Picker International, Inc.

Robert C Crawford

Mark S Maska

An anode assembly (14) is mounted by a bearing assembly (20-28) in a bearing housing (30). The bearing housing is constructed of substantially pure copper or other high thermal conductivity metal. The bearing housing defines a shoulder portion (36) between a side wall (34) and a mounting shank (38). The mounting shank is threaded (66) to be clamped into a mounting assembly (60) which provides substantially the sole support for the bearing and anode assembly. A steel reinforcing collar (52) with an integral seat portion (54) supports the shank and shoulder portions of the bearing housing. A vacuum envelope (40) of the x-ray tube includes a metal cap portion (44) which is sealed between the seat and shoulder portions in a vacuum tight relationship. In this manner, relatively soft substantially pure copper is used in the bearing housing to conduct thermal energy from the anode while the reinforcing collar provides sufficient structural strength that the weight of the cantilever mounted anode and bearing assembly to resist deformation of the copper shank and shoulder portion.

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St. Charles, IL, United States of America

Robert C Crawford