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:
Aug. 06, 2013
Filed:
Oct. 29, 2010
Ron Kent Hockersmith, Waukesha, WI (US);
Michael Hebert, Muskego, WI (US);
Ian Strider Hunt, Sussex, WI (US);
David Bateman, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Ron Kent Hockersmith, Waukesha, WI (US);
Michael Hebert, Muskego, WI (US);
Ian Strider Hunt, Sussex, WI (US);
David Bateman, Milwaukee, WI (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
The present embodiments relate to active thermal control of X-ray tubes. In one embodiment, a system includes an X-ray tube having an electron beam target, a rotary bearing supporting the target in rotation, and a coolant flow passage, at least a portion of the coolant flow passage being disposed in the center of the rotary bearing, and the coolant flow passage is configured to receive a coolant. The system also includes a coolant circulating system coupled to the coolant flow passage and configured to circulate the coolant thorough the coolant flow passage, and a control circuit coupled to the coolant circulating system and the rotary bearing, the control circuit being configured to control heat flow between components of the X-ray tube by regulating extraction of heat from the X-ray tube via the coolant and by regulating a rotation rate of the rotary bearing.