IP Library Granted Patent US 9,842,720
Granted Patent B2
US 9,842,720 · App. 14/601,308 · Granted Dec 12, 2017

X-ray tube unit

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,842,720
App. No.
14/601,308
Granted
Dec 12, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

An x-ray tube unit includes an x-ray tube unit housing, in which a vacuum housing is disposed, which includes a high-voltage component. The vacuum housing includes an insulating medium circulating in the x-ray tube unit housing flowing around it. Further, a cathode module and an anode are disposed in the vacuum housing, the cathode module lying at high voltage and including an emitter which emits electrons when heating current is fed to it. In addition, a potential difference is present between the cathode module and the anode for accelerating the emitted electrons. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention a high-voltage feed, a heating transformer and a radiation protection component are integrated into the high-voltage component, the high-voltage component being filled at least partly with an electrically-insulating encapsulation material. This produces a compact and installation-friendly x-ray tube unit which has high operational safety.

Claims (26)

1. An x-ray tube unit comprising:

an x-ray tube unit housing, a vacuum housing being disposed in the x-ray tube unit housing, the x-ray tube unit housing including a high-voltage component, a high-voltage feed, a heating transformer and a radiation protection component integrated into the high-voltage component, wherein the high-voltage component is filled at least partly with an electrically-insulating encapsulation material, and wherein the vacuum housing includes

an insulating medium within the x-ray tube unit housing, the x-ray tube housing being around the insulating medium,

a cathode module and an anode disposed in the vacuum housing, the cathode module lying at high voltage and including an emitter to emit electrons when heating current is fed to the cathode module, a potential difference being present for accelerating the emitted electrons between the cathode module and the anode, and

a heating current line connected through a conductor to the transformer,

wherein the high-voltage component is completely filled with the electrically-insulating encapsulation material that encapsulates the heating transformer, the heating current line and the conductor.

2. The x-ray tube unit of claim 1 , wherein the high-voltage component comprises a component housing made of an electrically-conducting material.

3. The x-ray tube unit of claim 2 , wherein the component housing is embodied as a radiation protection component.

4. The x-ray tube unit of claim 1 , wherein the high-voltage component is filled with the electrically-insulating encapsulation material in an area of the heating transformer and a remainder of the area is filled with an insulating medium.

5. The x-ray tube unit of claim 1 , wherein the electrically-insulating encapsulation material includes an epoxy resin.

6. The x-ray tube unit of claim 1 , wherein the electrically-insulating encapsulation material includes a silicon.

7. The x-ray tube unit of claim 1 , wherein the electrically-insulating encapsulation material includes a polyurethane.

8. The x-ray tube unit of claim 1 , wherein the electrically-insulating encapsulation material includes at least one filler.

9. The x-ray tube unit of claim 2 , wherein the electrically-insulating encapsulation material includes an epoxy resin.

10. The x-ray tube unit of claim 2 , wherein the electrically-insulating encapsulation material includes a silicon.

11. The x-ray tube unit of claim 2 , wherein the electrically-insulating encapsulation material includes a polyurethane.

12. The x-ray tube unit of claim 2 , wherein the electrically-insulating encapsulation material includes at least one filler.

13. The x-ray tube unit of claim 1 , wherein the electrically-insulating encapsulation material includes an epoxy resin.

14. The x-ray tube unit of claim 1 , wherein the electrically-insulating encapsulation material includes a silicon.

15. The x-ray tube unit of claim 1 , wherein the electrically-insulating encapsulation material includes a polyurethane.

16. The x-ray tube unit of claim 1 , wherein the electrically-insulating encapsulation material includes at least one filler.

17. An x-ray tube unit comprising:

an x-ray tube unit housing, a vacuum housing being disposed in the x-ray tube unit housing, the x-ray tube unit housing including a high-voltage component, a high-voltage feed, a heating transformer and a radiation protection component integrated into the high-voltage component, wherein the high-voltage component is filled at least partly with an electrically-insulating encapsulation material, and wherein the vacuum housing includes

an insulating medium within the x-ray tube unit housing, the x-ray tube housing being around the insulating medium,

a cathode module and an anode disposed in the vacuum housing, the cathode module lying at high voltage and including an emitter to emit electrons when heating current is fed to the cathode module, a potential difference being present for accelerating the emitted electrons between the cathode module and the anode,

a heating current line connected through a conductor to the transformer, wherein the high-voltage component is filled with the electrically-insulating encapsulation material in an area of the high-voltage feed and a remainder of the area is filled with an insulating medium, the transformer, the heating current line and the conductor is encompassed by the encapsulation material.

Assignments (5)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 066088 FRAME: 0256. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jan 17, 2024
From: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
To: SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG
Reel/Frame 071178/0246 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 20, 2023
From: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
To: SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG
Reel/Frame 066088/0256 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNOR DATA PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 046164 FRAME 0572. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jun 25, 2018
From: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
To: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
Reel/Frame 046425/0415 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 21, 2018
From: SIEMENS AKTIENGELSELLSCHAFT
To: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
Reel/Frame 046164/0572 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 13, 2015
From: BERK, JAN; FREUDENBERGER, JÖRG; NEUMEIER, ERNST; NOACK, JANA; SCHWARZ, RAIMUND; WERNER, LOTHAR
To: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Reel/Frame 036777/0894 →