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:
Sep. 03, 2002
Filed:
Oct. 25, 2000
Cheryl L. Panasik, Elburn, IL (US);
Thomas R. Miller, St. Charles, IL (US);
Gerald J. Carlson, Aurora, IL (US);
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V., Eindhoven, NL;
Abstract
A high energy x-ray tube includes an evacuated chamber ( ) containing a rotor ( ) which rotates an anode ( ) through a stream of electrons (A) in order to generate an x-ray beam (B). The rotor includes a bearing assembly (C) having a hollow bearing shaft ( ) centrally aligned with a longitudinal axis (Z) of the rotor. The bearing shaft includes an interior annular wall ( ) having an inner surface which defines a central bore ( ). The bearing shaft has an outer surface ( ), which with an inner surface of the bearing shaft, defines an annular chamber ( ). An opening ( ) is provided at the forward end of the annular wall to provide access from the central bore to the annular chamber. During exhaust processing, baking cycles, and normal operation of the x-ray tube, a pump ( ) forces a cooling medium through the central bore, through the opening of the annular wall, and into the annular chamber. The cooling medium exits through channels ( ). While in the annular chamber, the cooling medium cools a plurality of forward and rearward lubricated bearings ( F, R) located adjacent an outer surface of the hollow bearing shaft.