Gerald W Carlson

US Patent:

6445769, Sep 3, 2002

Filed:

Oct 25, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/696413

Inventors:

Cheryl L. Panasik - Elburn IL
Thomas R. Miller - St. Charles IL
Gerald J. Carlson - Aurora IL

Assignee:

Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. - Eindhoven

International Classification:

H01J 3510

US Classification:

378130, 378141

Abstract:

A high energy x-ray tube includes an evacuated chamber ( ) containing a rotor ( ) which rotates an anode ( ) through a stream of electrons (A) in order to generate an x-ray beam (B). The rotor includes a bearing assembly (C) having a hollow bearing shaft ( ) centrally aligned with a longitudinal axis (Z) of the rotor. The bearing shaft includes an interior annular wall ( ) having an inner surface which defines a central bore ( ). The bearing shaft has an outer surface ( ), which with an inner surface of the bearing shaft, defines an annular chamber ( ). An opening ( ) is provided at the forward end of the annular wall to provide access from the central bore to the annular chamber. During exhaust processing, baking cycles, and normal operation of the x-ray tube, a pump ( ) forces a cooling medium through the central bore, through the opening of the annular wall, and into the annular chamber. The cooling medium exits through channels ( ). While in the annular chamber, the cooling medium cools a plurality of forward and rearward lubricated bearings ( F, R) located adjacent an outer surface of the hollow bearing shaft.

US Patent:

6511224, Jan 28, 2003

Filed:

Oct 18, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/691015

Inventors:

Qing Kelvin Lu - Aurora IL
Gerald J. Carlson - Aurora IL

Assignee:

Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V. - Eindhoven

International Classification:

H01J 3510

US Classification:

378199, 378141

Abstract:

A cooling oil circuit (D) circulates cooling oil over an x-ray tube absorbing its waste heat. A refrigeration circuit (E) then cools the cooling oil. A heat buffer ( ) absorbing peak heat loads from the cooling fluid when the x-ray tube is generating x-rays. Valves ( ) regulate a relative amount of cooling oil entering the heat buffer to increase heat transfer efficiency. The heat buffer enables the system to handle peak heat loads with a smaller, more condensed refrigeration system, by absorbing heat during operation of the x-ray tube and releasing heat between operations.

US Patent:

6603834, Aug 5, 2003

Filed:

Sep 18, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/954822

Inventors:

Qing K. Lu - Aurora IL
Todd R. Bittner - Chicago IL
Allan D. Kautz - Naperville IL
Gerald J. Carlson - Aurora IL
Thomas R. Miller - St. Charles IL
Jose A. Buan - Bolingbrook IL
Salvatore G. Perno - Winfield IL
Paul M. Xu - Oswego IL
Patrick P. McNally - Geneva IL

Assignee:

Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V. - Eindhoven

International Classification:

H01J 3510

US Classification:

378141, 378127, 378130

Abstract:

An x-ray tube assembly ( ) includes a housing ( ) and an insert frame ( ) supported within the housing ( ), such that the insert frame ( ) defines a substantially evacuated envelope in which a cathode assembly ( ) and a rotating anode assembly ( ) operate to produce x-rays. The rotating anode assembly ( ) includes an anode target plate ( ) coupled to a rotor ( ) and bearing shaft ( ), which is rotatably supported within a bearing housing ( ), by a plurality of ball bearings ( ). A heat barrier ( ) substantially surrounds the bearing housing ( ) and is coupled, along with the bearing housing ( ) to an anode cold plate ( ). The anode cold plate ( ) includes a grooved cover ( ), a basin ( ), and a plurality of corrugated fins ( ) disposed therein. Coupling both the bearing housing ( ) and the heat barrier ( ) to the anode cold plate ( ) provides an effective means for cooling the bearing assembly ( ).

US Patent:

20100074392, Mar 25, 2010

Filed:

Nov 30, 2007

Appl. No.:

12/517216

Inventors:

Rolf Karlotto Behling - Norderstedt, DE
Gerald James Carlson - Aurora IL, US

Assignee:

KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V. - EINDHOVEN

International Classification:

H01J 35/30
H01J 35/14
H01J 35/08
A61B 6/00

US Classification:

378 4, 378137, 378124

Abstract:

It is described an X-ray tube () for moving a focal spot within a wide range. The X-ray tube () comprises a first electron source (), which is adapted to generate a first electron beam projecting along a first beam path (), a second electron source (), which is adapted to generate a second electron beam projecting along a second beam path () and an anode (), which is arranged within the first beam path () and within the second beam path () such that on a surface () of the anode () the first electron beam (a) generates a first focal spot () and the second electron beam () generates a second focal spot (). The X-ray tube () further comprises a common deflection unit (), which is adapted to deflect the first () and the second electron beam (), such that the positions of the first () and the second focal spot () is shifted. The electron sources () may be arranged within a linear array allowing for a simple mechanical support of the X-ray sources.

