General Electric Company

Stephen S Waite

Quan N Lu

Mark Ernest Vermilyea

Carey Shawn Rogers

Douglas J Snyder

Mark O Derakhshan

Stephen W Gravelle

Paul E Neitzke

Michael J Price

Eti Ganin

A rotating x-ray tube comprises an anode assembly having an anode target for distributing heat generated at a focal spot. The x-ray tube further comprises a cathode assembly for producing X-rays upon impact with the anode. A target angle matching cathode cup structure is associated with the cathode assembly. The angled cathode cup structure creates a parallel surface between the cathode and the target to provide a focused electron beam.

Target angle matching cathode structure for an X-ray tube

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

Cathode cup assemblies for an x-ray tube are described. In one embodiment, the cathode cup assembly includes a cathode cup and a focus tab. The cathode cup includes filament receiving channels, and each channel is sized to receive a filament. The focus tab is a plate having a filament aligning aperture. The focus tab cooperates with the cathode cup so that a periphery of the filament aligning aperture limits the positioning of the filaments within the filament receiving channels.

Cathode cup assembly for an x-ray tube

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Milwaukee, WI, United States of America

Stephen S Waite