Abstract:
Disclosed is an integrated flying-spot X-ray apparatus comprising a ray generator configured to generate the X-ray, a revolving collimator device provided thereon with at least one aperture and arranged to be rotatable about the ray generator, a frameless torque motor configured to drive the revolving collimator device to rotate about the ray generator, and a cooling device configured to cool the ray generator, wherein the ray generator, the revolving collimator device, the frameless torque motor and the cooling device are mounted on an integrated mounting frame. Compared with the prior art, the integrated flying-spot X-ray apparatus according to the present disclosure has a simple and compact structure and is used as a kernel apparatus for fields of safety inspection and medical treatment.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Chinese patent application CN 201210299797.0, which was filed on Aug. 21, 2012, and which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present disclosure pertains to the technical field of X-ray generator, and in particular, relates to an integrated flying-spot X-ray apparatus. 
         [0003]    A conventional X-ray apparatus emits an X-ray along a conical plane or a sector plane and cannot dynamically scan an object spot by spot. At present, scanning by means of an integrated flying-spot X-ray apparatus is desired in the field of safety inspection and medical treatment. To this end, there is a need to provide an integrated flying-spot X-ray apparatus which can alleviate or eliminate at least one the foregoing technical problems. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The present invention has been made bearing in mind of the above technical problems existing in the prior art. 
         [0005]    An object of this disclosure is to provide an integrated flying-spot X-ray apparatus so as to meet requirements of the field of safety inspection and medical treatment. 
         [0006]    According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an integrated flying-spot X-ray apparatus comprising a ray generator configured to generate the X-ray; a revolving collimator device provided thereon with at least one aperture and arranged to be rotatable about the ray generator; a frameless torque motor configured to drive the revolving collimator device to rotate about the ray generator; and a cooling device configured to cool the ray generator, wherein the ray generator, the revolving collimator device, the frameless torque motor and the cooling device are mounted on an integrated mounting frame. 
         [0007]    With the above structure, the X-ray apparatus emits a sector-shaped X-ray, and the dynamic spot-by-spot scanning operation of the ray can be achieved by rotating the revolving collimator device with an aperture provided outside of the sector-shaped X-ray. 
         [0008]    Furthermore, the integrated mounting frame comprises a supporting frame configured to support the frameless torque motor and the cooling device, and a bracket configured to be fixedly connected with the supporting frame to fix the ray generator. With such structure, the supporting frame and the bracket are used to integrate the above-mentioned respective functional devices to form an integrated flying-spot X-ray apparatus with a compact structure. 
         [0009]    Specifically, the ray generator comprises an X-ray tube, a high voltage generator configured to drive the X-ray tube, an inner protecting sleeve provided outside of the X-ray tube, and an outer sleeve provided outside of the inner protecting sleeve, wherein the inner protecting sleeve and the outer sleeve each have a ray outlet, and the ray outlets are aligned with each other and communicate with each other to direct the X-ray from the X-ray tube out of the ray generator. 
         [0010]    Furthermore, an anode end cap is provided at a side of an anode target of the X-ray tube, and between the anode end cap and the anode target is further provided a first anode insulation protecting seat and a second anode insulation protecting seat which are combined to form a labyrinth channel. A cathode protecting end cap is provided at a side of a cathode of the X-ray tube, and between the cathode protecting end cap and the cathode of the X-ray tube is further provided a labyrinth protecting ring. 
         [0011]    In the above embodiments, the respective ray outlets of the inner protecting sleeve and the outer sleeve are provided therein with a calking window, and calking window is made of a material through which the X-ray can pass or penetrate. 
         [0012]    More specifically, a cavity around the X-ray tube is filled with high voltage insulation oil, and between the labyrinth protecting ring and the cathode protecting end cap is further provided an expansion drum. 
         [0013]    In the above embodiments, the cathode protecting end cap, the inner protecting sleeve, the second anode insulation protecting seat, the first anode insulation protecting seat and the labyrinth protecting ring are made of a material that can shield the X-ray, and the second anode insulation protecting seat and the first anode insulation protecting seat exhibits insulation property. 
