X-ray tube cooling by emissive heat transfer

摘要

An x-ray tube includes an evacuated envelope, and a cathode assembly and an anode assembly both disposed in the evacuated envelope. The cathode assembly includes a cathode shield, a supporting body disposed inside the cathode shield, and an electron source attached to the supporting body and partially enclosed by the cathode shield. The anode assembly includes a target configured to produce x-rays upon impingement by electrons produced by the electron source. The cathode shield comprises a shield base material and a layer over at least a portion of the base material. The layer comprises an emissivity enhancer having an emissivity greater than the emissivity of the shield base material. The layer may comprise an emissive coating applied on the portion of the base material. Alternatively, the layer may comprise a greened surface formed by a greening process.

主权项

1. An x-ray tube, comprising:
an evacuated envelope; a cathode assembly disposed in the evacuated envelope, the cathode assembly comprising a cathode shield, a supporting body disposed inside the cathode shield, and an electron source attached to the supporting body and partially enclosed by the cathode shield; and an anode assembly disposed in the evacuated envelope, the anode assembly comprising a target configured to produce x-rays upon impingement by electrons produced by the electron source; wherein the cathode shield comprises a shield base material, and at least a portion of the cathode shield comprises a first layer converted from the shield base material, the first layer possesses a first emissivity greater than an emissivity of the shield base material.