A Low Cost Rejuvenation of Old G.E. and Picker X-Ray Generators

Extract

General Electric (G.E.) and Picker generators are currently installed in many research laboratories all over the United States. These units are old and do not satisfy the modern requirements for X-ray generators. Instabilities of high voltage and tube current complicate the experiment. To maintain G.E. and Picker generators is becoming more and more expensive due to the high cost of vacuum tubes and replacement parts. To replace old generators with new high performance commercial units can cost even more and requires additional adaptations. In the present paper another alternative is proposed, which assumes the replacement of vacuum tube mA and KV controls with solid state circuits using the old G.E. or Picker high voltage transformers. This alternative allows rejuvenation of old generators without difficulties of reinstallation and does not require adaptations to the existing experimental X-ray equipment. The combination of old high voltage transformers with modern solid state control devices provides high performance at low cost. For this purpose the control device was designed and is described below.