Patent ID: 7197117

Claim:
A rotating anode X-ray tube comprising: (a) a rotating anode including therein a first coolant passage; (b) an electron gun for irradiating the rotating anode with an electron beam; (c) a vacuum chamber housing therein the rotating anode and the electron gun; (d) a rotary shaft fixed to the rotating anode; (e) a casing which houses therein the rotary shaft and is secured to the vacuum chamber; (f) bearing means arranged between the rotary shaft and the casing so as to rotatably support the rotary shaft; (g) a rotary vacuum sealing device arranged between the rotary shaft and the casing; (h) a second coolant passage formed inside the rotary shaft so as to communicate with the first coolant passage; (i) a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet each provided in the casing so as to communicate with the second coolant passage; (j) an air passage formed inside the casing; (k) an air inlet and an air outlet each provided in the casing so as to communicate with the air passage; (l) a rotary liquid-tight sealing device arranged between the second coolant passage and the casing so as to provide a rotary seal between the second coolant passage and the air passage; and (m) a rotary vane which is fixed to the rotary shaft to be disposed in the air passage and has air guide means extending in a direction moving away from an axis of rotation of the rotary vane.