Patent · US Expired

Frosted X-ray tube

US4315182A · kind A · utility

10Cited by
2References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 1, 1977
Grant dateFeb 9, 1982
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 1, 1997

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J35/16
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The inner surface of an X-ray tube envelope is constructed to prevent the build-up of an electrically conductive layer of metal deposits on the tube envelope in the regions adjacent to and between the cathode focusing element and the anode. In the disclosed embodiment this area is textured so that metal deposits can only collect in certain places and not in others. The places of metal collection are spaced so that the development of a conductive metal layer is inhibited. By properly texturing the inner surface of the envelope, this spaced collection of metal is so effective that the spaced regions of metal build-up are electrically insulated from one another. A method is disclosed comprising first mechanically abrading the inner surface of the envelope to create small fracture regions. Thereafter, the abraded surface is acid-etched. The acid attacks the areas of the envelope which exhibits these fracture regions creating relatively deep and narrow "canyons" surrounding "islands". The canyons are of such steepness and depth that the trajectory of particles of metal released from tube elements do not form conductive layers in the canyons.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.