for bringing the focal spot in a rotating X-ray tube 3,3 with a line focus cathode into proper position for use of the X-rays emanating therefrom, and for directing them so that their greatest intensity will be in a single direction.
  • Figure l is a median longitudinal section of an improved Xray tube in which the invention is 55 disclosed;
  • Figure 2 is a median longitudinal section of the cathode end of the same device on the same plane as Figure 1;
  • Figure 3 is a median longitudinal section of the anode of the same device on the same plane as 5 Figure 1;
  • Figure 4 is a cross section of the X-ray tube on line 4-4 of V Figure 1 Y c
  • Figure 5 is a cross section lof the device on line 5--5 of, Figure l; and
  • l0 Figure 6 is a diagram of circuit which may be employed with the present tube.
  • the X-ray tube I0 shown in the several figures, comprises a glass envelope Il of reduced diameter at its anode end, indicatedk I2.
  • An anode I3 in the tube consists of a copper head 20 I3a, and a shank I3b, and has a tungsten face or button I4.
  • the tungsten button I4 is attached to the anode in any manner which produces a good thermal union between such button and the body of the anode.
  • a sleeve I5 is attached, in any desired manner as by means of soldering, to the anode at i6.
  • the sleeve I5 is used to make a tight joint between glass and metal while avoiding the danger of breakage because of the differential expansion and contraction of the materials consequent upon temperature changes.
  • the outer end I'I of the sleeve I5 is sealed to a glass cylinder I8 in a manner well known in the 35 art and the cylinder I8, in turn, is sealed at I9 within the reduced portion I2 of the envelope.
  • the cathode end of the envelope II has a reduced portion 29 into which a cathode stem 2I is sealed as indicated at 22.
  • the cathode stem includes a main cylinder 23 having one end/24 of reduced diameter.
  • the inner end of the reduced section 24 of the cathode stem is sealed at 30 to a small sleeve 3I to which there is attached, in any desired manner as by copper brazing, a collar 32.
  • the sleeve 3I is of the same type and similar to the sleeve 50 I5 before mentioned ⁇
  • a center supporting tube 33 is attached to the collar 32 in any desired fashion, as for instance by means of the screws 34.
  • At the inner end of the tube 33 there is a bored out 55 section 35 serving as a receptacle for a split insulator 36 and a collar 31 about said insulator.
  • the insulator 36 supports Within, its center the rod 38.
  • the two wires 26 and 21 are atl() tached in ⁇ any desired fashion, as for instance, by spot welding, respectively to the cylinder 33 and to the inner rod 38.
  • each of these bearings carries a cylinder 43 and 44, respectively, about its periphery.
  • the inner end of said cylinder 45 carries a focusing cup 46.
  • An opening 41 for the purpose of supporting lament 48 is eccentrically located with respect to the center of the cup 49. Materiall is removed at 49 in the back of the cup 46 on the opposite side of its center or axis in afashion to offset the removal of the material for making the hole 41.
  • One end of the filament 48 is, attached, in any desired fashion as for instance by arc welding, to a support wire 50 which is, in turn, supported in the cathode cup 46 by means of a set screw 5
  • the other end of the filament is similarly supported on a support lead 52 which is in turn insulated from the cathode cup by passing the lead through an aperture 53 in the cathode cup I without touching the walls of the aperture, and supporting it between two insulators 54, which are clamped together by means of screws 55 and supported by means of supports 56.
  • the inner end of the wire 52 is fastened in any desired fashion to the outer ring of the ball bearing 49, as shown.
  • cathode structure appearing in the immediately precedn ing sentence and in the claims refers to the combination of the filament 48, the cathode supporting cylinder 45, and the focusing device 48 in case such a device is employed. Most of the high speed steels are suitable for this work, but applicant has found a high tungsten content steel to be best.
  • Seal off 62 is what remains of the exhaust constriction after the tube was exhausted and sealed 01T.
  • a motor for rotating the tube is designated 19, and is connected to the tube by a shaft 10a and a flexible coupling 1
  • is attached -to Vthe motor shaft by a set screw 13, and the other is attached to the anode shank by a set screw 14.
  • a radiator 15 acts both as a means of radiating the heat generated in the anode and as a fan for circulating air about the exterior ofthe X-ray tube.
  • the radiator 15 consists of an inner sleeve 16 having thereon washers 11 supported by spacers 18. Rings 19 and 80 hold the r fan.
  • the high tension connection to the anode is through a spring 61 set in a cavity 68 in the end of the anode I3 and bearing on the end of a pin 69 set in the shaft 19a of the motor 10.
  • Attached to the inner sleeve 16 next to ring is a driving member 8
  • the X-ray tube I0 has attached at the reduced portion I2 at the anode end an anode cap 82, which is held in place by cement or in any other suitable manner.
  • a cathode cap 831s attached by cement at the reduced section 29 of the cathode end.
  • the anode cap 82 is made preferably of insulating material such as a ⁇ phenol condensation product, and carries a steel ring 84 onto which annular ball bearing 85 is attached in any desired fashion, as for example by the keys 8B. Connection is also made between the driving member 8
  • a phenol condensation product insulating tube 81 is fastened at one end to the anode cap 82, as indicated, by screws 88.
  • the insulating tube 81 passes over the entire X-ray tube as shown, and is fastened to the cathode cap by means of screws 89.
  • Cathode cap 83 carries a steel sleeve 90 to which an annular ball bearing 9
  • the outer ends of the two wires 26 and 21 are secured respectively to a slip ring 93 and to a stud 94 at the outer end of the cathode cap 83.
  • Wire 26 passes through a hole in'a lead lining 95 of the cathode cap, thence through a hole in the cap, and is secured to said slip ring 93 by soldering, as shown.
  • Wire 21 leads through an insulator 94a., through lead lining 95 of the cathode cap, and through the cathode cap 83, and is secured to stud 94 by soldering.
  • the support for these parts consists of a casing
  • This casing is similar in structure to that described in copending application of Malvern J. Gross, entitled Tube casing, Serial Number 685,867, filed August 19, 1933, assigned to General Electric X-Ray Corporation, a corporation of New York, August 8, 1933, and recorded in Liber H-157, page 235 of the records of titles, and consists essentially of a metallic middle section IOI, into which a supporting cone
  • the middle section is telescopically assembled into an X-ray protective cylinder
  • This cylinder is provided with an opening
  • 93 is an insulating cylinder
  • 05 andl'l can beattached to eachother in any manner desired.
  • a phenol condensationvproduct cement is used, and serves not only as a goodmechanical bond between the various units but, because of its high insulating qualities, 4also to fill effectively all the joints from an electrical standpoint and prevent the passage of electric current longitudinally of the tube along paths lying in the spaces between the various telescoped sections.
  • the annular ballbearing 85 is positioned in a recessv
  • 06 is closed by means of a cap l0, which is formed preferably of conducting material and is adapted to be locked onto the sleeve
  • the cathode-.base r carries at its end a so-called Edison plug having a center section I2 and a circumferential section
  • This mechanism consists of a brush
  • a spring H8V forces 'the'brush into engagement with the ring 03.
  • This spring engages the brush-at one end and at the other end engages the inner surface of the adjusting screw
  • 20 short circuits the spring
  • 2 of plug has attached to it a stud
  • 23 engages the stud
  • 27 V engages the plug
  • 28. short circuits the spring
  • cathode supporting cylinder 45 At the outer end of cathode supporting cylinder 45 and opposite each other are two lugs 6
  • 06 is provided with two oppositely disposed apertures
  • the retaining magnets 60 pass in as .close proximity as possible to the insulating sleeve
  • 30 and the magnets 60 are such that the magnets can be shifted in the apertures about thelong axis of the tlila...l V.
  • the two magnets e are made preferably of Vsome high permeable material, such as vcobalt steel or other alloy, and are connected together by means of a yoke
  • Movement of the magnets causes corresponding movement of the independently movable cathode structure through the interaction of the lugs 6
  • 50 At the open end of the sleeve
  • This consists of an open supporting casting
  • 53 is secured to the casting l5! by means of screws
  • the entire unit so formed is attached to the tube casing and held in engagement therewith by means of a ring
  • the tube is adapted to be rotated within its casing by the motor at the anode end of the tube.
  • the driving power of the motor is transmitted to the tube through the external caps and sleeves.
  • the tube is rotated contacts for the high and low tension electric currents are maintained at the outer cathode end of the tube through brushes outside of that tube and thence through the ball bearings within the tube to the cathode and the cathode filament.
  • the filament current passes from the outside H3 of the Edison plug through brush
  • the current then goes through the filament to the rod 52 and through it and the ball bearing 40 to the rod 38.
  • This rod is connected to wire 2 which carries the current to the brush
  • the anode high voltage connection is through the electric motor. While the tube and anode are rotated by the motor, the cathode within the tube is kept stationary by the drag of the magnets 60 on the lugs 5
  • 46 is interposed in this primary circuit for the purpose of bringing the motor up to speed slowly and thus avoiding stresses on the various rotating parts of the tube.
  • the lament is energized from a secondary
  • 62 has at the ends of its secondary
  • 64 is energized from auto transformer
  • a casing and an X-ray tube containing a lamentary cathode and anode, said cathode and anode being respectively movably and immovably mounted with respect to said tube, rotary bearing members between said tube and casing, means for rotating said tube and an- 0de within said casing while maintaining the cathode stationary, whereby the anode and cathode are moved with respect to one another.
  • a casing and an X-ray tube containing a lamentary cathode and anode, said cathode and anode being respectively movably and immovably mounted with respect to said tube, rotary bearing'members between said tube and casing, means including an electric motor for rotating said tube within said casing while maintaining the cathode stationary, whereby the anode and cathodev are moved with respect to one another.
  • An X-ray tube having a support, bearing means between said tube and said support allowing rotation of said tube, an anode and a cathode structure immovably and movably mounted respectively with respect to said tube, means for ⁇ rotating said tube and anode with respect to said cathode structure, a filament constituting part of said cathode structure, power supply means for said filament, annular ball bearing means supporting said cathode.
  • An X-ray tube having an envelope containing an anode and a cathode structure immovably and movably mounted respectively with respect to said envelope, said anode having a projecting stem and being sealed to said envelope by a sleeve, bearing means allowing rotation of said tube and anode, rotative power means therefor, coupling means between said power means and said anode stem, rotative impulse transmission means between said anode stem and said envelope and removed from said sleeve, and rmeans for holding said cathode structure stationary when the anode and envelope are rotated.
  • an X-ray tube having an envelope containing an anode and a cathode structure immovably and movably mounted Vrespectively with respect to said envelope, said anode having a projecting stem, bearing means allowing rotation of the envelope and anode and permitting the cathode structure to remain stationary, power means for rotating said tube, means forv holding said cathode'structure sta.- tionary when the anode and envelope are rotated, and heat radiating means attached/to said anode stem and comprising vanes thereabout, parts of said vanes being shaped to cause circulation of air when said anode stem,'vanes and envelope are rotated.
  • an X-ray tube having an envelope containing an anode and a cathode structure immovably and movably mounted respectively with respect to said envelope, said anode having a projecting stem, bearing means a1- lowing rotation of said tube and anode and permitting the cathode structure to remain stationary, rotative power means to rotate said tube, means for holding said cathode structure stationary when the anode and envelope are rotated, and coupling means comprising heat insulating and resistant material between said rotative power meansand said anode stem.
  • an X-ray tube having an anode and a cathode structure including a lament, said anode and cathode structure being immovably and movably mounted respectively with respect to said tube, bearing means allowing rotation of said tube and anodefand permitting the cathode structure to remain stationary, means for causing rotation of said tube, means for holding said cathode structure stationary when the anode and envelope are rotated, a source of electrical energy for said filament, a cap over the cathode end of said tube,I contact means on said cap, other contact means on said cap and electrically insulated from'V said rst mentioned contact means, said contact means being electrically connected to the ends of said iilament, a second cap separate from said rst cap, brush means in said second cap and in electrical connection with said contact means, and electrical connectons between said brush means and said source of energy.
  • a casing and an X-ray tube containing a lamentary cathode and an anode, said cathode and anode being respectively movably and immovably mounted with respect to said tube, rotary bearing means between said tube and casing, means contained within the casing for rotating the tube with respect to the casing, and means for maintaining the cathode stationary whereby the anode and cathode are moved with respect to one another.
  • an X-ray tube and a support for said tube said tube containing an anode and a cathode structure including a filament, said anode being xedly secured to said tube, rotatable means for supporting the cathode structure within said tube, and for permitting rotation between the tube and said cathode structure, means for producing relative motion between the tube and the cathode structure, an electrical connection including a rotatable device between one end of said lament and the exterior of said tube, the other end of said lament being connected to said cathode structure, and an electrical connection between said rotatable means and the exterior of said tube whereby current may be supplied to said lament while the tube and the cathode are being rotated With respect to one another.

