General Electric Company

Other

Mark O Derakhshan

Longzhi Jiang

Yuri Lvovsky

Thomas Gerard Ebben

Michael J Price

Charles B Kendall

William Louis Einziger

Edwin L Legall

Wayne Frederick Block

Eti Ganin

Mark Ernest Vermilyea

Carey Shawn Rogers

Michael Scott Hebert

Douglas J Snyder

Ron Kent Hockersmith

Paul E Neitzke

Stuart Paul Feltham

Peter Jarvis

Liqin Wang

Erman Citirik

Charles Dudley Yarborough

Timothy Elden Wise

Xiaoxue Diao

Benjamin Jacob Gronemeyer

Roy A Mangano

David Allen Nelson

Stephen S Waite

Charles Franklin Helms

Venkata Krishnan Veeraraghavan Narayanan

Dogan Celik

A retractable lead system is provided that includes a cup, a spherical contact, and a plunger. The cup is disposed proximate a vacuum end of the retractable lead system, and defines a cavity and a contact reception seat. The contact reception seat defines a spherical portion having a contact reception spherical radius. The spherical contact is disposed within the contact reception seat, and defines a contact spherical radius that corresponds to the contact reception spherical radius. The spherical contact is configured to be electrically coupled to an interior lead disposed within a vacuum environment. The plunger includes an ambient contact and a retractable contact disposed on opposite ends of the plunger. The plunger is configured to be actuated between an open position at which the retractable contact is retracted from the spherical contact and a closed position at which the retractable contact is coupled with the spherical contact.

Retractable lead systems

A cooling system includes a first cooling loop containing a first cryogen, the first cooling loop being in thermal communication with a superconducting magnet and being configured to provide primary cooling for the magnet and a second cooling loop also containing the first cryogen. The second cooling loop is in thermal communication with an enclosure containing a second cryogen and is configured to cool the second cryogen within the enclosure. The enclosure is in thermal communication with the superconducting magnet and is configured to provide secondary cooling for the magnet.

System and method for cooling a magnetic resonance imaging device

A dual-purpose displacer for adjusting a liquid cryogen level in a cryostat, the dual-purpose displacer includes a displacer wall having an exterior displacer surface and an interior displacer surface. The interior displacer surface defines a displacing chamber configured to contain a first portion of liquid cryogen. The exterior displacer surface is configured to displace a second portion of liquid cryogen contained in a cryogenic chamber of the cryostat. The dual-purpose displacer is disposed within the cryogenic chamber of the cryostat and configured to transfer the first portion of liquid cryogen contained within the displacing chamber to the cryogenic chamber.

Dual-purpose displacer system and method

A control system for a superconducting magnet includes an electrically conductive lead having a first end electrically coupled to the superconducting magnet, at least one of a main power supply, a shimming power supply and a discharge module electrically coupled to a second end of the lead, and a controller in communication with the at least one of the main power supply, the shimming power supply and the discharge module. The controller is configured to monitor at least one magnet parameter value indicative of a state of the superconducting magnet and to automatically control operation of the at least one of the main power supply, the shimming power supply and the discharge module when the magnet parameter value crosses a predetermined threshold value prior to a quench.

Control system and method for a superconducting magnet

A coil support arrangement for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging System and method of support are provided. One coil support arrangement includes a main former body having a plurality of channels between end flanges and a splint coupled to the main former body between the end flanges. The coil support arrangement also includes a load spreader coupled to the main former body adjacent one or more of the ends of the splint, and having a gap between the one or more ends of the splint and the load spreader.

Coil support for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) magnet and method of support

A suspension system for a cryostat includes a coupling mechanism, a fixation body, and a pin. The coupling mechanism is joined to an outer vessel and coupled with a strap. The fixation body is joined to an inner vessel. The fixation body extends between a front side that faces the coupling mechanism and an opposite receiving side with an interior channel extending from the receiving side to the front side. The channel defines a front opening in the front side and a rear opening in the receiving side. The pin is loaded into the fixation body through the rear opening in the receiving side of the fixation body with the strap looped around the pin and extending through the front opening to the coupling mechanism. The pin secures the coupling mechanism to the fixation body via the strap by engaging the fixation body inside the channel.

Suspension system and method for suspending an inner vessel inside an outer vessel of a cryostat

Systems and methods are provided for a variable cooling capacity cryocooler for a superconducting magnetic resonance imaging device having a liquid cryogen pressure vessel to provide cryogenic temperatures to a magnet assembly, a vacuum vessel surrounding the pressure vessel and a radiation shield spaced from the cryogen pressure vessel, and a pressure sensor positioned inside the cryogen pressure vessel pressure boundary for sensing pressure variations. A controller for varying the heat removal rate of the cryocooler based on the pressure variations in the cryogen pressure vessel and where the cooling capacity of the cryocooler is adjusted by modifying the speed of the electric power drive (DC or AC motors) or by changing the mechanical transmission ratio between the constant speed electric power drive and the cryocooler displacer/piston to adjust the cooler oscillating frequency of the gas flow. The invention can be adapted to magnets or non magnets systems using Stirling, Gifford-McMahon ('GM') and Pulse Tube ('PT') cooler systems. The system will extend component end of life and provide a controllable constant pressure improving image quality for superconducting MRI magnets.

