Patent · US Expired

Drive assembly for an x-ray tube having a rotating anode

US6480571B1 · kind B1 · utility

16Cited by
19References
42Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 20, 2000
Grant dateNov 12, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 14, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J2235/1006
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An anode drive assembly for use in an x-ray tube having a rotating anode is disclosed. The anode drive assembly is comprised of a bearing assembly that provides rotational support to a rotor assembly. The rotor assembly is connected to the rotating anode, and rotation is induced in the rotor by way of an inductive motor. The bearing assembly is interconnected with the rotor assembly via a bearing hub. The bearing hub is comprised of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that is intermediate to that of the components connected directly to the anode, and to the bearing shaft component. This provides a gradual transition in CTE along the conductive path between the anode and the bearing shaft so as to reduce the occurrence of thermal expansion rate disparities between adjacent components.

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