Sliding bearing unit and rotating anode X-ray tube

A sliding bearing unit comprising:

• a stationary shaft extending along a rotation axis and including a large-diameter section having a first radial bearing surface on a first outer peripheral surface and a small-diameter section integrally formed with the large-diameter section as one unit and having a second outer diameter that is smaller than a first outer diameter of the large-diameter section;
• a rotating body that is rotatable around the stationary shaft;
• and
• a lubricant,
• wherein
• the rotating body includes
• a rotating main body extending along the rotation axis to be formed in a cylindrical shape, located around the large-diameter section, and having a second radial bearing surface on a first inner peripheral surface, and
• a sealing member fixed to the rotating main body, formed in a cylindrical shape, located around the small-diameter section, and having a second outer peripheral surface, a second inner peripheral surface, a capture concave surface that opens in the second inner peripheral surface and is recessed toward the second outer peripheral surface to capture the lubricant, and a through hole,
• the lubricant is filled in a gap between the stationary shaft and the rotating body, and forms a radial sliding bearing of a dynamic pressure type together with the first radial bearing surface and the second radial bearing surface,
• the through hole has a first opening that opens in the capture concave surface and a second opening that opens in a surface other than the second inner peripheral surface and the capture concave surface of the sealing member, is formed through the sealing member from the first opening to the second opening, and connects a space surrounded by the capture concave surface to a first gap between the first radial bearing surface and the second radial bearing surface,
• assuming in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis, a longest distance from the rotation axis to the first opening is set as a first distance and a longest distance from the rotation axis to the second opening is set as a second distance, the second distance is equal to or longer than the first distance,
• the stationary shaft further includes a flange section which is located alongside the first outer peripheral surface and integrally formed with the large-diameter section as one unit,
• the flange section includes a first thrust bearing surface and a third thrust bearing surface located opposite to the first thrust bearing surface in a direction along the rotation axis,
• the rotating body has a second thrust bearing surface opposed to the first thrust bearing surface and a fourth thrust bearing surface opposed to the third thrust bearing surface,
• the lubricant forms a first thrust sliding bearing of a dynamic pressure type together with the first thrust bearing surface and the second thrust bearing surface,
• the lubricant forms a second thrust sliding bearing of a dynamic pressure type together with the third thrust bearing surface and the fourth thrust bearing surface,
• a third gap is formed between the large-diameter section and the sealing member in a direction along the rotation axis,
• the capture concave surface includes a bottom surface located alongside the second outer peripheral surface,
• the sealing member includes an annular section having a first end surface that is part of the capture concave surface and a second end surface which is located opposite to the first end surface in the direction along the rotation axis and opposed to the large-diameter section,
• the first opening opens in at least one of the first end surface and the bottom surface of the capture concave surface,
• the second opening opens in the second end surface, is opposed to the large-diameter section, and is not opposed to the first thrust bearing surface or the third thrust bearing surface, and
• the third gap connects the through hole to the first gap.

A rotating anode X-ray tube comprising:

• a sliding bearing unit including a stationary shaft extending along a rotation axis and including a large-diameter section having a first radial bearing surface on a first outer peripheral surface and a small-diameter section integrally formed with the large-diameter section as one unit and having a second outer diameter that is smaller than a first outer diameter of the large-diameter section, a rotating body that is rotatable around the stationary shaft, and a lubricant;
• an anode target fixed to the rotating body;
• a cathode opposed to the anode target;
• and
• an envelope which houses the sliding bearing unit, the anode target and the cathode and which fixes the stationary shaft,
• wherein
• the rotating body includes
• a rotating main body extending along the rotation axis to be formed in a cylindrical shape, located around the large-diameter section, and having a second radial bearing surface on a first inner peripheral surface, and
• a sealing member fixed to the rotating main body, formed in a cylindrical shape, located around the small-diameter section, and having a second outer peripheral surface, a second inner peripheral surface, a capture concave surface that opens in the second inner peripheral surface and is recessed toward the second outer peripheral surface to capture the lubricant, and a through hole,
• the lubricant is filled in a gap between the stationary shaft and the rotating body, and forms a radial sliding bearing of a dynamic pressure type together with the first radial bearing surface and the second radial bearing surface,
• the through hole has a first opening that opens in the capture concave surface and a second opening that opens in a surface other than the second inner peripheral surface and the capture concave surface of the sealing member, is formed through the sealing member from the first opening to the second opening, and connects a space surrounded by the capture concave surface to a first gap between the first radial bearing surface and the second radial bearing surface,
• assuming in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis, a longest distance from the rotation axis to the first opening is set as a first distance and a longest distance from the rotation axis to the second opening is set as a second distance, the second distance is equal to or longer than the first distance,
• a second gap is formed between the first inner peripheral surface and the second outer peripheral surface,
• the capture concave surface includes a bottom surface located alongside the second outer peripheral surface,
• the first opening opens in the bottom surface of the capture concave surface,
• the second opening opens in the second outer peripheral surface, and
• the second gap connects the through hole to the first gap.

