The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 02, 1999
Filed:
Jan. 21, 1998
Brent L Bristol, Phoenix, AZ (US);
General Electric Company, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Abstract
In an X-ray tube provided with a frame, a rotary bearing, and a target and anode supported by the rotary bearing for rotation with respect to the frame, an improved arrangement is provided for preloading the rotary bearing. The arrangement comprises a housing fixably joined to the frame, the housing provided with a cylindrical inner wall and disposed to receive the rotary bearing, and a spring or the like for applying an axial force to the bearing race, to selectively preload the bearing balls or other rotary elements of the bearing. The arrangement further comprises a linear bearing positioned between the bearing race and the cylindrical inner wall, to enable the bearing race to move axially with respect to the housing in response to the applied axial force. The linear bearing comprises a selected number of linear bearing rows in closely spaced relationship with one another, each of the linear bearing rows comprising a number of linear bearing balls positioned in a circular array around the rotary bearing race.