EP0058137A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for providing X-rays
Assignee: Battelle Development Corp
•
Filing: 1982-02-05
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2002-02-05
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for providing X-rays (11) to an object (12) in air. A lens (13) directs energy (14) from a laser (27) onto a target (15) to produce X-rays (11) of a selected spectrum and intensity. A substantially fluid-tight first enclosure (16) around the target (15) has a pressure therein substantially below atmospheric pressure, and has at least a portion of one wall (19) in common with an adjoining substantially fluid-tight second enclosure (18) containing only helium or hydrogen. The common wall portion (19) has an opening (20) large enough to permit X-rays (11) to pass through and yet small enough that gas (21) can be evacuated from the first enclosure (16) at least as fast as it enters through the opening (20). The target (15) is located close to the opening (20) and emits a substantial portion of the X-rays (11) through the opening (20) and on toward a wall (22) of the second enclosure (18) having a portion (25) that is highly transparent to them, so that the object (12) to which the X-rays (11) are to be provided may be located outside the second enclosure (18) and adjacent thereto and thus receive the X-rays (11) substantially unimpeded by air or other undesired intervening matter.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip J. Mallozzi
- 👤 Harold M. Epstein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:26
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21G; G21G4/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
256 words
Apparatus for providing X-rays to an object that may be in an ordinary environment such as air at approximately atmospheric pressure, comprising means for directing energy onto a target to produce X-rays of a selected spectrum and intensity at the target, a substantially fluid-tight first enclosure around the target, means for reducing the quantity of gas in the first enclosure to maintain the pressure therein substantially below atmospheric pressure, a substantially fluid-tight second enclosure adjoining the first enclosure, with the two enclosures having at least a portion of one wall in common, the common wall portion having therein an opening large enough to permit X-rays to pass through it and yet small enough that the pressure reducing means can evacuate gas from the first enclosure at least as fast as it enters through the opening the target being located close enough to the opening and so positioned as to emit a substantial portion of the X-rays produced toward the opening, to pass through it and on toward a wall of the second enclosure located opposite the opening, means for conveying into the second enclosure a gas that is highly transparent to X-rays, to the substantial exclusion of other gases, and the wall of the second enclosure to which the X-rays travel having a portion that is highly transparent to them, so that the object to which the X-rays are to be provided may be located outside the second enclosure and adjacent thereto and thus receive the X-rays substantially unimpeded by air or other undesired intervening matter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
256 words
Apparatus for providing X-rays to an object that may be in an ordinary environment such as air at approximately atmospheric pressure, comprising means for directing energy onto a target to produce X-rays of a selected spectrum and intensity at the target, a substantially fluid-tight first enclosure around the target, means for reducing the quantity of gas in the first enclosure to maintain the pressure therein substantially below atmospheric pressure, a substantially fluid-tight second enclosure adjoining the first enclosure, with the two enclosures having at least a portion of one wall in common, the common wall portion having therein an opening large enough to permit X-rays to pass through it and yet small enough that the pressure reducing means can evacuate gas from the first enclosure at least as fast as it enters through the opening the target being located close enough to the opening and so positioned as to emit a substantial portion of the X-rays produced toward the opening, to pass through it and on toward a wall of the second enclosure located opposite the opening, means for conveying into the second enclosure a gas that is highly transparent to X-rays, to the substantial exclusion of other gases, and the wall of the second enclosure to which the X-rays travel having a portion that is highly transparent to them, so that the object to which the X-rays are to be provided may be located outside the second enclosure and adjacent thereto and thus receive the X-rays substantially unimpeded by air or other undesired intervening matter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as in Claim 1, wherein the energy directing means comprises means for directing energy from a laser onto the target.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as in Claim 1, wherein the energy directing means comprises means for focusing the energy onto a spot on the target having a diameter of about 1 to 200 micrometers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as in Claim 1, wherein the opening in the common wall portion is about 0.2 to 2 millimeters in diameter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as in Claim 1, wherein the distance between the opening and the spot on the target is about 0,2 to 5 centimeters.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as in Claim 1, wherein the gas conveyed into the second enclosure is helium, hydrogen, or a hydrocarbon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as in Claim 1, wherein the gas conveyed into the second enclosure is helium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as in Claim 1, wherein the gas in the second enclosure, at least in the vicinity of the highly transparent portion of the wall thereof, is maintained at a pressure of about 0.9 to 1 atmosphere.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as in Claim 8, wherein the highly transparent portion of the wall of the second enclosure comprises a thin foil.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as in Claim 9, wherein the foil comprises essentially beryllium or a plastic material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as in Claim 10, wherein the thickness of the foil is about 2 to 20 micrometers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as in Claim 1, wherein the X-rays produced at the target have energies predominantly of about 0.3 to 2 keV.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as in Claim 1, wherein the gas in the second enclosure, at least in the vicinity of the highly transparent portion of the wall thereof, is maintained at approximately the pressure of the ambient air.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus as in Claim 13; wherein the highly transparent portion of the wall of the second enclosure comprises an opening therein; and the gas inside the second enclosure is substantially separated from the air around it; either by a gas curtain passing along the opening; or by the object to which the X-rays are to be provided, or a component associated with the object, placed against the wall and covering the opening.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as in Claim 1, wherein the second enclosure has an intermediate compartment between the common wall portion and the wall having the highly transparent portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as in Claim 15, wherein the gas in the intermediate compartment is maintained at a pressure less than the pressure in the vicinity of the highly transparent portion of the wall of the second enclosure and greater than the pressure in the first enclosure.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus as in Claim 1 for obtaining EXAFS data of a material, comprising also spectral dispersive means in the second enclosure so located as to receive X-rays that pass through the opening and to direct the spectrally resolved X-rays on toward the highly transparent portion of the wall adjacent to the object to which the X-rays are to be provided, and wherein the object comprises recording means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as in Claim 17, comprising also means for positioning a sample of material in the optical path of the X-rays.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as in Claim 18, wherein the sample is positioned in the second enclosure.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as in Claim 18, wherein the sample is positioned outside of the second enclosure and between the highly transparent portion of the wall and the recording means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.