High temperature bearing bakeout process
AssigneeRadiologic Sciences, Inc.
InventorArthur H. Iversen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In an improved bakeout process for a rotating anode type X-ray tube, the anode, during the course of baking out at temperatures between 500.degree. to 700.degree. C. is rotated by external magnets to prevent cold brazing of the metal lubricant-coated bearing and bearing race.
Claims8
An improved bakeout process for a rotating anode X-ray tube of the type having an anode rotor rotatably supported by anode bearings, wherein the process is of the type in which the evacuated X-ray tube is heated to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time to produce outgassing, the improvement comprising the step of rotating the anode by means external to the tube envelope during the heating steps whereby cold brazing of the anode bearings is prevented.
Apparatus for baking out an X-ray tube of the type having an evacuated envelope and a rotatable anode and anode rotor within the envelope, the apparatus comprising
- (a) means for evacuating the X-ray tube,
- (b) means for heating the evacuated tube to a temperature of between 500.degree.-700.degree. C., and
- (c) means coaxial with the axis of rotation of the rotating anode of the X-ray tube, but external to the X-ray tube and to the heating means, for generating a rotating magnetic field of sufficient strength to exert a torque on the anode rotor to cause it to rotate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.