Rotating anode mount adaptive to thermal expansion

Abstract

The present invention relates to mounting of an anode disk. In order to provide a mount of an anode disk to a rotating shaft that is suitable for increased thermal loads on the anode disk, a rotating anode assembly (10) is provided that comprises an anode disk (12), a rotating shaft (14), and an anode disk support (16). The anode disk is concentrically mounted to a rotating axis (18) of the rotating shaft via the anode disk support, and the anode disk support comprises a first support (20) with a first circular axial support surface (22) that is provided at the rotating shaft in a concentric manner with the rotating axis. Further, the anode disk support comprises a second support (24) with a second axial support surface (26) that is at least temporarily attached to the rotating shaft for urging the anode disk against the first support surface in an axial clamping direction. Still further, the first support is provided as a radially flexible support (28). Upon heating up of the anode disk during X-ray generation, and a thermal expansion of the anode disk, the radially flexible support bends (32) radially such that the first axial support surface at least partly follows the thermal expansion in a radial direction.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to the mounting of anode disks, and in particular to a rotating anode assembly, an X-ray tube, an X-ray imaging system, a method for mounting a rotating anode disk, and in an X-ray tube for mounting an anode disk to Purpose of the support for the rotating rod. Background technique [0002] For the generation of X-ray radiation, a rotating anode disk is provided. During X-ray generation, heat is generated by electrons impinging on the surface of the anode disk used to generate X-ray radiation. Even in the case of cooling means for removing the generated heat, the anode disk becomes very hot, eg in X-ray tubes used in CT imaging systems. US 7,164,751 B2 describes an anode disk with a cavity between the anode disk and a mounting counterpart filled with a heat transfer material. The material is deformable to follow the deformation of the surface caused by the generated heat. When the anode disk is heated, thermal expansion...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

In case the anode disc is mounted to the rotating rod by clamping force caused by the nut, eccentric positioning of the anode disc may occur during operation

However, this causes an imbalance and, together with the rotational speed, this can lead to undesired vibrations and noise

As there is an increasing demand for higher output of X-ray generation, problems related to thermal expansion of the mounting of the anode disc also increase

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