This document provides an overview of the history and development of x-ray tubes. It describes how early x-ray tubes evolved from Crookes tubes used in the late 1800s to the modern rotating anode x-ray tube. The key components of modern x-ray tubes are discussed, including the cathode, anode, housing, and high voltage connections. Different types of x-ray tubes such as those used for mammography, radiotherapy, and CT are also covered. The document concludes with sections on x-ray tube ratings, common causes of tube failure, and tips for proper care of x-ray tubes.

1. X-RAY TUBE
PRESENTER:Sr.Rt.Manoj kumar Mandal

2. CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
HISTORY OF XRAY TUBE
HISTORY OF DEVELOPMRNT OF XRAY TUBE
PRINCIPLE
X-RAY TUBE COMPONENTS
FEATURES OF TUBE
METHOD OF HEAT DISSIPATION
TUBE RATING
TUBE FAILURE CAUSE
CARE OF TUBE

3. INTRODUCTION
An x-ray tube functions as a specific energy converter, receiving
electrical energy and converting it into two other forms of energy: x-
radiation (1%) and heat (99%). Heat is considered the undesirable
product of this conversion process; therefore x-radiation is created by
taking the energy from the electrons and converting it into photons.
This very specific energy conversion takes place in the x-ray tube.

4.  HISTORY OF X-RAY TUBE:BEFORE AND AFTER
"After Roentgen" - Tubes Designed to Produce X-Rays
The small paper label on the evacuation arm reads "Pat. applied for. Aetna Electric Co.
Manufacturers." The tube is of a very early design, probably 1890s. Given the concave cathode and sloped
target, it was specifically designed to produce X-rays. The bulb (on the right end in the photo) was probably
intended to counteract the variations in output that were characteristic of the early cold cathode tubes.Size:
Approximately 12" long with 2 1/2" bulb diameter

5. Air-Cooled X-Ray Tube (1915-1925)
• The aluminum cathode, a little hard to make out, is located at the point where the glass arm enclosing it is
attached to the right side of the spherical bulb (as seen in the photo).
• Air-Cooled X-Ray Tube (1915-1925)
• The anode is the pointed aluminum rod inside the glass arm attached to the lower left portion of the bulb.
And now, the information you have been waiting for, how this tube’s air cooling system works. The
anticathode is supported by a hollow glass tube the screen-covered open end of which is shown to the right. This
design permitted a passive circulation of air that would cool the target during prolonged periods of heavy use. A
forced circulation of air would be more effective, but this particular tube was not designed to accommodate
it.Size: Approximately 20" long with 8" bulb diameter.

6. Cold Cathode X-Ray Tube (early to mid 1900s)
• The cathode, as always, is positioned on the periphery of the spherical portion of the tube (in the photo, it is on the lower
left side of the bulb, but it is not easily recognizable ). The anode, a simple aluminum rod, is on the long axis of the tube
inside the glass arm attached to the upper right side of the bulb (as seen in the photo). The anticathode enters the tube at
a 45 degree angle (from the lower right in the photo) with the circular target located in the middle of the bulb.
• Obviously, the tube lacks a regulator to control the gas pressure—a serious disadvantage if the intent was to use the tube
for extended periods.
• As is true for most tubes of this design, the manufacturer is unknown. There are no markings of any type on the tube's
glass or metal components. However, from its general appearance, I would guess that it was produced between 1925 and
1950 or so, and that it was intended for classroom demonstrations.
• The lack of corrosion on the contacts, the absence of damage to the target and the lack of any coloring of the glass
indicates that it saw little to no use.

