John B Richardson
Engineers in Salt Lake City, UT

6529579, Mar 4, 2003

Mar 15, 2000

09/525846

John Richardson - Salt Lake City UT

Varian Medical Systems, Inc. - Palo Alto CA

H01J 3510

378130, 378127, 378137, 378141, 378200

A cooling system for use with high-powered x-ray tubes. The cooling system includes a reservoir containing liquid coolant, in which the high-powered x-ray tube is partially immersed. In general, the liquid coolant is cooled and then circulated through the reservoir by an external cooling unit. The cooling system also includes a shield structure attached to the vacuum enclosure of the high-powered x-ray tube and disposed substantially about the aperture portion of the vacuum enclosure, thereby defining a flow passage proximate to the aperture portion. Liquid coolant supplied by the external cooling unit enters the flow passage by way of an inlet port in the shield structure. After passing through the flow passage and transferring heat out of the aperture portion, the liquid coolant is discharged through an outlet port in the shield structure and enters the reservoir to repeat the cycle.

6556654, Apr 29, 2003

Nov 9, 2001

10/036043

Wayne R. Hansen - Centerville UT
John Richardson - Salt Lake City UT

Varian Medical Systems, Inc. - Palo Alto CA

H05G 110

378101, 439470, 439611

A system for securely maintaining a high voltage cable within an electrical device, such as an x-ray tube, is disclosed. The system is useful for ensuring a close fit between an x-ray tube cathode insulator and the high voltage cable assembly disposed therein, thereby reducing the chances for damaging electrical arcing to occur. A high voltage cable assembly and clamp body generally comprise the system. The high voltage cable comprises two sections disposed at a right angle with respect to one another. One section defines a cavity for receiving a plunger/spring assembly housed within the clamp body. The plunger/spring assembly compresses and expands in response to the thermal expansion and contraction of the high voltage cable assembly during tube operation. A calibration window and adjustment screws are provided with the clamp body to enable a technician to readily determine and adjust the level of compressive force imparted by the system.

6778635, Aug 17, 2004

Jan 10, 2002

10/043393

John E. Richardson - Salt Lake City UT

Varian Medical Systems, Inc. - Palo Alto CA

H01J 3510

378130, 378142

An x-ray tube cooling system including a heat sink at least partially disposed within an evacuated housing of the x-ray tube and having a cooling block partially received within the bearing housing so as to absorb heat transmitted to the bearing assembly and bearing housing. Extended surfaces, are disposed in a coolant chamber cooperatively defined by the cooling block and a shell within which the cooling block is partially received. The shell defines a coolant chamber entrance and coolant chamber exit in fluid communication with the coolant chamber. The coolant chamber entrance and exit communicate with corresponding coolant inlet and outlet passageways, respectively, cooperatively defined by a pair of insulators which retain the heat sink in a predetermined orientation within an evacuated envelope of an x-ray device. A circulating coolant contacts the extended surfaces and thereby removes heat from various structures of the x-ray device.

6519317, Feb 11, 2003

Apr 9, 2001

09/829353

John E. Richardson - Salt Lake City UT
Gregory C. Andrews - Sandy UT
Robert S. Miller - Sandy UT
Allen C. Campbell - Annabella UT

Varian Medical Systems, Inc. - Palo Alto CA

H01J 3510

378130, 378200, 378141

A cooling system for use with high-power x-ray tubes. The cooling system includes a dielectric coolant disposed in the x-ray tube housing so as to absorb heat dissipated by the stator and other electrical components, as well as absorbing some heat from the x-ray tube itself. The cooling system also includes a coolant circuit employing a pressurized water/glycol solution as a coolant. Pressurization of the water/glycol solution is achieved by way of an accumulator which, by pressurizing the coolant to a desired level, raises its boiling point and capacity to absorb heat. A coolant pump circulates the pressurized coolant through a fluid passageway defined in an aperture of the x-ray tube and through a target cooling block disposed proximate to the x-ray tube in the x-ray tube housing, so as to position the coolant to absorb some of the heat generated at the aperture by secondary electrons, and the heat generated in the target cooling block by the target anode of the x-ray tube. The target cooling block is in contact with the dielectric fluid so that some of the heat absorbed by the dielectric coolant is transferred to the coolant flowing through the target cooling block. The heated coolant is then passed through an air/water radiator where a flow of air serves to remove some heat from the coolant.

6115454, Sep 5, 2000

Aug 6, 1997

8/906701

Gregory C. Andrews - Sandy UT
Dennis H. Runnoe - Salt Lake City UT
John E. Richardson - Salt Lake City UT
James R. Boye - Salt Lake City UT

Varian Medical Systems, Inc. - Palo Alto CA

H01J 518

378140

An X-ray generation apparatus has a housing comprising an evacuated envelope with a rotatable anode target surrounded by an all metal grounded exterior structure and a cooling system. The cooling system comprises a coolant circulating system with heat exchanger and means for circulating a fluid coolant through an interior of the X-ray generating apparatus; a hollow shield structure with center aperture for passing and electron beam; and a cooling block which is disposed proximate to the rotatable anode target and comprises a disk with a plurality of concentric annular channels formed by concentric annular partitions. The shield structure and the disk of the cooling block are made of thermally conductive material. An interior of the shield structure is filled with structures such as pins, fins or pack bed which are made of thermally conductive materials. The fluid coolant is circulated through the shield structure, then into the plurality of channels of the cooling block and via an interior of the housing to the heat exchanger for efficient cooling of the X-ray generating apparatus.

5802140, Sep 1, 1998

Aug 29, 1997

8/920747

Gary F. Virshup - Cupertino CA
Christopher F. Artig - Summit Park UT
John E. Richardson - Salt Lake City UT

Varian Associates, Inc. - Palo Alto CA

H01J 3506

378136

An X-ray generating apparatus is provided with a unitary vacuum enclosure having a rotating anode target and a cathode assembly for generating X-rays transmitted through an X-ray window. The cathode assembly is placed within the vacuum enclosure through an opening in the top wall thereof, and comprises a disk which completely covers this opening. The unitary vacuum enclosure and the disk form a radiation shield. For increasing a thermal capacity of the unitary vacuum enclosure and installing the X-ray generating apparatus into a gantry it further comprises a mounting block which may be coupled to or encompass the unitary vacuum enclosure. The X-ray window is placed within the mounting block. A window adaptor may be utilized for the X-ray window installation.

5799951, Sep 1, 1998

Nov 21, 1996

8/754946

Weston A. Anderson - Palo Alto CA
John E. Richardson - Salt Lake City UT

Varian Associates, Inc. - Palo Alto CA

F16J 1540, F16J 1543

277301

A rotating sealing device for sealing between a wall separating two mediums under substantially different pressure and a rotatable shaft utilizes a combination of a liquid meatal seal comprising at least one liquid metal ring and a shield means which prevents contamination of the metal ring by gases coming into contact with the liquid metal. Magnetic fluid seal, a ring of an oil material, or inert gas may be used as a shield to protect the liquid metal.