Granted Patent B2

US 7,382,856 · App. 11/672,666 · Granted Jun 3, 2008

Assignee: X-Ray Optical Systems, Inc.

Abstract

Claims (46)

1. An x-ray source assembly including an x-ray source and an x-ray focusing device, in combination with an apparatus for analyzing a fluid using x-rays, wherein the x-ray source comprises:

an x-ray tube for generating x-rays;

a housing having at least one perforation for emitting x-rays generated by the x-ray tube;

an adjustable mounting means for mounting the x-ray tube to the housing;

wherein the x-ray focusing device is mounted adjacent to the at least one perforation in the housing whereby the x-ray focusing device receives at least some x-rays from the x-ray tube; and

wherein the adjustable mounting means allows locational adjustment of the x-ray tube in the housing to optimize transmission of x-rays through the x-ray focusing device;

wherein the apparatus for analyzing a fluid using x-rays comprises:

means for exposing the fluid to x-rays to cause at least one component of the fluid to x-ray fluoresce; and

means for analyzing the x-ray fluorescence from the fluid to determine at least one characteristic of the fluid.

2. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable mounting means comprises a plurality of threaded fasteners.

3. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the x-ray focusing device comprises one of an x-ray focusing crystal and an x-ray focusing capillary device.

4. The combination of claim 1 , further comprising:

datum points on the housing for aligning the x-ray tube to the housing.

5. The combination of claim 4 , wherein the datum points include dowel pins or dowel holes.

6. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the at least one characteristic of the fluid comprises a concentration of at least one component in the fluid.

7. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises a fluid stream.

8. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the means for exposing and/or the means for analyzing comprises at least one x-ray focusing or collimating optic for focusing x-rays to or from the fluid.

9. The combination of claim 1 , further comprising:

a thermally-conductive, dielectric material thermally coupled to the x-ray tube for removing heat generated by the x-ray tube.

10. The combination of claim 1 , further comprising:

a control system for controlling position of an anode source spot of the x-ray tube relative to the at least one perforation, wherein the control system can maintain the anode source spot location notwithstanding a change in at least one operating condition of the x-ray source assembly;

wherein the control system includes at least one actuator for effecting movement of at least one of the anode source spot and the perforation; and

wherein the control system further includes at least one sensor for providing feedback related to the anode source spot location relative to the perforation.

11. An x-ray source assembly including an x-ray source and an x-ray focusing device, wherein the x-ray source comprises:

an x-ray tube for generating x-rays;

a housing having at least one perforation for emitting x-rays generated by the x-ray tube;

an adjustable mounting means for mounting the x-ray tube to the housing;

wherein the x-ray focusing device is mounted adjacent to the at least one perforation in the housing whereby the x-ray focusing device receives at least some x-rays from the x-ray tube; and

wherein the adjustable mounting means allows locational adjustment of the x-ray tube in the housing to optimize transmission of x-rays through the x-ray focusing device;

wherein the x-ray focusing device comprises one of an x-ray focusing crystal and an x-ray focusing capillary device.

12. The x-ray source assembly of claim 11 , wherein the adjustable mounting means comprises a plurality of threaded fasteners.

13. The x-ray source assembly of claim 11 , further comprising;

datum points on the housing for aligning the x-ray tube to the housing.

14. The x-ray source assembly of claim 13 , wherein the datum points include dowel pins or dowel holes.

15. The x-ray source assembly of claim 11 in combination with an apparatus for analyzing a fluid using x-rays, the apparatus comprising:

means for exposing the fluid to x-rays to cause at least one component of the fluid to x-ray fluoresce; and

means for analyzing the x-ray fluorescence from the fluid to determine at least one characteristic of the fluid.

16. The combination of claim 15 , wherein the at least one characteristic of the fluid comprises a concentration of at least one component in the fluid.

17. The combination of claim 15 , wherein the fluid comprises a fluid stream.

18. The combination of claim 15 , wherein the means for exposing and/or the means for analyzing comprises at least one x-ray focusing or collimating optic for focusing x-rays to or from the fluid.

19. The x-ray source assembly of claim 11 , further comprising:

a thermally-conductive, dielectric material thermally coupled to the x-ray tube for removing heat generated by the x-ray tube.

20. The x-ray source assembly of claim 11 , further comprising:

a control system for controlling position of an anode source spot of the x-ray tube relative to the at least one perforation, wherein the control system can maintain the anode source spot location notwithstanding a change in at least one operating condition of the x-ray source assembly;

wherein the control system includes at least one actuator for effecting movement of at least one of the anode source spot and the perforation; and

wherein the control system further includes at least one sensor for providing feedback related to the anode source spot location relative to the perforation.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (8)