公开(公告)号：US12051558B2

公开(公告)日：2024-07-30

申请号：US18307552

申请日：2023-04-26

Applicant: GE Precision Healthcare LLC

Inventor： Ian Strider Hunt ,  Jace Dowd ,  Kyle Russell Berndt ,  Eric Lubar ,  Andrew Triscari ,  Ryan Dagen

IPC: H01J35/10

CPC classification number: H01J35/104 ,  H01J2235/1053 ,  H01J2235/1066 ,  H01J2235/1086

Abstract: A bearing structure for an X-ray tube is provided that includes a journal bearing shaft with a radially protruding thrust bearing encased within a sleeve. The structure of sleeve is formed with enlarged traps or voids in the sleeve that are disposed adjacent various rotating anti-wetting seals/seal surfaces formed between the sleeve and the shaft. The geometry of the traps is formed to retain liquid metal/lubricating fluid within the gap defined by the bearing assembly and to direct to liquid metal flowing outwardly from the gap defined between the sleeve and the shaft away from the rotating anti-wetting seals and back towards the gap. This geometry allows the centrifugal forces exerted on the liquid metal by the rotation of the bearing structure to move the outflowing liquid metal away from the rotating anti-wetting seals to significantly reduce contact of the liquid metal with the seals.

公开(公告)号：US20230343544A1

公开(公告)日：2023-10-26

申请号：US18307552

申请日：2023-04-26

Applicant: GE Precision Healthcare LLC

Inventor： Ian Strider Hunt ,  Jace Dowd ,  Kyle Russell Berndt ,  Eric Lubar ,  Andrew Triscari ,  Ryan Dagen

IPC: H01J35/10

CPC classification number: H01J35/104 ,  H01J2235/1053 ,  H01J2235/1066 ,  H01J2235/1086

Abstract: A bearing structure for an X-ray tube is provided that includes a journal bearing shaft with a radially protruding thrust bearing encased within a sleeve. The structure of sleeve is formed with enlarged traps or voids in the sleeve that are disposed adjacent various rotating anti-wetting seals/seal surfaces formed between the sleeve and the shaft. The geometry of the traps is formed to retain liquid metal/lubricating fluid within the gap defined by the bearing assembly and to direct to liquid metal flowing outwardly from the gap defined between the sleeve and the shaft away from the rotating anti-wetting seals and back towards the gap. This geometry allows the centrifugal forces exerted on the liquid metal by the rotation of the bearing structure to move the outflowing liquid metal away from the rotating anti-wetting seals to significantly reduce contact of the liquid metal with the seals.

公开(公告)号：US20210350996A1

公开(公告)日：2021-11-11

申请号：US16870532

申请日：2020-05-08

Applicant: GE Precision Healthcare LLC

Inventor： Nidhishri Tapadia ,  Vasile Bogdan Neculaes ,  Andrew Thomas Cross ,  Ian Strider Hunt

IPC: H01J35/10

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for an x-ray imaging system. In one example, an x-ray tube of the imaging system includes a rotor with a core forming a continuous unit with at least one of a retention sleeve and a bearing assembly sleeve. The rotor further includes one or more magnets disposed in the core and maintained in place by the retention sleeve.

公开(公告)号：US11676791B2

公开(公告)日：2023-06-13

申请号：US17181303

申请日：2021-02-22

Applicant: GE Precision Healthcare LLC

Inventor： Ian Strider Hunt ,  Andrew Thomas Cross

IPC: H01J35/02 ,  F16C17/10 ,  F16C33/10

CPC classification number: H01J35/02 ,  F16C17/102 ,  F16C33/1065

Abstract: A bearing structure for an X-ray tube is provided that includes a journal bearing shaft with a radially protruding thrust bearing encased within a bearing sleeve, one of which rotates relative to the other. The stationary component, e.g., the journal bearing and/or the thrust bearing includes at least one vent groove formed therein that improves the ability of the journal bearing structure to enable gases trapped by the liquid metal within the bearing assembly to escape through the vent groove to the exterior of the X-ray tube. By adding a strategically located channel or vent groove of sufficient size in at least one of the journal bearing or the thrust bearing, the pressures resisted by the seal created between the liquid metal and the vent groove(s) in the bearing components is significantly reduced, allowing escape of the gases to avoid detrimental effects to the operation of the X-ray tube, while maintaining the load carrying capacity of the bearing assembly.

