Ge Precision Healthcare LLC

Eric Lubar

Ian Strider Hunt

Ryan Dagen

Andrew Thomas Triscari

Kyle Russell Berndt

Jace Dowd

Donald Robert Allen

Andrew Marconnet

Andrew T Triscari

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 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.

Liquid metal bearing with enhanced sealing structures

Liquid metal bearing structure with enhanced sealing structures

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Milwaukee, WI, United States of America

Eric Lubar