Patent · US Active

Apparatus and method of cooling a liquid metal bearing in an x-ray tube

US8009806B2 · kind B2 · utility

8Cited by
27References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 13, 2009
Grant dateAug 30, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 18, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J2235/1208
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An x-ray tube includes a center shaft having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface forming a portion of a cavity therein, a mount having an inner surface, the mount having an x-ray target attached thereto, and a liquid metal positioned between the outer surface of the center shaft and the inner surface of the mount. The x-ray tube further includes a flow diverter positioned in the cavity, the flow diverter having a wall with an inner surface, and a plurality of jets passing through the wall, wherein the plurality of jets are configured such that when a fluid is flowed into the flow diverter and passes along its inner surface, a portion of the fluid passes through the plurality of jets and is directed toward the inner surface of the center shaft.

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