Coolable rotating anode x-ray source

Abstract

A rotating anode x-ray generator comprising: a rotating anode x-ray source; an x-ray generator housing, the x-ray generator housing having an internal volume, the internal volume containing the x-ray source, and the internal volume configured to contain electrically insulated cooling oil for cooling the x-ray source immersed in the cooling oil; the radiator is located outside the shell, the radiator is configured to cool cooling oil, and the radiator is provided with an oil inlet and an oil outlet which are in fluid communication with the internal volume; one or more oil pumps configured to pump cooling oil from the interior volume of the housing into the heat sink via the oil inlet such that the cooling oil passes through the heat sink and returns into the interior volume of the housing via the oil outlet; and a fan configured to blow air through the blades of the heat sink to cool the heat sink, thereby increasing the oil cooling capacity of the heat sink.

Description

[0001] Related Applications

[0002] This application is based on the U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 543,335 filed on October 10, 2023, and claims the benefits of its filing date and priority date. The entire contents of the submitted U.S. Provisional Patent Application are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to an x-ray generator having a coolable rotating anode x-ray source, and in particular to such a generator suitable for use in radiography or computed tomography. Background Art

[0004] An existing x-ray generator for x-ray radiography or computed tomography includes a cathode and a rotating tungsten anode within a vacuum enclosure. The enclosure is usually glass and is called a tube (despite its name, the tube is not strictly cylindrical), and the enclosure is located within a housing. X-rays are generated by passing a heating current through the filament of the cathode, causing the heated filament to emit an electron cloud thermionically. For example, a potential of 40 kV to 150 kV is applied between the cathode and the anode to accelerate the emitted electrons toward the anode within the enclosure. In addition, the cathode is configured to focus the electrons so that the electrons hit a target area of ​​the anode, thereby generating x-rays.

[0005] The shield and housing each have a window that transmits the x-rays, such as to an external collimator that controls the shape of the generated x-ray beam.

[0006] Most of the energy of the electrons that strike the anode is used to heat the anode, rather than to generate x-rays in this way. To avoid excessive heating of the anode, the anode - which is circular - is supported on a rotor that is located within the hood and is inductively driven to rotate by a motor that is located outside the hood but within the housing. The rotation dissipates the heat generated in the anode.

[0007] This arrangement is shown highly schematically at 10 in FIG1 . A vacuum enclosure 12 contains a cathode 14 (with a cathode filament 16), an anode 18 (with an edge electron target region 20), and a rotor 22 that supports and rotates the anode 18. The enclosure 12 is located within a housing 24, which is located within an outer shell 26, which includes a main board and a cover. A motor (not shown) that inductively drives the rotor 22 is located within the housing 24, external to the enclosure 12.

[0008] The volume within the housing 24 surrounding the enclosure 12 and the volume within the shell 26 surrounding the housing 24 are in fluid communication and are filled with electrically insulating oil 28. Heat from the anode 18 is radiated or conducted to and absorbed by the oil 28 within the housing 24, and is transported to the oil surrounding the housing 12 by conduction and convection. A cooling system 30 includes a copper tube coil 32 extending into the housing 26, and the cooling system 30 circulates cooling water through the coil 32 to remove heat from the oil 28. The cooling water is then cooled by circulating through an external radiator (not shown). However, this cooling system adds complexity to the system.

[0009] Alternatively, cooling of the oil can be achieved by attaching a thick aluminum plate to the main board of the housing 26. The aluminum plate is in close thermal contact with the main board, and the aluminum plate is outside the housing 26, so the heat of the oil is transferred first to the main board and then to the aluminum plate by conduction. The aluminum plate then conducts the heat away to the surrounding air. However, this approach may not provide sufficient cooling capacity in some applications. Summary of the invention

[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide a high-capacity yet simple cooling mechanism for a rotating anode x-ray source.

[0011] Therefore, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rotating anode x-ray generator comprising:

[0012] Rotating anode x-ray source;

[0013] an x-ray generator housing having an interior volume that houses an x-ray source and is configured to contain an electrically insulating cooling oil for cooling the x-ray source immersed in the cooling oil;

[0014] a radiator, the radiator being located outside the housing and the radiator being configured to cool the cooling oil and having an oil inlet and an oil outlet in fluid communication with the internal volume;

[0015] one or more oil pumps configured to pump cooling oil from the interior volume of the housing via the oil inlet into the radiator such that the cooling oil passes through the radiator and returns to the interior volume of the housing via the oil outlet; and

[0016] The fan is configured to blow air across blades of the radiator to cool the radiator, thereby increasing the oil cooling capacity of the radiator.

