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:
Feb. 20, 2001
Filed:
Mar. 24, 1999
Michael J. Price, Brookfield, WI (US);
Paul E. Neitzke, Menomenee Falls, WI (US);
Mark E. Vermilyea, Miskayana, NY (US);
Douglas J. Snyder, Brookfield, WI (US);
Carey S. Rogers, Waukesha, WI (US);
Eti Ganin, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Mark O. Derakhshan, West Allis, WI (US);
Stephen S. Waite, Milwaukee, WI (US);
General Electric Company, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Abstract
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.