7. Crookes Tube (ca. late 1800s)
• This is the classic version of what is often known as a Crookes tube. Developed by William Crookes to
investigate electrical discharges in gas. Although it is not certain what type of tube Rontgen was using when
he discovered X-rays, this is the type of tube most commonly assumed to be involved.
These tubes had two major shortcomings in terms of their ability to produce X-rays. First, because
the X-rays originated over a rather large area, the resulting X-ray images lacked sharpness. Second, the low
intensity X-ray output required long exposures and these tubes could not hold up to the workload.
• Perhaps the first major advance in X-ray tube design was the incorporation of a metal target, something that
resulted in greater X-ray intensities than possible with a glass target. Nevertheless, the use of glass as a
target had some advantages and the method was not completely abandoned. For example, see the
collection's cold cathode therapy tube.
• Size: 11" long, 4" maximum bulb diameter

8. Jackson X-Ray Tube (ca. 1896)
• Following Rontgen's discovery of X-rays in late 1895, the first significant development in the design of X-ray
tubes was the use of a concave cathode that focused the electrons (cathode rays) on the target. William
Crookes had constructed such a tube many years earlier, but not, of course, to increase the production of X-
rays. Various workers (e.g., Sidney Rowland and Herbert Schallenberger) made X-ray tubes with concave
cathodes in early 1896, but rightly or wrongly, professor Herbert Jackson of Kings College in London is usually
credited as being the first to do so.
• As seen in this example, the Jackson tube was usually oriented so that the cupped cathode faced down while
the upwardly facing target (typically platinum) was mounted at 45 degrees to the tube axis.
• It is not visible in the photo, but the glass stem supporting the anode is cracked, probably because of a drop
during shipping. As a result, the cathode and anode don't line up correctly.
• Size: ca. 11" high (including stand) and 3" diameter

9. Pregnant Jackson X-Ray Tube (ca. 1896-1900)
• This is a somewhat unusual modification of a Jackson tube. What makes it unusual is the fact that the bulb is offset from the
long axis of the tube. It almost looks as if the tube were pregnant.
• Perhaps the idea was to increase the distance between the target and that portion of the bulb wall towards which the X-rays
were directed. This would minimize heating of the glass, at least to some extent. The small tube illustrated in the
advertisement at the bottom of the page shows a somewhat similar design.
• The cup-shaped aluminum cathode is located in the glass arm just above (as seen in the photo) the point where the arm
connects to the top of the spherical bulb. The anode, which serves at the target, is oriented at 45 degrees to the tube axis. It
is almost certainly made of platinum.
• Unfortunately there are no visible markings that might assist identify the manufacturer.
• Size: ca. 11" long and 2.5" diameter.

10. CONT.
Pressler Cold Cathode X-Ray Tubes (ca. 1910-1950)
Early Kesselring Cold Cathode Tube (1900-1910)
Gundelach "Moment" X-Ray Tube (1912-1920)
Piffard Safety X-Ray Tube with Heavy
Anode (ca. 1910)
Piffard Safety X-Ray Tube with Light Anode (ca. 1910)

11. Water-cooled X-Ray Tube of Unknown Manufacture (ca. 1916-1920)
This example of a water-cooled X-ray tube (the only one in the collection) dates from 1916 to 1920
simply because the metal collar around the cathode is stamped 1916. While there is nothing on the tube that
would indicate the manufacturer, it is similar in appearance to the drawing of a Macalaster & Wiggin tube in the
1919 text “Radiography and Radio-therapy” by Robert KnoxThis particular tube belonged to M. J. Gross who
worked with Dr. Coolidge at General Electric in Schenectady, N.Y. Gross later became vice president of the GE X-ray
Company. During the 1930s and 1940s, Gross and Zed Attlee formed the core of Coolidge's research and design
team.
Size: Approximately 7" diameter bulb, 23" long.

12. "Before Roentgen" - Tubes not Designed to Produce
X-RAY
The Radiometer was invented in the 1870s by William Crookes
during his investigations as to why light was affecting the
measurements he was making with a very sensitive balance. His
work with the Radiometer lead him to the development of a
variety of gas discharge tubes collectively referred to as Crookes
tubes. The design of the Radiometer is the obvious inspiration for
his "Railway" tube.
The examples on display, no longer working, are difficult to date but were probably manufactured in the early 1900s.
The figure to the right is from the 1914 catalog of the Otto Pressler company.

13. Crookes Railway Tube (ca. 1910-1950):This type of gas discharge tube (aka paddle wheel
tube) was invented in the 1880s by William Crookes as part of his investigations into the nature of
cathode rays (electrons).

14. Crookes Tube With Three Anodes: When the high voltage is applied, the cathode rays leaving the cupped cathode
form three beams—one beam going to each anode as indicated in the drawing above left. The beams are visible due to the
fluorescence of the gas molecules caused by the electrons traveling through the tube.
The age of this tube is uncertain, possibly late 1800s but more likely early 1900s.
Size: Approximately 14" high (including base) with 5 1/2" bulb diameter
The above image is from the Ott Pressler catalog of 1914

15. Geissler Tubes (early 1900s)
• The two examples shown here are relatively small and simple versions of the device invented by Heinrich Geissler in the
mid-1850s. Known as Geissler tubes, these are the forerunners of modern neon and fluorescent tubes.
• Each partially evacuated tube has an electrode at each end. When a high voltage is applied across these electrodes, the
tube emits light of a color that depends on the type of gas in the tube.
• They were originally used for the spectroscopic analysis of gases, but they also served as curiosities for entertainment
purposes. Although they played no role in the discovery of X-rays, some of the techniques developed for their production
were used to construct X-ray tubes.
• The yellow sections of these tubes are made of uranium glass.
• Size: Approximately 9" long with a one-bulb diameter The following figure from the 1914 catalog of the Otto Pressler company .

16. Heating Effects Tube (early 1900s)
• The "heating effects tube" was created in the late 1800s by William Crookes to demonstrate the amount
of energy carried by the cathode rays (electrons) that stream from the cathode to the anode. The
magnitude of this energy was indicated by the fact that the platinum foil in the center of the tube
glowed red when a high voltage was applied. Size: Approximately 13" high (including base) with 4" bulb
diameter
The drawing above was taken from the 1914
catalog of the Otto Pressler company.

17. Maltese Cross Crookes Tube (ca. 1910-1940)
• The Maltese Cross tube was invented in the 1880s by William Crookes during his investigations unto the nature
of cathode rays (electrons).
• The tube's distinctive feature is the Maltese Cross that could be laid flat or stood up.
• It has been speculated that Crookes used a Maltese Cross because the pronunciation of his name is not that
different from the pronunciation of the Latin word for cross: crux.
Shadow image of cross on end of tube
The figure is from the 1914 Otto Pressler
catalog.

18. HISTORY OF DEVELOPMENT OF X-RAY TUBE

19. PRINCIPLE OF X-RAY TUBE

21. CONT.

22. LIMITATIONS

23. HOT CATHODE TUBE

24. CONT.

25. OLD VS NEW

26. FEATURES OF AN X-RAY TUBE(MODERN)

27. COMPONENTS

28. MODERN X-RAY TUBE

29. HOUSING

30. COMPONENT OF TUBE UNIT:

31. COMPONENT
GLASS
ENCLOSURE
VACCUM HOUSING
CATHODE
FOCUSING CUP
FILAMENT
ANODE SIDE
TARGET
LINE FOCUS
PRINCIPLE
HEEL EFFECT

33. CONNECTING WIRES

34. SPACE CHARGE

35. KV AND SPACE CHARGE

36. TYPES OF X-RAY TUBE

40. HIGH TENSION CABLES

41. METHOD OF HEAT DISSIPATION

42. ROTATING ANODE X-RAY TUBE

43. MAIN FEATUREA OF ROTATING ANODE

44. CONT.

45. HEAT RATING

46. HOW TO MAXIMIZE X-RAY TUBE LIFE

47. ADVANCEMENT FEATURES

48. CONT.

49. CONT.

50. ADVANTAGE

51. TYPES OF X-RAY TUBE

52. MAMMOGRAPGY TUBE

53. RADIOTHERAPY X-RAY TUBE

54. CONT.

55. CONT.

56. TRANSMISSION TYPE OF TUBE

57. DEVELOPMENT

58. CT-TUBE

59. TUBE RATING

60. cont. TUBE RATING

61. CONT.

63. AREA OF TUBE FAILURE

64. CAUSE OF TUBE FAILURE

65. CARE OF X-RAY TUBE

67. REFRENCES

68. ?

69. THANK YOU