Patent · US Expired

Liquid metal cooled anode for an X-ray tube

US6192107A · kind A · utility

16Cited by
1References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 24, 1999
Grant dateFeb 20, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 24, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J2235/1279
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A system and method are proposed for cooling the anode of an X-ray tube. A bearing shaft associated with the anode has an associated single rotating seal there around, and contains a liquid metal. A primary liquid metal flow path is used to transfer heat from the anode, and a secondary liquid metal flow path is provided to seal the single rotating seal. Accordingly, the present invention provides an effective means for containing liquid metal in the bearing shaft of an anode assembly, and using the liquid metal to cool the anode of the X-ray tube.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.