Patent ID: 6807348
Filing Date: 2004-10-19
Classification: F28D,H01J

Abstract:
An x-ray tube comprising:an evacuated envelope; a cathode assembly located in the evacuated envelope; a disk shaped anode assembly located in the evacuated envelope in operative relationship with the cathode assembly for generating x-rays, the anode assembly including an axis of rotation and a target substrate facing the cathode assembly for generating the x-rays; and a heat pipe located within the anode assembly, the heat pipe comprising: an evacuated shell having a first tubular wall and a second tubular wall concentrically spaced apart from one another and defining a void, each of the first and second tubular walls having a central longitudinal axis that lies generally along the axis of rotation of the anode assembly, the tubular walls vacuum sealed at a first end of the shell and at a second end of the shell; a material within the shell that is a working fluid for the heat pipe at x-ray tube operating conditions; a porous wick located within the void of the shell and radially spaced from the shell, the wick having a height extending from the first end of the shell to the second end of the shell; and a shield attached to a surface of the wick and extending along the height of the wick.