US 12,051,558 B2 · Liquid metal bearing with enhanced sealing structures

Abstract

A bearing structure for an X-ray tube is provided that includes a journal bearing shaft with a radially protruding thrust bearing encased within a sleeve. The structure of sleeve is formed with enlarged traps or voids in the sleeve that are disposed adjacent various rotating anti-wetting seals/seal surfaces formed between the sleeve and the shaft. The geometry of the traps is formed to retain liquid metal/lubricating fluid within the gap defined by the bearing assembly and to direct to liquid metal flowing outwardly from the gap defined between the sleeve and the shaft away from the rotating anti-wetting seals and back towards the gap. This geometry allows the centrifugal forces exerted on the liquid metal by the rotation of the bearing structure to move the outflowing liquid metal away from the rotating anti-wetting seals to significantly reduce contact of the liquid metal with the seals.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A bearing assembly for an X-ray tube, the bearing assembly comprising:

a shaft;
a sleeve disposed around the shaft, wherein one of the shaft and the sleeve is rotatable with regard to the other to form a rotating component and a stationary component;
a lubricating fluid disposed between the shaft and the sleeve within a gap disposed between the sleeve and the shaft;
and
at least one fluid trap formed in the rotating component, the at least one fluid trap having a proximal end in fluid communication with the gap, a distal end spaced from the gap and disposed adjacent a rotating seal formed between the sleeve and the shaft, and a fluid-directing surface extending between the distal end and the proximal end, wherein the distal end includes a reservoir formed by a curved surface.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Liquid metal bearing with enhanced sealing structures

Life of this patent

Liquid metal bearing with enhanced sealing structures

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20