[0017] Thus, cooling is provided without a secondary cooling circuit (see copper tube coil 32 of FIG. 1 ), wherein one or more oil pumps are configured to circulate cooling oil from the interior volume of the housing via an oil inlet to the radiator, through the radiator, and back to the interior volume of the housing via an oil outlet.

[0018] Optionally, the x-ray generator may include one or more thermostats configured to control the fan and / or oil pump to operate only above a temperature threshold (e.g., regardless of whether the x-ray tube is operating). The temperature threshold may correspond to, for example, the temperature of the cooling oil (e.g., cooling oil within the housing or cooling oil within the radiator), the x-ray tube, or the radiator blades.

[0019] In an embodiment, an x-ray generator includes an x-ray source housing that is located or can be located within a housing, wherein the x-ray source is located within the x-ray source housing. In an example, the x-ray source housing has an oil inlet port for introducing cooling oil into the interior of the x-ray source housing and an oil outlet port for cooling oil to exit the interior of the x-ray source housing. The oil inlet port may be proximate to one of a cathode end and a stator end of the x-ray source, and the oil outlet port may be proximate to the other of the cathode end and the stator end of the x-ray source.

[0020] Thus, the x-ray source housing restricts, at least to some extent, the flow of cooling oil over or along the x-ray source. The x-ray source housing may be substantially fluid-tight with respect to the cooling oil, except for the oil inlet port and the oil outlet port. Alternatively, the x-ray source housing may not be fluid-tight; one or both of the end walls of the x-ray source housing may be partial or completely omitted; in such embodiments, for example, cooled oil may be directed to one end of the housing and collected at the other end after being heated by the x-ray source - such as typically from the x-ray tube to the stator.

[0021] In another embodiment, the x-ray generator includes a first oil pump and a second oil pump, wherein the first oil pump is arranged to pump cooling oil from the internal volume of the housing to one of the cathode end and the stator end of the x-ray source, and the second oil pump is configured to pump cooling oil from the other of the cathode end and the stator end of the x-ray source to the inlet of the radiator.

[0022] Therefore, the two pumps (which can be regarded as the first and second oil pumps of the one or more oil pumps) can be located at points with significant pumping impedance, such as the inlet port of the housing and the inlet of the radiator. In addition, multiple lower power pumps can be used so that the internal pressure of the housing and the radiator can be minimized compared to a single higher power pump.

[0023] In another embodiment, one or more oil pumps deliver oil cooled by a radiator to the hottest part of the x-ray source during operation of the x-ray generator, or to the hottest part of the x-ray generator during operation near the x-ray source, such as the anode of an x-ray tube of the x-ray source.

[0024] In addition, where a single oil pump is employed, it may be advantageous to deliver cooling oil from the radiator to an inlet within the housing remote from the oil inlet of the radiator (or remote from the inlet conduit of the pump), such as by providing a conduit within the housing that is coupled to the oil outlet of the radiator (or to the oil inlet of the housing that is coupled to the oil outlet of the radiator) and that is arranged to deliver the cooling oil to where it is needed, for example, near a portion of the x-ray tube that becomes hottest during operation.

[0025] In another embodiment, at least one of the one or more oil pumps (and in some examples, two or all of the pumps) is located within the x-ray generator housing, such as - when in use - immersed in cooling oil.

[0026] However, one or more of the oil pumps may be located outside the housing but in fluid communication with the interior volume of the housing (such as via respective oil conduits), thereby avoiding the need to seal the pumps to prevent unwanted oil ingress and avoiding the need to feed electrical power to the pumps into the housing.

[0027] According to this aspect, a computer tomography system is also provided, comprising the above-mentioned rotating anode x-ray generator.

[0028] Therefore, according to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for cooling a rotating anode x-ray generator, the method comprising:

[0029] pumping electrically insulating cooling oil from an interior volume of an x-ray generator housing to a heat sink external to the housing such that the cooling oil passes through the heat sink, the interior volume housing a rotating anode x-ray source of the x-ray generator;

[0030] Cooling the radiator by blowing air across the radiator blades, thereby increasing the radiator's oil cooling capacity; and

[0031] The cooling oil cooled by the radiator is returned to the inner volume of the housing.

[0032] In an embodiment, the method includes positioning an x-ray source within an x-ray source housing within an enclosure. In an example, the method includes introducing cooling oil into the x-ray source housing via an oil inlet port of the x-ray source housing, wherein the cooling oil exits the x-ray source housing via an oil outlet port of the x-ray source housing. For example, the method may include introducing cooling oil into the x-ray source housing proximate one of a cathode end and a stator end of the x-ray source, wherein the cooling oil exits the x-ray source housing proximate the other of the cathode end and the stator end of the x-ray source.

[0033] In an embodiment, the method includes pumping cooling oil from an interior volume of the housing to one of a cathode end and a stator end of an x-ray source by a first oil pump, and pumping cooling oil from the other of the cathode end and the stator end of the x-ray source to an inlet of a radiator.

[0034] In an embodiment, the method includes: delivering cooling oil cooled by a radiator through one or more oil pumps to the hottest part of the x-ray source during operation of the x-ray generator, or to the hottest part of the x-ray generator during operation near the x-ray source.

[0035] In an embodiment, the method includes positioning at least one of the one or more oil pumps (and in some examples, two or all of the pumps) within the x-ray generator housing, such as - when in use - immersed in cooling oil.

[0036] It should be noted that any one of the individual features in the above-mentioned various aspects of the present invention, as well as any one of the individual features in the embodiments described herein including in the claims, may be appropriately combined as required. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] In order to more clearly define the present invention, embodiments will now be described by way of example with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[0038] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a coolable rotating anode x-ray generator of the background art;

[0039] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a coolable rotating anode x-ray generator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 3 According to an embodiment of the present invention Figure 2 A schematic cross-sectional view of a rotating anode x-ray generator; and

[0041] Figure 4 is a flow chart of a method for cooling a rotating anode x-ray generator according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] Figure 2 FIG. 4 is a partial ghost diagram of a coolable rotating anode x-ray generator 40 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a coolable rotating anode x-ray generator 40. Some features have been omitted or modified in each of these drawings for the sake of clarity.

[0043] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 , the x-ray generator 40 includes an x-ray source 42, which includes an x-ray tube 44, a stator 46 and a stator cable 48 (for simplicity, only the lower part of the stator cable 48 is shown). The x-ray source 42 is located in an x-ray generator housing 50, which can be opened to install or access the x-ray source 42, and can be securely closed. In this example, the x-ray tube 44 is an X22P (trademark) x-ray tube provided by IAE SpA of Milan, Italy; the anode of the x-ray tube 44 is RT-TZM, which is a molybdenum-based alloy containing titanium and zirconium, the anode diameter is 64mm, and the anode rotation speed is 3000rpm. The x-ray tube 44 has a nominal tube voltage of 130kV, and a nominal anode input power of 3.8kW at 27.1mA or 10kW at 71.4mA. The anode has a heat storage capacity of 105kJ, and a continuous power consumption of 300W.

[0044] The housing 50 is housed in an x-ray generator housing 52 which includes a main board 54 and a removable cover 56. The cover 56 includes an adapter 58 for filling the housing with oil. The main board 54 includes cutouts 60 for electrical leads (not shown).

[0045] The housing 52 is configured to be filled with an electrically insulating oil 62 (such as transformer oil) via an adapter 58 for use as a cooling oil, and such that in use the housing 50 is immersed in the oil 62. In this example, the oil is Diala S2ZX-A (trademark) supplied by Shell USA, Inc.

[0046] The X-ray generator 40 further includes a first oil pump 64 and a second oil pump 66. The first oil pump 64 and the second oil pump 66 are both inside the housing 52 and outside the casing 50, and the first oil pump 64 and the second oil pump 66 are powered via a feeding device (not shown). The first oil pump 64 is close to the first end wall 68a ( Figure 2 and Figure 3 The second oil pump 66 is mounted on the first bracket 70a, which is supported by the main board 54 near the lower edge of the main board 54. The second oil pump 66 is close to the second end wall 68b ( Figure 2 and Figure 3 The adapter 58 is mounted on the second bracket 70b (the right wall opposite to the first end wall 68a in the view of FIG. 1 ), and the second bracket 70b is supported by the second end wall 68b near the upper edge of the second end wall 68b. It can be noted that the adapter 58 is located on the third end wall 68c ( Figure 2 and Figure 3 on the top wall in the view of FIG.

[0047] The first oil pump 64 and the second oil pump 66 each have a pumping capacity of approximately 1.6 L / min (-0.42 US gallons / min).

[0048] The X-ray generator 40 further includes a radiator 72 for cooling the oil 62 , and the radiator 72 is mounted to the outside of the second end wall 68 b of the housing cover 56 .

[0049] The first oil pump 64 has an inlet conduit 74a arranged to draw the oil 62 from the body of oil within the housing 52 and an outlet conduit 74b coupled to the inlet port 76 of the housing 50 in or near the first end wall 78a of the housing 50. Thus, the first oil pump 64 is configured to pump the oil 62 into the housing 50. Figure 3 The length of the inlet conduit 74a is exaggerated in order to avoid excessively blocking the outlet conduit 74b.)

[0050] The second oil pump 66 has an inlet conduit 80a coupled to an outlet port 82 of the housing 50 in or near a second end wall 78b of the housing 50 (opposite the first end wall 78a). The second oil pump 66 is configured to draw oil from the interior of the housing 50. In use, the oil exiting the interior of the housing 50 may be at a temperature of up to 55°C to 60°C (-130°F to 140°F).

[0051] Inlet port 76 and outlet port 82 of housing 50 are positioned away from one another so that oil within housing 50 flows substantially through the entire length of housing 50 and thus through the length of x-ray tube 42, effectively cooling all portions of the x-ray tube.

[0052] The second oil pump 66 has an outlet conduit 80b that is connected to an inlet 88 of the radiator 72. The radiator inlet 88 is located at an upper end 90a of the radiator 68 so that the oil in the radiator 72 flows downward through the blades 92 of the finned radiator (where the oil in the radiator 72 flows downward through the blades 92 of the finned radiator). Figure 392 is visible in the cross-sectional view of the radiator 72, wherein the oil exits the radiator 72 through an outlet 94 near the lower end 90b of the radiator 72. The radiator outlet 94 is coupled to an oil inlet 96 in the housing cover 56 near the second end wall 78b of the housing 50, so that the oil exiting the radiator 72 is discharged into the interior of the housing 52, thereby returning to the body of oil 62 within the housing 52.

[0053] The X-ray generator 40 also includes an electric centrifugal blower or fan 100 for providing cooling air to the radiator 72, thereby increasing the cooling capacity of the radiator 72. The fan 100 is mounted to the fourth end wall 68d ( Figure 2 and Figure 3 The fan 100 feeds air 106 from the surrounding environment into a space 104 between the second end wall 68b of the housing cover 56 and the blades 92 of the radiator 72 via an air duct 102. The air then flows through the blades 92 of the radiator 72, thereby cooling the oil in the blades 92, and then flows out of the radiator 72 (at the bottom end wall of the housing cover 56). Figure 3 to the right in the view of the .

[0054] Note that Figure 2 and Figure 3 In FIG. 1 , the oil flow is represented by the dashed curve and the air flow is represented by the dot-dash curve.

[0055] It is estimated that the radiator 72 with the assistance of the fan 100 can cool the oil by approximately 7°C (-12°F).

[0056] Figure 4 FIG. 1 is a flow chart 120 of a method for cooling a rotating anode x-ray generator according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 At step 122 , first oil pump 64 pumps cooling oil 62 from the interior volume of housing 52 into x-ray source housing 50 .

[0057] At step 124 , the second oil pump 66 pumps cooling oil from the x-ray source housing 50 to the radiator 72 outside the x-ray generator housing 52 .

[0058] At step 126, the oil passes through the radiator 72 (in this example, descends) within the radiator blades 92, the oil being propelled primarily by the action of the second oil pump 66. Simultaneously, at step 128, the fan 100—located outside the x-ray generator housing 52—blows air into the radiator 72; the air is directed across the radiator blades 92 to cool the radiator 72 and, therefore, the oil therein.

[0059] At step 130 , the cooling oil exits the radiator 72 and returns to the main oil volume within the interior volume of the housing 52 .

[0060] Steps 122 through 130 operate continuously at least while the x-ray generator 40 is operating. In this example, the x-ray tube 44 has an input power of up to about 10 kW, but dissipates heat at a rate of about 300 W (note that only a small portion of the input power is converted to and emitted as x-rays). Thus, the x-ray tube 44 dissipates heat for a period of time after it is turned off and stops generating x-rays. Therefore, the oil pump 64, the oil pump 66, and the fan 100 typically operate for a period of time after an x-ray or CT scan is completed, typically until the oil 62 and / or the x-ray tube 44 is at an acceptably low temperature.

[0061] Various alternatives and modifications are contemplated. For example, in some applications, it is contemplated that the radiator 72 may provide adequate cooling without operating the fan 100, such as in the case of a lower power x-ray tube (or in the case of the x-ray tube 44 operating at a lower power). For example, the fan 100 may be controlled by a thermostat, such as a thermostat configured to respond to the temperature of the cooling oil or radiator blades by turning on the fan 100 when the temperature exceeds a first threshold and turning off the fan 100 when the temperature is below a second threshold. Similarly, in some applications, the oil pumps 64, 66 may be controlled by a thermostat configured to respond to the temperature of the cooling oil or radiator blades by turning on the oil pumps 64, 66 when the temperature exceeds a first threshold and turning off the oil pumps 64, 66 when the temperature is below a second threshold. For example, a single thermostat may be used to control the fan 100 and the oil pumps 64, 66.

[0062] The housing 50 is substantially fluid-tight with respect to the cooling oil, except for the inlet port 76 and the outlet port 82 of the housing 50. However, in some alternatives, the housing 50 may not be fluid-tight; one or both of the end walls 78a and 78b may be partially or completely omitted. Nevertheless, the housing 50 still facilitates the oil therein - in Figure 2 and Figure 3 In the configuration of - the general direction from the x-ray tube 44 to the stator 46 flows along the x-ray source 42, particularly along the x-ray tube 44.

[0063] However, in another alternative, the housing 50 is omitted, such that generally the first oil pump 64 and the second oil pump 66 circulate the oil 62 within the housing 52. In such an arrangement, it may be advantageous to position the outlet end of the outlet conduit 74 b of the first oil pump 64 proximate the hottest portion of the x-ray tube 44, such as below and aligned with the anode of the x-ray tube 44.

[0064] In some alternatives, a single oil pump may be employed, such as by omitting the first oil pump 64 and relying on the second oil pump 66 to draw oil into and along the housing 50. Where the housing 50 is omitted, it may be advantageous to deliver the cooled oil from the radiator 72 to a location within the housing 52 that is remote from the inlet of the inlet conduit 80a of the second pump 66. This may be accomplished, for example, by providing an additional conduit within the housing 52 that is coupled to the inlet 96 and is arranged to deliver the oil to where it is needed, such as near a portion of the x-ray tube 44 that becomes hottest during operation (such as the anode). Alternatively, this may be accomplished by positioning the radiator outlet 94 on a lower or side surface of the radiator 72, positioning the housing cover oil inlet 96 remote from the radiator 72 (e.g., near the x-ray tube 44), and providing an additional conduit outside the housing 52 that couples the radiator outlet 94 to the oil inlet 96.

[0065] In addition, one or both of the first oil pump 64 and the second oil pump 66 can be located outside the housing 52. For example, one or both of the first oil pump 64 and the second oil pump 66 can be mounted outside the main board 54, such as mounted within the oil pump housing. The corresponding oil conduits 74a, 74b and oil conduits 80a, 80b can pass through the main board 54 through one or more feed-through holes in the main board 54, so that the first oil pump 64 and / or the second oil pump 66 are in fluid communication with the internal oil filling volume of the housing 52. In another example, the second oil pump 66 (whether as a separate oil pump or otherwise) can be mounted outside the housing 52, such as supported on the radiator 72, wherein the inlet of the radiator 72 is coupled to the inlet conduit 80a, or the inlet is coupled to an oil outlet port in the housing 52 that is coupled to the inlet conduit 80a. These examples, which eliminate the need to seal the first oil pump 64 and / or the second oil pump 66 to prevent unnecessary oil ingress and to feed power for the first oil pump 64 and / or the second oil pump 66 into the housing 52 , may be combined with other variations.

