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US 6,477,232 B2Granted
Rotary-anode-type X-ray tube
AssigneeKabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
InventorYukinari Yoshida
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AssigneeKabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
InventorYukinari Yoshida
Estimating the term…
A rotary-anode-type X-ray tube comprising an anode target, a rotary cylinder supporting the target, and a stationary shaft having radial dynamic-pressure slide bearings to which a liquid-metal lubricant is supplied between the rotary cylinder and the stationary shaft and formed partially having a small-diameter portion with an outside diameter smaller than those of the slide bearings. The X-ray tube is provided with a plurality of reservoirs from which ducts extend. All the ducts open in the small-diameter portion.
A rotary-anode-type X-ray tube comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
Drawings are temporarily unavailable. Open the PDF at USPTO
From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Sliding surface mainly made of metal: construction relative to lubrication
For both radial and axial load: with grooves in the bearing surface to generate hydrodynamic pressure
Bearings for rotating anodes: fluid bearings
Cooling of rotating anodes, e.g. heat emitting layers or structures: cooling of the bearing assemblies
Term ended 7 Dec 2021 (estimated)
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rotary-anode-type X-ray tube, and more specifically, to a rotary-anode-type X-ray tube in which an anode target is rotatably supported by means of a rotary mechanism having dynamic-pressure slide bearings.
2. Description of the Related Art
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
FIG. 1A is a sectional view schematically showing a conventional rotary-anode-type X-ray tube;
FIG. 1B is a plan view schematically showing the construction of a thrust bearing of the rotary-anode-type X-ray tube shown in FIG. 1A;
A rotary-anode-type X-ray tube according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2D. In FIGS. 2A to 2D, numeral 11 denotes an anode target that emits X-rays as it is irradiated with electron beams from a cathode (not shown). The target 11 is coupled to a rotary mechanism 13 by means of a rotating shaft 12.
As shown in FIG. 2A, the rotary mechanism 13 comprises a rotary structure and a stationary structure. The rotary structure is composed of a rotary cylinder 14 in the form of a bottomed cylinder, as shown in FIG. 2A. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the stationary structure is composed of a substantially columnar stationary shaft 15 that is fitted in the rotary cylinder 14 with a fine gap between the two.
As shown in FIG. 2A, the bottom opening of the rotary cylinder 14 is sealed by means of a closer 16. The closer 16 is fixed to the rotary cylinder 14 by means of screws 17, and along with the cylinder 14, constitutes the rotary structure of the rotary mechanism 13. The stationary shaft 15 extends through the closer 16, and its lower end portion 15C forms an anode supporting portion for supporting the anode target 11.