Apparatus and method for controlling a cryocooler by adjusting cooler gas flow oscillating frequency

A slotted window collector assembly for an x-ray tube having an anode and a cathode includes a collector having an anode side and a cathode side, which opposes the anode side. The anode side and the cathode side define an internal bore there between for receiving x-rays from the anode. The slotted collector further includes a window side common to both the anode side and the cathode side and having a window coupled thereto, wherein a window aperture is defined extending from the window to the internal bore. Within the collector assembly, a slot is defined intersecting the window aperture and extending trans-axially thereto and beyond a set length. The slot also extends circumferentially with the window such that plastic strain on the window and heat transferred to the window are reduced.

Electron collector system

An x-ray system with an x-ray generating device having improved heat dissipation capabilities. The x-ray generating device includes an x-ray tube mounted in a casing holding a circulating, cooling medium. According to the present invention, the x-ray generating device includes a support mechanism mounted within the x-ray generating device in a manner for adjustably positioning, relative to the casing, the focal spot alignment path of generated x-rays. Additionally, the x-ray generating device includes a cooling mechanism having an inlet chamber for channeling the cooling medium within the support mechanism. Additionally, a cooling stem may be positioned within the inlet chamber to increase the heat exchange surface area exposed to the cooling medium. Thus, the present invention advantageously increases the heat dissipation capability of the x-ray generating device.

X-ray tube having increased cooling capabilities

An x-ray system with an x-ray generating device having improved heat dissipation capabilities. The x-ray generating device has an x-ray tube mounted in a casing holding a circulating, cooling medium. According to the present invention, the x-ray generating device includes a support mechanism mounted within the x-ray generating device in a manner for adjustably positioning, relative to the casing, the focal spot alignment path of generated x-rays. Additionally, the x-ray generating device includes a cooling mechanism having an inlet chamber for channeling the cooling medium within the support mechanism. Additionally, a cooling stem may be positioned within the inlet chamber to increase the heat exchange surface area exposed to the cooling medium. Thus, the present invention advantageously increases the heat dissipation capability of the x-ray generating device.

A method is used for interfacing materials of dissimilar thermal expansion in an X-ray tube. Initially, a first joint is identified, which has an inner component to be received into an outer component. Typically, the inner component has a higher coefficient of expansion than the outer component, so the purpose of the invention is to reduce the physical expansion of that component in the joint. A plurality of slots is introduced along the approximate axial length of the inner component of the joint, to achieve the aforementioned purpose. Alternatively, a coupling member could be provided between two components, the coupling member having a thermal expansion rate greater than one component and less than the other component.

Complaint joint for interfacing dissimilar metals in X-ray tubes

A system and method are proposed for cooling the anode of an X-ray tube. A bearing shaft associated with the anode has an associated single rotating seal there around, and contains a liquid metal. A primary liquid metal flow path is used to transfer heat from the anode, and a secondary liquid metal flow path is provided to seal the single rotating seal. Accordingly, the present invention provides an effective means for containing liquid metal in the bearing shaft of an anode assembly, and using the liquid metal to cool the anode of the X-ray tube.

Liquid metal cooled anode for an X-ray tube

A method is used for interfacing materials of dissimilar thermal expansion in an X-ray tube. Initially, a first joint is identified, which has a first component to be received into a second component. Typically, the first component has a higher coefficient of expansion than the second component, so the purpose of the invention is to reduce the physical expansion of that component in the joint. A plurality of slots is introduced along the approximate axial length of a coupling member at the joint, to achieve the aforementioned purpose. The coupling member is provided between the two components, and has a thermal expansion rate greater than one component and less than the other component.

Compliant joint with a coupling member for interfacing dissimilar metals in X-ray tubes

A method for assembling a rotating X-ray tube structure ensures balance retention during the life of the tube. The X-ray tube structure has a cathode for emitting electrons, and a rotor and a bearing assembly for facilitating rotation of an anode. At least one joint is identified in the X-ray tube structure and interference fit assembly is used to eliminate shifts at the joint. The interference fit assembly is particularly advantageous for eliminating even the minutest shifts in the main joints of the anode assembly. Interference fit assembly can be applied between the rotor and the anode target to provide a first joint having balance retention; and interference fit assembly can be applied between the bearing assembly and the rotor to provide a second joint having balance retention.

Growing community of inventors

West Allis, WI, United States of America

Mark O Derakhshan