Inventors:
Anthony A. Renshaw - Albany NY
Minyoung Lee - Schenectady NY
Assignee:
General Electric Company - Schenectady NY
International Classification:
H01J 3510
Abstract:
An improved x-ray system/tube comprising an enclosure having oil contained therein, an oil pump, for circulating oil within the system, at least one cooling structure operatively connected to the enclosure and the oil pump, for cooling the oil, an x-ray tube, operatively positioned inside the enclosure for generating and directing x-rays toward a target, the x-ray tube comprising: a glass envelope, a cathode, operatively positioned in the glass envelope, an anode assembly including a rotor and a stator, operatively positioned relative to the rotor, a target, operatively positioned relative to the cathode and operatively connected to the anode assembly, for directing x-rays out of the system, and bearing structure having opposing surfaces and lubricant means having debris therein, operatively connected to the anode assembly, for enabling the target to rotate at a high rate and at a low resistance, the bearing structure including means for capturing the debris such that bearing performance is maintained at or near the level of a bearing structure having no debris therein. The debris capturing means can be grooved, operatively positioned in the bearing structure, for preventing debris from moving to the interface point between the bearing surfaces. This can be accomplished by positioning various grooves in various types of bearing and by forming ridges in the grooves already in the bearing for capturing the debris.