Patent US4532646A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4532646A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
X-ray focal spot locating apparatus and method
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
•
Filing: 1983-06-16
•
Granted: 1985-07-30
•
Expires: 2003-06-16
Abstract
Abstract An X-ray beam finder for locating a focal spot of an X-ray tube includes a mass of X-ray opaque material having first and second axially-aligned, parallel-opposed faces connected by a plurality of substantially identical parallel holes perpendicular to the faces and a film holder for holding X-ray sensitive film tightly against one face while the other face is placed in contact with the window of an X-ray head.
Inventors
- 👤 Hubert W. Gilbert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:28
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05G; H05G1/00; H05G1/08; H05G1/26; G; G21; G21K; G21K1/00; G21K1/02; G21K1/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A beam finder for locating and marking the focal spot of a beam generator comprising: a mass of material relatively opaque to the generated beam, said mass having first and second axially-aligned, parallel-opposed faces connected by a plurality of substantially identical parallel holes extending perpendicular to said faces through said mass, the minimum distance between said faces being at least twenty-five times the average diameter of said holes; film holder means for holding beam sensitive film tightly against said first opposed face; whereby said second opposed face is mounted against a beam generator and film is exposed through said holes, the focal spot of the generator being indicated on the film by the outline of the hole having the greatest exposure; and probe means for marking the beam generator through the beam finder hole through which the focal spot was indicated on said film.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
A beam finder for locating and marking the focal spot of a beam generator comprising: a mass of material relatively opaque to the generated beam, said mass having first and second axially-aligned, parallel-opposed faces connected by a plurality of substantially identical parallel holes extending perpendicular to said faces through said mass, the minimum distance between said faces being at least twenty-five times the average diameter of said holes; film holder means for holding beam sensitive film tightly against said first opposed face; whereby said second opposed face is mounted against a beam generator and film is exposed through said holes, the focal spot of the generator being indicated on the film by the outline of the hole having the greatest exposure; and probe means for marking the beam generator through the beam finder hole through which the focal spot was indicated on said film.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The beam finder of claim 1 wherein said beam consists of X-rays.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The beam finder of claim 2 wherein said mass consists of a metal cylinder having a circular cross-section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
The beam finder of claim 3 wherein said metal is brass.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
The beam finder of claim 3 wherein said film holder comprises a first sheet of material having a hole for said mass affixed to said mass to extend said first opposed face; a second sheet of material mounted in spaced relationship to said first sheet, said space between sheets being approximately equal to the thickness of a film.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The beam finder of claim 2 wherein said plurality of holes forms a maximum density-minimum diameter pattern across a portion off each parallel-opposed face.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The beam finder of claim 6 wherein the minimum wall-to-wall spacing between holes is approximately one-half the diameter of the holes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The beam finder of claim 1 wherein said probe means comprises: a rod having a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of each hole and a length greater than the length of each hole, wherein one end of said rod may be marked with wet paint to leave a mark on the beam generator.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of finding and marking the focal spot of a generating tube comprising the steps of: placing a beam finder against the generating tube, said beam finder comprising: a mass of material relatively opaque to the generated beam, said mass having first and second axially-aligned, parallel-opposed faces connected by a plurality of substantially identical parallel holes extending perpendicular to said faces through said mass, the minimum distance between said faces being at least twenty-five times the average diameter of said holes; beam sensitive film; and film holder means for holding said film tightly against said first opposed face; exposing said film to the output of said generating tube through said beam finder; removing and processing said film; and marking the beam generator by passing a probe through the beam finder hole through which said film received the greatest exposure.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of finding and marking the focal spot of a generating tube comprising the steps of: placing a beam finder against the generating tube, said beam finder comprising: a mass of material relatively opaque to the generated beam, said mass having first and second axially-aligned, parallel-opposed faces connected by a plurality of substantially identical parallel holes extending perpendicular to said faces through said mass, the minimum distance between said faces being at least twenty-five times the average diameter of said holes; beam sensitive film; and film holder means for holding said film tightly against said first opposed face; exposing said film to the output of said generating tube through said beam finder; removing and processing said film; and marking the beam generator by passing a probe through the beam finder hole through which said film received the greatest exposure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3013157A
Cited
US3222524A
Cited
US3412246A
Cited
US3943366A
Cited
US3928767A
Cited
US3886367A
Cited
US3947687A
Cited
US3950651A
Cited
US4228356A
Cited
US4288697A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-07-29 | 1989-01-28 | 1989-07-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-07-29 | 1993-01-28 | 1993-07-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-07-29 | 1997-01-28 | 1997-07-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |