Absorber Element for X-Ray Tube High-Voltage Cable Flashover Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-voltage flashovers in X-ray tubes, particularly microfocus X-ray tubes, lead to transient interference signals that damage high-voltage sources and connecting cables, necessitating costly design considerations and surface treatments like high-gloss polishing to reduce surface roughness, which is inefficient in preventing flashovers.
Innovation Solution
A high-voltage resistant cable, plug, and socket with an absorber element made from soft magnetic materials, such as iron or ferritic alloys, designed to absorb high-voltage discharge-related transients, featuring a toroid-like geometry and high permeability to minimize inductive damping and absorption efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high-gloss polishing is applied to current-carrying surfaces to reduce surface roughness, then flashover occurrence is reduced, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful function of surface roughness (which causes flashovers) by introducing an absorber element that specifically targets and absorbs the transient energy responsible for flashovers, rather than attempting to modify the entire surface geometry through complex polishing processes
Solution Approach 2:
The absorber element acts as an intermediary component between the high-voltage discharge and the current-carrying surfaces, absorbing the transient energy before it can cause flashovers, thereby eliminating the need for complex surface treatments
2Reliability
If elaborate conditioning processes are performed to free current-carrying surfaces from contamination, then flashover resistance is improved, but time and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The absorber element is pre-installed in the cable assembly before operation, providing immediate protection against flashovers caused by contamination or vacuum conditions, eliminating the need for time-consuming conditioning processes before each operation
Solution Approach 2:
The absorber element continuously absorbs transient energy during operation, automatically maintaining flashover protection without requiring periodic manual conditioning interventions
3Duration of action of stationary object
If high-voltage discharge protection is enhanced through robust cable design, then component lifespan is extended, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by introducing the absorber element only in the specific region where transient energy absorption is most critical (within the cable structure), rather than requiring comprehensive reinforcement of the entire cable system
Solution Approach 2:
The cable structure is enhanced by integrating the absorber element made of soft magnetic material with the existing cable components, creating a composite structure that provides superior transient protection without proportionally increasing overall complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces the impact of high-voltage discharges on the X-ray tube and connecting cables, eliminating the need for costly surface treatments and extending the lifespan of high-voltage components by efficiently absorbing transient energy, thereby protecting against flashover-related damage.
Implementation Method 1
an absorber element for absorbing the energy of high-voltage discharge-related transients, wherein the absorber element is made from a soft magnetic material
Implementation Method 2
featuring a toroid-like geometry and high permeability to minimize inductive damping and absorption efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
A high-voltage resistant cable for connecting a high-voltage source and an acceleration section of an X-ray tube that each have a respective socket and a flange. The cable includes an inner conductor, a surrounding electrical insulator, an enveloping shielding made of an electrically conductive material, and plugs at each respective end. Each plug includes a plug flange for cooperating with the respective flange and having a hollow interior, and an electrical insulator that includes a conic-shape portion for extending into the respective socket, and a cylindrical portion extending within the hollow interior of the plug flange. The cable including absorber elements at each of the two ends of the cable for absorbing the energy of high-voltage discharge-related transients. Each absorber element is configured as a ring-shape, the ring-shape absorber element encircling the cylindrical portion and being located within the hollow interior of the plug flange.