公开(公告)号：US11670475B2

公开(公告)日：2023-06-06

申请号：US17245671

申请日：2021-04-30

Applicant: GE Precision Healthcare LLC

Inventor： Ian Strider Hunt ,  Jace Dowd ,  Kyle Russell Berndt ,  Eric Lubar ,  Andrew Triscari ,  Ryan Dagen

IPC: H01J35/10

CPC classification number: H01J35/104 ,  H01J2235/1053 ,  H01J2235/1066 ,  H01J2235/1086

Abstract: A bearing structure for an X-ray tube is provided that includes a journal bearing shaft with a radially protruding thrust bearing encased within a sleeve. The structure of sleeve is formed with enlarged traps or voids in the sleeve that are disposed adjacent various rotating anti-wetting seals/seal surfaces formed between the sleeve and the shaft. The geometry of the traps is formed to retain liquid metal/lubricating fluid within the gap defined by the bearing assembly and to direct to liquid metal flowing outwardly from the gap defined between the sleeve and the shaft away from the rotating anti-wetting seals and back towards the gap. This geometry allows the centrifugal forces exerted on the liquid metal by the rotation of the bearing structure to move the outflowing liquid metal away from the rotating anti-wetting seals to significantly reduce contact of the liquid metal with the seals.

公开(公告)号：US11309160B2

公开(公告)日：2022-04-19

申请号：US16870532

申请日：2020-05-08

Applicant: GE Precision Healthcare LLC

Inventor： Nidhishri Tapadia ,  Vasile Bogdan Neculaes ,  Andrew Thomas Cross ,  Ian Strider Hunt

IPC: H01J35/10

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for an x-ray imaging system. In one example, an x-ray tube of the imaging system includes a rotor with a core forming a continuous unit with at least one of a retention sleeve and a bearing assembly sleeve. The rotor further includes one or more magnets disposed in the core and maintained in place by the retention sleeve.

公开(公告)号：US20220351931A1

公开(公告)日：2022-11-03

申请号：US17245671

申请日：2021-04-30

Applicant: GE Precision Healthcare LLC

Inventor： Ian Strider Hunt ,  Jace Dowd ,  Kyle Russell Berndt ,  Eric Lubar ,  Andrew Triscari ,  Ryan Dagen

IPC: H01J35/10

Abstract: A bearing structure for an X-ray tube is provided that includes a journal bearing shaft with a radially protruding thrust bearing encased within a sleeve. The structure of sleeve is formed with enlarged traps or voids in the sleeve that are disposed adjacent various rotating anti-wetting seals/seal surfaces formed between the sleeve and the shaft. The geometry of the traps is formed to retain liquid metal/lubricating fluid within the gap defined by the bearing assembly and to direct to liquid metal flowing outwardly from the gap defined between the sleeve and the shaft away from the rotating anti-wetting seals and back towards the gap. This geometry allows the centrifugal forces exerted on the liquid metal by the rotation of the bearing structure to move the outflowing liquid metal away from the rotating anti-wetting seals to significantly reduce contact of the liquid metal with the seals.

公开(公告)号：US20230343543A1

公开(公告)日：2023-10-26

申请号：US18310023

申请日：2023-05-01

Applicant: GE Precision Healthcare LLC

Inventor： Ian Strider Hunt ,  Andrew Thomas Cross

IPC: H01J35/02 ,  F16C17/10 ,  F16C33/10

CPC classification number: H01J35/02 ,  F16C17/102 ,  F16C33/1065

Abstract: A bearing structure for an X-ray tube is provided that includes a journal bearing shaft with a radially protruding thrust bearing encased within a bearing sleeve, one of which rotates relative to the other. The stationary component, e.g., the journal bearing and/or the thrust bearing includes at least one vent groove formed therein that improves the ability of the journal bearing structure to enable gases trapped by the liquid metal within the bearing assembly to escape through the vent groove to the exterior of the X-ray tube. By adding a strategically located channel or vent groove of sufficient size in at least one of the journal bearing or the thrust bearing, the pressures resisted by the seal created between the liquid metal and the vent groove(s) in the bearing components is significantly reduced, allowing escape of the gases to avoid detrimental effects to the operation of the X-ray tube, while maintaining the load carrying capacity of the bearing assembly.

公开(公告)号：US20220270843A1

公开(公告)日：2022-08-25

申请号：US17181303

申请日：2021-02-22

Applicant: GE Precision Healthcare LLC

Inventor： Ian Strider Hunt ,  Andrew Thomas Cross

IPC: H01J35/02 ,  F16C17/10 ,  F16C33/10

Abstract: A bearing structure for an X-ray tube is provided that includes a journal bearing shaft with a radially protruding thrust bearing encased within a bearing sleeve, one of which rotates relative to the other. The stationary component, e.g., the journal bearing and/or the thrust bearing includes at least one vent groove formed therein that improves the ability of the journal bearing structure to enable gases trapped by the liquid metal within the bearing assembly to escape through the vent groove to the exterior of the X-ray tube. By adding a strategically located channel or vent groove of sufficient size in at least one of the journal bearing or the thrust bearing, the pressures resisted by the seal created between the liquid metal and the vent groove(s) in the bearing components is significantly reduced, allowing escape of the gases to avoid detrimental effects to the operation of the X-ray tube, while maintaining the load carrying capacity of the bearing assembly.