General Electric Company

Ge Precision Healthcare LLC

Donald Robert Allen

Gregory Alan Steinlage

Ian Strider Hunt

Michael Scott Hebert

Andrew Marconnet

Ben David Poquette

Andrew Thomas Triscari

Kenwood Dayton

Evan Michael Lampe

Marshall Gordon Jones

Brian D Lounsberry

Michael John Utschig

Madhusudhana Subraya

Richard Brogan

Sandhya Abhivandana Dammu

James J VanBogart

Don Mark Lipkin

Sergio Lemaitre

Judson Sloan Marte

Edward Emaci

Thomas Carson Tiearney, Jr

Richard Michael Roffers

Thomas Dean Schaefer

Kalyan Koppisetty

Michael John Danyluk

Steve John Buresh

Ryan James Lemminger

Kirk Alan Rogers

Thomas C Tiearney

Ryan Dagen

Eric Lubar

David Bateman

William J Scott

Michael Louis Szugye

Christian Bennett Fuller

Sandhya Dammu

Andrew T Triscari

James J Van Bogart

Various methods and systems are provided for a liquid metal bearing assembly. In one embodiment, a liquid metal bearing assembly includes a fill port fluidly coupled to a liquid metal reservoir of the liquid metal bearing assembly, the fill port comprising an inlet diameter and an outlet diameter, the outlet diameter smaller than the inlet diameter, and a pin formed to fit inside the fill port and prevent liquid metal from leaving the liquid metal reservoir via the fill port.

Systems and methods for a liquid metal bearing assembly fill port and plug

A pair of straight or angularly oriented flat emitters formed of an electron emissive material are positioned on an emitter support structure and are electrically connected to one another regardless of the mounting structure on which the emitters are positioned. The electrical connections between the emitters are formed directly between the emitters using electrically conductive material members that are placed between and affixed to the emitters to provide the electrical pathway or connection therebetween the emitters after formation of the emitters. These electrical connection members form an electrical connection between the angled pair of emitters separately from an emitter support structure on the cathode, such that the electrical connection members and angled emitters including the connection members can separate the mechanical architecture of the cathode assembly from the electrical architecture, thereby creating a simplified construction for the cathode assembly and associated x-ray tubes.

Cathode emitter to emitter attachment system and method

Various systems are provided for an X-ray system. In one example, the X-ray system comprising a high-voltage connector physically coupled to a cathode of an X-ray tube via a plurality of pins, wherein the pins comprise niobium.

Methods and systems for an X-ray tube assembly

At least one emitter formed of an electron emissive material is positioned on a cathode assembly and is readily and reliably connected to at least one mounting member of the cathode assembly. The connections between the at least one emitter and an emitter support structure are formed directly between the at least one emitter and the emitter support structure by utilizing the at one mounting member on the emitter support structure that are positioned adjacent the at least one emitter and heated to secure the at least one emitter to the emitter support structure by welding the at least one mounting member to the at least one emitter and emitter support structure.

X-ray tube cathode flat emitter support mounting structure and method

An x-ray tube includes an electron emitter and a cathode cup having a recess that holds the electron emitter. The recess has a bottom surface, and a shield is positioned in the recess between the electron emitter and the bottom surface. The shield is configured to receive deposited sublimated emitter material and to maintain the sublimated emitter material away from the electron emitter.

X-ray tube and cathode cup with deposition shield

In the present invention, a flat emitter is formed by the formation of emitter material wires into a unitary non-porous flat emitter structure. The wires are formed with increased yield and tensile strength as a result of the manner of the formation of the emitter material or metal into the wires that is transferred to the flat emitter. To form the flat emitter, the wires are encapsulated and subjected to sufficient temperatures and pressure in a hot isostatic pressing treatment/process to increase the density of the wires into a solid sheet without the presence of voids or pores in the sheet. In forming the emitter sheet in this manner, the strength properties from the wires are retained within the sheet to provide the emitter with increased creep resistance and a consequently longer useful life in the x-ray tube.

Creep resistant electron emitter material and fabrication method

A ring seal is engaged with a liquid metal bearing assembly and operates to contain metal fluid lubricant leaking through the primary compression seals of a liquid metal bearing to prevent the fluid from entering the high voltage space within the x-ray tube and causing high voltage instability. The ring seal engages the existing configuration for the bearing assembly without deforming the bearing, including effects of thermal expansion and inertial body forces, thus maintaining the tight tolerances for the proper operation of the component parts of the bearing structure. The ring seal retains the leaking liquid metal within the ring seal regardless of the operating state and/or condition of the bearing assembly, such as during operating conditions. i.e., rotation of the bearing assembly or gantry, and non-operating conditions, e.g., shipping and stand-by, and regardless of the corresponding pressures and their locations exerted on the ring seal by the liquid metal.

Ring seal for liquid metal bearing assembly

An emitter for a cathode of an X-ray tube is provided that includes a shaped emitting surface. The emitting surface is shaped in a suitable process in order to enable the emitting surface to focus electron beams emitted from the emitting surface on a focal spot on a target of less than 1.0 mm without the need for any additional focusing elements in the X-ray tube.

X-ray tube cathode with shaped emitter

A structure and associated process for joining dissimilar materials to form various components of an x-ray tube is illustrated that utilizes one or more intermediate or interfacial filler material members positioned between the primary welding or mating surfaces of the base material components to be joined. The use of the interfacial or intermediate filler material preserves the multiple benefits of friction welding, as well as enabling the joining of highly dissimilar material components, decreasing the required joining temperature, and providing increased microstructural control of the resulting weld or joint.

Friction welding of X-ray tube components using intermediate filler materials

A fastening assembly includes a fastener having a head with an underside and an elongated shaft extending therefrom. The fastener constructed of at least one of a refractory metal and a superalloy. A washer includes a body with an upper surface and an opposing lower surface which defines opening portion for receiving the elongated shaft of the fastener therethrough. The upper surface of the washer forms diffusion bonds with the underside of the head of the fastener when the washer and the fastener are held in contact at temperatures in excess of 500&#xb0; C.

High temperature secondary torque retention for bolted assemblies

The present disclosure is directed towards the prevention of high voltage instabilities within X-ray tubes. For example, in one embodiment, an X-ray tube is provided. The X-ray tube generally includes a stationary member, and a rotary member configured to rotate with respect to the stationary member during operation of the X-ray tube. The X-ray tube also includes a liquid metal bearing material disposed in a space between the shaft and the sleeve, a seal disposed adjacent to the space to seal the liquid metal bearing material in the space, and an enhanced surface area material disposed on a side of the seal axially opposite the space and configured to trap within the enhanced surface area material liquid metal bearing material that escapes the seal.

Enhanced barrier for liquid metal bearings

An x-ray tube includes a frame enclosing a high vacuum, a cathode positioned within the enclosure, and a target assembly. The target assembly includes a target cap, a focal track material positioned on the target cap to receive electrons from the cathode, and a foam material positioned within a cavity of the target cap and positioned proximate the focal track. The x-ray tube also includes a bearing assembly attached to the frame and configured to support the target assembly.

X-ray tube target having enhanced thermal performance and method of making same

A system for applying a target track material to an x-ray tube target includes a controller configured to direct a beam of energy toward an x-ray tube target, and direct a solid stock material toward the beam of energy to cause the solid stock material to melt and deposit as a melted material on the x-ray tube target.

Apparatus for X-ray generation and method of making same

An x-ray tube includes a frame enclosing a high vacuum, a cathode positioned within the enclosure, a bearing assembly a stationary component comprised of a first base substrate, the first base substrate having a first surface, a rotatable component comprised of a second base substrate, the second base substrate having a second surface, wherein the rotatable component is positioned proximate the stationary component such that a gap is formed between the first surface and the second surface, a liquid metal positioned within the gap, and an antiwetting coating attached to at least one of the first surface and the second surface, the coating includes titanium nitride attached to the at least one of the first surface and the second surface, and an oxide of titanium attached to the titanium nitride.

Growing community of inventors

Wuakesha, WI, United States of America

Donald Robert Allen