US3959685A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat sink target
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-02-18
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Granted: 1976-05-25
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Expires: 1995-02-18
Abstract
Abstract A target for the anode of an X-ray tube is disclosed which greatly increases both the individual length of time which an X-ray tube may be operated and the total useful life of an X-ray tube. A conventional X-ray target is provided with one or more cavities within each of which a slug of material having a relatively low melting point with respect to the base of the target is encapsulated and sealed by means of a diffusion bonding method. The slug material is chosen so that heat which builds up when the target is operated causes the slug to melt and absorb large quantities of heat produced by the generation of X-rays so that the target as a whole is capable of sustaining a greater total heat input.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald D. Konieczynski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:37
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J35/00; H01J35/02; H01J35/04; H01J35/08; H01J35/10; H01J35/108; H01J35/105; H01J35/107
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
In an X-ray target designed to be rotated on a central axis while causing X-rays to be directed from a finite plurality of angular intervals throughout a surface of the target, an improvement in the target comprising a base structure of extremely high melting point material, at least one cavity in said base structure, encapsulating means for each said cavity constructed of a high melting point material compatible with that of said base structure and filler means for each said cavity having a melting point substantially near a maximum operating temperature of the X-ray target permanently encapsulated by said base structure and said encapsulating means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
In an X-ray target designed to be rotated on a central axis while causing X-rays to be directed from a finite plurality of angular intervals throughout a surface of the target, an improvement in the target comprising a base structure of extremely high melting point material, at least one cavity in said base structure, encapsulating means for each said cavity constructed of a high melting point material compatible with that of said base structure and filler means for each said cavity having a melting point substantially near a maximum operating temperature of the X-ray target permanently encapsulated by said base structure and said encapsulating means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
An X-ray target according to claim 1 in which there is only one cavity, one encapsulating means and one filler means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
An X-ray target according to claim 2 in which said cavity is annular in shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
An X-ray target according to claim 1 in which said filler means is initially a liquid when encapsulated which hardens to a solid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
An X-ray target according to claim 1 in which said base structure is a molybdenum alloy and said encapsulating means is tantalun.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
An X-ray target according to claim 5 in which an X-ray generating layer is permanently positioned on the surface of said target.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
An X-ray target according to claim 1 in which said base structure is a tungsten alloy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
An X-ray target according to claim 1 in which said filler means is copper.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
An X-ray target according to claim 1 in which said filler means has a melting temperature of approximately 1100°C while the maximum operating temperature of the X-ray target is equal to or slightly greater than 1100°C, whereby heat of fusion of the filler means is utilized to increase the efficiency of the target.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
146 words
In an X-ray tube having an anode with a rotationally mounted target causing X-rays to be directed from a finite plurality of angular intervals throughout a first surface of the target, an improvement in the target comprising a base structure of extremely high melting point material, an X-ray generating layer permanently positioned on said base structure on the said first surface, at least one cavity in a second surface of the base structure, a cap means for each said cavity for forming an enclosed capsule between the base structure and each said cap means, each said cap means constructed of an extremely high melting point material compatible with that of said base structure, and filler means for each said cavity permanently encapsulated by said cap means and said base structure, said filler means having a melting point substantially near a maximum operating temperature of the target.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
146 words
In an X-ray tube having an anode with a rotationally mounted target causing X-rays to be directed from a finite plurality of angular intervals throughout a first surface of the target, an improvement in the target comprising a base structure of extremely high melting point material, an X-ray generating layer permanently positioned on said base structure on the said first surface, at least one cavity in a second surface of the base structure, a cap means for each said cavity for forming an enclosed capsule between the base structure and each said cap means, each said cap means constructed of an extremely high melting point material compatible with that of said base structure, and filler means for each said cavity permanently encapsulated by said cap means and said base structure, said filler means having a melting point substantially near a maximum operating temperature of the target.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
The target according to claim 10 in which said filler means has a melting temperature of approximately 1100°C while the maximum operating temperature of the target is equal to or slightly greater than 1100°C, whereby the heat of fusion of the filler means is utilized to increase the efficiency of the target.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The target according to claim 10 in which there is only one cavity, one encapsulting means and one filler means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The target according to claim 10 in which said base structure is a molybdenum alloy, said encapsulating means is tantalum and said filler means is copper.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The target according to claim 10 in which said filler means is inserted in solid form and encapsulated by said base structure and said encapsulating means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The target according to claim 14 in which said filler means is provided with at least one aperture therein for releasing gases from within.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The target according to claim 12 in which said filler means is substantially smaller than said cavity so that a void results within said cavity.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The target according to claim 16 in which said void is arranged to be toward the smallest radii of said base filler means.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
96 words
The method of producing an improved target for an X-ray anode comprising constructing a base structure of high temperature alloy material, providing a central bearing surface in said base structure for rotating the target, providing at least one cavity within the base structure, inserting filler means having a melting point substantially identical to a maximum operating temperature of the target into each said cavity, assembling an encapsulating means for each said cavity, and permanently sealing each said cavity by raising the temperature of the target until said encapsulating means is permanently bonded to the base structure.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
96 words
The method of producing an improved target for an X-ray anode comprising constructing a base structure of high temperature alloy material, providing a central bearing surface in said base structure for rotating the target, providing at least one cavity within the base structure, inserting filler means having a melting point substantially identical to a maximum operating temperature of the target into each said cavity, assembling an encapsulating means for each said cavity, and permanently sealing each said cavity by raising the temperature of the target until said encapsulating means is permanently bonded to the base structure.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 18 further comprising utilizing the heat of fusion of the filler means to produce a target having a relatively sustained efficiency under high heat conditions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 18 further comprising utilizing only one cavity within said base structure.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 18 further comprising utilizing a molybdenum alloy for the base structure and copper for the filler means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 21 further comprising permanently attaching a thin layer of X-ray generating material to a first surface of said base structure.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 18 further comprising rotating said target while sealing each said cavity whereby the filler means is centrifugally arranged to be concentrated radially outward within the base structure.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 18 further comprising utilizing an annular shaped filler means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 18 further comprising providing solid filler means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 18 further comprising designing the filler means so that said filler means is smaller than said cavity whereby a void is produced in said cavity upon fusing said base structure and encapsulating means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 25 further comprising drilling at least one aperture in each said filler means whereby gases from within the said cavity can escape from within.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 18 further comprising the filler means causing extensive pressure to be applied upon the encapsulating means against the base structure, said pressure assisting the fusing of the encapsulating means and said base structure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3711736A
Cited
US3821581A
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US3836804A
Cited
US3795832A
Cited
US3753021A
Cited
US3842305A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-05-25 | 1979-11-24 | 1980-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-05-25 | 1983-11-24 | 1984-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-05-25 | 1987-11-24 | 1988-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |