Baker Hughes Corporation

Varian Medical Systems, Inc.

Varex Imaging Corporation

Other

Finisar Corporation

Varian Medical Systems Technologies, Inc.

Wayne Rollins Hansen

Craig Hodges Cooley

Gordon A Tibbitts

William R Trujillo

Sean K Berzas

Paul E Pastusek

Ricky Burnett Smith

Jerry Cerkovnik

Paul Gene Christean

Danny Eugene Scott

Mark William Dykstra

Vance Scott Robinson

L Allen Sinor

Kasey Otho Greenland

Todd S Parker

John E Richardson

Gangqiang Wang

Mark L Jones

Patrick Kevin Lewis

Brian E Miller

Travis Astle

Daniel Beeman

Patrick K Lewis

Some embodiments include a structure, comprising: an insulator forming at least a part of a wall of a vacuum chamber, the insulator having a first end and a second end wider than the first end; a first conductive structure disposed at the first end of the insulator; and a second conductive structure disposed at the second end of the insulator, contacting the insulator, and including at least a portion surrounded by the insulator; wherein: a portion of an outer surface of the insulator extends radially outward from a triple junction between the insulator, the second conductive structure, and a medium contacting the outer surface of the insulator.

High voltage seals and structures having reduced electric fields

An emitter for a closed x-ray tube includes an emitter body formed of a low work function emitter material, the emitter body having a major surface and a secondary surface. The major surface is adapted for emission of electrons from the low work function material. The emitter assembly is adapted to reduce an emission current density emitted from the secondary surface of the emitter body, as compared to the major surface.

X-ray tube emitter

An x-ray housing can include a tubular unitary body having an external fin array adjacent to an internal fin array through a heat exchanger portion of the unitary body, the internal fin array being on a luminal surface of a housing lumen of the unitary body. The external fin array can extend from a first end of the housing to a second end of the housing. The external fin array may be at a discrete and defined location, and extend around only a portion (e.g., 25%) of a circumference or external surface of the housing. The internal fin array can extends from the first end of the housing to an arced manifold recess at the second end of the housing, and be located in a finned recess that is adjacent to and dimensioned correspondingly with the external fin array.

X-ray housing having integrated oil-to-air heat exchanger

An x-ray tube includes an evacuated envelope, and a cathode assembly and an anode assembly both disposed in the evacuated envelope. The cathode assembly includes a cathode shield, a supporting body disposed inside the cathode shield, and an electron source attached to the supporting body and partially enclosed by the cathode shield. The anode assembly includes a target configured to produce x-rays upon impingement by electrons produced by the electron source. The cathode shield comprises a shield base material and a layer over at least a portion of the base material. The layer comprises an emissivity enhancer having an emissivity greater than the emissivity of the shield base material. The layer may comprise an emissive coating applied on the portion of the base material. Alternatively, the layer may comprise a greened surface formed by a greening process.

X-ray tube cooling by emissive heat transfer

A high voltage cable assembly is provided that is configured to mate with a corresponding receptacle, and that includes a cable, fitting and terminal element attached to each other so as to define a joint. The cable includes two or more electrical conductors. The terminal element is composed of a resilient, non-electrically conductive material and is connected at one end to the fitting. The other end of the terminal element includes electrical contacts, each of which is in electrical communication with a corresponding electrical conductor of the cable. Additionally, the terminal element defines an annular groove that is situated near the joint cooperatively defined by the fitting and terminal, and aids in the control of diametric expansion of the terminal element, so as to facilitate reduction or elimination of arcing and other problems associated with uncontrolled deformation of the terminal element.

High voltage cable assembly with ARC protection

A system for remotely venting an expansion bladder employed in a liquid-filled container, such as an outer housing of an x-ray tube. The remote venting configuration provides the expansion bladder with access to atmospheric pressure existing about the x-ray tube so as to enable it to compensate for pressure changes within the liquid-filled container that occur as a result of liquid heating. Further, the remote nature of the bladder venting system enables the expansion bladder to be positioned within a portion of the outer housing that is radiation shielded, while the remote venting portion of the system is positioned in an unshielded portion of the housing. This eliminates the need to perforate the radiation shielding of the outer housing in order to provide atmospheric pressure to the bladder. Further, the remote vent is semi-permeable so as to prevent liquid escape from the system in the event of bladder rupture.

Remote bladder venting and containment system

A cable terminal and clamp system particularly suited for use in an x-ray tube environment. The cable terminal and clamp system includes a cable socket having cable and terminal ports, each of which defines an axis. The cable terminal and clamp system includes a cable clamp that receives at least a portion of the cable socket. The cable clamp and cable socket are configured so that motion of the cable socket, relative to the cable clamp, along the axis defined by the terminal port is unimpaired, while motion of the cable socket, relative to the cable clamp, along the axis defined by the cable port is precluded. A spring interposed between the cable socket and cable clamp biases the cable socket away from the cable clamp along the axis defined by the terminal port. The cable terminal and clamp system thus accommodates thermal expansion of the terminal, while retaining the terminal in an associated receptacle and maintaining alignment of the cable clamp and cable socket.