         [0014]    In an embodiment, the cathode protecting end cap is provided with a bending through hole, and the cathode protecting end cap and the expansion drum are fitted together to form a gas chamber. Thus, when the expansion drum is pressed, the gas therein is discharged through the hole of the cathode protecting end cap. 
         [0015]    Specifically, the outer sleeve is provided with a beam exiting opening opened at a certain angle, and the outer sleeve is further formed on the outer side wall thereof with a boss having a shaft shoulder. 
         [0016]    More specifically, the first anode insulation protecting seat and the second anode insulation protecting seat are combined integrally to form a cavity, and a fluid guiding hole on the first anode insulation protecting seat and a liquid injecting hole on the second anode insulation protecting seat are misaligned with each other, so that a labyrinth structure is formed. The first anode insulation protecting seat and the second anode insulation protecting seat have a high voltage insulation performance and can prevent leakage of the ray. Thus, the outer cavity of the X-ray tube can be ensued to have high voltage insulation and prevent leakage of the ray. 
         [0017]    In an embodiment, the revolving collimator device comprises at least one bearing supported on the boss having the shaft shoulder of the outer sleeve, a flying-spot revolving protecting ring supported by the at least on bearing and configured to be revolvable about the outer sleeve, and side protecting plates provided at two sides of the flying-spot revolving protecting ring, respectively, and right and left end caps. With this structure and construction, the revolving collimator device with the aperture is provided around the outer sleeve of the ray generator, and the collimator device of the revolving collimator device revolves by means of the bearing. Furthermore, the revolving collimator device with the aperture is driven by the frameless torque motor, and the dynamic spot-by-spot scanning of the ray is achieved by revolving about the aperture of the collimator device provided outside of the ray generator. 
         [0018]    Specifically, the cooling device comprises a magnetic pump configured to pump the heated high voltage insulation oil, a heat exchanger configured to cool the pumped high voltage insulation oil, and an oil passage configured to convey the pumped high voltage insulation oil into the heat exchanger for heat exchanging, and the cooled high voltage insulation oil returns back into the cavity around the X-ray tube. Since the cavity of the ray generator is filled with the high voltage insulation oil, the circulation system constituted by connecting the above components in series can be used to cool the anode target of the bulb tube so as to ensure the normal operation of the integrated X-ray apparatus. 
         [0019]    With the above configuration and construction, at least one of the following advantages can be achieved:
       (1) a dynamic spot-by-spot scanning of the ray can be achieved;   (2) a compact structure is obtained; and   (3) the material used can efficiently shield the ray.       
 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a front view of an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view taken along the A-A line of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken along the B-B line of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along the C-C line of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is a front view of a bulb tube. 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  is a view, along the A direction, of the bulb tube. 
           [0029]      FIG. 7  is a three-dimension view of an outer sleeve with a ray outlet. 
           [0030]      FIG. 8  is a front view in which a first anode insulation protecting seat and a second anode insulation protecting seat are assembled. 
           [0031]      FIG. 9  is a top view in which the first anode insulation protecting seat and the second anode insulation protecting seat are assembled. 
           [0032]      FIG. 10  is a three-dimension view of a flying-spot revolving protecting ring. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0033]    Next, embodiments of the present disclosure are further described in combination with the drawings. 
         [0034]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , a general structure of a specific embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. An integrated flying-spot X-ray apparatus according to the present disclosure comprises a ray generator  40  configured to generate an X-ray, a revolving collimator device  60  provided thereon with at least one aperture and arranged to be rotatable about the ray generator  40 , a frameless torque motor  80  configured to drive the revolving collimator device  60  to rotate about the ray generator  40 , and a cooling device  20  configured to cool the ray generator  40 . The ray generator  40 , the revolving collimator device  60 , the frameless torque motor  80  and the cooling device  20  are integrally mounted on frames  10  and  11 . The integrally mounted frames or integrated frames  10 ,  11  comprise a supporting frame  10  configured to support the frameless torque motor  80  and the cooling device  20 , and a bracket  11  configured to be fixedly connected with the supporting frame  10  to fix the ray generator  40 . The supporting frame  10  is used for supporting the frameless torque motor  80  and the cooling device  20 , and the bracket  11  is used for supporting the ray generator  40 . 
