Shielded x-ray source with radiation shielding and cooling system
An X-ray source includes an X-ray tube; a radiation shielding shell enclosing the X-ray tube, the radiation shielding shell including a collimator formed integrally with it, wherein the radiation shielding shell comprises finely dispersed powder, polyester or epoxy resin and hardener; a cooler system providing oil to the X-ray tube; and an oil filled tank supplying the oil to the cooler system. There is a central shielding element shaped as a cylinder inside the radiation shielding shell and one or more end shielding elements around the X-ray tube. The central and end shielding elements are made of lead.
1. An X-ray source comprising:
an X-ray tube;
a radiation shielding shell enclosing the X-ray tube, the radiation shielding shell including a collimator formed integrally with it,
wherein the radiation shielding shell comprises finely dispersed powder, hardener, and polyester resin or epoxy resin;
a first set of two coaxial discs made of a conductive material at an anode side of the radiation shielding shell and between the radiation shielding shell and the X-ray tube;
a second set of two coaxial discs made of the conductive material at a cathode side of the radiation shielding shell and between the radiation shielding shell and the X-ray tube;
a cylindrical shielding element inside the radiation shielding shell and around the X-ray tube,
wherein the cylindrical shielding element is made of the conductive material;
a cooler system providing oil to the X-ray tube; and
an oil filled tank supplying the oil to the cooler system.
2. The X-ray radiating source of claim 1 , wherein the radiation shielding shell completely encloses the X-ray tube.
3. The X-ray radiating source of claim 1 , wherein the radiation shielding shell comprises a non-conducting composite material.
4. The X-ray radiating source of claim 1 , wherein the radiation shielding shell comprises between 1.5 wt % and 2.5 wt % of the hardener relative to a weight of the polyester resin.
5. The X-ray radiating source of claim 1 , wherein the radiation shielding shell comprises between 40 wt % and 60 wt % of the hardener relative to a weight of the epoxy resin.
6. The X-ray radiating source of claim 1 , wherein the finely dispersed powder has a density of at least 5 g/cm 3 and an atomic number Z of 60 or higher.
7. The X-ray radiating source of claim 1 , wherein the radiation shielding shell comprises from one to four parts of the finely dispersed powder and one part of the polyester resin.
8. The X-ray radiating source of claim 1 , wherein the radiation shielding shell comprises from one to six parts of the finely dispersed powder and one part of the epoxy resin.
9. The X-ray radiating source of claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical shielding element includes lead or tungsten.
10. The X-ray radiating source of claim 9 , wherein the cylindrical shielding element has a slit opposite of a collimator slit.
11. The X-ray radiating source of claim 10 , wherein the collimation slit is filled with a plug.
12. The X-ray radiating source of claim 11 , wherein the plug comprises an X-ray low absorbing material.
13. The X-ray radiating source of claim 1 , wherein the discs have holes for oil circulation.
14. The X-ray radiating source of claim 13 , wherein the holes in neighboring discs are shifted so as to misalign the holes.
15. The X-ray radiating source of claim 1 , wherein the radiation shielding shell and the cooler system are encased in an oil filled tank.
16. The X-ray radiating source of claim 1 , wherein the cooler system comprises an oil pump, an oil input tube and an oil output tube.
17. The X-ray radiating source of claim 16 , wherein the oil input tube delivers cool oil from the oil filled tank to the anode side of the radiation shielding shell.
18. The X-ray radiating source of claim 17 , wherein the oil output tube returns oil heated at the anode side of the radiation shielding shell to the oil filled tank.