Transverse beam x-ray tube

Claim 2

A rotating anode X-ray tube for producing a pencil beam of X-rays comprising a housing, an X-ray tube located within the housing and having an envelope, an anode structure rotatably supported in one end of the envelope and including a target extending transversely of the envelope and mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis, a cathode structure supported in the opposite end of the housing and disposed to emit electrons onto a focal spot on a surface of the target at one side of said axis, a window in said housing on the opposite side of said axis for transmitting from the tube X-rays which traverse diametrically of the tube along a path extending from the focal spot to the window, and collimating means separate from said anode structure and positioned within said envelope in the path of said X-rays for forming a pencil-like X-ray beam containing substantially parallel rays for suppressing substantially all divergence of the beam.

Claim 3

An X-ray tube structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said collimating means is a tubular member of material opaque to X-rays, the internal cylindrical opening therethrough being aligned with said path.

Claim 4

An X-ray tube structure as set forth claim 1 wherein said collimating means overlies said target and has a cylindrical opening therethrough one end of which is directed toward the focal spot for passage of said pencil-like X-ray beam to the window.

Claim 5

An X-ray tube structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said collimating means comprises a first collimator positioned in the path of said X-rays over said window and on the outer side of the housing, and a second collimator located within the envelope adjacent said target and in the path of said X-rays for forming said pencil-like beam.

Claim 6

An X-ray tube structure as set forth in claim 4 wherein said first collimator is a block of material opaque to X-rays and having a cylindrical bore therethrough aligned with said window, and said second collimator is a tubular member of material opaque to X-rays, the internal opening through said tubular member, the window, and the bore in said block being aligned with said path of the X-ray beam.

Claim 7

A rotating anode X-ray tube for producing a pencil beam of X-rays comprising an envelope, an anode structure rotatably supported in one end of the envelope for rotation about an axis and including a target extending transversely of the envelope and mounted with its center on said axis, a cathode structure supported in the opposite end of the envelope and disposed to emit electrons onto a focal spot on a surface of the target at one side of said axis for producing X-rays, said envelope having an X-ray transmitting window area in a side wall thereof at a location substantially diametrically opposite said focal spot whereby X-rays will traverse a path from the focal spot diametrically across the envelope to said window area, collimating means separate from said anode structure and positioned within the envelope in the path of said X-rays for forming a pencil-like X-ray beam containing substantially parallel rays and for suppressing substantially all divergence of the beam.

Claim 8

A rotating anode X-ray tube for producing a pencil beam of X-rays comprising an envelope, an anode structure rotatably supported in one end of the envelope for rotation about an axis and including a target extending transversely of the envelope and mounted with its center on said axis, a cathode structure supported in the opposite end of the envelope and disposed to emit electrons onto a focal spot on a surface of the target at one side of said axis for producing X-rays, said envelope having an X-ray transmitting window area in a side wall thereof at a location substantially diametrically opposite said focal spot whereby X-rays will traverse a path from the focal spot diametrically across the envelope to said window area, collimating means separate from said anode structure and positioned within the envelope in the path of said X-rays for forming a pencil-like X-ray beam containing substantially parallel rays and for suppressing substantially all divergence of the beam.

Claim 9

An X-ray tube as set forth in claim 6 wherein said collimating means is a tubular member of material opaque to X-rays, the internal cylindrical opening therethrough being aligned with said path.

Claim 10

An X-ray tube as set forth in claim 7 wherein said tubular member is supported on said cathode and is disposed in a position nearer to said focal spot than to said window area.

Claim 11

An X-ray tube as set forth in claim 6 wherein said collimating means overlies said target and focal spot and has a cylindrical opening therethrough one end of which is directed toward said focal spot for passage of said pencil-like X-ray beam to said window area.

Claim 12

An X-ray tube as set forth in claim 1 wherein said collimating means has a cylindrical passageway through which said pencil-like X-ray beam passes, which passageway is of a diameter not greater than the projected size of said focal spot.

Claim 13

An X-ray tube structure as set forth in claim 6 wherein said collimating means comprises a first collimator positioned in the path of said X-rays and over said window area and on the outer side of the envelope, and a second collimator located within the envelope adjacent said target, said collimators having aligned cyclindrical openings for passage of said pencil-like beam therethrough.