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  • X-Ray Techniques (AREA)
US710432A 1934-02-09 1934-02-09 X-ray tube Expired - Lifetime US2090582A (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US710432A US2090582A (en) 1934-02-09 1934-02-09 X-ray tube
FR785412D FR785412A (fr) 1934-02-09 1935-02-08 Tube à rayons x
GB4141/35A GB442324A (en) 1934-02-09 1935-02-08 Improvements in and relating to x-ray tubes
BE407782D BE407782A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1934-02-09 1935-02-09

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US710432A US2090582A (en) 1934-02-09 1934-02-09 X-ray tube

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2090582A true US2090582A (en) 1937-08-17

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US710432A Expired - Lifetime US2090582A (en) 1934-02-09 1934-02-09 X-ray tube

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US (1) US2090582A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BE (1) BE407782A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR785412A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB442324A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2493606A (en) * 1945-06-11 1950-01-03 Gen Electric X-ray apparatus
US2499545A (en) * 1943-12-31 1950-03-07 Hartford Nat Bank & Trust Co Rotary x-ray tube
US2980800A (en) * 1958-07-24 1961-04-18 Machlett Lab Inc X-ray units
US3331978A (en) * 1962-05-28 1967-07-18 Varian Associates Electron beam x-ray generator with movable, fluid-cooled target
US4504965A (en) * 1981-12-16 1985-03-12 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Rotary anode X-ray tubes
US4964148A (en) * 1987-11-30 1990-10-16 Meicor, Inc. Air cooled metal ceramic x-ray tube construction
US5056126A (en) * 1987-11-30 1991-10-08 Medical Electronic Imaging Corporation Air cooled metal ceramic x-ray tube construction

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2499545A (en) * 1943-12-31 1950-03-07 Hartford Nat Bank & Trust Co Rotary x-ray tube
US2493606A (en) * 1945-06-11 1950-01-03 Gen Electric X-ray apparatus
US2980800A (en) * 1958-07-24 1961-04-18 Machlett Lab Inc X-ray units
US3331978A (en) * 1962-05-28 1967-07-18 Varian Associates Electron beam x-ray generator with movable, fluid-cooled target
US4504965A (en) * 1981-12-16 1985-03-12 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Rotary anode X-ray tubes
US4964148A (en) * 1987-11-30 1990-10-16 Meicor, Inc. Air cooled metal ceramic x-ray tube construction
US5056126A (en) * 1987-11-30 1991-10-08 Medical Electronic Imaging Corporation Air cooled metal ceramic x-ray tube construction

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB442324A (en) 1936-02-06
FR785412A (fr) 1935-08-09
BE407782A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1935-03-30

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