Patent US3689790A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3689790A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Moving target sealed x-ray tube
Assignee: Pepi Inc
•
Filing: 1971-04-29
•
Granted: 1972-09-05
•
Expires: 1991-04-29
Abstract
Abstract A sealed-off X-ray tube having a convex target surface facing an electron beam source and carried by a rigid support mounted for rotary pivotal motion about a fixed pivot point. A bellows is sealed vacuum tight to the target and to the wall of the tube around the pivot point so that the target, the bellows, and the envelope of the tube form a closed surface. Conduits extend through the pivotal bearing to direct the flow of cooling fluid against the back surface of the target and carry the fluid away. The target surface is spherically convex with a center of curvature at the pivot point. The axis of the target precesses about the axis of the tube but the target does not rotate on its own axis. The target may be moved manually or by motor and with a linear, circular or spiral motion. Because of the curvature of the target, the electron optical forces are substantially unaffected by the precessing motion, and virtually constant X-ray beams radiate through windows of the tube.
Inventors
- 👤 David J Haas
- 👤 Jerome Pichert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 21:20
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J35/00; H01J35/24; H01J35/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A sealed-off X-ray tube comprising: A. An evacuated envelope comprising: 1. a rigid wall, and 2. an X-ray permeable window; B. An electron beam source directing a beam along a first axis; and C. An anode comprising: 1. a target comprising a convex surface facing said electron beam and having a second axis, 2. rigid means supporting said target, 3. bearing means defining a common pivot point on both said axes supported by said rigid wall and supporting said rigid means to permit circular pivotal motion thereof about said pivot point, and 4. a bellows sealed vacuum-tight to said wall surrounding said bearing means and vacuum-tight to said target.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A sealed-off X-ray tube comprising: A. An evacuated envelope comprising: 1. a rigid wall, and 2. an X-ray permeable window; B. An electron beam source directing a beam along a first axis; and C. An anode comprising: 1. a target comprising a convex surface facing said electron beam and having a second axis, 2. rigid means supporting said target, 3. bearing means defining a common pivot point on both said axes supported by said rigid wall and supporting said rigid means to permit circular pivotal motion thereof about said pivot point, and 4. a bellows sealed vacuum-tight to said wall surrounding said bearing means and vacuum-tight to said target.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
an X-ray permeable window; B. An electron beam source directing a beam along a first axis; and C. An anode comprising:
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
an X-ray permeable window; B. An electron beam source directing a beam along a first axis; and C. An anode comprising:
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
5 words
rigid means supporting said target,
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
5 words
rigid means supporting said target,
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The sealed-off X-ray tube of claim 1 in which said bearing means comprises a spherical bearing having an outer race supported by said rigid wall and an inner race in the form of a sphericAl segment, said rigid means extending through said spherical segment and being firmly secured therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The sealed-off X-ray tube of claim 1 in which said surface of said target facing said beam is spherically convex and concentric with said pivot point.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
bearing means defining a common pivot point on both said axes supported by said rigid wall and supporting said rigid means to permit circular pivotal motion thereof about said pivot point, and
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
bearing means defining a common pivot point on both said axes supported by said rigid wall and supporting said rigid means to permit circular pivotal motion thereof about said pivot point, and
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
a bellows sealed vacuum-tight to said wall surrounding said bearing means and vacuum-tight to said target.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
a bellows sealed vacuum-tight to said wall surrounding said bearing means and vacuum-tight to said target.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The sealed-off X-ray tube of claim 3 comprising, in addition, a hollow tubular member attached to said target on the perimeter thereof and extending away from said electron beam, and said bellows is sealed directly to said hollow tubular member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The sealed-off X-ray tube of claim 3 in which the surface of said target opposite said spherically convex surface is concave.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The sealed-off X-ray tube of claim 5 in which said bellows is sealed vacuum-tight to said target.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
109 words
The sealed-off X-ray tube of claim 5 in which said rigid member comprises: A. A hollow post mechanically connected near one end to said target to support said target and mechanically connected to said bearing means; B. A hollow tube surrounding said post and sealed vacuum-tight at one end to said target and sealed vacuum-tight at the other end to said support post; C. An inlet pipe connected directly into said support posts outside of said evacuated envelope and sealed water-tight to said support post; and D. An outlet pipe extending into the space between said support posts and said outer tubular member and sealed water-tight to the latter.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-05 | 1976-03-06 | 1976-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-05 | 1980-03-06 | 1980-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-05 | 1984-03-06 | 1984-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |