General Electric Company

Ge Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC

Other

Paul E Neitzke

Craig William Higgins

John Dalton Warren

Douglas J Snyder

Mark Ernest Vermilyea

Carey Shawn Rogers

Mark O Derakhshan

Thomas Gerard Ebben

Madhusudhana Subraya

Liang Tang

Michael J Price

Eti Ganin

Stephen S Waite

John M Warren

Steve Hansen

An HV connector for high power X-ray device consists of thermally conductive epoxy, cable terminal, faraday cup, spring-loaded contact, and lead lined housing. The thermally conductive epoxy includes fillers. The epoxy can also be loaded with gravels of similar materials. A Faraday cup is included in the center area to offer electric field relief. Spring-loaded contacts are included for the easiness of pin alignment and robustness of handling. An efficient thermal management solution is accomplished through proper selection of thermal conductivities of gasket and epoxy.

Thermally high conductive HV connector for a mono-polar CT tube

A welding method that enables the joining of at least two dissimilar, metallic alloys to form a weld that is free of cracks is disclosed. The method incorporates a pure (99.00% minimum by weight) nickel fill-wire, integrally assembled into the joint between the two alloyed metals to be joined. The alloys joined by this method are an iron-based, low expansivity, gamma-prime strengthened superalloy (i.e., Incoloy&reg;) and a high carbon, powder metallurgical tool steel high in refractory metal alloying agents (i.e., CPM REX 20). Welding of the joint results in the formation of a nickel rich region within the weld, thus &ldquo;inoculating&rdquo; the weld against cracks. The weld joint formed by the method of the present invention can be used in the fabrication of a rotating anode bearing shaft assembly for use in an x-ray generating device.

Method for producing a crack resistant weld

An x-ray tube and x-ray system including an anode assembly having a shaft with a first end and a second end, a target connected to the first end of the shaft, and a rotor connected to the second end of the shaft. The anode assembly further having spaced-apart bearings rotatably supporting the shaft. The shaft, target, and rotor positioned relative to each other such that the center of gravity of the combination of the shaft, the target, and the rotor is positioned between the bearings. Additionally, the target and rotor may be flexibly interconnected allowing the beneficial use of gyroscopic effects.

X-ray tube anode assembly and x-ray systems incorporating same

Bearing shaft assembly having a crack resistant weld

Crack resistant weld

X-ray device comprising a crack resistant weld

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

Growing community of inventors

Menomenee Falls, WI, United States of America

Paul E Neitzke