High voltage cable terminal and clamp system

A high voltage connector assembly is disclosed for use with high power apparatus including x-ray devices. The present connector is a pancake-style connector, and interconnects a high voltage cable with the cathode of the x-ray tube. The present connector includes a housing, a socket assembly, and insulating material surrounding the socket assembly to insulate it from the housing. The socket assembly comprises a potting-filled conductive sleeve having a continuously shaped, smooth terminal end. The terminal end of the sleeve forms a triple junction with the insulating material and air present near the sleeve. The continuously smooth terminal sleeve end prevents electrical arcing to occur at the triple junction by reducing field strength at the terminal end and urging the electric field of the socket assembly away from the triple junction. The reduction in electrical arcing propensity allows the x-ray device to operate at relatively higher operating voltages.

X-ray tube high voltage connector

A system for securely maintaining a high voltage cable within an electrical device, such as an x-ray tube, is disclosed. The system is useful for ensuring a close fit between an x-ray tube cathode insulator and the high voltage cable assembly disposed therein, thereby reducing the chances for damaging electrical arcing to occur. A high voltage cable assembly and clamp body generally comprise the system. The high voltage cable comprises two sections disposed at a right angle with respect to one another. One section defines a cavity for receiving a plunger/spring assembly housed within the clamp body. The plunger/spring assembly compresses and expands in response to the thermal expansion and contraction of the high voltage cable assembly during tube operation. A calibration window and adjustment screws are provided with the clamp body to enable a technician to readily determine and adjust the level of compressive force imparted by the system.

High voltage cable and clamp system for an X-ray tube

A rotary drag bit including exterior features to control the depth of cut by cutters mounted thereon, so as to control the volume of formation material cut per bit rotation as well as the torque experienced by the bit and an associated bottomhole assembly. The exterior features preferably precede, taken in the direction of bit rotation, cutters with which they are associated, and provide sufficient bearing area so as to support the bit against the bottom of the borehole under weight on bit without exceeding the compressive strength of the formation rock. The exterior features may be oriented and configured to function optimally at a predicted rate of penetration, or range of rates, at which the bit may be operated, such rate or rates being further optionally maximized in softer formations in light of the ability of the bit to hydraulically clear a maximum volume of formation cuttings to prevent so-called bit balling.

Drill bits with controlled cutter loading and depth of cut

An earth boring drill bit including replaceable gage pads. The gage pads and the corresponding surface of the earth boring drill bit may include complementary securing elements which mutually engage one another. The gage pad may be removably affixed to the earth boring drill bit by an affixation element, such as a bolt, a mechanical locking element, brazing, welding, mechanical affixation, or another known technique. The invention also includes a method of testing differently configured gage pads employing a single earth boring drill bit, a method of replacing the gage pads of an earth boring drill bit at the drilling site, a method of customizing an earth boring drill bit to include one or more gage pads of desired configuration, and a method of altering the balance or net imbalance of an earth boring drill bit by replacing at least one gage pad thereof.

Rotary-type earth boring drill bit, modular bearing pads therefor and methods

This invention discloses a drilling structure having a body defining at least one primary channel and at least one secondary channel therein to initiate and maintain recirculation of an amount of drilling fluid back through the secondary channel to maintain positive, independent flow of drilling fluid through each primary channel of the drilling structure. The recirculation of drilling fluid is encouraged by providing a recirculation passageway in fluid communication with the primary channel defined by a portion of the body of the drilling structure that separates positively flowing drilling mud from drilling mud that is being recirculated. The recirculation action of the fluid in the recirculating loop may be fed and brought about by entrainment of the fluid with jetted fluid from an adjacent nozzle. The portion of the body may form a partition, such as a wall extending at least partially between the sides of the primary channel, a fin positioned within the primary channel that generally radially extends from the centerline of the drilling structure, or an internal channel or feeder that extracts fluid from the annulus at a point of low velocity and reintroduces it at a point of higher velocity proximate the bit face, usually near a nozzle. In addition, portions of the drilling structure are streamlined to further encourage positive, stable flow of fluid and formation cuttings generated from an associated cutting structure.

Drill bits with enhanced hydraulic flow characteristics

An anti-whirl rotary drag bit including one or more cutters, wear knots or other support structures disposed on the flank of a bit profile in a normally cutter-devoid region of the profile adjacent the gage of the bit in the circumferential segment of the gage used as a bearing zone for the bit to ride against the side of the bore hole. Such flank cutters or other structures reduce wear of the bearing zone but, due to their placement, do not come into play except under certain drilling situations such as reaming or high rates of penetration wherein whirl tendencies resulting from cutting forces are not as pronounced.

Anti-whirl drill bit

A drilling apparatus having cuttings removal structure to reduce balling thereof and to help prevent the accretion of portions of chips and debris from drilling thereon and/or the accretion of portions of drilling fluids thereon. The drilling apparatus comprises an apparatus body having a connection thereon and structure for contacting cut portions of the earth formation. The contacting structure may include chip breakers and flails or combinations thereof.

Growing community of inventors

Centerville, UT, United States of America

Wayne Rollins Hansen