Interface for liquid metal bearing and method of making same
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorMichael Allan Lathrop
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An x-ray tube includes a cathode and a target assembly positioned to receive electrons emitted from the cathode. The target assembly includes a target, and a spiral groove bearing (SGB) configured to support the target. The SGB includes a rotatable component having a first surface and a first material attached to the first surface, a stationary component having a second surface and a second material attached to the second surface, the stationary component positioned such that a gap is formed between the first material and the second material, and a liquid metal positioned in the gap, wherein at least one of the first and second materials comprises tantalum.
Claims20
An x-ray tube comprising:
- a cathode;
- and
- a target assembly positioned to receive electrons emitted from the cathode, the target assembly comprising:
- a target;
- and
- a spiral groove bearing (SGB) configured to support the target, the SGB comprising:
- a rotatable component having a first surface and a first material attached to the first surface;
- a stationary component having a second surface and a second material attached to the second surface, the stationary component positioned such that a gap is formed between the first material and the second material;
- and
- a liquid metal positioned in the gap;
- wherein at least one of the first and second materials comprises tantalum.
A target assembly comprising:
- a shaft having a first material attached to an outer surface thereof;
- a sleeve configured to support a target and having a second material attached to an inner surface thereof;
- and
- a liquid metal positioned between the first material and the second material;
- wherein at least one of the first and second materials comprises tantalum.
A method of manufacturing a target assembly for an x-ray tube comprising the steps of:
- providing a shaft having an outer surface material and having an outer diameter;
- providing a sleeve having an aperture exposing an inner surface material of the sleeve, wherein a diameter of the inner surface material is greater than the outer diameter of the outer surface material;
- applying a first layer to the inner surface material;
- applying a second layer to the outer surface material;
- acid etching at least one of the first layer and the second layer to remove an oxide therefrom;
- attaching a target to one of the shaft and the sleeve;
- inserting the shaft into the sleeve to form a shaft sleeve assembly;
- and
- applying a liquid metal to one of the first layer and the second layer of the shaft sleeve assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.