X-ray radiation generator

• US 10,522,317 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2015
• Issued: 12/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smiths Heimann GmbH (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Smiths Heimann GmbH (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hess, Gregor, Lenz, Kai, Hirt, Michael, Adam, Alexander, Streyl, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas, Courtney D
• Application Number:
  US15/522,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20170338076A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,523 Days
• Field of Search: 378142, 378199
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 2235/1283 in conjunction with extended surfaces (e.g. fins or ridges)
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 2235/1295 Contact between conducting bodies
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 35/12 Cooling non-rotary anodes

Abstract

An X-ray tube includes an anode that conducts a high voltage that can be greater than 120 kV, and in particular greater than 300 kV, and heats up during operation. The anode is connected in a thermally conductive way to a heat sink, which has a base body composed of a metal with a heat absorbing surface for coupling to the anode as a heat source and a heat dissipating surface that is enlarged by means of heat dissipating elements that are connected to the base body. The heat dissipating elements are composed of an electrically insulating material having a thermal conductivity on the same order of magnitude as that of the metal of the base body, and have a height (H) starting from the base body of the heat sink so that there is a sufficient insulation breakdown resistance relative to the surroundings of the X-ray tube.

Claims

1. An X-ray tube for conducting a high voltage, comprising:

an anode configured to conduct a high voltage and heat up during operation;

a heat sink connected in a thermally conductive way to the anode and configured for cooling the anode, the heat sink including;

a base body composed of a metal, the base body including a heat absorbing surface for coupling to the anode as a heat source and a heat dissipating surface;

one or more heat dissipating elements that are connected to the base body, the one or more heat dissipating elements being composed of an electrically insulating material having a thermal conductivity on the same order of magnitude as that of the metal of the base body, and wherein the heat dissipating elements have a height starting from the base body of the heat sink so that taking into account the high voltage and an insulating medium surrounding the heat dissipating elements, there is a sufficient insulation breakdown resistance relative to the surroundings of the X-ray tube.

2. The X-ray tube according to claim 1, wherein the base body is composed of a metal having a thermal conductivity coefficient that is greater than 100 W/(m K).

3. The X-ray tube according to claim 1, wherein the one or more heat dissipating elements are composed of a ceramic having a thermal conductivity coefficient that is greater than 100 W/(m K).

4. The X-ray tube according to claim 1, wherein the one or more heat dissipating elements are at least one of plate-shaped, pin-shaped, or tubular.

5. The X-ray tube (30) according to claim 1, wherein for each of the one or more heat dissipating elements, the base body has a corresponding socket dimensioned to accommodate a connecting section of each of the one or more heat dissipating elements.

6. The X-ray tube according to claim 5, wherein the one or more heat dissipating elements are connected to the base body in that the respective connecting section is fastened in the corresponding socket by at least one of a press fit or clamping.

7. The X-ray tube according to claim 5, wherein the one or more heat dissipating elements are at least one of pin-shaped or tubular at least in the region of the connecting section and have a first thread in the connecting section, and wherein the sockets in the base body comprise holes having corresponding second threads for fastening with the connecting section of the one or more heat dissipating elements by a screw connection.

8. The X-ray tube according to claim 5, wherein the one or more heat dissipating elements are attached to the base body by being cast in place, and an interstice between the respective connecting section and the socket is filled with a casting compound.

9. The X-ray tube claim 1, wherein the one or more heat dissipating elements are attached to the base body by at least one of an organic adhesive or an inorganic adhesive.

10. The X-ray tube according to claim 5, wherein the one or more heat dissipating elements at least the connecting section of each of the one or more heat dissipating element is metalized, and the one or more heating dissipating elements are attached to the base body by soldering.

11. The X-ray tube according to claim 1, wherein the base body further includes a turned element with an inner surface of an axially extending recess that is adapted for coupling to the anode as the heat source, and an outer surface of the heat dissipating surface that includes one or more sockets wherein each of the one or more heat dissipating elements is inserted into a corresponding each of the one or more sockets.

12. The X-ray tube according to claim 11, wherein the one or more sockets comprise axially extending slots or grooves for receiving the one or more heat dissipating elements.

13. The X-ray tube according to claim 1, wherein the base body is composed of at least one of aluminum, copper, silver, or a metal alloy.

14. The X-ray tube according to claim 1, wherein the base body is composed of a metal having a thermal conductivity coefficient in the range of 100 to 450 W/(m K).

15. The X-ray tube according to claim 1, wherein the anode is configured to conduct a voltage greater than 120 kV.

16. The X-ray tube according to claim 1, wherein the anode is configured to conduct a voltage greater than 200 kV.

17. The X-ray tube according to claim 1, wherein the one or more heat dissipating elements are composed of at least one of silicon carbide or aluminum nitrate.

18. The X-ray tube according to claim 1, wherein the one or more heat dissipating elements are composed of a ceramic having a conductivity coefficient in the range of 100 to 350 W/(m K).

19. The X-ray tube according to claim 12, wherein the one or more heat dissipating elements comprise plate-shaped ceramic elements.