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The X ray machine – GE DX 300
Fig3 (a) GE phase transformer Fig3 (b) Internal view of GE phase transformer
Medirays Corporation 4.3
The X ray machine – GE DX 300
Outputs
P1 & P2
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The X ray machine – GE DX 300
Display
section
Technic
Selector
Timer
On/Off
Switch Fluoro mA
Stand By
Fluoroscopy
Radiography X ray
Test shoot
Extra switch
Large Small
Focus Focus
> 230 V
= 230 V
X ray shoot
Connecting
Strips
Constant voltage
The Autotransformer transformer
Fig4(d) Top view of the internal circuitry of DX-300
20 V AC
10 V AC
Fig5(c) A Contactor
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The X ray machine – GE DX 300
improper functioning of the tank. There are two types of HV tanks depending upon the number
of x ray tubes it is connected to. Single and Dual HV tanks are the two types. In the Dual type
HV tank there are two x ray tubes, one above the patient and the other below the patient table
(refer fig6).
Filament
transformers
Bridge rectifier
assembly
High Tension
Transformer
10 A diodes
connected in
series such
that one
strip acts as
one diode.
As shown in figures above, the high tension tank comprises of two filament transformers and
one high tension transformer along with a bridge rectifier circuitry. This entire assembly is
submerged in power oil. The low viscosity power oil serves as a heat absorber and prevents
occurrence of sparks, if any, produced inside the tank. The purpose of the bridge rectifier is to
convert AC signal to DC. The X ray tube works on both AC and DC, for smaller values of potential
difference, it directly works on AC. Hence in portable x ray machines like Stallon 20 and
Unimax-E there is no such bridge rectifier. The bridge rectifier consists of four diode strips
which are nothing but set of diodes (10A) connected in series. Thus one strip acts as one diode.
This bridge rectifier circuitry can be seen just below the filament transformers as shown in fig
above.
Coil
Anode
Filament side terminals
shorted
Metal plates
Filament
Transformers
Bridge rectifier
Coil
Metal plates
In above figures we can see the connections inside the tank. The coil when actuated attracts
the metal plates connecting the internal circuitry with the cables. Thus for a small amount of
time the high potential developed inside the HV tank is supplied to the X ray tube.
Fig7(e) Interface between the Generator tank and the x ray tube.
Medirays Corporation 4.12
The X ray machine – GE DX 300
The construction of the cable is such that it acts as a capacitor. The value of capacitance
depends upon the length of the cable. This capacitance has three effects.
1. For low tube currents it tends to smooth the high voltage waveform reducing the amount of
soft radiation produced by the tube.
2. A small capacitive current flows in addition to the actual tube current.
3. The stored charge in the cable can lead to “after glow” which is especially noticeable after
fluoroscopy at very low tube current. This energy can be dangerous and should be discharged
by connecting the conductors to earth prior to handling the exposed cable end.
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The X ray machine – GE DX 300
soldered into Copper. Cu being an excellent thermal conductor helps in heat dissipation. The
melting point of Cu is 1083°C.
2.6.3 Anode:
The positive electrode of the x ray tube is known as Anode or the Target. The x ray tube is
commercially available in two forms depending upon the type of anode used. There are two
types of anode:
Stationary anode
Rotating anode
Stationary anode:
In this type of X ray tube
the anode is small
tungsten plate 2 to 3mm
thick embedded inside a
large mass of Copper.
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The X ray machine – GE DX 300
Rotating anode:
In this type of X ray tube
the anode rotates at a
constant speed helping
heat dissipation by
increasing the target area.
X ray tubes are now a days classified as “Standard speed” and “High speed”
Standard speed x ray tube are those which have an anode rotated slightly less than 3000rpm on
a frequency of 50Hz. High speed tubes operate at about 9000rpm and supply frequency of
150Hz.
2.6.4 Cathode:
The negative terminal of the x ray tube is known as Cathode of the Filament. The filament is
made up of Tungsten wire about 0.2mm diameter that is coiled to form a vertical spiral about
0.2cm in diameter and 1cm or less in length. This filament when heated to a particular
temperature (2200°C) emits electrons due to “Thermionic emission”.
In addition to the filament, the cathode also consists of two other elements i.e. connecting
wires and metallic focusing cup. The connecting wires contain the required voltage (10 V) and
current (3 to 5 mA). The tube current refers to the number of electrons flowing per second
from the filament to the target. Also when the x ray tube is conducting, the focusing cup is
maintained at the same negative potential as the filament. The focusing cup is designed so that
its electrical forces cause the electron stream to converge onto the target anode in the required
size and shape. The filament should never be heated for long periods than necessary. When the
x ray circuit is turned ON but no exposure is being made, a “Stand by” current heats the
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The X ray machine – GE DX 300
filament (5 mA). This is what is done in fluoroscopy. When large currents are desired a boosting
circuit raises this current from the stand by value to the required higher value.
Large Small
Filament Filament
Fig11. Filament/cathode
However well a tube is treated, it is nevertheless a “Wearing” thing like an automobile engine
or an electric light bulb. There is bearing wear to be considered, filament evaporation and the
equally unavoidable crazing of the focal track. Experience extending over many years has
shown that the majority of tubes eventually fail due to the formation of a heavy tungsten
deposit known as a mirror on the inside of the glass envelope, followed by increasing electron
bombardment of the glass. This finally leads to destructive glass attack, with eventual
penetration of the glass envelope.
Firstly, when a tube is switched ON after a period of rest, by no means all the electrons leaving
the cathode travel straight to the anode. A high percentage spray inside of the glass. Also those
that do hit the anode frequently liberate secondary electrons. Since glass is a good insulator,
and electrons are negatively charged particles, a negative charge will be built up that cannot
readily leak away. This charge on the glass strongly repels further electrons and thus forms a
powerful protection against “puncture” or erosion of the glass surface by further electron
bombardment.
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The X ray machine – GE DX 300
Combined, the two mirrors stretch from below the cathode block to well behind the tungsten
disc, and form a third, and unwanted electrode in the tube. This causes the negative charge to
leak away at an increasing rate, until eventually it has no chance to build up at all. If the mirror,
as frequently happens, extends to within a few millimeters of the rotor it becomes a virtual
extension of the anode. Bombardment of the glass now becomes heavy, a surface cracks and,
later, some surface melting. In either case gases are released with detriment to the vacuum and
the destruction of the tube follows rapidly by actual penetration of the glass in the region of the
cathode block.
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The X ray machine – GE DX 300
Collimator
2.7.2 Collimators:
The collimator is the best all around x ray beam restrictor. It has two advantages over the other
types :
1. It provides an infinite variety of rectangular x ray fields
2. A light beam shows the center and exact configuration of the x ray field.
Two sets of shutters control the beam dimensions. They move together as a unit so that the
second shutter aligns with the first to clean up its penumbra. The shutters function as two
adjustable aperture diaphragms. Each shutter consists of four or more lead plates. These plates
move in independent pairs. One pair can be adjusted without moving the other, which permits
an infinite variety of square or rectangular fields. When the shutters are closed they meet at
the center of the x ray field. The x ray field is illuminated by a light beam from a light bulb in the
collimator. The light beam is deflected by a mirror mounted in the path of the x ray beam at an
angle of 45°.
Fig 17.Collimator
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The X ray machine – GE DX 300
The x ray table consists of the grid and cassette inside the Bucky.
2.8.1 Grids:
The radiographic grid consists of a series of lead foil strips separated by x ray transparent
spacers. The interspaces of grids are filled either with aluminum or some organic compound.
The main purpose of the inters pace material is to support the thin lead foil strips. Aluminum
interspace grids can probably be manufactured more precisely, and they are structurally
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The X ray machine – GE DX 300
stronger than grids with organic inters pacers. Patient exposures are higher with aluminum
because it absorbs more primary radiation. It also absorbs secondary radiations.
2.8.2 Cassette:
A light tight case, usually made of thin, low x ray absorption plastic for holding x ray film. One
or two intensifying screens for the conversion of x rays to visible light photons mounted inside
the cassette in close contact with the film.
Fig20. Cassette
2.8.3 Film:
The most important material used to decode the information carried by the attenuated x ray
beam is photographic film. The film may be exposed by the direct action of x rays. More
commonly, the energy of the x ray beam is converted into light by intensifying screens and this
light is used to expose the film. X ray film is photographic film consisting of a photographically
active or radiation sensitive, emulsion that is usually coated on both sides of a transparent
sheet of plastic called the base. Firm attachment between the emulsion layer and the film base
is achieved by use of a thin layer of adhesive. The delicate emulsion is protected from
mechanical damage by layers known as the super coating.
Bremsstrahlung Radiation:
Bremsstrahlung radiation is the radiation given off by a charged particle (most often an
electron) due to its acceleration caused by an electric field of another charged particle (most
often a proton or an atomic nucleus). The word "Bremsstrahlung" is a German word meaning
"braking radiation," which refers to the way in which electrons are "braked" when they hit a
metal target. The incident electrons are free, meaning they're not bound to an atom or ion,
both before and after the braking. Consequently, this kind of radiation's spectrum is continuous
(unlike atomic spectra, which contain sharp spectral lines) and sometimes referred to as "free-
free" radiation. If the energy of the incident electrons is high enough, they emit X-rays after
they have been braked.
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The X ray machine – GE DX 300