U.S. Philips Corporation

Jozef B Pelzer

Jan T Gerkema

Anton K Niessen

In order to prevent the escape of metal lubricant in a helical-groove bearing, the helical-groove bearing is provided with an anti-wetting layer on the surfaces which adjoin the helically grooved surfaces and which could act as a creepage path for the metal lubricant. An extremely accurate definition of the bearing portions to be wetted by the lubricant is also obtained by means of these layers. Thus, more complex bearings can also be locally provided with a metal lubricant.

Metal-lubricated helical-groove bearing comprising an anti-wetting layer

An X-ray tube having a rotary anode which is accommodated in a vacuum-tight housing so as to be rotatable by means of at least one spirally grooved bearing. The mutually cooperating surfaces of the bearing consist essentially of Mo or of an alloy of Mo and W and are effectively wetted by a Ga-alloy serving as a bearing lubricant. In order to extend the life of the X-ray tube, 1 to 4% by weight of Ag and/or Cu are added to the Ga-alloy, as a result of which the formation of crystalline compounds is inhibited.

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Eindhoven, Netherlands

Jozef B Pelzer