         [0035]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , the ray generator  40  may comprise a cathode protecting end cap  41 , a plug  42 , such as an aviation plug, an outer sleeve  43  with a ray outlet, an inner protecting sleeve  44  with a ray outlet, calking windows  45 , an  0 -shaped sealing ring  46 , an anode end cap  47 , a high voltage generator  90 , a tube joint  49 , a second anode insulation protecting seat  50 , a positioning pin  51 , a first anode insulation protecting seat  52 , a bulb tube  53 , a labyrinth protecting ring  54 , and an expansion drum  55 . 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the ray generator  40  comprises an X-ray tube  53 , a high voltage generator  90  configured to drive the X-ray tube  53 , an inner protecting sleeve  44  provided outside of the X-ray tube  53  and used for shielding and protecting; and an outer sleeve  43  provided outside of the inner protecting sleeve  44  and used for protecting. The inner protecting sleeve  44  and the outer sleeve  43  each have a ray outlet. The ray outlets are aligned with each other and hence communicate with each other to direct the X-ray from the X-ray tube  53  out of the ray generator  40 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 7 , the high voltage generator  90  loads a high voltage onto the two ends of the bulb tube  53  through the aviation plug  42 , so that the X-ray is generated. The ray exits from an opening  72  forming a sector-shaped conical beam. The opening  72  is provided on the outer sleeve  43  and is opened with a certain angle, e.g., 110 degrees shown in  FIG. 6 , along the circumferential direction. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the positioning pin  51  is used for defining the beam outputting direction of the bulb tube  53 . 
         [0037]    Specifically, the anode end cap  47  is provided at an anode target  56  side of the X-ray tube  53 . The first anode insulation protecting seat  52  and the second anode insulation protecting seat  50  are further provided between the anode end cap  47  and the anode target  56 , and they form a labyrinth channel. The cathode protecting end cap  41  is provided at a cathode side of the X-ray tube  53 . The labyrinth protecting ring  54  is further provided between the cathode protecting end cap  41  and the cathode of the X-ray tube  53 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the first anode insulation protecting seat  52  and the second anode insulation protecting seat  50  are combined integrally to form a cavity  501 . A fluid guiding hole  502  on the first anode insulation protecting seat  52  and a liquid injecting hole  503  on the second anode insulation protecting seat  50  are misaligned with each other, so that a labyrinth structure is formed. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the labyrinth protecting ring  54  functions to form a labyrinth for a cathode lead outlet and high voltage insulation oil returning outlet so as to prevent leakage of the ray. 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the respective ray outlets of the inner protecting sleeve  44  and the outer sleeve  43  are provided therein with a calking window  45 . The material for the calking window  45  is a material through which the X-ray can pass. After passing through the respective ray outlets of the inner protecting sleeve  44  and the outer sleeve  43  and the calking windows  45 , the ray exits along the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the radiation source generator  40  in a predetermined angle range, such as a 4 degree angle range shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0039]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the cathode protecting end cap  41 , the inner protecting sleeve  44 , the second anode insulation protecting seat  50 , the first anode insulation protecting seat  52  and the labyrinth protecting ring  54  are made of a material that can shield the ray, and the second anode insulation protecting seat  50  and the first anode insulation protecting seat  52  have an insulation property. The cathode protecting end cap  41  is provided with a bending through hole  550 . When the cathode protecting end cap  41  and the expansion drum  55  are fitted together, a gas chamber  551  is formed. 