A rotating anode X-ray tube comprising:

• a sliding bearing unit including a stationary shaft extending along a rotation axis and including a large-diameter section having a first radial bearing surface on a first outer peripheral surface and a small-diameter section integrally formed with the large-diameter section as one unit and having a second outer diameter that is smaller than a first outer diameter of the large-diameter section, a rotating body that is rotatable around the stationary shaft, and a lubricant;
• an anode target fixed to the rotating body;
• a cathode opposed to the anode target;
• and
• an envelope which houses the sliding bearing unit, the anode target and the cathode and which fixes the stationary shaft,
• wherein
• the rotating body includes
• a rotating main body extending along the rotation axis to be formed in a cylindrical shape, located around the large-diameter section, and having a second radial bearing surface on a first inner peripheral surface, and
• a sealing member fixed to the rotating main body, formed in a cylindrical shape, located around the small-diameter section, and having a second outer peripheral surface, a second inner peripheral surface, a capture concave surface that opens in the second inner peripheral surface and is recessed toward the second outer peripheral surface to capture the lubricant, and a through hole,
• the lubricant is filled in a gap between the stationary shaft and the rotating body, and forms a radial sliding bearing of a dynamic pressure type together with the first radial bearing surface and the second radial bearing surface,
• the through hole has a first opening that opens in the capture concave surface and a second opening that opens in a surface other than the second inner peripheral surface and the capture concave surface of the sealing member, is formed through the sealing member from the first opening to the second opening, and connects a space surrounded by the capture concave surface to a first gap between the first radial bearing surface and the second radial bearing surface,
• assuming in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis, a longest distance from the rotation axis to the first opening is set as a first distance and a longest distance from the rotation axis to the second opening is set as a second distance, the second distance is equal to or longer than the first distance,
• the stationary shaft further includes a flange section which is located alongside the first outer peripheral surface and integrally formed with the large-diameter section as one unit,
• the flange section includes a first thrust bearing surface and a third thrust bearing surface located opposite to the first thrust bearing surface in a direction along the rotation axis,
• the rotating body has a second thrust bearing surface opposed to the first thrust bearing surface and a fourth thrust bearing surface opposed to the third thrust bearing surface,
• the lubricant forms a first thrust sliding bearing of a dynamic pressure type together with the first thrust bearing surface and the second thrust bearing surface,
• the lubricant forms a second thrust sliding bearing of a dynamic pressure type together with the third thrust bearing surface and the fourth thrust bearing surface,
• a third gap is formed between the large-diameter section and the sealing member in a direction along the rotation axis,
• the capture concave surface includes a bottom surface located alongside the second outer peripheral surface,
• the sealing member includes an annular section having a first end surface that is part of the capture concave surface and a second end surface which is located opposite to the first end surface in the direction along the rotation axis and opposed to the large-diameter section,
• the first opening opens in at least one of the first end surface and the bottom surface of the capture concave surface,
• the second opening opens in the second end surface, is opposed to the large-diameter section, and is not opposed to the first thrust bearing surface or the third thrust bearing surface, and
• the third gap connects the through hole to the first gap.