Thrust bearing vent for a liquid metal bearing assembly
AssigneeGE Precision Healthcare LLC
InventorsAndrew T. Triscari, Alexander T. Ryan, Swarnajay Mukherjee, Eric J. Lubar
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Abstract
Various systems are provided for a liquid metal bearing assembly. In one embodiment, a liquid metal bearing assembly includes a first liquid metal reservoir, a second liquid metal reservoir, and a thrust bearing vent extending between the first liquid metal reservoir and the second liquid metal reservoir to vent gas between the first liquid metal reservoir and to the second liquid metal reservoir. A first end of the thrust bearing vent is connected to the first liquid metal reservoir at a point of the first liquid metal reservoir closest to a central axis of the liquid metal bearing assembly.
Claims21
A liquid metal bearing assembly, comprising:
- a first liquid metal reservoir;
- a second liquid metal reservoir;
- and
- a thrust bearing vent extending in an axial direction between the first liquid metal reservoir and the second liquid metal reservoir to vent gas between the first liquid metal reservoir and to the second liquid metal reservoir, wherein a first end of the thrust bearing vent is connected to the first liquid metal reservoir at a point of the first liquid metal reservoir closest to a central axis of the liquid metal bearing assembly.
An x-ray source, comprising:
- a cathode;
- an anode with a rotating component where the rotating component is rotated by a liquid metal bearing assembly having a rotating component circumferentially surrounding a stationary component, further comprising:
- a first liquid metal reservoir;
- a second liquid metal reservoir;
- and
- a thrust bearing vent extending in an axial direction between the first liquid metal reservoir and the second liquid metal reservoir to vent gas between the first liquid metal reservoir and to the second liquid metal reservoir, wherein a first end of the thrust bearing vent is connected to the first liquid metal reservoir at a point of the first liquid metal reservoir closest to a central axis of the liquid metal bearing assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.