         [0040]    With reference to  FIG. 7 , the outer sleeve  43  is provided with the beam exiting opening  72 . The outer sleeve  43  is also formed on the outer side wall thereof with a boss  71  having a shaft shoulder. As shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  7  and  10 , the revolving collimator device  60  comprises at least one bearing  63  supported on the boss  71  having the shaft shoulder of the outer sleeve  43 , a flying-spot revolving protecting ring  64  supported by the at least on bearing  63  and configured to be revolvable about the outer sleeve  43 , side protecting plates  61  provided at two sides of the flying-spot revolving protecting ring  64 , respectively, and right and left end caps  62  and  65 . 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  5  and  6 , the anode target  56  of the bulb tube  53  gives a great amount of heat out while generating the ray. In order to expedite heat dispersion, a number of fluid guiding holes  52  are distributed on the anode target  56  along the circumference thereof. When a cooling liquid passes through the fluid guiding holes  57 , the heat from the anode target  56  is brought away, so that the normal operation of the bulb tube  53  is ensured. 
         [0042]    Furthermore, as shown  FIGS. 2 ,  8  and  9 , the cavity around the X-ray tube  53  is filled with the high voltage insulation oil, and the expansion drum  55  is further provided between the labyrinth protecting ring  54  and the cathode protecting end cap  41 . The cavity around the bulb tube  53  is filled with the high voltage insulation oil to bring the heat generated from the bulb tube away. Since the insulation oil is heated, the volume of the insulation oil expands to press the expansion drum  55 . At the same time, the heated insulation oil is drawn out from the tube joint  49  of the anode end cap  47  by a magnetic pump  23 , and then is cooled by a heat exchanger  21 , and then passes through a tube joint  48  provided at an end close to the labyrinth protecting ring  54 , and then passes through the labyrinth channel formed by integrally combining the first anode insulation protecting seat  52  and the second anode insulation protecting seat  50 , and then returns back into the cavity around the bulb tube  53  through the fluid guiding hole  57 , so that the expansion amount of volume of the oil will be constant. 
         [0043]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the cooling device  20  comprises the magnetic pump  23  configured to pump the heated high voltage insulation oil, the heat exchanger  21  configured to cool the pumped high voltage insulation oil, and an oil passage configured to convey the pumped high voltage insulation oil into the heat exchanger  21  for heat exchanging. Then, the cooled high voltage insulation oil returns back into the cavity around the X-ray tube  53 . In a preferred embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the cooling device  20  further comprises a fan  22  for further enhancing the heat exchanging efficiency of the heat exchanger  21 . 
         [0044]    Next, the operation of the integrated flying-spot X-ray apparatus according to the specific embodiments of the present disclosure is explained in combination with  FIGS. 2 and 10 . 
         [0045]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 10 , the revolving collimator device  60  with at least one aperture comprises the side protecting plates  61 , the left end cap  62 , the bearing  63 , the flying-spot revolving protecting ring  64  and the right end cap  65 . The bearing  63  is mounted on the boss  71  provided with the shaft shoulder and provided on the outer side wall of the outer sleeve  43 , and the flying-spot revolving protecting ring  62  is mounted on the bearing  63  to form a rotation body. The flying-spot revolving protecting ring  65  are provided with a small through hole  75 . The right end cap  65  is connected with a rotor  81  of the frameless torque motor  80  by screws, and a stator  82  is fixed on the supporting frame  10  by screws. The frameless torque motor  80  drives the revolving collimator device  60  with the through hole  75  to rotate. A dynamic spot-by-spot scanning operation can be achieved by revolving about the through hole  75  of the revolving collimator device  60  provided on the periphery of the ray generator  40 . As shown  FIG. 2 , the side protecting plates  61  provided at two sides and the flying-spot revolving protecting ring  64  are made of a material which can shield the ray, and hence form a shielding cavity to efficiently prevent leakage of the ray. 
         [0046]    Although the flying-spot revolving protecting ring  64  is provided with a small through hole along the radial direction in the above embodiment, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. A plurality of through holes may be provided. 
         [0047]    While the present disclosure has been described in conjunction with the drawings, the embodiment shown in the drawings is only an example for explaining preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and is not intended to limit the present disclosure. Although some embodiments for the general concept of the present disclosure have been shown and explained, the skilled person in the art will appreciate that modifications to the above embodiments can be carried out without departing from the spirit and principle of the present general inventive concept. The scope of the present disclosure should be defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.