[0066] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that many modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, it will be apparent that some features of embodiments of the invention may be used to form further embodiments.

[0067] It will be appreciated that, if any prior art is referred to herein, this reference is not to be taken as an admission that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in any country.

[0068] In the following claims and the foregoing description of the invention, unless the context requires otherwise either explicitly or by necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" are used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to indicate the presence of the features described, but not to exclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Claims

1. A rotating anode x-ray generator, comprising: Rotating anode x-ray source; an x-ray generator housing having an interior volume that houses the x-ray source and is configured to contain an electrically insulating cooling oil for cooling the x-ray source immersed therein; a radiator located outside the housing and configured to cool the cooling oil and having an oil inlet and an oil outlet in fluid communication with the interior volume; one or more oil pumps configured to pump the cooling oil from the interior volume of the housing via the oil inlet into the radiator such that the cooling oil passes through the radiator and returns to the interior volume of the housing via the oil outlet; and A fan is configured to blow air across blades of the radiator to cool the radiator, thereby increasing the oil cooling capacity of the radiator.

2. An x-ray generator according to claim 1, comprising an x-ray source housing located or locatable within the housing, wherein: The x-ray source is located within the x-ray source housing.

3. The x-ray generator according to claim 2, wherein: The x-ray source housing has an oil inlet port for introducing the cooling oil into the interior of the x-ray source housing and an oil outlet port for the cooling oil to exit the interior of the x-ray source housing.

4. The x-ray generator according to claim 3, wherein: The oil inlet port is proximate one of a cathode end and a stator end of the x-ray source, and the oil outlet port is proximate the other of the cathode end and the stator end of the x-ray source.

5. An x-ray generator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a first oil pump and a second oil pump, wherein the first oil pump is arranged to pump the cooling oil from the internal volume of the housing to one of the cathode end and the stator end of the x-ray source, and the second oil pump is configured to pump the cooling oil from the other of the cathode end and the stator end of the x-ray source to the oil inlet of the radiator.

6. The x-ray generator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: (a) the one or more oil pumps deliver oil cooled by the radiator to the hottest part of the x-ray source during operation of the x-ray generator, or to the hottest part of the x-ray generator during operation near the x-ray source; and / or (b) at least one of the one or more oil pumps is located within the x-ray generator housing.

7. A computer tomography system comprising the rotating anode x-ray generator according to claim 1.

8. A method for cooling a rotating anode x-ray generator, the method comprising: pumping electrically insulating cooling oil from an interior volume of an x-ray generator housing containing a rotating anode x-ray source of the x-ray generator to a heat sink external to the housing such that the cooling oil passes through the heat sink; cooling the radiator by blowing air through blades of the radiator, thereby increasing the oil cooling capacity of the radiator; and The cooling oil cooled by the radiator is returned to the inner volume of the housing.

9. The method according to claim 8, comprising: The x-ray source is positioned within an x-ray source housing within the housing.

10. The method according to claim 9, comprising: The cooling oil is introduced into the x-ray source housing via an oil inlet port of the x-ray source housing, wherein the cooling oil exits from the x-ray source housing via an oil outlet port of the x-ray source housing.

11. The method according to claim 10, comprising: The cooling oil is introduced into the x-ray source housing proximate one of a cathode end and a stator end of the x-ray source, wherein the cooling oil exits the x-ray source housing proximate the other of the cathode end and the stator end of the x-ray source.

12. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 11, comprising: The cooling oil is pumped from the interior volume of the housing to one of the cathode end and the stator end of the x-ray source by a first oil pump, and the cooling oil is pumped from the other of the cathode end and the stator end of the x-ray source to the oil inlet of the radiator.

13. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 11, comprising: (a) delivering the cooling oil cooled by the radiator to the hottest part of the x-ray source during operation of the x-ray generator, or to the hottest part of the x-ray generator during operation near the x-ray source, through one or more oil pumps; and / or (b) positioning at least one of the one or more oil pumps within the x-ray generator housing.

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