Patent ID: 7192189

Claim:
A portable industrial x-ray system conveniently field-configurable for gas or liquid cooling, comprising: a. an elongated tubehead that at least partly encloses an x-ray tube having an anode emitting x-rays when energized; b. a heat exchanger secured to the tubehead and comprising: a heat sink, that selectively provides either gas cooling or liquid cooling, thermally coupled to the anode for heat exchange therewith; a fan which, when operating, supplies gas to heat radiating material to assist in cooling the anode and a target; and a fitting thermally coupled to the anode for heat exchange therewith and having an internal conduit in fluid flow communication with couplers for connection though a hose to an outside source of circulating liquid coolant; wherein the system selectively operates either (a) the fan to cool the heat sink and thus the anode by gas cooling, without liquid cooling, or (b) the outside source to circulate liquid coolant through the internal conduit of the fitting and thereby cool the anode by liquid cooling, without gas cooling.