US Patent:

20120093292, Apr 19, 2012

Filed:

Jun 28, 2010

Appl. No.:

13/376519

Inventors:

Kevin Kraft - Plainfield IL, US
Gerald James Carlson - Aurora IL, US
Mark Maska - Aurora IL, US
Paul Xu - Oswego IL, US

Assignee:

KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V. - EINDHOVEN

International Classification:

H01J 35/10
G01N 23/04

US Classification:

378 62, 378125

Abstract:

The invention relates to an X-ray tube with a rotatable anode, an X-ray imaging system and a method for adjusting the focal track of an X-ray tube with a rotatable anode. In order to improve the accuracy of X-ray tubes with rotating anodes and the run out characteristics of rotatable anodes, an X-ray tube with an envelope housing a cathode and an anode assembly is provided, wherein the anode assembly comprises a rotatable disk provided with an annular target forming a focal track, which focal track is rotationally symmetric around a symmetry axis, and a rotor stem for supporting the disk, which stem is rotatably supported around a primary axis of rotation. The stem is provided with a mounting surface to support the disk and the disk is provided with an abutment surface to be mounted to the mounting surface. According to the invention, correction means are arranged between the mounting surface and the abutment surface such that a run-out of the focal track in relation to the axis of rotation is adjustable.

US Patent:

20120093296, Apr 19, 2012

Filed:

Jun 22, 2010

Appl. No.:

13/376449

Inventors:

Kevin Kraft - Plainfield IL, US
Gerald James Carlson - Aurora IL, US
Paul Xu - Oswego IL, US

Assignee:

KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V. - EINDHOVEN

International Classification:

H01J 35/08
H01J 9/02

US Classification:

378121, 378143, 445 51

Abstract:

The present invention relates to X-ray generating technology in general, in particular, it relates to an anode disk element () for an X-ray generating device (). The generation of electromagnetic radiation may be considered to be quite inefficient, since a substantial part of energy applied to a focal track is converted to heat rather than X-radiation. Thus, a limiting factor in the operation of X-ray tubes is the cooling of the anode element and more specifically the focal track. In the present invention, an anode disk element is provided, with an improved dissipation of heat from the focal track. Thus, the anode disk element may sustain increased heat while maintaining structural integrity. The anode disk element () comprises at least a first surface () and a second surface (), with the first surface () comprising a focal track () and the second surface () comprising a conductive coating (). The anode disk element () is rotatable about a rotational axis () with the focal track () being rotationally symmetrical to the rotational axis (). The first surface () comprising the focal track () and the second surface () comprising the conductive coating () are adjacently arranged.

US Patent:

20120099703, Apr 26, 2012

Filed:

Jun 24, 2010

Appl. No.:

13/378845

Inventors:

Kevin Kraft - Plainfield IL, US
Gerald J. Carlson - Aurora IL, US
Paul Xu - Oswego IL, US

Assignee:

KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V. - Eindhoven

International Classification:

H01J 35/10
B21D 53/02
G01N 23/04

US Classification:

378 62, 378128, 2989003

Abstract:

The present invention relates to X-ray tube technology in general. Most of the energy applied to the focal spot via electron bombardment is converted to heat; the generation of electromagnetic radiation may be considered to be quite inefficient. One of the central limitations of X-ray tubes is the cooling, thus the dissipation of heat, of the anode element, in particular the focal track. Consequently, an anode disk element that may sustain increased heat while still maintaining structural integrity and furthermore that may provide improved dissipation of heat from the focal track is presented. According to the present invention, an anode disk element (), comprising an anisotropic thermal conductivity, for the generation of X-rays is provided. The anode disk element () comprises a focal track () and at least one heat dissipating element (). The anode disk element () is rotatable about a rotational axis () with the focal track () being rotationally symmetrical to the rotational axis (). The at least one heat dissipating element () is adapted for heat dissipation from the focal track () in the direction of reduced thermal conductivity of the anode disk element ().

US Patent:

20120236997, Sep 20, 2012

Filed:

Nov 30, 2010

Appl. No.:

13/512977

Inventors:

Paul Xu - Oswego IL, US
Kevin Kraft - Plainfield IL, US
Min He - Downers Grove IL, US
Gerald James Carlson - Aurora IL, US

Assignee:

KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V. - EINDHOVEN

International Classification:

C22C 27/04
H01J 35/08
B05D 5/12
C22C 1/02
B22F 9/16

US Classification:

378143, 75 1013, 75338, 75331, 427123, 420430

Abstract:

An alloy comprising at least two refractory metals and a method for forming such alloy are proposed. In the alloy, a first refractory metal such as tantalum forming a minor portion of the alloy is completely dissolved in a second refractory metal such as tungsten forming a major portion of the alloy. The alloy may be formed by providing the two refractory metals in a common crucible (step S), melting both refractory metals by application of an electron beam (step S), mixing the molten refractory metals (step S) and solidifying the melt (step S). Due to the possible complete mixing of the refractory metal components in a molten state, improved material properties of the solidified alloy may be achieved. Furthermore, due to the use of tantalum instead of rhenium together with tungsten, a cheap and resistant refractory metal alloy may be produced, which alloy may be used for example for forming a focal track region of an X-ray anode.