Variable radius taper x-ray window support structure

• US 9,076,628 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2012
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Moxtek Inc (Nippon Kayaku Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Brigham Young University (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints)
• Inventors: Davis, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Allen C.
• Application Number:
  US13/670,710
• Publication Number:
  US 20130064355A1
• Time in Patent Office: 972 Days
• Field of Search: 378/161
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 1/00 Arrangements for handling particles or ionising radiation, e.g. focusing or moderating production or acceleration of neutrons, electrically-charged particles, neutral molecular beams or neutral atomic beams H05H3/00 - H05H15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 2235/18 Windows, e.g. for X-ray transmission

Abstract

A support structure for an x-ray window comprising a support frame defining a perimeter and an aperture, a plurality of ribs extending across the aperture of the support frame and carried by the support frame, and openings between the plurality of ribs. A rib taper region can extend from a central portion of the ribs to the support frame. The taper region can include a non-circular, arcuate pair of fillets on opposing sides of the ribs and an increasing of rib width from the central portion to the support frame.

Claims

1. A support structure for an x-ray window, the support structure comprising:

a) a support frame defining a perimeter and an aperture;

b) a plurality of ribs extending across the aperture of the support frame and carried by the support frame;

c) the support frame and the plurality of ribs comprising a carbon composite material including carbon fibers embedded in a matrix;

d) the plurality of ribs forming openings between the plurality of ribs;

e) a rib taper region extending from a central portion of each of the plurality of ribs to the support frame;

f) the rib taper region including a non-circular, arcuate pair of fillets on opposing sides of each of the plurality of ribs; and

g) the rib taper region including an increasing of rib width from the central portion to the support frame.

2. The support structure of claim 1, wherein:

a) a location where the central portion of each of the plurality of ribs meets the rib taper region defines a taper beginning;

b) a radius of curvature of the pair of fillets at the taper beginning defines a central radius;

c) a radius of curvature of the pair of fillets at a junction of each of the plurality of ribs with the support frame defines a junction radius; and

d) the central radius divided by the junction radius is between 10 and 100.

3. The support structure of claim 1, wherein

openings at the rib taper region have a half-elliptical shape.

4. The support structure of claim 3, wherein the half-elliptical shape has an eccentricity of between 0.90 and 0.99.

5. The support structure of claim 3, wherein the half-elliptical shape has an eccentricity of between 0.80 and 0.99.

6. The support structure of claim 1, wherein:

a) a location where the central portion of each of the plurality of ribs meets the rib taper region defines a taper beginning;

b) a straight line distance, parallel with a center of each of the plurality of ribs, from the taper beginning to the support frame defines a taper length;

c) an opening width at the taper beginning defines a taper opening width; and

d) the taper length divided by the taper opening width is between 1 and 3.

7. The support structure of claim 6, wherein the taper length divided by the taper opening width is between 1.4 and 2.2.

8. The support structure of claim 1, wherein:

a) a location where the central portion of each of the plurality of ribs meets the rib taper region defines a taper beginning;

b) a rib width at the taper beginning defines a central rib width;

c) a rib width at a junction of each of the plurality of ribs with the support frame defines a junction rib width;

d) a straight line distance, parallel with a center of each of the plurality of ribs, from the taper beginning to the support frame defines a taper length; and

e) the central rib width, the junction rib width, and the taper length satisfy the equation;

9. The support structure of claim 8, wherein the central rib width, the junction rib width, and the taper length satisfy the equation:

10. The support structure of claim 1, wherein tops of the plurality of ribs terminate substantially in a common plane, and further comprising a film disposed over, carried by, and spanning the plurality of ribs and disposed over and spanning the openings, and configured to pass radiation therethrough.

11. The support structure of claim 1, wherein the openings, the plurality of ribs, and the support frame were formed by laser ablation of a carbon composite wafer, and carbon fibers in the carbon composite are substantially aligned with the plurality of ribs.

12. The support structure of claim 1, wherein the central portion of each of the plurality of ribs has a substantially constant width.

13. A support structure for an x-ray window, the support structure comprising:

a) a support frame defining a perimeter and an aperture;

b) a plurality of ribs extending across the aperture of the support frame and carried by the support frame;

c) the plurality of ribs forming openings between the plurality of ribs;

d) a rib taper region extending from a central portion of each of the plurality of ribs to the support frame;

e) the rib taper region including a non-circular, arcuate pair of fillets on opposing sides of each of the plurality of ribs;

f) the pair of fillets include a larger radius of curvature closer to the central portion of the ribs and a smaller radius of curvature towards the support frame; and

g) the rib taper region including an increasing of rib width from the central portion to the support frame.

14. The support structure of claim 13, wherein the plurality of ribs comprise carbon, carbon fiber composite, silicon, boron carbide, or combinations thereof.

15. The support structure of claim 13, wherein:

a) the support frame and the plurality of ribs comprise a carbon composite material including carbon fibers embedded in a matrix; and

b) the openings, the plurality of ribs, and the support frame were integrally formed by laser ablation of a carbon composite wafer.

16. The support structure of claim 13, wherein:

a) a location where the central portion of each of the plurality of ribs meets the rib taper region defines a taper beginning;

b) a radius of curvature of the pair of fillets at the taper beginning defines a central radius;

c) a radius of curvature of the pair of fillets at a junction of each of the plurality of ribs with the support frame defines a junction radius; and

d) the central radius divided by the junction radius is between 10 and 100.

17. The support structure of claim 13, wherein

openings at the rib taper region have a half-elliptical shape having an eccentricity of between 0.80 and 0.99.

18. The support structure of claim 13, wherein:

a) a location where the central portion of each of the plurality of ribs meets the rib taper region defines a taper beginning;

b) a rib width at the taper beginning defines a central rib width;

c) a rib width at a junction of each of the plurality of ribs with the support frame defines a junction rib width;

d) a straight line distance, parallel with a center of each of the plurality of ribs, from the taper beginning to the support frame defines a taper length; and

e) the central rib width, the junction rib width, and the taper length satisfy the equation;

19. A support structure for an x-ray window, the support structure comprising:

a) a support frame defining a perimeter and an aperture;

b) a plurality of ribs extending across the aperture of the support frame and carried by the support frame;

c) tops of the plurality of ribs terminate in a common plane;

d) the plurality of ribs forming openings between the plurality of ribs;

e) a rib taper region extending from a central portion of each of the plurality of ribs to the support frame;

f) the rib taper region including a non-circular, arcuate pair of fillets on opposing sides of each of the plurality of ribs;

g) the rib taper region including an increasing of rib width from the central portion to the support frame;

h) the openings at the rib taper region have a half-elliptical shape having an eccentricity of between 0.80 and 0.99; and

i) the plurality of ribs comprise carbon, carbon fiber composite, silicon, boron carbide, or combinations thereof.

20. The support structure of claim 19, wherein the openings and the plurality of ribs were formed by laser ablation.