X-ray tube rotor with carbon composite based material

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9853511-B2
Application number	US-201314396808-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 9, 2013
Priority date	May 22, 2012
Publication date	Dec 26, 2017
Grant date	Dec 26, 2017

Abstract

The present invention relates to a rotor for an X-ray tube. In order to provide further possibilities for weight reduction in X-ray tubes for providing an increase of rotation frequency, a rotor ( 10 ) for an X-ray tube is provided, comprising a rotational structure ( 12 ) with a plurality of electrically conducting elements ( 14 ), the ends thereof connected to each other and provided such that an external stator magnetic field generated by a stator induces a current in the electrically conducting elements, which current generates a rotor magnetic field to interact with the stator magnetic field. At least the plurality of electrically conducting elements is made from carbon composite based material.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A rotor for an X-ray tube, comprising:
a rotational structure with a plurality of electrically conducting elements, ends of the electrically conducting elements being connected to each other and provided such that an external stator magnetic field generated by a stator induces a current in the electrically conducting elements, which current generates a rotor magnetic field to interact with the stator magnetic field;
wherein at least the plurality of electrically conducting elements is made from carbon composite based material; and
wherein the rotational structure is provided as a cylindrical collar on an anode disc on a side opposite a side where a focal track is provided.

2. The rotor according to claim 1 , wherein the carbon composite based material comprises carbon-fibre reinforced carbon; and
wherein the carbon-fibres are oriented in a way that high modulus fibres optimize the induced current flow whereas high tensile fibres provide the required strength.

3. An X-ray system, comprising:
a rotatable anode arrangement;
a bearing arrangement;
a stator; and
a rotor comprising a rotational structure with electrically conducting elements, end of the electrically conducting elements being connected to each other and provided such that an external stator magnetic field generated by the stator induces a current in the electrically conducting elements, which current generates a rotor magnetic field to interact with a stator magnetic field, wherein at least the electrically conducting elements are made from carbon composite based material, and wherein the rotational structure is provided as a cylindrical collar on an anode disc on a side opposite a side where a focal track is provided;
wherein the rotatable anode arrangement is supported by the bearing arrangement; and
wherein the stator is provided with electrical coils to generate the stator magnetic field to interact with the rotor such that electrical current is generated in the rotor generating the rotor magnetic field for rotating the anode arrangement.

4. The X-ray system according to claim 3 ,
wherein the stator is provided at least partially enclosing the cylindrical collar.

5. The X-ray system according to claim 3 , wherein the stator comprises a number of C-shaped iron cores, around which a winding is provided; and
wherein the rotational structure is arranged partly between ends of the C-shaped iron cores.

6. The X-ray system according to claim 3 , wherein the rotational structure is provided integrally with the anode disc; and
wherein the stator is provided along an edge of the anode disc structure.

7. The X-ray system according to claim 5 , wherein the stator is segmented; and
wherein the C-shaped iron cores of the stator are arranged with at least one gap such that a focal spot is provided on the anode disc, upon which focal spot an electron beam can impinge.

8. The X-ray system according to claim 3 , further comprising:
an X-ray source;
an X-ray detector;
a processing unit; and
an X-ray tube comprising the rotatable anode arrangement, the bearing arrangement, the stator and the rotor according to claim 3 ,
wherein the processing unit is provided to control rotation by the rotor.

9. A method for rotating an anode of an X-ray tube, the method comprising:
a) applying a first electrical current to a stator winding;
b) generating a stator magnetic field;
c) acting of the stator magnetic field on a rotor, wherein the rotor comprises a rotational structure with a plurality of electrically conducting elements made from carbon composite based material, ends thereof connected to each other; wherein
the rotational structure is provided as a cylindrical collar on an anode disc on a side opposite a side where a focal track is provided;
d) inducing a second current in the electrically conducting elements by the stator magnetic field, thereby generating a rotor magnetic field;
e) interacting of the rotor magnetic field with the stator magnetic field; and
f) driving the anode to rotation due to the interaction.

Assignees

• Koninklijke Philips Nv

Inventors

• Chrost Wolfgang

Classifications

• H01J35/103

  Magnetic bearings · CPC title

• H01J2235/1026

  Means (motors) for driving the target (anode) · CPC title

• H01J35/101

  Arrangements for rotating anodes, e.g. supporting means, means for greasing, means for sealing the axle or means for shielding or protecting the driving · CPC title

• H02K3/02 Primary

  Windings characterised by the conductor material · CPC title

• H01J35/1017 Primary

  Bearings for rotating anodes · CPC title